Edited August 26, 2025Aug 26 by Scott

Be still @Valerie's beating heart.

Thank you @Scott for the forensics! I conclude it seems likely the dressed up figure is Palmer.

I'm also unpleasantly reminded of the holiday snaps a former colleague periodically sends me, with very odd big toes too visible. I mean, why send me weird toes?

Anyway, carry on.

Any ideas whether he'll be back for Brentford? I thought it was a pretty innocuous injury and hopefully he's back soon!

Seems like he is still injured. I'm not seeing any pictures of him back in training.

Seems unlikely. We shouldn't be rushing him back to play against Brentford. From this morning:

Edited September 12, 2025Sep 12 by bluedave

Estevao

Game completely changed when Palmer came on yesterday. We looked miles better with him involved, which in itself is a bit of a worry - as we still seem to rely on him so heavily to create and give us direction.

Took his goal really well, exactly what you expect from him now. But at the same time, he probably cost us the win with the two chances he missed. Both of them he should be burying - and at this level, in tight games, those misses matter.

On the one hand, it shows just how important he is to us. On the other, it highlights the problem and puts pressure on him - coz if he’s not clinical every time, we struggle. He’s already carrying a lot, and while he’s producing, it feels like too much weight is still on his shoulders. Thats Marescas fault

Just now, nonotnowjim said:

Game completely changed when Palmer came on yesterday. We looked miles better with him involved, which in itself is a bit of a worry - as we still seem to rely on him so heavily to create and give us direction.

Took his goal really well, exactly what you expect from him now. But at the same time, he probably cost us the win with the two chances he missed. Both of them he should be burying - and at this level, in tight games, those misses matter.

On the one hand, it shows just how important he is to us. On the other, it highlights the problem and puts pressure on him - coz if he’s not clinical every time, we struggle. He’s already carrying a lot, and while he’s producing, it feels like too much weight is still on his shoulders. Thats Marescas fault

Messi, Ronaldo, even in their prime, they missed chances like that, but because they get so many more chances per game, it rarely mattered. This is our issue, we have to take those one or two big chances, because it's the only ones we actually create. How many games do we see where it takes 25 minutes to have a meaningful shot on goal? or like yesterday where we don't register a decent chance in the entire half?

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Messi, Ronaldo, even in their prime, they missed chances like that, but because they get so many more chances per game, it rarely mattered. This is our issue, we have to take those one or two big chances, because it's the only ones we actually create. How many games do we see where it takes 25 minutes to have a meaningful shot on goal? or like yesterday where we don't register a decent chance in the entire half?

I dont disagree. It has been an issue for years - and all stems from the negative football we play. Tuchel used to talk about "precision" and how we lacked it... basically he meant we were not scoring the 1 or 2 chances per game we created.

Great finish from what appeared to be a huge midfield battle that was won by Caicedo and James that time. Also Enzo's run made Palmer get that space for the finish.

Focus on the positives and keep working, I believe that this was Palmer's 100th match and he has 74 goals+assists. I checked it and it's true, 45 goals in 100 appearances.

Edited September 17, 2025Sep 17 by Gol15

29 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Great finish from what appeared to be a huge midfield battle that was won by Caicedo and James that time. Also Enzo's run made Palmer get that space for the finish.

Focus on the positives and keep working, I believe that this was Palmer's 100th match and he has 74 goals+assists. I checked it and it's true, 45 goals in 100 appearances.

Like Caicedo he deserves better team mates.

I'd love to speak to Cole and get his honest opinion on whether he thinks the teammates he has aren't good enough or if it's the manager not being able to get the best out of them. To me it's a mix but more that Maresca isn't a very good manager, but it would be interesting to hear his perspective.

40 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

I'd love to speak to Cole and get his honest opinion on whether he thinks the teammates he has aren't good enough or if it's the manager not being able to get the best out of them. To me it's a mix but more that Maresca isn't a very good manager, but it would be interesting to hear his perspective.

He said tonight we played well and deserved more from the game.

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

He said tonight we played well and deserved more from the game.

I mean in the pub after a few beers where he doesn't have to toe the company line. As entertaining as it would be I can't see Palmer coming out on TV and saying this manager/the players aren't good enough. Although after the conference league final he did hint that Maresca's tactics were sh*t.

Just give him 1 month break

5 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Just give him 1 month break

Sorry Bob - that wont work, because unfortunately, this manager is unable to develop a team that consistently creates problems offensively for our opponents. All Poundland Pep can do is ask for slow "controlled" possession, and then hope that Palmer can work a bit of magic.

It is very similar to Sarribore ball and how he relied on Eden. The difference being that they had prime Jorginho as the metronome in the centre, and Prime Hazard, who when up for it, was different gravy to everyone else on the pitch. Cole is good, but he isnt Eden.

So resting Palmer for 1 month really isnt an option for Peplini, because he has no plan b.

If these reports are true it calls into question the decision making of this idiot manager to an even greater level.

In the pacy, rain soaked, heavy pitch environment of OT, if Palmer was still not fully fit why wasn't he the sacrificial substitution instead of Estevao. Even if we excuse the Estevao substitution why was it then Neto substituted and not Palmer. Appalling decision making by a manager incapable of building a team and style that can get the best use of the skill set of the players at his disposal.

Maresca hinted that he may need surgery as its being monitored day by day.

Give him a break, time for somebody to step up. Maybe Estevao, can’t really see anybody else stepping up tbh.

15 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Maresca hinted that he may need surgery as its being monitored day by day.

Is that Arteta in the pic? 😅

1 hour ago, Brigadeiro Mk II said:

Is that Arteta in the pic? 😅

Ah, the days of Arteta's playing career!

Don't know how true this is, but I'm seeing people are say he is facing 3-6 weeks out.

I knew this season was going to be sh*t

On 21/09/2025 at 02:43, nonotnowjim said:

Sorry Bob - that wont work, because unfortunately, this manager is unable to develop a team that consistently creates problems offensively for our opponents. All Poundland Pep can do is ask for slow "controlled" possession, and then hope that Palmer can work a bit of magic.

It is very similar to Sarribore ball and how he relied on Eden. The difference being that they had prime Jorginho as the metronome in the centre, and Prime Hazard, who when up for it, was different gravy to everyone else on the pitch. Cole is good, but he isnt Eden.

So resting Palmer for 1 month really isnt an option for Peplini, because he has no plan b.

Such a funny take on Sarri. Sarri opened up the game for Hazard to shine. Hazard had 44 G+A in the 3 years combined and with Sarri, he had 31. Rudiger, RLC, Hazard, and Alonso all played their best for us under Sarri, and he started the change to Kante's game that Tuchel continued that led to our CL win.