They won’t play him just in case a good loan opportunity comes up in Jan me thinks.
If he's played in competitive fixtures for both us and shelbourne, then I'm not sure how their wierd season timings could affect 3rd club eligibility this season.
They won’t play him just in case a good loan opportunity comes up in Jan me thinks.
They could, but with only effectively 2 spots to play for there's limited chance of success. Like if you say all but 6 teams 8n the division are effectively fighting for 2 playoff spots, that is a lot of relatively evenly matched teams in an ultra competitive situation. Most contenders won't succeed.
So you're agreeing then, it's a wide open league for those last playoff spots.....
I'm not beating LR at all, just pointing out the glaringly obvious and you seriously can't compare the players you've just mentioned against the players we had in our promotion seasons in terms of experience etc... just go look at our promotion teams and then look at what we have no, the levels of experience are miles apart.
We are so close to having a genuine play off challenging team, it just needs some real experience imo
You’re assuming everyone has the same expectations as yourself. I wouldn’t be devastated if we don’t reach the playoffs. I believe it has been suggested on here we have a top eight budget, and I’d be totally happy with that, which we are on track for, with a possibility of improving second half of the season, so yea we could sneak in there anyway. But it is far too soon, there are teams much better than us, so would be highly unlikely we would go up (and if we did, stay there), with the concern of the following season hangover which affects many teams.
For me, although the progress has been fantastic since Rosenior took over, we don’t have the foundations in place as is obvious with the lack of strength in depth. That will take time.
I have found it really exciting watching a young team develop under a young manager, who are clearly learning together. The whole club has a clear identity and a refreshing brand of football. The added bonus is that we are playing in a fantastic league. We clearly have the funds to invest now, but can’t spend it as we are hamstrung by the Allam malaise affecting our average turnover. That situation will improve too.
You mention the experience of our previous premier league teams, but that didn’t help when we got there.
And having said all that, after the initial novelty our previous seasons in the premier league, I didn’t particularly enjoy the premier league anyway, the journey was far better than the destination. Plus add VAR to that, when (because I believe we will if w estate patient with Rosenior) we do go up, I want us to be strong enough to have the chance to establish ourselves and to be playing exciting football.
You’re assuming everyone has the same expectations as yourself. I wouldn’t be devastated if we don’t reach the playoffs. I believe it has been suggested on here we have a top eight budget, and I’d be totally happy with that, which we are on track for, with a possibility of improving second half of the season, so yea we could sneak in there anyway. But it is far too soon, there are teams much better than us, so would be highly unlikely we would go up (and if we did, stay there), with the concern of the following season hangover which affects many teams.
For me, although the progress has been fantastic since Rosenior took over, we don’t have the foundations in place as is obvious with the lack of strength in depth. That will take time.
I have found it really exciting watching a young team develop under a young manager, who are clearly learning together. The whole club has a clear identity and a refreshing brand of football. The added bonus is that we are playing in a fantastic league. We clearly have the funds to invest now, but can’t spend it as we are hamstrung by the Allam malaise affecting our average turnover. That situation will improve too.
You mention the experience of our previous premier league teams, but that didn’t help when we got there.
And having said all that, after the initial novelty our previous seasons in the premier league, I didn’t particularly enjoy the premier league anyway, the journey was far better than the destination. Plus add VAR to that, when (because I believe we will if w estate patient with Rosenior) we do go up, I want us to be strong enough to have the chance to establish ourselves and to be playing exciting football.
I don't particularly like us in the prem either and really prefer us being competitive in the championship, but Acun wants the prem, biscuit man ( sorry can't remember his name ) wants the prem, that's their expectations. Do you think they'll be happy not being in the prem within the next couple of seasons? And this season is a real opportunity with the correct investment, if we can do it this season, why would we want to wait? We could lose a number of players in the summer due to either end of loans or being sold. So we'd have to start again anyway....so why not do that with the riches of the PREM in the bank?
Do you know what I think probably be best for us and the long term development you speak of..... Going up (it's never to soon) this season, using some of the money to bring in players who will give long term value, use the rest of the money to invest in a proper training ground set up. If we then come down again straight away then so be it ( we then have parachute payments etc to help build for promotion again ) but if we do stay up then we build from there.
The prem might not be for you, but it's definitely best for us long term and it's definitely what our owner and his team want ASAP
Has someone just said Delap has more potential than Philogene. Calm down! Jeez.
It's so frustrating, I was weary of it before the season started but now it's obvious it's missing, the experience of when to shoot, when to pass, be in the right place at the right time, not giving away silly goals, finishing chances etc etc is all missing from our talented but very young inexperienced players. Not only would that experience be invaluable on the pitch but also on the training ground as well.
It's so obvious, LR must see it! Hopefully he/we deal with it in Jan, if he doesn't then he's either not seeing it and that's worrying or he does see it but chooses not to address it, which is also worrying.
I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say. Philogene is better right now but I think Delap has more tools to be an elite player. Elite level physicality for a number 9 already, dribbling, link up, ball striking. Everything about his game is premier league except decision making id say.I think it was a piss take but can never know with him.
I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say. Philogene is better right now but I think Delap has more tools to be an elite player. Elite level physicality for a number 9 already, dribbling, link up, ball striking. Everything about his game is premier league except decision making id say.
I didn’t see that in fairnessSaying Delap is better in every way than Philogene is a ridiculous comment if it was meant seriously.

I didn’t see that in fairness
But don’t think it’s unfair to say he has more potential.
I didn’t see that in fairness
But don’t think it’s unfair to say he has more potential.
I also don't think the league is as wide open this season as some think. We're almost halfway through the season, I don't think Ipswich are dropping out of the picture. Both they and Leicester are having record starts - if you can still call it a start - to the season, Leeds and Southampton are continuing to pull away too. The league may be open in terms of making the play offs but in terms of needing to make huge changes to our squad to get there I think that's overblown considering we're literally sat level on points with 6th place with what we've had so far.
A few savvy additions will hopefully give us a great chance of getting 5-6th in the table and who knows from there, but I'd be shocked if it's not three of Leicester, Ipswich, Soton and Leeds going up.