George Bailey

Midfield is totally imbalanced ffs 🤦🏻 can Southgate just not see this.

Absolutely correct none of us know. Just my take on it 👍

Depends on what you want from a professional sports career. Immediate money in the bank (or more money than the other club is offering) at the risk of your development in your chosen sport declining or stalling ( given the history of that particular club) Or if you value development, career progression annd giving your self the opportunity to be the best you can above immediate financial gain. Given that the amount of money we are talking here is more than 99.9% of us will ever see or dream of then the question of putting that initial financial benefit ahead of development tells all about an individuals priorities. £45 k per week or £75k per week…At that level really what’s the comparison of value. Suppose it depends on if you value that “extra cash” above your sporting potential never being fulfilled. I get what some are saying. More money, nearer home and the likelihood of less work (as chances are he will rarely be seen in their first team- and probably farmed out on loan in a seasons time) That sounds great but if you are a top athlete then I would think you want to be the best you can and take any opportunity that comes along to help with that…and in all likelihood the decision this lad has made isn’t going to do that. Pity for us as I think he would have done well and certainly helped re other recruitment etc but hey ho. He won’t be the first or last.

Money talks. In fact for some it screams. What a daft decision. Hey ho. Enjoy your career going down the pan. Plenty cash in the bank and an instagram lass in tow most likely…but most likely another player who will disappear in the Chelsea worm hole.

Absolutely agree re investment, however we have invested historically as well. We spent a fair bit (and invested well) under Keegan for example. Spurs have invested but won little.. My point was success breeds success and that once you win one thing then often you see reciprocal results in later seasons.

I would say they are a club that wins things. Something we have consistently failed to do for decades. For some reason clubs like Man Utd just seem to have a winning mentality in their dna. Built over years with different squads and different managers. That puts them in a strong position to constantly revamp, invest and keep on winning things. So whether it’s unpalatable or not, for me they aren’t in decline but have had some dormant seasons - but dormant seasons in which they have lifted multiple trophies! Something we can still only dream of…sadly. Chelsea developed that winning knack for a period and of course so have Man City, we can but just need to flipping win anything to get us started. That’s why I am gutted at not getting European football next season- I think we would have had an excellent chance of winning that competition.

Fucking shite

Aye but I was taking a trousers down spanking for them by City as a given…

I don’t see Chelsea losing a game. 9 points for them I reckon. 7 needed for us which is going to be tougher. I think we finish 7th which is at least European competition and given our season, pretty decent overall.

Aye Frank Worthington or Stan Bowles aren’t getting much match time in the new modern game.

?

I remember getting my mum to doctor one of my action men to look like Sasquatch ? so that my six million dollar man could fight with him… Happy days ?

Loved that series and especially the Bigfoot episodes ?

Not international level for me. Good, solid pro in league but not for this step up.

Gutting for the lad. Hope for as speedy (and safe) recovery as possible. On his day is one of the very best, lets hope we see that Sven back soon in black and white.

Great thread and so many excellent posts already. We have had so many nearly moments and wasted/lost opportunities. (At times it does feel as if we will always be the nearly club and as if a curse hangs over us) Must be the club with so many lost chances/opportunities. Onwards and upwards though

for the first time ever I may able to get some itk too. His family and mine are relatives through marriage ? Shall ask discretely.

Certainly looking poor tonight in most areas of the pitch with so many of the team seemingly bereft of confidence and looking way off the pace. Fitness levels? Complacency? Issues behind the scenes? Certainly poor performance so far.

West London club so one would imagine predominantly London accent from that area?

Great player. One of the mavericks of the era

Same for me. Realistically 7th to 9th with fingers crossed for above that as outside chance(5th being ceiling) If I had to plump for a finishing position, then I would say 8th look’s about favourite for me. Think this gets put to bed for a season or two (as in top four).

Peak Barkley is/was v good. Sadly his troughs are more consistent I think. Bit of an odd career for such a talented lad.

If ever there was a good reason for a dip in form then it being due to playing shove ha’penny with that young lady seems to be it…