vicente_14

Same. Was a great evening!

Tino

Think we need a reset/reboot in the summer. I know we have had a crazy amount of injuries but for weeks we have looked sluggish, slow, very very slow, lacking athleticism, lacking aggression, the press is fading, the shithousing has vanished, and we just seem so pedestrian and predictable, and as a result, confidence seems to have drained, we either need a new tactical plan, or to be absolutely ruthless and move players on (potentially Trippier, Longstaff, Murphy, Wilson, Lascelles, Ritchie, Dummett, Targett) to facilitate 5/6 new signings and get some needed pace and energy into the side. Ideally some decent free transfers to pad out the incomings and 2/3 big signings, and realistically think we need a Left Back, a Central Defender, a Central Midfielder and a Striker at an absolute minimum. I dont want to hide behind injuries as it's part of the game and all teams have them, but the absence of Pope and Joelinton is huge. Think Pope really commands and leads at that back and brings a calming influence to those in front of him, and Joelinton's high energy and aggression really set the tone for others to follow. I'd also add, Batman looks way short of full fitness, Isak for all his quality constantly looks like a man rushed back too soon (this highlights a poorly assembled squad, we need options and sadly Wilson seems forever broken), and Barnes needs time, think he will be a big player next season. All that being said, Eddie has taken us a long way in a short space of time, and hopefully takes us a long way further.

This. The loan fee he would ask from us would be off the charts crazy.

Didn't say that, I don't enjoy Burn at left back, I don't like Targett there, Hall is unfancied. I'd like us to sign a left back but seems way down the list of priorities.

I said it might be an option until the end of the season given how short we currently are in that area and Howe had mentioned it was something they had looked at in training. Personally, I don't rate Targett, so don't especially want to see him at left back or in midfield, just a personal choice though.

Howe said after the game they had looked at Targett in midfield and liked what they had seen in training.

When he got injured he was set to play in midfield, which Howe said they had looked at/worked on during training and he looked decent there so maybe a midfield option until the end of the season given our current problems there.

Currently injured I think, and anyway, Moyes loves two defensive midfielders, so will play both together in a 4231, Soucek will rotate with them I guess.

Paul Konchesky Darron Gibson Kostas Mitroglou Sean Dundee Lee Cattermole All looked like competition winners in various games i saw them in. Dreadful.

Big, strong, athletic types. Jose likes this 👍

Craig Hope is dreadful, always sh*t stirring, always negative, always looking for the angle to destabilise, awful man. A lot of the Phillips talk is pushed by Hope saying we need a DM as if he is a tactical genius first, and journalist second. Howe has previously mentioned he likes to play with three central midfielders who are completely interchangeable as opposed to the fixed positioning of a DM as it gives more freedom, flexibility and options. Tonali was the perfect fit for this, as he has lots of attributes to suit this, along with Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff and Willock, all tremendous athletes ideally suited to an interchangeable three man midfield, where they can all perform the various functions without ever being limited to one role. And whilst we may well sell Bruno in the summer if a huge offer arrives, in the Eales interview he only says we 'might' need to look at player trading (which could also include ridding salaries from the books or fringe players, Dummett, Manquillo, Gillespie, Fraser, Hayden, Ashby, Hendrick etc), he also hints at increased revenues through commercial deals and the current set of financials are not inclusive of Adidas, Sela or Champions League revenue, so should be funds available in the summer, just hopefully not on the likes of Solanke or Phillips.

Reading through some Chelsea accounts, the clause isn’t player performance based and is based on the clubs final league position which suggests the player is all but signed. The feeling being that we would have to finish way down the table for the deal not to happen. On Hall, clearly very talented, guessing Howe doesn’t trust him enough yet, and is taking a longer term view.

Always loved Buffon, Toldo and Canizares. Had a soft spot for Sebastian Frey too, always thought he was underrated (might just have been awful though!)