ponsaelius

Just signed a new deal didn't he? Turkish heritage and their league rules might mean we get a fee from one of their clubs at some point even if he doesn't make it here.

I just hate change.

Hate this stupid new penalty system.

I've been to a fair few non-league games recently and have seen many people simply drop their rubbish (plastic bottles, chip trays, plastic cups) directly onto either the side of the pitch or near their feet where they are standing. Seemingly the thought process is "it'll get picked up by somebody else who's job it is to do that". Ignoring the fact whoever does end up doing it is definitely doing so on a voluntary basis. This is all despite the fact there are bins within 10-20 metres walking distance. It really is the height of obnoxiousness and ignorance. It definitely also occurs at PL stadiums too, less depressing to know that somebody will at least be paid to clean it up. Sunderland's issue appears to be that their stadium acts as a kind of wind vortex that turns it all into various litter tornados.

I'm not talking about the side's balance in terms of coaching on every given matchday but the balance of their squad. Palace's squad building has been all over the place. We may not have much quality up top but we at least have 4 forward players. Palace have left themselves woefully short there and between the sticks, plus have persisted with players like Ward and Delaney for years who are bottom 6 Championship players IMO. Look at their result tonight with a second string outfit; that's down to more than a manager who can't set up a side - it's down to short termism and a lack of plan at board level.

Big game in the Romanian Cup tomorrow night as Poli Timisoara take on Poli Timisoara.

Was a good game between Inter and Samp. Praet was good, although I'm still not sure where we'd planned on playing him.

I don't see how any of this relates to my post tbh, you're making a different, much wider point that I hadn't touched upon at all. You said this: Then listed a handful of players to support that point. There's no doubt they have some players that would get a game for us, as I'd image most clubs in the league do. On the whole though, their team/squad is one of the weakest and most imbalanced in the division.

I'd without doubt like 2-3 of their individual players, but I wouldn't in a million years support a hypothetical squad swap, and that's Palace's issue.

That is a simplistic argument though. Benteke might be a good striker but he cost them £32 million, hasn't scored a goal this season and is now crocked leaving them without a centre forward to play. They do have some 'high value' players, but they have been signed at the cost of improving the squad overall. Spending their entire summer budget on Sakho and leaving clear holes throughout the squad was another example of bad management. Their squad is patchy and unbalanced and it's arguably the main reason they're struggling, even moreso than the manager(s).

Palace have some good players, but it's a very unbalanced squad. Big money signings playing alongside crap and Championship fodder. The fact they have no striker at the moment and 38 year old Speroni in goal shows the disaster of their team building.

Bristol City (h) Bolton (h) Boro (a) Millwall (h) A more favourable set of fixtures coming up you could not imagine. If they're still in the relegation zone after that lot, then yes they'll be struggling all year. I can see a couple of wins in there though.

Aye Firminho doesn't have much fret. Difficult to find a striker with great all-round game and gets goals. Firmino.

Not to derail the thread immediately after it's returned to tracks but Icardi hasn't been that great for the whole time he's been at Inter. Plenty of Inter supporters were not entirely convinced by him until very recently. He's a good poacher but not a great allround player. He's not a patch on what Cavani was in Italy for example. This is probably the first season where his game has taken a convincing step forward. If I was a manager I wouldn't pay the money it would cost to sign him from Inter, and I don't think he's good enough for top level sides, hence why he's stayed there. This might change this season.

I'm truly envious of the talents of Joel Ward.

Can somebody please DM me a way to watch this fucking game.

Watford

Hero.

So apparently the Columbus fans won't even be able to get a refund on their 2018 season tickets, even though 'their' team will likely be upping sticks to Texas the following year

Hopp Schwiiz

Officially up for sale

International football is entertaining to me. It throws up great drama and stories worth following if you're sad enough to do so. Probably enjoy it far more than the CL, although I guess I'm in the minority on that front. England qualifying campaigns are monumentally dull, however.

See other thread

UEFA for all it's faults is by far the best of the confederations. I like the qualifying system for providing plenty of games against varying opposition and improving weaker teams, and this will provide a whole host more of competitive fixtures for teams and the opportunity for them to gradually improve. One of the biggest problems for the other confederations is the lack of games the smaller nations get to play, which restricts development, stops them building sides and can even mean better players won't bother to turn up or will switch if they have dual citizenship. UEFA has an advantage because of the geography and the wealth of it's member FAs, but it's still good that it reinforces this advantage.

Also a big fan of the branding. Heavy Greenland flag vibes.