when_you're_smiling

I’ve always thought *checks notes* West Brom should be charged for their reckless spending. Ruining the beautiful game with their money.

About 8,000 they reckon over the first two days. Incredible the footfall Surrey get.

Well only if you don’t count inflation and a while host of other factors. It’s all relative. They bought Chris Sutton for a British transfer record £5m. The equivalent would be us buying someone for £126m.

Blackburn were the biggest spenders in the league when they won it and got relegated three years later.

Fair. My short memory had completely forgotten that….. I stand by it though in the hope he now goes and hits a double century.

Both. It’s like playing an international side. Probably 10 current internationals playing for them. Will be interested to see who plays and whether Ahmed is in as a batter or Budinger if Hill is dropped. Surely you will play both overseas and won’t want two spinners at The Oval? Doubt Surrey will play one.

Eurgh. Should come with a trigger warning.

That probably is everyone. Lincoln’s full wage bill for the year in 2025 was £4.7m, just £84k a week! They’re going to be above us next year!

This. It’s another problem of the recruitment, particularly with regards the loss of N’Didi who we struggled on set pieces without in the past.

Slagged him off when he came on in the match thread, so only fair should praise him for being the only one who looked like they gave a **** today. Not sure how good a thing that is though as he’ll probably start the next game now.

Well, that’s given everyone a lift.

Is this our good half?

Almost like we’re shit you mean.

It’s the kind of article that’s been written countless times since the first £1m footballer and then again when the Prem came in. You’d think the bubble would have to burst at some point, and yet it keeps going and going.

They were still pretty good players though. It wasn’t just fluke and momentum. You can get by the odd weaker player with a well drilled side and game plan, hence Thomas being in a top six side. - If your whole defence and every striker you’ve got isn’t good enough you’ve little chance of even gaining momentum. How can you have a game plan when you’re going to concede on average two a game, and that’s even with good strikers.

You’re comparing Ayew, Daka, Skip and Thomas to the likes of Vardy, Drinkwater, Kante and Fuchs?

You said they should be better than Millwall currently. So second. I’ve not seen anyone say it’s the worst squad in the league (though it’s statistically and probably the worst defence bar Sheff Weds’ kids).

If you really still think the problem is the manager (and has been with the last six or seven managers we’ve had), and that an attack led by Ayew/Daka and with that defence is good enough to be in the top two, you are delusional.

You’d be a terrible scout if you only judged players on their team’s current form only. Given that why would you be thinking our lot should be in the top two above Millwall. You haven’t said which of our players would improve the likes of Millwall/Wrexham. James/Fatawu maybe, their fans might even disagree with that though.

What? What have Norwich and Southampton got to do with the quality of the players we have?

And if you were in Millwall or Wrexham’s shoes which of our players would you want?

Was going to go watch City yesterday, but went down cricket instead. Great day and they showed plenty of battle to drag it back from 200-2 to bowl them out for 360. Shame about the easiest catching chances going down but hopefully they will look to match their total with some sensible batting today.

Nah, that 07/08 team were much better defensively. This is definitely the worst defence we’ve ever had.

Might have signed him with the rules around subs being allowed to bowl in mind.

Even Brazil v Morroco…if everyone in the group beats Haiti and draws against each other then they all qualify anyway. Even Scotland should qualify really.