dmayne7

Yet another reason why it doesn't work. Should be a minimum of a 5 year cycle otherwise it's basically take a punt on trying to get CL football/promotion etc. and if you don't, a fire sale for 2 years although you can't really do that because of book value (yet another stupid criteria as actually stops clubs from selling unwanted assets).

I hope that if we get a striker in, he does still mix it up like he used to by going on the outside or dinking those crazy dipping crosses in. Shooting looks to have improved but it's that fact he can cut inside and score screamers, beat a man on the outside or inside and that he has a really unique delivery, as a combination that makes him so ridiculously good.

Got a massive ceiling in terms of potential but physically he's just not there yet. Looked absolutely spent at the start of the second half which is understandable for a fairly wiry 16/17 year old (still haven't cracked the mystery of how old he is!)

That's one of the reasons I find to hard to hate him, even if he's been rubbish. The performance on the pitch is obviously the most important factor, but their personality does carry a little weight. And he's somebody that definitely tries. Hopefully a run of games will get more out of him

He really is. Did you not see how he got absolutely burned at Preston by a guy who's not exactly known for his pace. Had a good game but him being in the side does naturally create problems. You have to play a bit deeper and when you combine that with a negative central midfield pairing and Ayew dropping so deep, it just allows other teams to really pin you back as we saw tonight.

Think it's the kind of performance where if he was playing alongside a more dynamic or creative midfielder it would get a lot more praise from some. Don't really remember him making many mistakes, used the ball well in tight areas and scrapped. Personally thought it was a better performance than Soumare who will always seem a bit more impressive when he had a good game (which he did) because of the physicality.

Wasn't actually very good before the goal but looked purely like rustiness. Took the goal really well. Re the red card, I actually don't think that he was that lucky. Gets the ball and I don't think you'd deemed that excessive force either

Daka has made a massive difference

Brilliant defending by Skipp (not sure how it wasn't a foul)

Except it does. Depressing as that may be, it will immediately get us higher up the pitch

Problem is, so many of these players encourage you to sit deep for different reasons; Vestergaard, Soumare, Ayew

That first shoulder barge was probably a yellow alone. Official's are just so weak.

What I was going to say. Quality fans

Sorry, meant he wasn't involved when Silko Thomas was. I get your thinking about that being a better pathway for a young player like him but he has traditionally been a 10 and we only have 1 of those in the squad whereas we've got plenty of wingers. MC even said he saw him as a 10

Wasn't in the squad last week when Thomas and Wanya were. If he's heading out on loan to a lower league than last year, that's such a stupid move. One of the better players in pre season as well. Page isn't a 10, whereas that's Alves' natural position.

Alves must have pissed Marti off to not even be on the bench.

Very strange but wonder if it's because he's had quite a lot of first team exposure here so they're taking it easy with him? In terms of his stock, it's higher than pretty much all those other forwards (maybe not Dowman), so it's not like he's going under the radar.

You're not wrong on either count but don't forget that he was brought in to be the long term Vardy replacement, who was doing exactly that before the style of play transitioned. He's been rubbish but circumstances have never really gone in his favour.

Straight out of the Patson playbook that one. Plenty of effort but no end product.

Would get overrun down the flanks without full backs/wing backs and the middle with the lack of physicality. Realise we can't really pick a team that covers all bases so it's got to be one or the other.

Hearing but are you actually listening?

I think the people that do that role are generally some of the nicest people you'll meet. Often their failings are caused but the environment they work in, rather than their own lack of compassionate or empathy. I vaguely knew (through my uncle), Peter Jones, the ex ref who also did that job for a while. He was genuinely the nicest bloke I think I've ever met. As a kid he randomly sent me loads of swag from when he reffed some international matches and when we traveled up to a home game once, he took me in the club shop and bought me a shirt. Obviously, those are things in a personal capacity but I think it shows the mindset of these guys. One of the very last connections to the traditional culture/way football used to be as a supporter.

You actually believe that's what he's threatened?

F*** me, you must be good. Can't you offer yourself to the club?