12 minutes ago, loz said:

For me he is the clear and obvious candidate for the  'Being behind Palmer and Gallagher for player of the season.'

Wouldn't go that far, not entirely his fault but he's missed a lot of games this season. On a consistency basis throughout the whole season I would have Gusto and Caicedo ahead of him. 

9 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

Wouldn't go that far, not entirely his fault but he's missed a lot of games this season. On a consistency basis throughout the whole season I would have Gusto and Caicedo ahead of him. 

Couldn't agree on Caicedo. He has had a fair few howlers.  Gusto a fair shout 

Just now, loz said:

Couldn't agree on Caicedo. He has had a fair few howlers.  Gusto a fair shout 

He's definitely had his howlers I agree, but a lot of his good performances go under the radar I think. He's starting to get more credit, I think he's been a 6.5-7/10 this season on average. 

He's been playing almost every game and always puts the effort in, and he's done well considering the mess he's had to play with this season. I don't think any defensive midfielder would've found it easy in this team.

2 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

He's definitely had his howlers I agree, but a lot of his good performances go under the radar I think. He's starting to get more credit, I think he's been a 6.5-7/10 this season on average. 

He's been playing almost every game and always puts the effort in, and he's done well considering the mess he's had to play with this season. I don't think any defensive midfielder would've found it easy in this team.

Kante would have done it grand, then charged up front, covered the left and right flanks, put all the seats up in the canteen, jump started his mini, then pushed it home when it broke down...all by 5pm

2 minutes ago, loz said:

Kante would have done it grand, then charged up front, covered the left and right flanks, put all the seats up in the canteen, jump started his mini, then pushed it home when it broke down...all by 5pm

Yeah but it's Kante, Caicedo is still just 22. There's room for improvement, but I can't get onboard the narrative he's been rubbish. 

I think if it wasn't for the price tag he wouldn't get nearly enough criticism as he gets. 

Noni is doing great. So excited about the spirit we seem to be creating! Need to keep the team and manager together for next season!

10 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

Yeah but it's Kante, Caicedo is still just 22. There's room for improvement, but I can't get onboard the narrative he's been rubbish. 

I think if it wasn't for the price tag he wouldn't get nearly enough criticism as he gets. 

The price tag never helps. Hard to see beyond it sometimes but really have to. At the end of day they didn't negotiate their fee.

Baller! Last few games has been teriffic. Love watching him and he genuinely causes sheer fear in the opposition when he runs at them. Digne, Emerson Royal and Emerson Palmeri will be relieved their torment is over as the last three LB he has faced he has roasted them. Anyway, glad to know that people are finally changing their opinion on him after the bashing he got previously. He is only 22 and definitely will improve. 

Being sold to Newcastle it seems !!!

wtf are these owners doing it’s fecking disgusting 

4 minutes ago, Andy2461 said:

Being sold to Newcastle it seems !!!

wtf are these owners doing it’s fecking disgusting 

Unlikely. Only other RW we have. Will probably be sold next summer if he doesn't kick on this season though.

Funny, seems most of our better performers from last season are all for sale.... hmmm 

36 minutes ago, bluetrooper said:

Funny, seems most of our better performers from last season are all for sale.... hmmm 

Bar Cole Palmer.

Noni makes sense depending on price. It seems Willian and Paez have both been promised first team football so Noni would be behind them both next year, along with Cole.

1 hour ago, Andy2461 said:

Being sold to Newcastle it seems !!!

wtf are these owners doing it’s fecking disgusting 

Not a single reliable source.very unlikely to happen.

Don't care. He's sh*t.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Bar Cole Palmer.

Noni makes sense depending on price. It seems Willian and Paez have both been promised first team football so Noni would be behind them both next year, along with Cole.

The entire squad is in the shop window is how I see it. If the club isnt successful on the pitch, the owners will sell players and make it a profitable investment another way, a la Brighton. Brighton is a profitable club for its owner but not successful. 

I think it also problematic that two players can be guaranteed places in a starting 11 before they've even kicked a ball for us in any preseason. 

