toontownman

It is an odd feeling indeed! Will take time to get used to it. Think everything will be measured now in decision making.

Definitely. There is no way we are signing players without a plan that they fit into. I honestly think we would go with what we have got rather than deviate from howes plans, which are always very premeditated and detailed to the extreme.

It's been a tense affair. Need to relax and the penetration will happen.

Nice sneaky elbow

Lack of concentration there. Dang.

Two fouls in one there.

Woo

Earps has been immense.

There was a check. They stopped the game and commentators talked about it. Germany battering England now.

Wilson/Werner ASM Maddison Almiron Big Joe Bruno Pretty sexual. Those 3 would be completely interchangeable with ASM/Maddison/Almiron all able to play across the park and switch throughout the game. Adding in Cornet or another Winger/Forward into that and its potent. While the next step is adding another destroyer or CM I think we have enough with Longstaff, Shelvey and Willock until January at least. I really liked Longstaffs performance yesterday playing deeper and sweeping up. He seems like he is slowly getting back on track to the potential we saw under Rafa.

Torn on that. I think CHO has a bigger upside but maybe that's rose tinted specs from a couple of years ago. I like his versatility too. Think Howe would get the best out of him. Cornet is probably the most in form of the 3 and great experience prior to Burnley.

He has a point to prove in this league. I'd be very excited with the signing and what Howe could do with him. Not sure I believe it though. Would take him and CHO on loan to buy then re-bid for Maddison.

40m is reasonable for him. 50m would get him imo. He isn't worth 60m I don't think.

In terms of it being unrealistic and other big six clubs coming in for him. Who? Arsenal just spent big on two players playing CM/AM. Chelsea are pretty well stocked with Gallagher apparently being pushed. Liverpool... maybe? But they have spent a bit already and brought in a highly rated young AM. Manure brought in Eriksen Man City are very well stocked too. Certainly clubs outside the UK would likely be interested but is he interested in moving abroad?

Depends how much they need the money. 45m with add one to 55m Maybe. It would end up being undisclosed and the Leicester press saying it was nearer 60 and our press saying nearer 40, like normal. Pretty public knowledge bid with it on bbc and Sky. We would know 40 isn't close to their valuation. We have also waited a bit while the top 6 have spent on players which might put them off going after Maddison with a bigger fee and us in the driving seat if he wants to come. Could also be flushing interest out so he goes elsewhere meaning we get a cleaner run at someone else.

Jonathan David went 90 in Lilles preseason playing RAM or a double 10. Could replace Wilson or sit behind or alongside him. Think he would be immense for us tbh. Available for around the 40m mark but means we have to deal with Lille again so add another 10m before Manure bid less and get him.

Did the harrison "bid" go on the SSN ticker too? Interesting to see how much truth is in this. We don't tend to bid unless we think we are close to getting it accepted.

Sure. Dummett and Ritchie both didn't do too much wrong but didn't offer a huge amount either. Hard working sure and was solid enough in the first half but Dummett tired. I barely saw Willock in the second half other than a couple of breaks where the end ball was lacking. The team as a whole was closing down but I felt he and Bruno were too passive after we scored the second and we lost the battle for the middle. Dummett was tiring and Krath lost his head a little after the goal. We got murdered from then on down our wings and through the middle for 25 mins. Joelinton was the only one in our central mid with a constant presence and trying to regain control of the centre from my perspective. All that said I did say it was a harsh rating to be fair to myself and not Mr. Willock I wouldn't rate Dummett any higher though.

Have to also say the opposition have been excellent. Really complimented us and vice versa. Great tests and took the friendlies seriously. Exactly what we needed.

