Palmer’s height/long limbs maybe make him less technically reliable + nimble as the absolute premium pocket players (e.g. Odegaard, B.Silva), but it also gives him the potential to be dangerous in ways they can’t. He’s potentially a very unique profile (Project Havertz v2) 🧵

The rest of this season is just about getting over the line now. We’ve sacrificed a more guaranteed/short-term (next few months) with our inactivity in January; in favour of keeping powder dry for what I suspect will be a big summer. It’s a risky approach (& we should’ve at least got a cheap Box-CF on loan), but if we still manage to get top 4, we’re in a really good financial position to do big business that propels us to being title-challengers, this summer. Short-term sacrifice for more crucial long-term gain. Never forget the big end-goal is competing for the league. Let’s not get too caught up on these short-term checkpoints. Getting CL football to continue our progression to the top is what truly matters this season. That’s still firmly on the cards so the team & Maresca need our support more than ever. Let’s not get overly-emotional & turn this season into something it doesn’t need to be. We’ll address the SD’s at the end of the season if we fail.

You can find holes in every setup we go with. Just have to hope positives outweigh the negatives. We underestimate the power of having our best players in their most favourable zones consistently. + Let’s never forget we’re only going for top 4. We don’t have to be perfect.

Man City are absolute idiots, if they don’t do everything to sign him as their KDB replacement this summer. Such an obvious move. Wirtz x Haaland for the foreseeable future. Long day.

I’m disappointed the SDs have put Maresca in this position. Nasty work. He’ll have to deal with adversity for the next few months, but it should make him a better coach if he responds right. Stick or twist. Adapt or die. Hopefully he’s learned from his late-slump at Leicester.

@cfcFAH I agree. Think we have a top 4 squad too. This is mainly aimed at most of those who wrote us off; now suddenly have higher standards than even those who believed.

Don’t let emotions have you sounding like an idiot. If Maresca (who will obviously get better yearly) had us high-flying and in title conversations with a limited/unbalanced squad in year 1; What do you think happens in year 2/3 with signings he wants? Will leave it there.

Why do people put more expectation on overperformers vs underperformers. These guys backed Poch while we were in the bottom half? But a coach in their first year coaching a top 5 league, having us in 4th as their floor; is where they draw the line lol. It’s a sickness man.

— With Palmer & Enzo on the RHS, Neto is maybe more suited because of his defensive work-rate. — But Noni is maybe a more reliable goal-threat at the moment, so it’s a toss-up. Palmer, Nkunku, Jackson & Noni surely should mean goals & more potency in attack

Sometimes you just have to sit back & observe. Will comment on everything tomorrow (today technically). Good night.

It’s a potentially frustrating few months ahead with an easily disgruntled fan base. We should still hopefully have enough for top 4, but it’ll be much more nervy/tumultuous than it needed to be. Missed Jackson today. Need him, Nkunku & Palmer starting every game.