UpweySaint

to be fair if Stewart was going to miss any gam this would have probably been the one we would have picked. We should still have enough to get the job done while giving him chance to rest. Hard to argue with the other changes 🤷‍♂️

I often felt similar about Coventry. Especially after they took the SISU bullet - very much there but for the grace of god and all that. Lampard is a bit of a berk but their fans generally seem a good bunch. Much the same Wednesday. They have been truly shafted by Chansiri and I respect the ways they tried to force his hand. The fan on TSP seemed to think they might end up with Ashley and was fairly prosaic about it. For their sake I hope they get somebody who can put them on an even keel.

Yeah, command of his area could improve but he does look like he’s willing at least with some of the punches he comes for. He looks like he has the physicality/temperament to command the box reasonably well so hopefully this is something he can build on.

You’re not wrong. Lots to like about him and he’s very young in goalkeeper terms. If he signs up permanently it would be interesting to see his development with us.

He’s likeable as a player. It’s been ages since we’ve been able to say that about many of ours. He works hard and seems committed. He has some technical ability and puts himself about despite not being the most obviously physical. Easy to say when we’re on a run of good results but since January it’s felt like there is more of a bond between the team and the fans. I’m willing Stewart to stay fit and fire us to the play offs. Larin to prove his doubters wrong and get to the World Cup. Leo to keep dancing, dribbling and hitting worldies. Peretz has a touch of the mad goalie about him and seems to have real drive. It’s a ramble but most of us couldn’t give a flying fig about who left after we came back down. Now? I actually quite like a lot of the squad and Matsuki absolutely epitomises this. He’s had to wait for a chance but he’s taken it and added serious competition for places.

No chance. He picked a weakened side to rest players and give others minutes - when you do that you accept you are less likely to win but it’s clearly not the same as sending a team out to lose. Tonda gets some things right and plenty wrong but it’s bizarre how some seem determined to blame him for everything that goes wrong yet dismiss anything that goes right as pure dumb luck or being on the players alone.

Anybody able to share a bit of insight on the young players on the bench? I would be interested to know what sort of players they are.

Really see the point but the counter is should Peretz get injured would we want Long to at least have had some game time in a less important game?

Interesting shout. Has he been capped before? With his injury record it’s a big if but if he can hit double figures before the end of the season you would think he’s worth a look given their paucity of options. That being said i would prefer Clarke has no interest in looking at him in the March international break - much rather he had the time to manage his fitness with us.

Heart says yes, head says no. Either way if we can build momentum and a settled side there is no reason that can’t carry over into next season. Our abysmal start has cost us this year - so many reasons for it we all know about. If we do somehow go on a great run and get past the traffic it will be bloody brilliant. While I would be anxious as hell going into the play offs anything can happen 🤷‍♂️

I don’t really expect much else but it’s still just a bit pathetic. They are acting in self interest of the club which is their job but the weaseling out of things has left a bad taste and i would just once love to see someone come out and say yeah we fell foul of the rules and accept there had to be a consequence, we’re getting the house in order and will do better. It’s not going to happen and I’m very man yells at clouds here, I’m aware 😅 They’re certainly far from alone and there are also plenty of arguments to say the rules aren’t fit for purpose. Their fans on the whole seem like a decent bunch but the legal clever bollocks just pissed me off I think. I’m probably just bitter about our attempts to beat the rap for our second points deduction failed so spectacularly. Hypocrisy and tribalism from a football fan? Who would think it!

It feels like they’ve got off really lightly - assuming there isn’t more to come- and yet their board have come out with a pithy statement railing against the injustice of it all. Muppets! I think a their more sensible fans will probably be just glad to have it resolved.

That’s a fair point re Downs. He’s definitely down as a miss at the moment and we don’t have the PSR wiggle to sustain too many big misses. He didn’t have to he a world beater but if he could build experience this season and be a bench option while putting a few away we probably could have shrugged it off as a young player needing to develop and settle. As is he contributed nothing. I have zero issue with Archer leaving no matter who comes or goes. I don’t think it’s ever going to work for him here. I wish it was a permanent deal but a loan may help us secure a fee in the summer. Happy to see academy talent given his sort of cameos to bring on their development. Oyekunle has smashed them in for the age group sides so hopefully we can develop him into a squad player or better. Arma the fee is disappointing but I don’t think many would have been sad to see him go in the summer - with the right replacements. Larin is underwhelming but at least has the physical profile we need.

What do you think there motivation is? Do you think they’re incompetent or trying to make money via a fire sale? Or something else?

Are we Tom Cruise in your analogy?! Odd parallel to draw between being a fan of a football club and a cinema goer.

Yeah I’m not sure I see it. Maybe monitoring is ‘an as option should Brathwaite leave in the summer’. I can’t see them dropping £20mil on THB in January but they could come back in the summer. I read they need a right back so I expect they’ll be prioritising that if anything in January.

He’s been linked to Ipswich in the Guardian rumour mill but another name to throw into the mix - Sam Surridge. He’s had a bit of a nomadic career but scored lots of goals in the MLS and at 27 is probably close to his peak. Possibly a late bloomer? He’s a fairly tall lad too so may fit the profile we are looking at.

Archer is an odd one. He seemed like the wrong profile of player for us when we signed but he had shown an ability to finish and he play off the shoulder so possibly gave a different option. He’s never really got going or had much of a run but rarely shown enough in cameos to push to be the main man. The turmoil we have been in can’t help player development mind. It’s been chaotic and miserable. No chance we recoup what we paid but I wouldn’t be sad to see Archer move on - even if he kicks on elsewhere I just don’t see it happening for him here.

Sports Republic have made some poor decisions but the implication they are asset stripping the club or even making money from it is false. They’ve invested in the club. If you have evidence otherwise please share it? Personally I can’t see Armstrong going this month without a ridiculous offer. The squad can’t withstand his loss. In the summer? Sure. I think he’s good but we could do better and an exit may suit all parties if the price is right.

I think you’re probably right though perhaps some loan options worth exploring may become viable at the end of the window.

Okay fair enough. Useful but perhaps not what we need.

Joel Piroe? Previously linked, proven at the level, not getting games and rumoured to be on the way out. I’ve not seen loads of him but he has a bit more height and physicality compared to Arma and Archer while still being able to play a bit.

I think you’re right-ish. The hedge is nobody decent available ‘that we have identified’. Ultimately our player recruitment hasn’t hit the mark on a consistent basis for a long time. I try to be pragmatic and avoid being reactive but there certainly seem to be other clubs who are less well resourced who have done a more effective job of squad building. If we are trying to find a forward with the physicality we lack who also has the potential to develop into a premier league talent and have resale value it’s a big ask and hard to get right (see Downs). If the focus is on finding someone who can change how we play this season and next season it’s perhaps an easier job. I’m all for joined up planning and forward thinking but I think we can sometimes lack the pragmatism to reflect our immediate circumstances.

Hard to judge him in any meaningful way this early on but one thing he offered was presence which Baz never did.

Genuinely sad to see. I expected him to break the free kick record but it’s looking less likely. No idea why Nuno is so set against him - especially given some of the shite performances West Ham are putting in - I expect we’ll see them next year. i still think he is better than we have by a long way but I can’t see us being able to bring him back unless say Downs or Charles were moved on.