who are our purples now?

[Nephy]

Fair point Mick but if you include our number 9 and maybe Woodman considering how highly he's rated then we do have a solid core of "purple" players.

Eh. To me, the concept of 'purples' meant a core of top quality, experienced, PL-proven players whose names wouldn't leave the team sheet, bar injury or suspension. In the past this would've been the likes of Shearer, Ginola, Given in their prime. Woodman, whilst a prospect for the future, definitely doesn't fit this profile yet. Personally I'd love to see some faith placed in him, though - if we don't give him a chance we risk losing him, just like Fraser Foster. I think we're basically still in the process of rebuilding for the PL and at this stage nobody's place in the team is assured. We have a good core of promising young players, but we're really light on late 20s guys at their peak.

[NorthernRock]

Eh. To me, the concept of 'purples' meant a core of top quality, experienced, PL-proven players whose names wouldn't leave the team sheet, bar injury or suspension. In the past this would've been the likes of Shearer, Ginola, Given in their prime. Woodman, whilst a prospect for the future, definitely doesn't fit this profile yet. Personally I'd love to see some faith placed in him, though - if we don't give him a chance we risk losing him, just like Fraser Foster. I think we're basically still in the process of rebuilding for the PL and at this stage nobody's place in the team is assured. We have a good core of promising young players, but we're really light on late 20s guys at their peak.

Yeah my point was kind of pointing to his potential Nephy. In reality he could and probably should be given a 1st team opportunity in my opinion, definitely before we bring in another keeper because he could possibly be a future England number 1.

Jammy- Aye, but at 12m for a lad of his calibre and the offer of 1st team opportunities he'd be worth a punt, no chance now those 2 are in for him.

Added onto that point, it's refreshing to see Oxlade-Chamberlain pick 1st team football over money, hopefully other players follow suit because regardless of being a toon supporter, playing in front of 54k every week with a good wedge should be a decent proposition to most players tbh.