saintwbu

Being able to buy a membership at this point is the worst tbh, they allowed that for the League Cup final years ago. I’m sure more recently they put a cut-off point in for membership purchases, maybe for the FA Cup semi-final? Lets down everyone who committed to a membership at the start of the season imo.

Do we think there may be financial reasons for Lumley being on the bench all season ahead of McCarthy? But when push really comes to shove, McCarthy seen as the safer pair of hands. Can’t think of any other reason for putting him in ahead of Lumley.

Also has the third best minutes to goals ratio from what I could see too, would be top scorer for Leicester and Ipswich, and two away from being Leeds’. Not bad for someone so mediocre.

A huge call from Russell to throw on Mara for our top scorer when the game was in the balance. It paid off completely and should give Mara a huge boost of confidence that he had that trust from the manager, and delivered.

Bristol City have been rubbish though too

He’s fantastic, we are so much better with him in the team

It’s only one bloke trying to look like he’s clever, don’t worry

Are Brighton giving loads of their academy players game time? I can only think recently Jack Hinshelwood, and Evan Ferguson but they signed him at 16, which is essentially what we’ve been doing with Tino, Lavia, Edozie, Larios. All the other young players they’ve been using have been bought in from abroad for money.

Doyle has basically done what Tino, Gav, Edozie, Larios, Lavia etc all did in leaving a team he wasn’t playing, with a hope of getting game time young rather than waiting until he’s 23/24 like a lot of players end up doing. Not sure us of all clubs can have too many complaints, we’ve been a safe haven for plenty of other youngsters wanting to play first team football. Not that I think he’ll get much game time soon, mind, but he may get a loan to their Belgian club and play there for a bit.

if we get a winger like is rumoured then it frees up Adam Armstrong to go through the middle if needed too. I don’t see us buying another forward when we have 3 fit ones, and only play with one.

Did we ever sign that American lad that had trials with a few clubs including us, and it seemed it was going to be us who got him? Can’t remember his name but I think it was this season.

Always been a big fan, would’ve liked us to have signed him from Sheffield United before Bournemouth did. Thought when they went down we might have bought him then. Joining us would probably give him the game time and style of play to get back up to full fitness as part of what must be a very tough recovery - he’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet so he’d fit in perfectly to this style of football imo.

Personally I think Burnley would be better loaning us Benson, and if he helps get us promoted and we want him permanently they can be petty and refuse to sell him to us because they want him to stay in the Championship with them.

Been a great signing, i’m trusting the club won’t get caught up in the excitement of his recent contributions and will wait to see what league we’re in before deciding whether he is worth signing permanently or not. Never been any doubt he’s a good Championship player, does he still cut it in the Prem if we go up? Not sure.

Anyone who was at the Blackburn, Swansea or the Plymouth game would’ve seen why some still think there is a player in there. Good link up, good footwork, a good strikers goal and assist across those games. It’s frustrating that the cup games against lower opposition he’s never set the world alight, but I still think there’s a player worth persisting with. Equally not sure why people are so keen to rubbish him as its not like we’ve had to rely on him so can’t see how he’s made such a negative impression.

Alcaraz has so much ability, but is still extremely raw having only been in the country about 1 calendar year. He has the potential to win games on his own, and has carried us in a couple of games already in that time. How anyone thinks he is anything other than a good player is beyond me - not to say he’s not frustrating mind!

Leicester should never have gone down anyway, criminal that Rodgers allowed them to end up in that position. Not bothered about them, hope they take points off Ipswich and Leeds when they play them. Second is well and truly on.

Not sure why so many people are hammering Mara for what I thought was a decent cameo. A few nice touches, nice turns and a good run for a chance that yes he should have scored. Also not sure why there’s a narrative that we were lucky, we should’ve been about 4 up before Stoke caused us any issues at all - not sure what Russell could do tactically that would make Stu, Charly or Sulemana score what were relatively simple chances. We probably created about as much as we did against Leeds, the difference was against Leeds we were unusually clinical.

Thought overall atmosphere was pretty flat even at 3-0 today, but the Chapel were consistently good again throughout - it is making a difference.

Assuming he doesn’t get a late move to Saudi or Turkey, it looks like he’s staying. He’s played every minute of every game so far, no sign of agent planted stories trying to get him a move to any Prem club that would take him. Just got on with things. What a fantastic signing he’s been, and what a great player/person to have at the club. If anyone needs their own chant it’s him. Hope he gets a great reception at the next home game.

Another sign of the clubs change in approach is to keep a player in Che who is out of contract in 12 months. Normally it’s been a case of getting whatever we can for whoever we can. An exciting season ahead hopefully.

Haha he actually does seem to be, on the Sunderland end.

Surely any Che loan/contract extension will just be a FFP workaround - can’t see why he, us or Wolves would want this for anything other than that. If we were that desperate to get rid we’d have taken the 12mil from Everton or whatever Bournemouth offered. Imagine this will ensure us a decent fee, just deferred until next summer - seems to be all the rage this window.

I know it’s short term thinking, but wonder if Mara staying is largely down to the fact we’d have no proper centre forward tomorrow at this rate. It’s looking very unlikely we’ll have someone in by the cut-off for tomorrow (12/1pm i think?) and Arma was much better when moved deeper last weekend.

I think ABK will be a top player, but equally I think it was clear when he arrived he wouldn’t be here long - getting relegated has clearly accelerated his desire to move on. I am surprised he hasn’t had more Prem interest, Spurs would be well advised to sign him imo, and it’d be a good move for him.