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Does Palace potentially winning the Conference league not have any impact? There isn't one rule for all. We have no idea what will happen, and I'm sure we will outspend (or wish to) both of those sides during said periods. Also, are you forgetting they have drastically bigger stadiums than us?

More than anything this summer I just hope we target ONLY highly technical ballers. Whether they’re “big” names or not, we need to stop going after players who are nothing but runners or physical specimens like Delap or Garnacho. I’m sick of seeing our rivals going for super skillful, classy wizards like Cherki, Eze, Wirtz etc whilst we get dudes who can’t dribble past a training cone and whose only abilities are running in a straight line when theres’s a mile of open space. We have enough big and strong or powerful players. I’m hoping that with Alonso now here we target EXCLUSIVELY highly skilled players who can’t dribble past excel in one touch, fluid football. It’s why I’m actually warming to the idea of us going for Alex Scott from Bournemouth. Whilst our rivals are going for the bigger names like Anderson/Wharton/Tonali etc I feel like Scott is much more easily attainable for us. Has been one of the best CM’s in the league this season and fits that deep sitting Xhaka role Alonso loved at Leverkusen.

I remember standing in the away end at Roker, people pissing behind you and the piss running between your legs and down the steps. Great times.

Don't have money to splurge either. Have to be smart about recruitment. Can't waste another year in a league where standing still is as good as falling behind

Depressing to read who Arsenal are targeting - Kroupi, Alvarez, Kvicha, Barcola, Nico Williams, Gordon, Tonali.

I would say im worried about the names we are being linked with but im not surprised at all. We are looking to buy players from relegated teams. No money to do anything else.

Many a miserable day/night spent in Sunderland at Roker and SoL with Chels and they currently have their best team in about 40 years. Sunderland often reminds me of Rotterdam minus the weed and worthwhile hookers.

Sanchez isn’t our biggest problem anymore. He’s been alright. Im looking forward to Penders. we need to address CB and LW first

I think Xabi could live with Sanchez as the number 2 but not as a 1. Xabi doesn't like the keeper kicking long balls and his short and medium range passing would give him a stroke.

Maignan and Penders I'd be happy with or Penders and Sanchez I'd be fine with. I like Roefs but 50m for someone that would block Penders because of his fee and age whilst could argue isn't even being an upgrade. Roefs does make some wonder saves but alot of his saves are a combination of miskicks and him just making his body big.a good value to have but would like to see more saves through controlled agility. Like I said I do like Roefs,if we didn't have Penders I'd be all over him.as we do,I'm not.

Make use of him staying relatively fit and healthy for the season by selling him. He's been decent the last few games but we've seen this before from him.motivated briefly when new coach incoming or playing a big opponent that would humiliate him if he isn't switched on but too many times he's too weak for a team with aspirations to be a true contender. We have wasted this season having him playing so many times when we should have been blooding Acheampong and Sarr instead in their true position.

Just sell this player. Total bust. Doesn't know who to cover. Sick of seeing him jogging while others are trying to cover for him not being where he is supposed to be. By this time a ham sandwich will net a profit.

Sunderland are a really well drilled side, get right in your face and their crowd create a great atmosphere 2-0 Sunderland

I don't care how we win, just win.

Pre/Post Match Discussion, Live Chat & Analysis Sunday May 24th, 2026 Stadium of Light Premier League 4 PM UK

Man United this season. Arsenal in 2021 went from finishing 8th and outside European places to 5th and then challenging for the league regularly. In both cases, the lighter schedule helped the club in the long run and finances were managed.

What annoys me about situations like the Enzo Maresca one is that you will always see people fighting…View the full article

It's either going hard for 7th, trying to beat Sunderland away and hoping United stay serious against Brighton....or giving some playing time to 1 or 2 of the kids and letting Brentford or Sunderland have fun in the Conference league next season.

Its well explained on tntsports Extract: If Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth, then the top six in the Premier League table will qualify for the Champions League, with seventh going into the Europa League and eighth qualifying for the Conference League. If Aston Villa do not win the Europa League and/or don't finish fifth, then sixth and seventh in the Premier League will qualify for the Europa League, and eighth will qualify for the Conference League. Tnt sports explanation

💥🔵Mike Penders is particularly enthusiastic about returning to Chelsea, believing he is ready for this new stage of his career and to integrate into an environment as demanding as Chelsea's. Chelsea's plan is clear: to allow Mike Penders to gradually integrate into the first team with a genuine role in the goalkeeping hierarchy. Chelsea initially intends to offer him the status of the main competitor for the starting goalkeeper before, potentially, entrusting him with the position in the coming years. (@sachatavolieri) 😶😦That means Ben Roberts and his son will remain the number 1s. And Penders, as the number 2, will get a few chances to play!!!

Ideally it'd be Penders (if Alonso/club think he's ready to fight for the #1 spot like Courtois did with Cech) and Sanchez next season.

One issue that needs fixing that is flying under the radar is the lack of defensive aerial ability in our squad. It's basically all on our CB's and GK. Cucu is decent for his height on attacking aerial ability because he attacks the far post when the ball is dropping in height.Gusto turns into Dracula at any cross.RJ doesn't have much spring. Pedro and Palmer are tall enough but even if they improve in that department then it limits us for fast break outs. As much as I like our CM's.nobody really stands out in the air.Barco certainly isn't going to improve the situation unless he turns out to be the second coming of David Speedie.

I did a little comparative research between Xabi Alonso and Enzo Maresca's style of play and below is what I got. I am impressed with Alonso's style because it should positively benefit the current crop of players we have instead of limiting them like Maresca's style did. 👇 Xabi Alonso: Relentless Verticality & Flexibility Style: Proactive but dynamic. He blends controlled build-up with aggressive transitions. Tempo: Faster. Alonso aims to deliberately draw out the opposition press, compress them, and use quick vertical passes to attack destabilized defensive lines. Attacking Shape: Extremely fluid. Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen frequently shifts shapes in-game—often rotating into a fluid 3-2-5. Pressing: Elite counter-pressing. The system is built on intense pressing and recovering the ball high up the pitch. SoccerTutor.com +6 Enzo Maresca: Methodical Squeeze & Structure Style: Patient and methodical. The primary goal is to control the game by holding the ball. Tempo: Slower. Maresca dictates the pace through short, stable passing sequences. His teams prioritize exhausting opponents through long periods of possession rather than risky early forward passes. Attacking Shape: Structured. At Chelsea, his base 4-2-3-1 morphs into a reliable 3-box-3 or 3-2-5 shape, relying heavily on inverted full-backs. Pressing: Regroups with the ball. The structure is designed to limit the opponent's chances of counter-attacking when the ball is turned over.

Shout out to Sanchez last night - some more great saves. Its the helmet, invoking the spirit of Cech

Talksport was golden last night, Cundy and O'Hara did a live watch along while the game was on, it was fucking comedy gold