1 minute ago, forbzy said:

If we do decide to sell Conor in the summer to bring in some funds for FFP, then who takes his place in the team (assuming we don't have the funds to bring in a replacement)? I ask because the obvious options seem to be constantly injured?

I'm sure there's a Peruvian 17 year old that some Serie B club must be willing to offload for £45m with 15 senior games to his name. 

10 minutes ago, forbzy said:

If we do decide to sell Conor in the summer to bring in some funds for FFP, then who takes his place in the team (assuming we don't have the funds to bring in a replacement)? I ask because the obvious options seem to be constantly injured?

I'm really hoping Chukwuemeka can sort his injury issues ... he'd be an ideal #10 ... 

If he can't, I guess Palmer plays there, and then we move the problem position to RW LOL.

22 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I'm really hoping Chukwuemeka can sort his injury issues ... he'd be an ideal #10 ... 

If he can't, I guess Palmer plays there, and then we move the problem position to RW LOL.

Agreed with you on Chucky but currently he falls under the unreliable category because of injuries. I certainly wouldn't want to go into a season hoping for him to stay healthy given the experience this year. Andre Santos and Casadei would be the other names that spring to mind but both are very raw. Not sure whether Cole Palmer is the right fit for a midfield role of this type but worth a try.

51 minutes ago, Gonoir Beniashile said:

Totally agree - Conor cannot be starting as our number 10, he just isn't good enough at finishing. Keep him as a centre mid and let him compete with Enzo and Caicedo.

Honestly think the players have a confidence issue in front of goal. Gallagher can do it, he can score, but probably hasn't scored enough to convince himself he can. Honestly think there is confidence issue with the squad. Simply put, we need to be braver at spanking the ball towards goal from outside the box or making better decisions to have a pop. Here's an interesting stat: 

 

Some of you need to come to terms Gallagher isn't this goal scoring midfielder you believe him to be. 

 

24 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Some of you need to come to terms Gallagher isn't this goal scoring midfielder you believe him to be. 

 

Think he'll still get his fair share. Certainly more than others in recent seasons - Jorginho, Kovacic, RLC, Caicedo and probably Enzo too.

1 hour ago, Nibs said:

Think he'll still get his fair share. Certainly more than others in recent seasons - Jorginho, Kovacic, RLC, Caicedo and probably Enzo too.

Those midfielders you mentioned aren't playing as the 3rd man, the one who's supposed to be further up the pitch being the spare attacker. 

Gallagher might have superb workrate, but he offers little else going forward. 

2 hours ago, Victor90 said:

Those midfielders you mentioned aren't playing as the 3rd man, the one who's supposed to be further up the pitch being the spare attacker. 

Gallagher might have superb workrate, but he offers little else going forward. 

We used to have midfielders who contributed so much. Going back a good few seasons now but when you think of Lamps, Ballack, Joey Cole, Essien, Ramires - even Oscar. What I was getting at is since then, our goals from midfield have pretty much dried up, naming the players I did. At least Gallagher is contributing - so far not with the numbers we'd like, but still better than what we have had for a while and the numbers are improving as the season goes on. To say he offers little going forward is just not accurate.

12 hours ago, Nibs said:

We used to have midfielders who contributed so much. Going back a good few seasons now but when you think of Lamps, Ballack, Joey Cole, Essien, Ramires - even Oscar. What I was getting at is since then, our goals from midfield have pretty much dried up, naming the players I did. At least Gallagher is contributing - so far not with the numbers we'd like, but still better than what we have had for a while and the numbers are improving as the season goes on. To say he offers little going forward is just not accurate.

It took him until February to get his first goal Nibs, meanwhile, Emzo has scored 7 goals this season, 4 more than Gallagher. And that's with Gallagher playing higher up the pitch most of the season. Caicedo also scored a banger that should've been allowed against Spurs, so I think he's got it in him he just doesn't shoot often. Conor scored a beauty last season, but his finishing has been awful this season. He's definitely improved this year, but he's playing at the highest level he can play at, and that's still so many levels below Mason Mount who even when he wasn't on the best of form he could still contribute. 

I'm not saying you're wrong in your point about us no longer having goalscoring midfielders anymore, but using Gallagher as a flex when it comes to goals isn't really one of the strongest points you can make. I would say he should be doing far better than Enzo and Caicedo when it comes to scoring goals. 

On 27/02/2024 at 10:19, olderschoolcfc said:

Crespo was a next level player. Sadly, his wife or family didnt settle in UK and we were robbed of his talent. That was the wider point I was making about Argentinians in the Premier League. 

Think we just have to be patient with Jackson. He has some really good attributes and will improve and be better next season. He needs confidence... probably better understanding with the midfielders who dont really supply him. 

If I were Poch, I'd drop Gallagher into the engine room ahead of Enzo, try Nkunku in his position. Willing to give Nkunku benefit of the doubt given his injuries but if we have another S**t show with him next year movie him on in January. Personally think It may help Gallaghers goal scoring if he is arriving into the the box late wouldn't mind seeing it. 

Anyhow, next game coming up shortly. Let's all get behind the players and manager and make the bridge rock on home games. Im sure the players will respond positively. remember the away fans at palace and Disasi? we need more scenes like that. end of. 

