Sunbury Fox

I would not be surprised to see him back with us on loan in January. In fact, I'd love to see that. Feel really sorry for the lad as he was forced out to (hopefully) ensure we didn't fail PSR again.

Not sure that's true. Let's see which team he picks v Everton at home. I reckon he'll start with the same XI who started today, with Winks, Skipp and Ndidi in CM. If he does, given how Everton generally set up, I reckon both teams will retreat into their defensive third for 90 minutes and leave the ball on its own in the centre circle.

How did you think Ndidi did, out of interest?

That's totally on Cooper for several reasons: Allowed them to throw everyone forward because he took off so much of our attacking threat, they knew there was no risk. Just invited more and more pressure needlessly. Put on 2 subs who have had no football in months in Hamza and Coady and both looked totally off the pace, as shown by that stupid tackle by Coady. Replaced Ndidi with Hamza as a 10, WTAF when he has several far better options on the bench.

Get him gone. Clueless.

I want him gone, end of. This is ridiculous now. I seriously think we'll start games v Liverpool and Man City with no attacking players on the pitch.

I’m surprised that the kind of players at Chelsea would want to sign these deals, though. Such players would surely back themselves to get a couple of 5 year contracts on huge wages, as available at other clubs, rather than plump for the security of a v long contract on lower wages? Maybe not Nicholas Jackson but the likes of Palmer, Fernandez, etc.

Cooper must be gutted about that. No doubt he'll be the first sub on to the pitch, though, after landing at Heathrow on Saturday morning. Can't beat that PL experience, you know....

Going down with barely a whimper in this game. Really need to strengthen the bowling for next season to have any chance of winning many games.

Weren’t they given a special allowance that enabled them to stay within PSR thresholds last year, or did I dream that?!

Marked improvement compared to the late Southgate era. Utilising Trent properly, playing an actual winger on the left wing, and looking to be positive and move the ball quickly. Very promising signs.

I wonder if his goal output at Palace has been stunted by having played mainly under a defensive, ultra-cautious manager like Hodgson, who set up first and foremost not to lose. So coming to play under Steve Cooper should really be a boost for him. Oh....

Well, that's half a day of rain stopped play. Just need another 2 days now!

This surely can't be right. The "world famous" Notts Forest having fewer social media followers than Fulham?

Only chance of not losing this is if it rains for the next 2.5 days.

Important to have lots of PL experience in a big derby game....

The fact Ayew was first sub on to the pitch at Fulham the very next day after signing at about 11pm on the Friday night was very telling in that respect.

The big difference between Matip and Bertrand is that Matip has played pretty regularly over recent seasons for one of the best teams in the country, including in cup finals and big European games. If fit, he’s better than any of our centre backs by some distance, I think. I get the concerns about his injury record but that could be mitigated by a ‘pay if you play’ arrangement. Certainly wouldn’t want to be offering him a standard 2 year contract on 80k plus per week like we did Bertrand, of course.

You'd like to think so but can't say I trust the current regime.

So nothing to worry about then?

The Guardian now reporting that we could face a new PSR charge from the PL, with the club being asked to submit 23-24 accounts to the PL by the end of December under a new rule introduced in the summer. I don’t really understand how big an issue this, not least because for most of the 23-24 FY we were in the Championship.

Ha! It's true. Our story would be too far fetched for a TV drama!

Not sure they'll be dancing in the streets of Everton, Ipswich, Southampton and Nottingham about this outcome!

Better to be lucky than good! Seriously, this has to be the most surprising football news of the year! We are a truly bonkers club on every level!

I think we need a quality bowler if we’re going to have a chance of winning, rather than drawing, games.