I understand him, more than I (only partly) agree with him. And I totally feel for him, I know how much he really believed in Palmer and the expectation he had.
Last summer he went for my throat a bit when I argued Palmer wasn't good enough yet to be expected to make a meaningful contribution to the season, and why I was counting him as a youth player which he was, rather than part of the first team squad. In that 'fair game, honest blue to blue exchange of opinion' way btw which I didn't mind in the slightest. But it was the only time I can remember seeing him get somewhat mildly aggressive over a player or a take, which shows how invested he is in it.
Most of that will be genuinely following and liking the player, but I'd guess a small part will involve wanting to be proven right in some capacity. @twosips only mentioning you out of politeness/respect.
But bigger picture here, ultimately the player wanted out. I kind of changed my stance a fair bit since last summer. I don't doubt his talent, he definitely has potential, and I think with a run of games we would see enough for him to really challenge for a place. I feel the injuries are an easy and exaggerated excuse for why he hasn't featured so much until now, but I certainly felt going forward he had enough for a decent chance now that Mahrez had gone. And I said all summer, against the grain of others desperate for a new winger signing, that I would admire the club if they genuinely gave him a go instead of bringing someone in. But once he made it clear he wanted to leave, and not take a chance here, that was that.
I honestly think the club took so long before properly pursuing Doku, because they were giving Palmer time to come round and want to claim that place. Even giving him starts in two effective finals for silverware. But imo he shat the bed immediately after one of them, by coming out with the whole wanting to leave thing. Minutes after Pep said he would like him to stay but wouldn't stand in his way, Kyle the captain said while standing next to him, that he should just be patient and keep at it, and listen to senior players, and Grealish said he had been through it himself, and he just needed to back himself and be patient. He showed he wasn't patient.
The way I see it, it was only after that the club went after Doku, and for me it was Because Palmer wanted out, rather than the other way round.
I'm a bit disappointed he is leaving, would have been great to see him break through, and I think he could have, even with Doku here. More than that, I'm disappointed he went to Chelsea, for his own sake. But am I disappointed with the fee, and the decision of the club as a reaction to it all? Not in the slightest.