Some really smart planning of friendlies to get 90 mins in most players legs. Two great games at SJP. We faded badly in this one. Dummett knackered. Krafth with a crisis of confidence and Bruno and Willock simply disappearing leaving Joelinton the only mid on the pitch. Fantastic first half and a bit from us and we are nicely placed for next weekend when we can use 5 subs and combine the best squad available. Given the influx of players wanting to impress Nottingham Forest won't be a push over imo. Hopefully they are disjointed and overawed by the atmosphere. Dubs - 7 - pretty good on the whole with a few quirks Krafth - 6 (7 first half/5 second) - playing next to Jamal probably doesn't help but he had a mixed bag. Solid enough backup to tripps. Lascelles - 6.5 - bit harsh, he wasn't that bad but he worries me on the ball sometimes Botman - 8.5 - I love me some Dan Burn but Botman does everything with absolute calm, ease and professionalism. Couple of great spreading long ball passes too. Class so far. Dummett - 6 - wasn't horrific but wasn't particularly impactful either. faded badly. Willock - 5.5 - another probably harsh rating but good athletic first half, wasn't there for most of the second half and wasteful in the opportunities he got. Bruno - 6 - (8 first half/5 second) at his best and also at his anonymous worst in the 2nd. Hope he is saving himself. Uncharacteristic disappearance in the 2nd with willock that put us under constant pressure. Joelinton - 8 - typical performance from Big Joe. Constant presence. Fantastic ball for the ASM goal. Ritchie - 6 - great stamina but really past his time with us. You know what you are getting with him and it's solid but not wonderfully impactful. ASM - 8 - worked hard for most of the game and tracked back well until the last quarter of the game. Wonderfully taken goal. Wilson - 7 - nice goal. Great movement and gets on the ball so well. Missed service and space to really do much more. Subs Bondswell - 6 - switching ASM and Ritchie to protect him was probably a good idea. He looked nervous and was pulled about a fair deal but didn't disgrace himself at all.

Tells me the Zapata, Sarr, Cornet, Dennis stuff is nonsense. If we wanted them we could have brought them in. We are looking at next level players and playing the long game. Fingers crossed its not that long and we get 2 or 3 within the next month and a bit.

Thought Longstaff had a great second half sweeping up. Pope - 6 - not much to do. Did what he had too when called upon. Trippier - 6.5 - rocky start but was back to being himself by half time. Schar - 7 - solid for the most part but more conservative coming forward than normal. Possibly got a way with a penalty call. Burn - 7.5 - when he is good he is soo good. Love the guy. Coped really well with Zapata Targett - 6.5 - like Trippier, a few shaky moments earlier in the game and some poor passing but generally a solid but unspectacular game. Longstaff - 7.5 - shakey start and we were being overwhelmed for a period in the first half with a new midfield trio but I thought he grew into the game and did really well dropping deeper and sweeping in the second. Anderson - 7.5 - thought he was a bit lost but grew massively into the game. Not too much space to work in and maybe played a bit deeper than he would like. He showed some great touches, skills and strength though. Almiron - 7.5 - he faded a little towards the end like most but was a nuisance in a different role. Almost scored another better and showed some amazing feet and link up play. Likewise some nice spreading of the play when tracking back. Murphy - 7 - so frustrating but he just doesn't have the next level and consistency to his game. Some great bursts, dribbles and link up play though. Fraser - 6.5 - wee man worked hard but nothing particularly spectacular or game changing from him today. Wood - 6 - a few moments of good strength and hold up/link up play but only a few. Great penalty but ineffective for the majority of the game and never looked a threat. Shortstaff - 5.5 - ran around, got in the way with his own player resulting in a dangerous turn over. Will be out on loan soon. Hope he can find his feet there again.

Thought he looked a bit lost but found his footing and was one of the brighter spots in the team again. I'm fine with him going on loan if we add another CM and AM but seeing as we won't count towards the squad limit we might as well give him a go if we are priced out of the players we are looking at.

Better than Wood but we should get better. File under the Cornet, Harrison, Sarr categorie of improving us but not for long. He held the ball up well, good link up play and a couple of decent dribbles. Didn't get any real service to score, so would fit in well

I will take the almost perfect stream even with the sporadic clipped banshee scream of howies voice every few seconds.