We won the game FFS lol

Eze had a groin injury last week and had only trained once.

Bats had just returned from international duty and then spent the rest of his week negotiating a contract extension and a loan move to a new club.

You’ve got to think how it would look to current players like Schlupp if an unfit Eze starts ahead of him.

Yes, but Traore has them in a top league where they're worth at least 50% more.

And for example, Denis Bouanga of Saint Etienne has more goals and assists than benrahma and has them in a top league and costs between 10 an 15 million.

And what would be the cultural difference between France and England besides the language for him not to adapt? Come to think of it, benrahma is also a main French talker and he came in just fine. Seems to be the case with everyone coming to Brentford: Maupay, more rently Mbeumo, all doing great.

About Newcastle..I don't know if the French were their problem. More like their lack of patience. Thauvin is a world class player. If he wasn't given patience at Newcastle when he was 22-23 it's really not his fault.

Sorry, my misunderstanding, I thought you were saying Ligue 1 players were cheaper than top Championship players. Did you mean Ligue 2? Foreign players are known to get home sick wherever they come from, be it France, Spain or even the PL or Championship, so I agree that unless you sign an English player that is always a risk. Anyway, given how long Palace seem to scout players for these days they are obviously pretty confident of who they are signing and there are no signs of last-minute desperation signings, which is good.

For sure Champiosnhip players are more expensive than Ligue 2 players, though, honestly, the difference is not that big between the leagues. yes, Championship is a bit better and has more quality players, but not by much. Brentford got Mbeumo from Ligue 2 for just 1.5 million at around 21 years old and I thought he had done more to warrant that money than Eberechi, who we paid 17 million for at 22 (soon to be 23).

And recently, Championship players have become more expensive than even Ligue 1 players, Yes, I do think Benrahma costs more than Traore, though one played in the Champions League and top French division and Benrahma has only 2nd league experience. I think Traore costs around 15 million and Benrahma costs 20+ So yeah, Championship prices are crazy. i woldn't buy from the Championship. That is not that I don't appreciate Benrahma. But I don't think a player from another Europe top league (Rashica or Bouanga) will find it harder to adapt culturally than an Algerian from England's league 2.

British people have difficulty adjusting to regions of the country that are culturally different. The North/South divide is not just a financial one.

Sure, hudsoneagle, I get what you mean. But Chelsea didn't just transfer Chilwell, they also transferred Havertz, Werner, Zyiech, Thiago Silva, Malang Sarr, none of which came from the PL

That's just 1 out of 6 transfers this summer who came from England (16%).

Now look at Palace. Ferguson- home based. Eberechi- home based. Batshuayi- playing in England. Now looking at Benrahma- playig in England. Last year: McCarthy, Ayew, Cahill, Tosun- playing in England.

Well, there's a reason why in 10 years a club doesn't grow. Look at Leicester. Where were they 10 years ago and where are they now? Where did their players come from? Mahrez- France's Ligue 2, Tielemans from Monaco, Praet from Sampdoria, Ricardo pereira from Porto, Soyuncu from Freiburg, Ndidi from Genk, Kante from Caen, Castagne from Atalanta.

And they have plenty of English yongsters too.

A club has to expand the selection area. Otherwise it will be a local club. They need people to watch and evaluate players fro a 7 billion population world, not a 40 million country.