Chelmofox

Selective amnesia, and benefiting from a period of not playing. The guy will offer nothing.

In what way do they play better football?

Just realised Harborough Town play Chelmsford in the FA Trophy. Fun fixture for me!

This all sounds eerily familiar.....

Says it all about what?

What VAR is actually there for. Shame we have to put of with the rest of the crap that comes with it.

I couldn't quite reconcile it with myself when I was writing it. I can't work out if i am deluded or forward thinking. I've been horribly ill with the nastiest cold i've had for years, so that's probably clouding my judgement. Maybe need to give it a few more games

One banger and no one will shut up about him.

That’s the worst angle to make any judgement on and shouldn’t be used in any argument at all. I presume they don’t have an image from above the ball or directly to the side, so just went with the Lino’s call? If they don’t have the correct equipment to check, they shouldn’t pretend they are checking at all.

Most of us thought we would have a slow start after the slightly chaotic pre season. Enzo has worked wonders, and the players have bought into him and the system, and he has got the best out of them. I love his energy and attention to detail. He is showing unbelievable focus. The start has given us the best possible foundation to get back to where be belong. Sadly, my socials are full of plonkers who are calling Enzo Poundland Pep. After the game people behind me saying ‘this system was always going to get us into trouble’. There are people who couldn’t wait for us to lose so they could have a good whinge. Don’t know if there are people still bitter about Brendan or if there is something else at play. I think a lot of people don’t appreciate how good this start has been. I think we need to move on from talk of breaking records etc and just get what we need to get done for automation promotion. Look at historical promotions and you see teams who have lost 10 games, or drawn a huge amount. We are going to drop points. What matters is picking up again after defeats and not doing what Norwich and Coventry have done. Teams are going to get it tactically right against us from time to time. Right now, we don’t need to panic and abandon the system/process, but use it as a foundation to learn. If we go on a horrible non winning run, then I will agree that Enzo will need to make changes, but right now I just don’t see it. On a separate note, although the result was depressing, as a game of football I actually enjoyed the Leeds game more than any other I’d been to this season. I’ve seen some absolute dirge at the KP this season (looking at you Bristol and Preston) so it was actually nice to see a competitive match. I could appreciate how Leeds came at us and that they defended well. We need more competitive games. Enzo needs more competitive games. In a way I hope this gives other teams the confidence to have a go.

Yeah of course, but Vards was a bit of a freak I just think in that age bracket you need to be pretty confident they can step up, unless you pay peanuts for them like we did with Vardy. Not sure what sort of fee QPR would want for him, but if you can spend £5-8 million for him it could be a good value but if they try to drag us in the the £12-15 mil bracket i would be a little concerned. I still think January is an interesting window. I think, certainly with Alves and Braybrook potentially being available next year, we have a squad that should get promoted without adding anything really. Maybe Daka out and someone more creative in. The question for me is do we buy championship level players who we feel have a higher ceiling, buy established championship players, or take risks on players we know are ready for the PL but will cost more. We also have to start thinking long term with Vardy, Nacho, Ndidi, Vestergaard and Praet all out of contract at the end of the season.

Suppose it depends if we think he has got what it takes to transition to the PL - he's 26 now so does he still have the ability to progress? I thought he looked good against us as well mind you. My issue with the January window is should we be buying Championship level players, or should we be looking for younger you can progress? I think it's going to be a tough window to crack.

I said previously that Casadei is behind Wilf in the pecking order, and should be part of the rotation. The problem we have at the moment is with some injuries to Yunus and Wilf Casadei is the defacto first choice. He is going to blow hot and cold and proved against Sunderland he can develop and is good enough. As opposed to Praet who has shown very little (except for a cross in the Cov game) but has also shown very little desire to put a shift in for Leicester. Little point talking about Praet at the moment any way, because even when he is over his injury he isn't going to be match fit. Praet isn't the solution. With Casadei, develop correctly and he could well click into place for the 2nd half of the season and be much more consistent. That's why you continue to play him. He wasn't the only player that struggled against Leeds.

Praet is clearly benefiting from a period of injury and some selective amnesia. He’s provided enough stinkers in his time and I’d rather be developing Casadei. Praet too has shown he struggles when pressed hard, can go completely anonymous and is made of glass.

You take that attitude then every loanee is screwed before they have kicked a ball. Sunderland wasn't the only game where he showed promise, but was the best we have seen him. He has definitely blown hot and cold but he is here to develop - end of. Every player developers at different rates and can inconsistent at this age and your Leeds fullback might go on and have 3 or 4 terrible games now. That game yesterday was a big step up from U20's football. I still think he isn't no 1 choice anyway, and Wilf comes back in when he is fit. Also think if Wilf was off to Forest we would have sought after first choice enforcements. I would rather make a firmer conclusion about Casadei about March time.

Sorry - you are making things up there that don't ring true unless you have facts to back that up. I don't dispute his attitude at all, and if his goal is to get into the Premier League or the Chelsea team then he will know the commitment and the work that needs to go into it. I've seen nothing to suggest his heart isn't in anything. It's a learning process, that's all, and games like yesterday are ones for more experienced heads and he currently fell short. For a 20 year old loanee i think thats reasonable, as long as he shows improvement along the way. The part that disappoints me is that Enzo emphasised his box to box abilities and we didn't really see much of that.

Cos they are Arsenal?

So a poor purchase then? Doesn't look like someone who is going to improve ready for the PL imo.

So people think he should leave . Boggles my mind. Enzo didn't get it right for sure, but he has got more right than wrong this season and i'm sure he spends a good chunk of this weekend and Seagrave researching where the fine margins were lost rather than just winging about 'Quality and Intensity' like his predecessor did.

Brighton manage it. If promoted, year 1 will be tough for sure, but i think saying you need Man City's squad just to get through it is wide of the mark.

In the first half yes. After they scored they doubled up on him and he ran out of steam, which is hardly surprising. That move when he hit the bar was top drawer stuff. Needs more respect than you are giving it.

Depends if you are still learning your trade or are the finished artcle. Fatawu is on loan and is 19 years old, and learning and getting better and better. Suggest in 2 years he will be pulling birds you can only dream of.

I think so too. He's only 20 and there is a reason he is on loan to a Championship club. The issue for us is when we have to use him as our first option. Although he was poor, he needs games like yesterday for his learning and I am sure long term it will do him good. He still looked skilful on the ball, but he struggled with the pace and being pressed quickly. He struggled to read 1-2's and couldn't get into good positions. If he was the finished article, he wouldn't be on loan. We asked a lot of him yesterday and the reality is he wasn't quite ready for it.

People need to move on from Praet. He isn't the answer to any of the questions.