80

Makes us look like muppets, but then again we're singing about Moretti and spaghetti so I can't really complain...

Think it'll come in time. I imagine he'll be a different kind player in three or four years.

Can't believe we're selling Callum Wilson. What's this club playing at.

There are no rules that will fix time wasting and associated phenomena. They can only really shift the incentives around for who, how and when it's done. It's a cultural problem which, given the money and glory given to those who succeed with a win at all costs mentality, isn't likely to get fixed any time soon. Once, faking injuries was seen as shameful and humiliating. Now it's treated as smart game management. As long as that's the case, it's here to stay.

Shearer-style trapping the ball in the corner will become a major facet of the game. Progressing the ball up the pitch in as few seconds as possible via tightly organised sequences of throw ins will be raised up to an art form. As a spectator the game will be far slower and more boring, even if 'officially' the minutes spent out of play won't have happened.

Put this through a translator and got: "Trossard is maturing and offering more than just fancy tricks and finishing. He can drop back into midfield and battle for the team too; it's not his normal stomping ground, but once he's got the ball, he doesn't give it up easily".

We've needed a good Demba Ba replacement.

Who's writing that? Willock?

My point is someone will be. Agreed we have options now, and we need them too if we want to compete on multiple fronts. But we're also not the finished article - and if we're gonna want to bring in one or two even better players over the next twelve months, I don't think there's any way we could do that and still carry all the candidates we have now. It wouldn't be right by the players among other things. Maybe Anderson gets sold and Miley proves to have just been on a freakish hot streak and the question goes away, but neither is looking very likely just at the moment.

Feel very bad for the lad if it's serious, but fucking funny with regards Southampton's position.

So are just about every midfielder we've got though... Unless we're not planning any signings in this area for the next two or three seasons, we're going to get very over stocked...

He's definitely got finishing in his locker, his technique is sweet. But he should have been in double figures last season and was nowhere near. We would've been battling Arsenal if he and Longstaff had put away the goals they should've.

In response to @James: Yeah, that's my thinking also, although I find it harsh to categorise him alongside ASM. For all his qualities, ASM never really felt like he fitted into our new ways, whereas Willock largely does. We're now at the stage of picking favourites between demonstrably good players, in this part of the pitch. Am I correct that FFP - crazily enough - incentivises us to sell Anderson or Miley over Willock?

Yep, as I say, that's the career changer for him. Think it could be the difference between finishing at West Ham and winning the Champion's League.

But we're never the same without unsung hero Longstaff right? Never been so spoilt for choice

Been a big boost for him definitely. Key thing for Willock is to sort out his goalscoring. That's a career changer for him if he does it. But who the hell makes way then? Seems like someone's nose is going to be put out of joint/development is going to be hindered somewhere or other.

Suddenly seems like we're getting flooded with midfielders now, with Miley, Anderson and Gordon coming along nicely, in addition to the arrival of Tonali and Barnes. Plus the likes of Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff, Willock and even more. It seems likely someone will be the odd man out at some stage over the next 12 months, especially if we're intending on making any further upgrades here in that time. It won't be an easy one as they're all likeable. Who do we imagine it'll be? As you'll guess from my thread bump, I'll predict Willock, partly for off the field reasons e.g. Longstaff being more heartbroken to leave the area than Willock would be. It should be a fascinating contest to watch though with everyone hopefully pushing eachother to new heights.

Silly cunt probably did do it thinking Howe would take us down and show he was right all along.

Nothing wrong with not rating him and changing your mind by the way, that's life But the first probably 40 odd pages of this thread reached hysteria levels.

My recollection was there was all of about 3 people willing to give him time of day. Considerably more were worried about his impact upon the club's homoerotica.

Accepting foreign fans and such as equals is one thing, and fundamentally alright with me. But saying you don't know who Mike Ashley is and calling yourself a diehard fan, akin to fans of Disney and McDonald's, is embarrassing - when it isn't an obvious wind up. Got far more respect for someone who, let's say, is Saudi and started following because of the takeover and isn't fully into it yet but is enjoying the ride and gradually falling for the place while learning about the backstory etc. Easy come support is easy go, too.

Good one.

It was my joke. Depressing is the word

Rotterdammerung. You don't get to use that every day.

There's no way I'm gonna be able to properly catch up on 50 pages... Can't help but suspect this deal is significantly motivated by very big doubts about his ability to stay fit long term. Particularly in our style of play at least. Our medical team might well be saying he's looking at 20 games a season tops.