Football 21/22

[Bensham33]

I thought the 'Ornets were a tad unlucky yesterday MoB.

Off to football today to watch Bromley v Eastleigh in the Nation League.

[Manoverboard]

End of an era at Watford as Deeney departs to Birmingham City ... I do wish him well

[oldbluefox]

Just been reading that it's unlikely for there to be last minute transfers from abroad due to EU visa regulations and processing times. B****y Brexit!!!

[screwy]

Viva Ronaldo.

[towny44]

We look to have made 3 good loan signings in this window, a central defender from Chelsea and a midfielder from Norwich, both already having a good impact in the first team, and a young forward from West Ham who only signed yesterday, plus several other experienced signings who have also had a positive impact on the team.
So after an excellent start, confidence is high and we are playing attractive football.

[barney]

I'm always cautious about loan signings John.
We've had loads over the years with hardly any of them actually making a positive impact.
We had a CB from Bristol rovers last season call Cundy who played nearly every game and was ok, but all of the others bar Olly Lee were a bit of a let down, and even Lee didn't always command a start.

So far this season, we've got Phillips from Watford and he's certainly enthusiastic, but quality wise, is not all that.
We've also taken a lad called Adshead from Norwich who looks ok, but then again, not significantly better than any other midfielder.
We had a really good first half on Saturday and Adshead was pulling the strings in midfield.
In the second half, he was awful and made mistake after mistake, ending in substitution.

Maybe we'll pick up a couple more loans today, but for my money, I'd rather they make permanent signings.
If we want to play youngsters, we should be blooding our own.

[Bensham33]

Have agree Barney. I've never been able to 'bond' with loan players. If they were any good then their clubs would keep them.

I think Chelsea are the exception who sign young players up like confetti simply so they can control their careers and to stop other clubs from signing them. Shouldn't be allowed.

[oldbluefox]

Same with a lot of our big clubs who hoover up young talent which ultimately leads to a lot of young footballers ending up discarded and disappointed. Most of these lads don't stand a cat in hell's chance of getting anywhere near the first team but, as you say it prevents other teams from getting them.

[towny44]

Have agree Barney. I've never been able to 'bond' with loan players. If they were any good then their clubs would keep them.

I think Chelsea are the exception who sign young players up like confetti simply so they can control their careers and to stop other clubs from signing them. Shouldn't be allowed.

We had Emile Smith Rowe on loan from Jan 2020 to the end of that season and he was class, and moved straight into the Arsenal first team the following season. So you can get the occasional gem.

[barney]

Best we ever had was a young JLloyd Samuel.
A different class for us.
Underwhelmed by most since.

[barney]

One more loan player in.
Charlie Kelman from QPR allowed to go because they took Andre Grey from Watford.
Cut his teeth at Sarfend and needs game time.
Time will tell.

[Manoverboard]

We seem to have unloaded half a dozen regular-ish first team players and bought in a few hopefuls or short term loanees. Either we will make money on them in the longer term or they will be very useful in the Championship next season. I suspect that the overall master plan was to replace the slow ones with some quicker ones ... but time will tell.

[barney]

Since Jordan Graham moved to Birmingham, we have no pace and no width.
Plymouth exploited this when we played them, pulling both of their wingbacks to the touch line.

[Manoverboard]

Zaha scores a penalty .... just saying

[barney]

Great win for Palarse

[oldbluefox]

Not very hopeful this afternoon. Our defence has suffered for a long time from long term injuries plus a kamikaze regular. They might surprise me but I'm not optimistic.

[oldbluefox]

Wow!!! Great result for the Eagles

[Manoverboard]

Great result

I watched Deeney playing for Birmingham City last night, he seemed to be enjoying himself having a few skirmishes with the opposition defenders ... no change there then.

[barney]

Brum have a decent side this season.

[Bensham33]

I haven't seen a Palace side dominate match as much as we did today since returning to the Premier League. We were awesome from start to finish. Old Selhurst Park was rocking once again.

[oldbluefox]

A better display from us today against a very strong Man City side. Pleased to see a couple of our long term casualties back. Maddison was dire and needs to be dropped. We cannot afford to keep carrying him.

[barney]

I haven't seen a Palace side dominate match as much as we did today since returning to the Premier League. We were awesome from start to finish. Old Selhurst Park was rocking once again.

Excellent result.
Well done.

[Bensham33]

Another draw for the Gills Barney. If only they could turn some of those draws into wins they would up there and no mistake.

Thank you ObF for your kind words. Don't understand what has happened to Madison. He's obviously out of form. He is a very, very good player. He will come good again.

MoB......we know what you are incinerating but you couldn't be more wrong. The penalty was for hand ball and Zaha was nowhere near it.

[oldbluefox]

Maddison got injured last season so missed quite a lot of matches. He was playing well at the time and on the edge of being called up for the England team. However since he came back he has been ineffectual.

[Manoverboard]

MoB......we know what you are incinerating but you couldn't be more wrong. The penalty was for hand ball and Zaha was nowhere near it.

Indeed not, as it happens I was following the game