Bethnal

With Carter and Pickering likely both out for a while, I expect to see some movement on the transfer front shortly. Chrisene isn’t ready for 90 mins and we now only have Scott Wharton, Hyam and untested youth prospects at centre back. Hyam himself is still on a road to full fitness. There simply has to be at least one CB incoming before the next game. Would love it to be Hill, but we can’t afford to play the waiting game with Bournemouth. Somewhat perplexed by the mathematics of our finances. If we’re continuously spending £20m of the owners’ money to cover losses every season, despite budget cut after budget cut, what exactly are the CEO and commercial dept doing to grow revenue? Envious of those of you who have managed to get a meeting with him, I’ve been palmed off every time I’ve asked, although haven’t for a while. I’d have thought some of the Phillips and Kaminski money could have been reinvested by now and maybe it all was between Leo, Moran, Hill, Ayari and Chrisene. It that is the case, I think the transfer policy is essentially a constantly reactive crisis where we’re gambling on unearthing hidden gems from the Academy Industrial Complex and them having their breakout season with us. We’ve had it before with Elliott and Van Hecke and it happened with Mason Mount at Derby, Sturridge and Wilshere at Bolton. Common thread with all three of those clubs acting as platforms is they never made it to the promised land. I don’t think loading your team up with expensive loans can practically get you out of this league. I’ve genuinely enjoyed JDT’s style of play in moments, there are flashes of excellence and some real stand-outs (goal of the season last season being a specific one). But we visibly need someone capable of winning a header in midfield before booting the opposition’s number 10 into the Riverside from the centre circle and I don’t think we’re going to find that in a premier league academy.

That livened up at the end and it’s because our forward play became more instinctive and urgent. We break down the more we think about what we’re doing. Everything good about what we do (not that we’ve done much of it lately) is based on quick play and “first pass is best pass.” JRC and Wharton are key instigators of that and we looked good when we were pressing early. Surely the coaches are watching the same games we are.

This is champagne football on white cider budget, essentially.

First time I’ve really felt the apathy this season. Don’t back us to find another goal here, bracing for a goal against, but even still, it’s apathy in the main.

Just coasting about. Seems to have lost interest in recent weeks.

Good save Pears.

Looks a bad one

Excellent move on the edge of the box, just doesn’t come off. Huddersfield are parking the bus and offering little, but they have the assurance that we will provide a gaffe or two and be weak on set pieces. Fair enough, it’s a game plan and on our current form, it may work. Something needs tweaking, we look considerably weaker since Carter went off.

Not even sure what we’re asking Garrett to do here. Seems very Harry-Redknapp-saying-“Just fucking run about a bit.”

Some bollocks on a player having that shit of a barnet when he misses open goals like that.

VAR gives that.

Chrisene looks athletic and occupies good space, but his touch/decisions are a bit off. Obviously he’s young and probably a touch nervous starting his first game, but can see him contributing.

Never once saw him deliver a ball as well as he did that corner.

There’re four headers on the pitch, so what’s the set piece excuse this week?

Pleasing. Press is much more effective, as evidenced there. Not getting too excited, despite the evidence a few weeks ago, we should be beating sides like Huddersfield handsomely. Let’s do that now.

Always sceptical of TeamTalk gossip. Don’t see how he fits into the way we play, but if we do take a Plan B approach when chasing a game/defending a lead, maybe there’s something in a player like him. As I did in September, I’ve taken Transfer Deadline Day off work. Fully anticipate us to be actively trying to make something work in the loan market right up to the wire, based on nothing other than what is publicly known already and I’d rather be anxiously refreshing the forum in the comfort of my own home.

Honestly never been able to understand it from a supply/demand perspective. Supply is massively up for tickets, so drop the price. When demand increases, raise the prices in line with the demand. I get that there are lots of contextual arguments either way, but I’m confident a good atmosphere and matchday experience will trump a lot of the things they might suggest as threats to the demand

For those asking - Italy is fine for iFollow/RoversTV on the app.

I wouldn’t have given it much credence, save for Garrett being a lefty and us only having 8 subs, as both Szmodics and Pickering fell ill overnight.

Don’t shoot the messenger, but RoversTV had this up a minute ago…

Would be interested to see it!

Looks a 4-3-3, so we may be digging in and hoping for something on the break. Hard-fought points are out there, but any today will be especially hard-fought.

I always wonder if clubs make multiple bids without encouragement and wait to see if the player fancies it or not. There must be some motive for Ipswich to come back with a second offer and it must be the player saying “I’m open to it.” Fairly solid chance for Gallagher to be part of a promotion to the premier league and a squad player up there for at least a season. I think we’re holding out for a higher offer. Maybe £2m or slightly over. Not saying he’s worth anything more than a bag of chips and his train fare, but we might have targets to replace and need a bit to keep the fire burning and a bit to replace. It’s early in the window, why accept an offer that does less than that?

Batty’s got two assists for the 2nd XI tonight.

Well, gazza1981 has certainly raised a chuckle on my side. Oblique line of questioning and an over-investment in the player’s rep strikes me as a cack-handed attempt to position as some kind of ITK/club-adjacent figure. I’m not sold. I’ve heard Brighton’s recruitment department is pretty forward-thinking but I would think that hanging out in the transfer thread of a Championship club’s unofficial forum isn’t the best use of your time, in that role. Christ, we support the club and it’s not the best use of any of our time!