Kanj

I'm still sat here thinking about how interesting this January window will be. Assuming we get the right results and stay around 4-5th place before the World Cup break, how do we strengthen? Tactically we're absolutely guns blazing pressing team and our #8's in Joelinton, Willock, and Longstaff all have a TON of legs to get about the pitch. I know Bruno wants to play further forward, but he hasn't the same athleticism as those three who are performing so damn well. If we sign a top class #6, and Bruno takes the Longstaff role, does that harm our ability to press? ie: Longstaff's interception v the Spurs game for Miggy's goal. If we sign a winger, how does that impact Miggy's role in the team? Miggy is undroppabe at this point from a goal return perspective but he's also incredible in the press.

Hopefully a comfortable (and fun) away win for us and we can really go all out against Chelsea before the break.

Proper cringe?

Schar too mate.

The way Trips plays, his reading of the game is unreal — there’s more years to his game than people realize imo

Think he’s really coming alive again, he’s doing things I’ve never really seen from him and he’s playing far more the role of an all action box to box playmaker too (his Wilson ball, his Joelinton ball) where as before he was really a dribbling counter attacking midfielder. He’s improved immensely each game and he’s got his swagger and confidence back (Minus his shooting).

I don’t see how he isn’t in the provisional squad, he’s versatile - he’s in form - he’s a leader.

Trips and Bruno rn. Love them all. Can’t really pick one.

+14 GD. Fuck off man.

Whoever we sign - in mid or winger - they better be fit and ready to press their socks off.

Everyone has bad passes every game. Just find it odd that Longstaff’s get called out every time.

He’s getting better and better man. Love this fella.

Easily becoming the player that Rafa brought through - superb today and he’s crucial to the way we play.

If rumors are to be true and Manquillo may leave in Jan, then I think we absolutely need a backup/understudy to Tripps in Jan. Other than that, it’s extremely difficult to pinpoint who we’d go after in Jan to strengthen because at the moment the team is flying and the original idea of adding an attacking mid and winger to this team is hard to think about when Isak is coming back, Miggy is in this form, Longstaff/Willock/Joelinton are nearly undroppable!

Can someone post that article please?

Best of luck rest of trip. Happy to hear it’s going well.

plz stop him

I think it’s 2 to 3 goal win for us at home. The momentum is building and think the lads will kill it.

Not 1 single issue with Wood -- last season he was vital in the run-in; this season he scored in the cup game and finally he's done the job needed to close out games each time he's been called upon this season.

yes mate, and it seems very clear that the club are being proactive and rewarding Bruno with a bumper deal to 1) ward off the top 2-3 clubs 2) increase contract value and most importantly 3) reward him for being the talisman ---- again, this is if the recent press about us planning to do this is true.

So if Ashworth and Howe offer Bruno a bumper deal to ward off interest, don't you think these guys weighed every option? And again, do you really think dressing room culture of a bunch nice no dickheads give a fuck if we went out and showed our hand that we are protecting our world class CM? You really think Willock is going to sulk? Or would you not think the players are saying - hey this club means it, we're not going to sell at first chance or let the press speculate?

He'd not be on the bench if Isak was fit.

Personally I'd rather not be doing quick increases but if there are clubs sniffing around and you want to protect your asset in today's environment you do what it takes to protect your interests.

Again, and I'll say this one last time to not belabor the point - Eddie Howe and Ashworth have talked about wage structure and team unity - particularly Howe, so if you see it happening you can bet your life that he approved it and everyone is swimming in the right direction. We're not a club with some random executive who's a maverick or bad egg. I think people forget we've paid peanuts in wages for far too long and the entire football world has moved on -- the issue has always been wages to turnover ratio and ours is fucking shite because we have a 4 man commercial team and below market legacy commercial deals from the MA era. It appears to me, good squad players are getting rewarded with better wages (sometimes a year or two tacked on) and now our top top player in Bruno is getting made sure we protect his long term value.