JRC

Not how soon, how long that matters. Is this a thing? We've been told for years that experience is key for Central Defenders, but our 2 recent youngsters (one admittedly for only a few minutes - but they were a great few minutes), the apparent, to me, production line out of the South Coast to top clubs after a year, even Yoro who we wanted; all seem to display a composed, considered style, as opposed to even Konate, for example. Van Dijk as the new archetype?

I have to say I haven't noticed how good Jaquet is - in a good way. Just relaxed that we seem to be sorted, no alarms or issues. Nothing to see here. Which is pretty impressive given his age.

Can't be doing with Koumas. I'm absolutely exhausted watching him. I was genuinely worried he would need emergency oxygen during the second half. Can see why Iraola rates him, his Bournemouth lads could be that irritating to play against.

SO - what have they apologised to Utd for? Not having a review? Did they go on to say what they felt the outcome of that review should have been? I haven't seen what the guidelines now say is meant by impact - sorry, cba looking, happy to be opinionated in ignorance - but that phrase 'likely impact of his position' is worse than useless. They have gone a long way with Offside towards the offside player actually having to touch the ball to be called offside, but no doubt that is caveated. By the same token, I don't believe having the defenders think something different might happen than does happen, because of a player in an offside position doing something, is necessarily what they now mean by it. Unless he blocks the GK view of the shot or impedes the defender, is moving towards the ball a reason now?

Impacts on an opponent is pretty vague. With goalkeepers it is usually about line of sight, for defenders it's having to change position or do something different with the ball Just he needs to keep an eye on him or he's got to consider a shot doesn't always fit it.iirc we had a similar one at Palace a few seasons back where they tried to argue the Palace player had to choose between marking an off side player or Salah (scored, not offside) but that didn't meet the standard. Fernandes was a distraction or an alternative point of attention, but not convinced that is enough, but it must have been close. Hilarious it happened to them, fuming if it was us

So far, we've bettered our results from the League winning season, without recourse to the post-Spurs results even

*cough* Fabinho *cough* Mind you, I'm sure we are all amazed to see him in the Brazil team this summer, although it wasn't clear his legs had recovered

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Liked the point from the Manager that playing with Virgil is a Masterclass every game. Accepts that it is a learning process for him (and Leoni) and also sets Virgil up for a legacy-enhancing (if that's possible) handover season.

The running joke about him only still being picked by Slot because he was Dutch may have a grain of truth, more in that maybe Cody liked Slot, and felt he looked after him, so with him going plus his other trauma(s) - and maybe getting dogs abuse on social media from fans - meant he felt a break from the club was for the best for him. Good to see him in such good form.

Good to see the Sky goal highlights found a few seconds to question the Ref letting them 'get away with one there'.... Oh sorry, that was Jacquet's 'second yellow' they thought egregious, the penalty obviously paled vs that.

I don't necessarily disagree, and that is generally the accepted wisdom, but it's also quite an extreme position to infer (although easily done given the extent of mistrust in the administration of the club) that the collective experience and assessment of those responsible - Manager, Coaches, Doctors, Sports Scientists, DoF and his team etc., with daily observation, sophisticated analytics and dedicated medical management - has reached this decision about Bradley as some sort coin toss, penny pinching guess or gamble. (Although to contradict myself, I've recently posted on The Swanny about reading books about Truss's premiership - collective experience, renowned expertise and access to detailed analysis didn't stop them f***ing up spectacularly, so maybe the team at Kirkby et al have just got it badly, badly wrong)

Despite our problems with replacing Salah/getting in a Right Winger, 3 of our 4 goals have come directly from or assisted/won by the RW, the other from one of the squad being asked to play in that position.

When isn't he?

Whatever we think on here, the current management (including Iraolo) do think Bradley will return as a footballer and that he will be our first-choice Right Back for the foreseeable. They may well be proved wrong, but for all the stuff that circulates round here about Edwards and Hughes, that is a definitive squad build decision based on a lot more direct evidence and experience than we can claim, and has consequences for other recruitment decisions. I don't think - I certainly hope - that we haven't bought a RB because they all kind of forgot about it. i.e Ramsey let go; Araujo as cover; Gomez can play there when available(!) - as well as Dom; Frimpong has some pedigree - Bundesliga winner, Dutch international - so maybe Iraola thinks he is 'just' out of form - however dramatically - and can be coached/played back into form.

I genuinely don't know how they factor injured players into the 'squad building & design' part of the DoF role. On the one hand, given that there will always be a %age of players injured but going to return, is it short-sighted to recruit based on gaps or weaknesses that are injury related, or not buy an injured player if you are going to give them a 5 year contract? On the other hand, not being able to put a balanced, competitive or experienced team out for want of a judicious addition or smart loan smacks of incompetence, to use a popular term on here. Joe is perhaps different - there is much evidence of his consistent unavailability from injury - and while we all have concerns about Bradley being the same, the assessment appears to be that he is our de facto RB, who just happens to have an injury atm. Similarily Ekiteke, Leoni. The squad is the squad, whether or not we can actually get them on the pitch.

We'll always have Arsenal away, though

It seemed Hughes did the same wrt Bournemouth, didn't he? He was supposedly instrumental in the decision to hire Slot iirc, but didn't actually join us until much later? Not that that means we should be happy with him moonlighting now.

And wear a track suit for a laugh. Was it with normal shoes or am I imagining that?

Including dropping Robbie Keane after he had a decent game (or at least he scored, not sure he ever had a decent game), which infuriated the commentariat, and gets referenced still. He played 5 at the back, making a lot of changes as it was our 2nd game in 3 days, and we won 5-1 at a canter. Fwiw, Keane was back in for the FA Cup on the Saturday, and had a shocker - not sure he ever played for us again.

At least the Ref was consistent. He didn't bother getting them to hurry up, but didn't bother adding much time on for time wasting either. The VAR pauses each half just about covered what he added on, no more.

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