TRon

Well I wish we'd flex and at least look like we are going to test the legality then. Otherwise we'll just keep falling further behind as the cartel clubs have already got much higher spending power locked in, and the rules as they are, are designed to keep us locked out.

Well that does appear to be the PL line on it. It's the only reason I can think of that all this talk of restriction of trade has never gone beyond that into actual legal challenges.

Honestly think he probably reckons we had too many sub-standard players to carry out the game plan effectively, but doesn't want to say that publicly because it would be throwing his players under the bus. This is his way of protecting them IMO.

I agree, I don't really think we should have any expectations for top 4, if we get it, it will be through better coaching and stability than any other reason. Man U and Chelsea have invested far more in their squad, they really are underperforming considering their outlay. Our problem is we don't have the sheer numbers of quality players to call on, that much has been evident in games like last night. A few injuries and we are dusting down our ex-championship players and chucking them into the mix.

I've been as much a critic of Longstaff this season as anyone, but I don't see why he should get the blame for shit refereeing. Not only was it a bad decision on the pitch, it was compounded by whoever was judging on VAR. Honestly felt to me like it must have been a ref who supports Chelsea or West Ham, then I could understand the reluctance to give the pen as we are direct competitors for Europe.

Miley's still very much in development stage, but he's actually similar to Bruno in that he can usually work his way through a press. That's what we missed in too many areas tonight. He's a long way from the finished article, but he's clearly got some ability.

If we want to dominate games and pass our way through the press, then we need good footballers all over the pitch. Livramento will definitely take us up another two levels on that score, and Hall looked decent tonight when he came on. Please take the poor footballers out of our team Eddie. Let the likes of Gordon, Isak and Bruno shine by giving them some supply.

The front three aren't the problem, it's the championship level players in other areas which cause the bad football. Palace actually had a higher quantity of decent footballers out there, shouldn't really be that surprised they dominated.

I kept watching them press Bruno and he usually glided through them with ease. At the higher level when you've got 11 players of that quality, teams like Palace get countered and put down. They have some decent players, but our too many poor players just meant we were overmatched.

I don't see how being injured makes you take three touches to control the ball when one would do for a quality player. He's been a great servant for us, but he wouldn't get anywhere near a CL side if he was anywhere else.

I thought it was us having too many shite players turning out tbh. Not sure how much of that is his fault.

Lots of energy, not enough finesse.

They had more than us out on the pitch tonight, that was kind of obvious after about 20 mins. It really is a game of numbers, too many of our players were aspiring youngsters or not very good squad fillers.

Yeah, by having more half decent footballers on the pitch.

It's not easy for shit footballers to cope with the press tbf.