I think with Salah - from a place of frustration - he made a mistake. His inclusion in the squad for the Brighton game, and then coming on, demonstrated that this had been dealt with internally to all parties satisfaction. So fans expressed their feelings on that and support for him and the team.
With Trent it wasn’t a mistake, it was a choice, and then a whole load of mistakes in how he managed that choice. I wouldn’t have booed personally - but I can absolutely see why other supporters did. Trent should also have understood that the choices he made, how he went about them and how he communicated it, would always have resulted in the reception he got from some supporters.
Trent didn’t get booed because of his choice to move. Many didn’t understand it but respected his choice (even though I thought it was a bad choice career-wise but a good choice money-wise).
He was booed because he pretended like it was a choice that was up in the air for him until late, and let the club think that as well (or at least, managed it with the club and told us at the last minute).
He probably made the choice before last season started. So there was a bit of two-facedness going on there.
That’s what people don’t appreciate. He could have just let everyone know he isn’t signing another contract and he would have had a nice farewell season.
Salah just make an impetuous choice but he wants to stay, he isn’t agitating for a move.
I believe there was no ideal time for Trent to announce his move. He explained why he announced it when he did and that was fair enough. You could ask different fans whether he should’ve done it earlier or later and you’d get different answers.
All we can ask for is for the players to give their all and behave as professionals while they’re here. We’ll never know when is the moment they ultimately make decisions, but you can bet it’s mostly in advance. We’re usually on the better side of these things.
Even Mo, while we’re in his thread, spoke about his dream to go back to England when he was in Italy. He didn’t go on a free, but it’s impossible to have it all perfectly timed. Players think about their future, the clubs do too. The clubs have to do it all the time.
Its wild that you could say to someone “remember that Salah goal when he twisted and turned in the box, sitting 3 or 4 defenders on their arse before firing in an impossible shot” and when they say yes and mention the game you could response with “no, the other time he did it.” And there 4 of those in just his first season, and none of those were even the one that most people remember (the city one).
I was watching The Last Leg from last night where they did a feature called “Alternative Sports Personality of the Year”. Comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri nominated Mo Salah for a rather sweet reason.
It would be doable, but of course, different factors come into deciding whether it’s a start or from the bench. I would say it’s likely he would’ve been on the bench, especially with our situation. Sadiki’s AFCON ended on Tuesday and he played 120 minutes on Saturday. Younger player, a lot of engine and a day more, but it’s not like they necessarily need days of rest/training before coming back.
Mo has been doing well at AFCON. If he returns to play beyond January hopefully he will kick on and do well for us, after some iffy form (not the only one!) that saw him do some bench time.
We haven’t heard anything from his agent, but if I remember how things were left, I was expecting there would be a meeting or two between Mo’s agent and, presumably, Slot/Hughes.
It looks likely to me that Mo is coming back, probably with an eye on a summer move, but I’m not 100% certain as I don’t know the outcome of his agent meeting with Slot/Hughes. If we don’t hear anything and Mo returns, then presumably it was all smoothed over.
The defense and midfield could not string a few passes together, nevermind getting the ball to Mo. Senegal pressed Egypt really well. You cannot pin this one on Mo.
