Shambles

Cameras just showed Page and Chaplin at the game. Maybe Page just wasn’t picked for footballing reasons and not the transfer speculation? 🤷‍♂️

I thought one of the more alarming comments from Russell Martin’s press conference yesterday was: “There will be some players on the pitch that have had a difficult time here over the last couple of years. So we’re going to give them a platform to show the better version of themselves.” That immediately made me think we’re going to see a few names today that most of us would probably rather have moved on by now. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if there are one or two selections in the XI that cause a bit of a meltdown on here, and rightfully so. We never learn!

My concern is that the signing of Chaplin will stifle Alves’ chances of cementing a regular starting berth. Chaplin certainly hasn’t dropped down to League One football to sit on the bench. They are both seen to best effect in the ACM position in my opinion. I appreciate it’s a 46-game season + cup games, but it is still a concern nevertheless. For me, this should be the breakout season for Alves.

I voted yay purely on the basis that before Marti took over, Kingy had integrated the youngsters, was committed to playing them in friendlies, had them fit, and the players looked like they were ready to fight for him albeit an inference from the handful of training videos, interviews, and friendlies. I admit that it is clearly a risk, mind.

Number 6, Neale, looks very tidy on the ball, technically ahead of the majority of the others, and can get out of tight spaces. He reminds me a lot of KDH. Anyone know much about him?

Keller Ricardo Walsh Elliott Guppy Cambiasso Kante Izzett Mahrez Vardy Heskey Honourable mentions to Joachim, Lennon, Fuchs, Captain Morgan, Poole (GK), and G. McAllister.

Ally Mauchlen

Tom Wilson-Brown looks an absolute unit. That pass to Justin for the shot was a peach!

Enzo, we miss you.

His game yesterday, and it was some performance with some absolute worldies!

Most of the highlight compilations on YouTube are dated so I had a look at some of Troyes recently match highlights to attain a more accurate reflection of his current ability. He is number 21 in this video and scores goals, 1 and 3. https://youtu.be/N3ND1Ya6g6g

Ruud said pretty much the same. Full interviews for both are below:

To Magic!’s Rude: Why you gotta be so Ruud, don’t you know I’m blueeee too. Why you gotta be so Ruud, I’m gonna sing this anyway.

The Walsall fullback, Connor Barrett, looks a tidy player. A quick search revealed he’s a local lad who was with us before we let him go. 🤦‍♂️

Filip Benkovic - £13m. 🤯

I think that goes to Aman Verma 👍 Edit: I don’t think he broke into the first team, I stand corrected.