White Riot wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 1:42 pm
You didn't tell me what your strategy is?
Pretty certain this debate centred around cashing in on DCL - which CJAY promotes on the basis that he is in his prime etc.
My strategy is stability whilst the ground expansion is completed. We are not in a position to sell our best players on the basis of speculation. We use considered investment to improve the quality of the squad and sell players when it suits the club, whilst investing in recruiting young players with perceived high ceilings like Orta did, which ironically is pretty much in line with the Red Bull policy that CJAY is suddenly lording. I do not recall him supporting Orta in that regard back when.
As I recall quite a few people were arguing that the money should have been invested in oven ready first team players.
We can still progress but it all comes down to the recruitment team and there are no guarantees. The club needs to get the balance right.
Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:03 pm
i have noticed that there are pockets of fans that form distinct clusters, they all seem to be members of "Negativity Anonymous".
They are like wasps swarming around the negativity honey pot. The mere whiff of negativity in a thread, and they descend to enforce, reaffirm and endorse the sentiment.
They express approval of or give support, especially by public statement, and so they build up the hive mind. Sad really!!!
Subhuman is not negative. He will approve any post that involves a counter argument to anything I post. Simply on the basis that we consider each other a complete moron and I keep calling out his bias.
1964white wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:02 pm
Perri saved three penalties at West Ham.
Longstaff has scored three important cracking goals & two assists. Sean should have had another assist if Dan James had put a one on one chance away in the final minutes on Friday night.
We need a squad.....every new signing has contributed to our Premier League season.
We have two good goalkeepers who are driving each other to perform well when selected. If the level of the one in the team drops slightly then he can be benched for a while just the same as any outfield player. It's good for the squad that to see that only top performances keep you in the team.
No need to recruit another goalkeeper this summer assuming Darlow agrees a new contract.
Jammy 07 wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:30 pm
We have two good goalkeepers who are driving each other to perform well when selected. If the level of the one in the team drops slightly then he can be benched for a while just the same as any outfield player. It's good for the squad that to see that only top performances keep you in the team.
No need to recruit another goalkeeper this summer assuming Darlow agrees a new contract.
I think Perri will be our number 1 next season. He is better than he has shown. Maybe he put himself under too much pressure and was trying too hard to not disappoint. More to come from him and we didn’t spend £16m in him for nowt…
Victor_Notts-17 wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:33 pm
I always try and be positive. I predicted 5-0 t’other week (can’t rem who against) and 4-0 vs Burnley. I think we’ll do Spurs next week
1964white wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:21 pm
Bornauw higher than Longstaff....
Yes because we massively overpaid for Longstaff and wasn't a need, He's been sub par in games more often than not. We didn't even start him when Stach went down. Bornauw was a cheap, much needed, central defensive cover who's averaged much better than Longstaff..
Longstaff is like diamonique, you get the odd sparkle but it's not worth much..
"A mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it's not open"
I rate Perri tbf but if you pay 15 plus million on a keeper and make him your most expensive, you start him or he's a waste of money. His value might climb but he has to start next season for us and stay starter. My guess is a poll of the forum would come back as Darlow for next seasons starter
"A mind is like a parachute, it doesn't work if it's not open"
The Subhuman wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 3:29 pm
Yes because we massively overpaid for Longstaff and wasn't a need, He's been sub par in games more often than not. We didn't even start him when Stach went down. Bornauw was a cheap, much needed, central defensive cover who's averaged much better than Longstaff..
Longstaff is like diamonique, you get the odd sparkle but it's not worth much..
DDB220 wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 12:42 pm
So you are happy to follow a strategy that means we remain a mid table club, selling off all the Crown Jewels every season and winning f**k all.
You have a new chum as well.
Looks like a ménage a trois is in the offering.
I think as an initial means to an end there would be no escape from this model. I would like to think though given the size of our fanbase, stadium re-development, and consequential revenue gap over the "3 B's", we could elevate ourselves into a model that means we don't sell our crown jewels, but that requires some time, money, and to be fighting for some kind of honours. Catch-22 as they say.
1964white wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:07 pm
Darlow & Perri are fine for next season, quality signings in other key positions are required in our squad.
Agreed. They have shown they are good enough for what we need. Darlow has been dependable in the league, and Perri, though sometimes giving us some scares has pulled off some worldie saves and seems to be a good penalty stopper. I would say most of our goals conceded haven't been because of the keepers faults (midfield turnovers without cover, and loss of tracking attackers being the biggest faults).
I am not convinced by Perri on the basis of what I have seen, but he may have needed a season. His footwork is a concern for me and flapping around like big bird on the goal line at corners in one particular game is my abiding memory. But he looked better in the cup games.
However, how many would happily cash in on him even if we take a hit, if we could sign Trafford or a keeper with similar quality. Big ask that we would be a genuine contender for such a keeper, but you never know.
Cjay wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 1:32 pm
Doesn't work if the style the manager wants to play and data recruitment team recruited for aren't the same . . . . As you know.
And I don't think Farke's version of possession football would ever work at the top level anyway
Far too slow and safe.
Of course it works at the top level - Man City do it. The difference being is that City have players that are top level. Whereas we work the ball around and get the ball into a position to play the killer pass we don't have the players to then deliver that defence splitting pass on a regular basis. Tanaka for example might be able to play that pass 2 or 3 times in 10, DeBruyne 7 or 8 times in 10.
Cjay wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 4:23 pm
I've pretended to support a team that's been crap for most of my life as part of a long term plan
Victor_Notts-17 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2026 7:03 pm
Did you post them because there's something wrong with your brain
1964white wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 2:02 pm
Perri saved three penalties at West Ham.
Longstaff has scored three important cracking goals & two assists. Sean should have had another assist if Dan James had put a one on one chance away in the final minutes on Friday night.
We need a squad.....every new signing has contributed to our Premier League season.
weasel wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 6:27 pm
Of course it works at the top level - Man City do it. The difference being is that City have players that are top level. Whereas we work the ball around and get the ball into a position to play the killer pass we don't have the players to then deliver that defence splitting pass on a regular basis. Tanaka for example might be able to play that pass 2 or 3 times in 10, DeBruyne 7 or 8 times in 10.
It's not the same
City push teams right back, FarkeBall is happy to let the cbs have the ball in their own half (hence why our cbs used to his the most touches) for City it's usually one of the midfielders.
Pep's style has got much safer but it's not the same as FarkeBall.
Pep also allows far more rotation.
Maybe if you have all the best players but I can't see FarkeBall working with lesser players at the top level.
It's more of the modern safer possession football you see from Russell Martin and Rosenior and Maresca and people like that.
