TRon

Tbf, I think he was perfectly built for a Rafa Benitez side where you could sit back and then hit the spaces. It requires a lot less accuracy and invites less pressure when you are on the ball.

Because Liverpool and Arsenal have been knocked out. They would normally be the biggest obstacles alongside Man City. Tbh, winning the FA Cup almost feels more doable than winning the Carabao Cup final even though that sounds crazy. We just never seem to beat Liverpool.

The perfectly capable squad player would work without PSR. Then we could keep players like Longstaff around and give them games now and then where we felt they could contribute to a result. The issue is, we don't have money to spend on players who will improve us. If you got £15m for Longstaff you could spend that on a young player with a much higher ceiling, whose value would appreciate. That is where you have to weigh up the pros and cons of giving out new contracts to players whose value decreases every year.

The way they are playing, every chance some other team can knock them out. I'm all for easy draws until we get to the semis.

We'll only have ourselves to blame if we can't stop them this time. Not gonna happen!

Hard to know if we undervalue him unless another team actually wants to buy him. I'm assuming there's not much interest since he's not been getting games for us and no one has come in for him.

Tbh I thought it was mad that we'd even consider giving him a contract extension, but I'm assuming the reasoning would be that we wouldn't have to spend big on a striker next season. Risky obviously, but with limited funds we might just want to prioritise other positions.

Tbh if he had the end product he'd be steal of the season. Given a bit more exposure he might not be too far off from producing it, he looks like he's got an eye for goal, just needs the polish that comes with playing regularly.

Not really, just slightly frustrated he hasn't pushed on much I think. Thought he handled the rough stuff well today, he came in for a lot of it.

Not a good look for our game when you see what the refs used to let go because "it's a man's game". Just fuck off man.

Never a good idea to put any store on him for a run of games, but was good to see him come through almost the full game unscathed, and a trademark poacher's goal.

He's what you would describe as a handful. And then some.

Thought he was one of our better players personally.

Needs good players around him othewise he's exposed.

First requiisite for a defender, that's why he played an important part in keeping us up. He'd be a decent buy for a lower PL side.

Expecting a tough game FWIW. Birmingham have an ambitious owner and they have been tearing it up in the first division.

Not sure where the supply is going to come from. It's great to see some rotation, but that side looks a bit lopsided.

His running with the ball is great, no problem there, he can usually jink his way into good positions. But his final ball has been pretty rank, aye.

What makes me think they are all that good, is that every week I expect them to win...then they do. Even if they are 1-0 down going into extra time they'll score two bastard goals and take all three points. They aren't going to look great every week, but they are serial winners. I don't like it, but it's just a fact.

Well the truth of the matter is, our hands are somewhat tied with the PSR bullshit. I get why they might want to come out and explain it, but it's not what people want to hear, so not sure what good it will do them.

Thought some of his football was good on the ball, tbh we have missed that side of it. Love Tino as a defender, but Tripps is still light years ahead with the ball at his feet.

Would be quite happy to see him start against Brum tbh.

Agree. Would rather they just kept quiet and let their actions speak for them in the summer.

He's worth it tbh.

All I can realistically ask is that for once we actually turn up in a cup final and play how we can. After that the result either way will go with destiny. If we lose, at least we can hold our head up and say we made it a game worth watching. We might even win if we just go out and play.