 

 

We've already tried this many times this season with Gallagher and it can never work. It's been said so many times now but to play that role, you need to have positional discipline, and Gallagher severely lacks this. He gets a sniff of the ball and he is chasing it like a dog. He can't help himself. It doesn't matter if it leaves his midfield partner exposed, it doesn't matter if he leaves massive holes for the opposition to take advantage of. He's chasing that ball and the opposition player the moment they get anywhere near him.

The opposition has used this to their benefit every single game that Gallagher has played there. The opposition let Gallagher think he can win the ball, they draw him in, pulling him out of position for one of their players to fill. Even if Gallagher wins the ball now and again, the opposition will be fine with that because they know that eventually Gallagher won't be able to win that ball, and when he doesn't, they've beaten his press and taken out our entire midfield. This sets off a domino effect, the players panic and all of a sudden, full backs and CB's are on the back foot, wingers are needing to drop deep and Gallagher is chasing back at full speed trying to make up ground he lost. 

It only takes a single player in the team to destroy a teams shape, and Gallagher in that deeper role is that player. We saw the exact same thing when it came to our defence when David Luiz was around.

Edited February 28, 20242 yr by Scott Harris

The one young player our owners want to sell carrying us yet again.

If I am going to criticise him, it's only right to praise him when he does well. That goal was excellent. A great touch and a great finish. That is where he is more dangerous and can help the team, not all of this headless chicken chasing players all over the pitch.

Great goal to win the game tonight. Credit  to him where it is due.

Much more valuable player for the team than he gets credit for. If only he'd have played for Brighton on be Argentinian we would value him north of £100m.

 

What a goal! It's taken half a season of regular football with us and now it looks like it's all coming together for him in front of goal. He's showing the goalscoring potential a lot of us have seen in him, he's getting into dangerous positions and showing some class finishing. Important goals too!

Just offer him the contract he deserved and get it over with. I don't understand why we couldn't renew him, he's keen ( or at least interested) to stay,  he's not asking for Sterling kind of money, the team needed him despite his flaws, and he's near the peak of his career. Unless everytime the ownership sees him, all they see is pure profits with a big $ sign.

1 minute ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Just offer him the contract he deserved and get it over with. I don't understand why we couldn't renew him, he's keen ( or at least interested) to stay,  he's not asking for Sterling kind of money, the team needed him despite his flaws, and he's near the peak of his career. Unless everytime the ownership sees him, all they see is pure profits with a big $ sign.

I think it's obvious why, we need to make money to avoid problems with FFP. There was always going to be risks spending the insane amounts we have spent, and we are now seeing those risks. It's only going to get worse if don't make Europe at the end of next season, may even need to be Champions League football, but I can't see how we improve that much.

I wonder when he's winning games like that, if the board is happy we win, and Conor saves the day again for the club.... or do they think each one is just another £5mil on top of a sale? That's the mentality they've got the fans into now!

I love how Gallagher just keeps going and going... The misses against Liverpool hurt him but he's such a good professional and he keeps working hard, to see the good guy win is really nice.

I feel like nobody wants him to leave the club, not the fans, not the teammates. It would feel like a big blow if the owners still decide that he's not a good enough piece of the project...

35 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think it's obvious why, we need to make money to avoid problems with FFP. There was always going to be risks spending the insane amounts we have spent, and we are now seeing those risks. It's only going to get worse if don't make Europe at the end of next season, may even need to be Champions League football, but I can't see how we improve that much.

That's the point right, it's all part of the repair job for the billion dollar spending they had. Made some profit and that's wonderful, but football won't get better just because we made money off Gallagher. Southampton made tons of profits selling their best, look at where they are now.

Just now, icecoolguy22 said:

That's the point right, it's all part of the repair job for the billion dollar spending they had. Made some profit and that's wonderful, but football won't get better just because we made money off Gallagher. Southampton made tons of profits selling their best, look at where they are now.

It's not about making profit and improving the football, it's about avoiding FFP sanctions like Everton and Forest have received. 

38 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I think it's obvious why, we need to make money to avoid problems with FFP. There was always going to be risks spending the insane amounts we have spent, and we are now seeing those risks. It's only going to get worse if don't make Europe at the end of next season, may even need to be Champions League football, but I can't see how we improve that much.

Even if we did make a Champs League spot by some miracle this season I don't think that would help with the current FFP challenge. Any money would apply to next year's finances. Maybe it would help with some sponsorship deals. But ultimately if we do need to raise money by end of June, it will have to be through the sale of homegrown players for the net returns.

1 hour ago, Whats_The_Mata? said:

The one young player our owners want to sell carrying us yet again.

Let's hope if/when we get to Wembley he can "carry" us when the trophy is in sight this time.

Just now, forbzy said:

Even if we did make a Champs League spot by some miracle this season I don't think that would help with the current FFP challenge. Any money would apply to next year's finances. Maybe it would help with some sponsorship deals. But ultimately if we do need to raise money by end of June, it will have to be through the sale of homegrown players for the net returns.

We won't make it this season, there is next to zero chance of that happening, I was talking about the season after. But even if we do finish 4th next season and qualify for the Champions League, we're still going to run into the same issues we face at the end of this season. Even if we made it into the Europa League or Conference League at the end of this season, will either of those competitions pay out enough to help us avoid the same issues on June 30th 2025? I'm not so sure they do.

It’s really hard to believe he’s only scored 4 goals for us this season… It certainly feels more than that for some reason.