Adam2003

No probably about it, we definitely did. Leeds _probably_ came up because of it (as that presenter said and got dog’s abuse from their fans). But ours was definite.

I kind of rolled my eyes when Purslow said he was the best 16-year-old in the country but do you know what...

Really enjoyed watching that. Pleased for them. Wouldn’t surprise me to see the likes of Carney, Kesler etc getting some minutes next year. Long way to go to be fully established pros but bags of potential.

He looks class. Hope he gets first team minutes next year.

How much of a prospect is Brad Young? Don’t often hear him talked about alongside Barry, Carney etc but just watching the Youth Cup goals and he bagged a fair few.

Would love us to win this. Puts a nice marker down as to the quality of the kids. Still a long way to go to become consistent top-level players but it still matters.

I just can’t see why they would keep him when they were relegated then sell him when they get promoted.

This is a revision of history just FYI. Taking the knee as a gesture started as a protest in the NFL linked to the cause of racial justice but not specifically to BLM. The organisations Colin Kaepernick as the instigating individual supported with funding off the back of it included everything from Meals on Wheels to military veterans programmes. Obviously the organisation Black Lives Matter and the cause that ‘black lives matter’ end up very closely linked but that’s not even the name of what they are doing in the PL - it’s called No Room For Racism. I go back and forth on whether it has any value (I don’t see it changing much, but on the other hand the idea of a whole league repeatedly calling our racism would have been amazing not too long ago) but you’ve been conned if you have been told it’s some sort of support specifically of BLM the organisation. You might as well say every Blues fan is Conservative and every Arsenal fan votes Labour because of the shirt colour they wear to games.

There was more to your point than this so this isn’t disagreement in general, but: there isn’t a striker in football who does the harrying Watkins does.

Berge seems to massively split opinion. I haven’t seen enough of him - what sort of midfielder is he?

Zero chance Norwich sell Buendia now. Pereira maybe from the Baggies?

I think he will have asked to stay on for 90 so Southgate sees he can last a match.

I like Konsa too and I even think Hause is solid, though I wouldn’t want to see him in 38 games. Can’t remember us being as well stocked at centre back in ages across three positions... we do perhaps need a youngster/veteran as cover though if Engels is done.

Unfortunately I don’t find it hard to understand why some people would boo an anti-racism gesture. Sad, but not hard to understand. Some are racists, some are stupid and buy into the idea that opposing racism is woke or Marxist. Either way not much more you can do than feel sorry for them - no-one will change their minds. Good for Tyrone calling it out and good for our majority decent fans who drowned them out with applause.

As things stand we will likely play our £20m+ Brazilian striker. Or if Smith doesn’t think that’s a good option, he’ll need to sell him and then I agree we will need someone else.

I’d love to see a top quality winger come in who means Traore, El Ghazi and Carney/other kids are competing for a spot - i.e. Grealish could play wide with top quality winger to accommodate someone else at #10/in midfield, or Grealish could play central with new winger and Traore/El Ghazi wide. And Grealish needs to be able to miss some games as well so his shins can be a managed better. I am happy with Targett as a starter but would like to see a really exciting youngster challenging him or a backup who competes and runs him close. Likewise a right back unless Smith is happy with Guilbert as back up. That aside I’m just open to where Smith and co think they see ways to improve the team. We aren’t perfect in more than one or two positions, but we are pretty solid. Building the team into a squad will see us continue to climb.

So 12th July probably fielding a lot of bids for El Ghazi after he scores the winner in the final.

I felt this at the time but now knowing what he was going through with injuries and still apparently an amazing mentor to the young lads I have more time for him.

In the close season the angle is we aren’t great and shouldn’t expect much, it’s only during the season that dropping points is a disgrace

To be fair that draw against them was amongst the best we played all year. Ball just wouldn’t go in.

Well yes but it’s standard for all players now. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a proper slap as opposed to the ‘minimal contact’ someone said.

I mean I think he exaggerated it like they all exaggerate everything, but I do think it was a proper slap in the face. Would be a stinger from a lass in a bar.

Not a comment on the tracking back as such but the plan was clearly to keep it very central and let them ping in crosses all day knowing we had three big centre backs in the back four and a keeper who is comfortable with crosses. So the joy from the wing backs was mostly tactical I’d say. I’d have to watch again to see whether the tracking back was down to laziness or intended to help us counter but we definitely wanted them to be swinging in crosses.

Thought Nakamba was great today but amazed I’m only one of six to vote for Hause who I thought was excellent.

Agreed, he looks like a decent player to me.