Marmoset

I'll be in Italy during the world cup as my girlfriend is from there, was looking forward to the atmosphere and having a second team to support, bit gutted tbh.

It's almost as if sweeping stereotypes about a yes or no vote aren't 100% accurate

Someone's been reading too much goldilocks

It's mainly an age thing isn't it? I was born in 91 and I'm sure as a kid most of the talk of the greatest by adults veered more towards Pele than Maradona, now Pele gets discussed a lot less in comparison, and the 35+ group tends to sway towards Maradona and the younger group Messi.

Would have been a very good signing but they'd still be a very slow team.

Refreshing to see someone actually seemingly moving for footballing reasons though, instead of using the 'i want to play in x position' excuse then going to the highest bidder.

The whataboutery is pointless, Tooj is correct. You make your own luck/bad luck if you consistently give referees decisions to make.

Probably too many other positions need strong investment now but yeah, I'd be hoping next year we are looking at a hefty upgrade on him. I like the way he plays but there are far too many 'ifs' with him, and I doubt his mentality is going to change anytime soon. It's not just the cards, sometimes you can just see his head go and it negatively affects his performances too often.

They won't get closer to the title than the last 2 seasons for a while now imo. All very well saying they're young and will improve but with the new stadium and stuff they can't invest enough to maintain it, and will lose a first teamer or two each summer, and replacing them eventually will take its toll. Need to win something this season if they hope to build this team further imo.

Why?

Would be (mildly) interested to see what percentage of their signings actually make more than say 10 league appearances for them.

It's a human being with feelings, have some respect.

Don't imagine he's so loaded that £9m isn't still a fucking huge chunk like.

lot of truth in that mind. Can't remember the last time I watched Roma play a full 90 minutes, much less with totti starting. Imagine it's the same for a lot of people.

He was excellent, doesn't really wash with me that he looked good because he was in a good team, he was a large part of why those teams were good. He was hardly a passsenger.

He's not supremely talented though. He's a good physical specimen, who can occasionally spot a pass or cross, or lash one wildly. His technique was pretty shabby. Also isn't the smartest at making runs. Less lazy and more just simply not that good, so he couldnt always influence a game.

Agree with lfee. Not a great player, but he would often be the only one creating anything in our side. We've had a lot worse. Attitude seems to stink though, at least from the outside.

If we have the prediction polls in match threads next season, someone could tot up the points predicted to see how it compares. Would have been interested to see some of them from the past, would we have smashed 110 points this year or be in a relegation fight

And then the horror movie begins....

Guess just a bit more quality in depth I suppose, but that's quite hard to buy for.

Does feel like you need to win something next year. Arguably been the best team in the league for large patches of the last 2 years and will undoubtedly be strong again next season, but eventually players or managers leave, other teams get stronger etc. Hard to really pinpoint that extra 10% you're missing, the defence, keeper midfield and attack are all already really strong. No obvious weak links looking in from the outside.

Harsh on Gayle to say he's just a pure goalscorer imo. Does a lot of good work stretching defenders and making space.

Urgh.

I disagree.

Firmly in the not fussed bracket. The free kick was nice but pretty much a one off, he probably wont be taking them regularly and even if he is the chances of him scoring them very often if at all is pretty low. It's the overall play that counts and he's been very hit and miss. Depends on who else is available.