Shak

I agree on all this but all of this could also be said and worked on with Mbemba. That's fair enough like but it would appear Rafa doesn't fancy him and as manager you have to let him make that call.

Delighted if this comes off. Apparently the guy needs some work, not the finished article yet by any means. However, we aren't attractive enough an option nor do we have the resources required to sign top class players. Signing young players and developing them into top class players is the approach we need to be taking and this guy seems to have all the potential in the world. Obviously there needs to be a balance as you can't just start a team of kids but if we're ever going to more than tread water in the PL we need to take risks on guys like this.

The agent doth protest too much, mehopes.

Young, fast, sexy and expensive. Want this guy badly, though admittedly I've never seen him play.

Underwhelming to say the least. Not sure i would call it underwhelming - both Gray and King have had their best seasons and are young enough to improve. They both also seem to have a lot of the attributes that Rafa requires from his forward players. I understand why it is more appealing to go for a potentially exciting player from another league, but i think in our position I would be looking to go for players who have experience of the league. I agree to a extent and I may be in a minority but from what I've seen of Gray, I don't really seen an improvement on what we've already got with Gayle, unless we're taking staying fit into account. It also concerns me that we're targetting Gray to come in as a potential replacement for Gayle, rather than looking at more of a bigger type striker to fill the role that Mitro/Murphy occupy. Why is that a concern? If we have two competent options in Gray and Gayle fighting to start then that means we won't have to start either Mitrovic or Murphy. Don't think Rafa wants a big man in anything other than a 'substitute when we're chasing the game' role and Murphy or Mitro are both perfectly adequate for that.

Blatantly read some articles on Rafa viewing us as a good project and is now using the same expression to make himself sound intelligent.

Did we really give him a six year deal? Hard to envisage anyone buying him off us, doubt we'll be willing to rely on him to be a part of the first team squad either. Another year on loan, trying to survive in this dangerous world, is what awaits him I imagine.

Given that Ritchie is our only wide player, signing this guy for his very reasonable release fee is a no brainer IMO. Wouldn't be happy if he was first choice left winger but as a squad player we could do a lot worse, he's generally excellent off the bench too.

He's well worth 6m IMO, still looks like he can improve but at the very least he's an excellent option off the bench. Well worth keeping.

Not entirely sure where he'll fit in Rafa's long term plans. He's no #10, needs a big man to play off as a second striker. Given that Rafa doesn't like a target man up top I don't see it clicking for him here. A top class #10 is probably the most important need for us this summer. Absolutely essential that we get someone who can link the midfield and attack or else it'll be a season of Shelvey trying impossible balls over the top twenty times a game.

Rafa's subs have been awful.

Stop bringing on dickheads.

Oh Mitro.

Think he consciously chested that... Classy move by Rafa bringing on Gouffran, evens things up after the sending off.

Yes.

Can you imagine if the ref hadn't given it? Genuinely wouldn't have shocked me.

Party time.

D#

I'm enjoying this tbh, our defense definitely needs sorting but I'm just sick off the dreadful shitfests where nothing happens.

Incredible break that.

Such a finish given the circumstances, looked like he was kicking a stray ball off the fucking pitch. Wasn't the smart move by Zidane pushing for the win but good on him, wish more teams played that way.

You just know he was buzzing off his tits when he got to make that lunge and give away a free and get a yellow. Felt like a wiley pro who was taking one for the team. Useless cunt.

He's only 23 so he should improve over the coming years. Worth sticking with as part of the squad IMO but he definitely can't be first choice next year (assuming we go up). Signing someone like Shawcross and having Lascelles as his backup would make sense.

He was decent tonight. He'll never be anything special though and honestly his playacting is fucking embarrassing, he'll be gone in the summer and I won't miss him at all. Shame, as he's a compelling character in many ways.