I’d be happy to sign him again providing he’s currently fit with no niggles which could develop. Although only 26, he’s experienced and exudes calmness which our younger players would benefit from.

Edited by NE14T (31 Jul 2022 12.53pm)

The beatings will stop when morale improves.

Controversial… but fully fit and firing… I’d rather have RLC than CG heading up the midfield.

Cue uproar

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

I agree with your points regarding pressing, energy and goal threat of course.

For absolute clarity I am not claiming my stance to correct or superior it’s just my personal and subjective opinion of course.

For me, RLC is far physically superior asides from covering ground but also the far superior footballer with regards to technical ability.

As the team is currently, we’re becoming more possession based and a bit smarter in the way we use the ball. For me, the more forward players should be dominant goal threat and whilst I believe RLC can fulfil this role, though not to the same extent as Conor, I think he would bring more to the overall team.

For me, CG was undoubtedly massive for us last season however somewhat ‘gimmicky’ which inevitably waned. He shot out of the blocks like any young player grasping an opportunity might however did not sustain that. What he did add or bring I would like to see from the forwards and wingers really and would like a midfielder who can move with the ball, hold it, play the passes others cannot and nab the occasional goal: RLC.

Again all very subjective and hypothetical and just my opinion.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Actually, I'm pretty much on the same page as you. They're slightly different players; Connor, obviously, will bag more goals but if our forwards are finally firing properly this season, goals from Connor's position will be less critical (and a back-to-his-best Eze is perfectly capable of delivering them anyway) and what RLC fully fit and at his best will bring is arguably the sort of powerhouse drive and energy we need even more than Connor's contribution.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Depressing in mine.

I think it would be difficult to accommodate both Eze and RLC in a midfield 3.
You might get away with it in a midfield 4 , but we don’t play that way.
Assuming Doucoure and Eze take 2 of the 3 midfield positions, in my view the third component needs to be a McArthur type player who is energetic and can defend and attack.
From what I’ve seen we don’t have one in our squad apart from McArthur himself , and sadly he’s increasingly unavailable.
Taking into account his age I would be surprised if our scouting department haven’t been trying to identify a replacement for McArthur over the past season or so.
Perhaps Downes was the one identified but he’s joined West Ham, and from my limited knowledge of Downes he’s no McArthur in any event.
I’m sure we’re still casting an eye over Gallagher for a late deal, but for me he looked more effective playing in an advanced role rather than the deeper role we used him in on occasion last season.
Not really a replacement for McArthur although undoubtedly a good player.