MrBlack

They won't do this because they can't play him this season as he won't get a permit for them. They would have done it already if they had a buyer after him that they could then sell on to, but doing it last minute this window will not happen.

Just can't see Traore starting if he hasn't played 90 minutes (or indeed any minutes) since July as was reported in his thread. If anyone has details of him playing some friendlies (and he was registered in time) then I'd start him too.

I agree with this but not sure our owners will be that patient. He has had an astounding amount of financial backing, and a poor start could be curtains. I too hope Dean has learnt from some of the slow reactions to the match unfolding, and given we should have a few more options on the bench hopefully it will give him the confidence to change it up sooner. Still need a rotational CDM option for me, assuming Cash is being targeted as a right back. For what it's worth I hope they give him a third of the season if the performances are good, regardless of how the results of the first run of games go (obviously if we lose 5+ in a row then I reserve the right to review that comment but hoping that's pretty unlikely)

Think we'll see this team, good guess if so! Traore to come off the bench assumimg he's eligible For the record, I'd go with Fred over Cash if it was me picking.

I think given his lack of recent playing time we won't see him starting against Sheffield Utd and it would be a shocking indictment on our other options if he did. A sub appearance, followed by a week of training and he'll be starting next weekend no doubt, but throwing him in without having played a game for over 2 months would be madness, if only from a risking injury perspective.

Thanks. Injury always stood a chance of doing that. I assume then that we're not forcing a recovery and to allow the time needed it means we write him off for this season and seek an alternative option. Has anyone ever come back from such a lengthy layoff?

Based on their performance tonight and the subs they've made, palace really dont need him. United on the other hand...

What did the pay per view article say about Wesley other than expected back next year? Quotes or sources to suggest its more than just pure speculation on their part?

Yes, but he's not that sort of player. Twunt

Whilst totally deserved that does hinder our hopes of keeping him next season... if he plays for Brazil it is one less blockage to his work permit. Still, maybe we can persuade him to stay even if City come back with their millions.

This is the AEG I have stuck in my memory, having seen much more of us in that seasom than I have in the Prem. It is where my C.Ronaldo comparisons came from at the time. Seriously, certain clips where he is running with the ball, at a distance you would swear it was CR. I fully accept he has not done it consistently, even in that season, was doing it against Championship level opposition, and has not demonstrated that ability very much since then. Its such a shame as I'm convinced he could be brilliant, but maybe a season without Abraham on the end of his crosses, in a tougher league, playing on his non favoured side has destroyed his confidence. Whether he can get it back is a big question, and based on his performance against Burton it appears there is still a long way to go. If we're the club that is on the up like we feel we are, we should be able to get those performances out of AEG again.

Yep. I believe it was definitely us on Watkins given the price, although still expect him to be well worth that fee. Be interesting to see what happens with Rashica...

My guess is that we needed (or felt we needed) Watkins more than we do a player like Rashica. It was clear our strikers on current form were not up to the task of starting this season. The wingers arguably weren't either, but Trez ended the season ok and playing him and Grealish in our first game wouldn't be the end of the world. Playing those two with Samatta or Davis up front and you can kiss goodbye to any points until we got Watkins in. With Watkins we held out as long as possible before acquiesing to Brentford's demands. They would want him to have some game time before our first PL match. With Rashica we have more leeway so we are less movable. Presumably, once deadline day looms we'll be more willing to flex, as would WB if noone else has come in in the interim. Still expect this to happen assuming the ITK Rigo was info was accurate.

Time to be an exception...for the right reasons!

Auba for Arsenal is a somewhat comparabale situation in respect of player ability and the fact its a resigning rather than a new signing. But they have to temper their joy by the fact that he was paid for by laying off 55 non playing staff. Feels good to be us at the moment, for a change

I have no idea who Stacey is, or who that is a picture of (I think I missed the post where this was explained amongst the 306 other pages), but i welcome your continued use of it. And your ITK knowledge of course.

You better have been right.

Always wondered what that line said, thanks!

But you started this thread? So you knew about him the split second you clicked post? I'm suspicious.

Just on the topic of his miss, am I the only one that thought he did everything he could with it? The ball was traveling to him at speed over a very short distance. He lifted his striking foot so that the risk of ballooning the strike was minimal. The ball bobbled at the moment before impact and hit the top of his foot sailing over the bar. Had he assumed there would be a bobble, and raised his foot any higher, he risked scuffing it or doing an air shot as his foot would have been too high to connect if it stayed on the floor. I get we were at Burton, but the pitch looked pretty good given it is the start of the season. Dont particularly hold the miss against him, but just assuming he should score because he's so relatively close to the goal is a bit one dimensional for me. If he says or has said he should have done better himself I'll retract the above.

Welcome Emi, very optimistic about this signing. That interview is perfection. Its a shame for Heaton that injuries at perfectly bad times have destroyed what could have otherwise been an excellent career and excellent last few years to his career. Still slim hope for him if he recovers, but fear his next step will be down the leagues. And he's still getting paid a wedge so sure it softens the blow at this point. Great signs for us as a club with this signing

For me he is definitely a good character to have around the dressing room, but not at the cost of someone who can perform a role on the pitch. He needs to be moved on, I would be very worried about our one dimensional offence if he had to play a part in the league this season. His assist was all down to Jack, and even then he nearly managed to mess it up.. if only Burton had any defenders left that hadn't got sucked into Grealish's mesmerising skill. Aside from the assist he was his usual poor self, destroying attacks before they got going. He did do one decent covering job, but that was against Burton! Against a PL side I feel he's a risk too far, offering nothing going forwards and inviting more attacks against us. Wish him well, and agree with those who day he has been a great servant, but he should absolutely be sold, and makes me wonder why they haven't looked for a new LB (assuming of course that one doesn't arrive in the next few weeks). Don't agree we should play Guilbert at left back over him though, unless he has a history of playing there i don't know about.

Turning right.. go for it Going straight on? Give way to those turning right Turning left? Ha, good luck I like it. Not sure how we translate that to our front 3. Maybe you have to do 270 degree right turns before you're allowed to cut inside from the right wing?

I wonder if he is an absolutely lethal finisher in training and they were just bemused that he finally did something in a real game. He definitely has 90% of the attributes he needs. I pray he gets some composure and kicks on from here.

Dean Smith in the post match interview : "I've seen a few no look passes but not sure I've seen any no look receives before" Hahaha