I dont have a strong affinity to the players weve signed so far, hence why im disappointed our best performers, youth products, who outplayed the newer imports last season are being potentially sold off. More than happy to give the benefit of the doubt to all the players and manager and see how it goes this year, but when a side in any division sells off its better or league-experienced players, it tends to expose deficiencies in other areas of the squad unless everyone steps up to be counted. 

this is a post I hope comes back to bite me and am proven very, very wrong. But I think there are warning signs ahead and im concenred. 

Just want the season to start now so we can find out. 

 

1 hour ago, bluetrooper said:

The entire squad is in the shop window is how I see it. If the club isnt successful on the pitch, the owners will sell players and make it a profitable investment another way, a la Brighton. Brighton is a profitable club for its owner but not successful. 

I think it also problematic that two players can be guaranteed places in a starting 11 before they've even kicked a ball for us in any preseason. 

I dont have a strong affinity to the players weve signed so far, hence why im disappointed our best performers, youth products, who outplayed the newer imports last season are being potentially sold off. More than happy to give the benefit of the doubt to all the players and manager and see how it goes this year, but when a side in any division sells off its better or league-experienced players, it tends to expose deficiencies in other areas of the squad unless everyone steps up to be counted. 

this is a post I hope comes back to bite me and am proven very, very wrong. But I think there are warning signs ahead and im concenred. 

Just want the season to start now so we can find out. 

 

Fair. End of the day all that matters is the owners making money. Whether that is player sales or of us customers.

Has been awful this pre season so far after such a good finish last season. Not sure if it’s down to him or the instructions from the manager but every time he’s cutting across the box when there’s so many defenders there or slowing the game down too much before driving to the byline too late and putting in a god awful cross. 

15 hours ago, Remodez said:

Unlikely. Only other RW we have. Will probably be sold next summer if he doesn't kick on this season though.

It's more unlikely because apparently we paid £29m for him and we're not getting anything like that for him any time soon.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Has been awful this pre season so far after such a good finish last season. Not sure if it’s down to him or the instructions from the manager but every time he’s cutting across the box when there’s so many defenders there or slowing the game down too much before driving to the byline too late and putting in a god awful cross. 

Pretty much his M.O. when he first arrived. Lots of possession, no end result. Lifted his game as last season went on but this, sadly, is a reversion. Temporary? Who knows? I see a lot of very, very confused players at the moment.

14 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Has been awful this pre season so far after such a good finish last season. Not sure if it’s down to him or the instructions from the manager but every time he’s cutting across the box when there’s so many defenders there or slowing the game down too much before driving to the byline too late and putting in a god awful cross. 

100%, he's not as decisive as he was towards the end of last season, just takes too long. I hope he can quickly get out of that before he turns into sterling's latter years.

 

12 hours ago, dermott said:

I see a lot of very, very confused players at the moment.

That's the impression I got towards the end of that second friendly. Everyone is lost. Not sure what and where to be. With a pinch of "mehhh, not bothered" 

Best player on the pitch tonight along with N'kunku.

If we had players who could actually finish decent chances, Madueke would have had 3 assists tonight. 

We would be feckin nuts to sell this kid.

4 minutes ago, just said:

Best player on the pitch tonight along with N'kunku.

If we had players who could actually finish decent chances, Madueke would have had 3 assists tonight. 

We would be feckin nuts to sell this kid.

Do you think he got a bit sulky after not taking the first pen? I felt he downed tools a bit but sparked up later.

1 hour ago, Simplymo said:

Do you think he got a bit sulky after not taking the first pen? I felt he downed tools a bit but sparked up later.

I doubt it. He always has a bit of that sulky look.

Again, not watched the full game but saw Maresca's post match. Was Noni fighting for a penalty again?

46 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Again, not watched the full game but saw Maresca's post match. Was Noni fighting for a penalty again?

Wouldn't say fighting, but he caused another conversation. From what the live feed it looked like he was debating with Nkunku and won the debate, with Reece even coming and taking Nkunku away. But then as Madueke put the ball down, Tosin came and had a very short word which ended up with Tosin taking the ball and giving it back to Nkunku and Madueke walking off. 

There had to be something in it, as I think Nkunku made a bit of a point of giving Noni the second pen. 

It's another case of him needing to manage how it looks, rather than the action itself being poor. It was definitely more civilised than the mess we saw last season and I think its good that he wants to put himself out there and be that guy. He just needs to be careful that his manerisms and attitude convey that too, instead of coming across a little moany and stubborn which he can at times.