Shak

I mean, who's this directed at like? It's just post after post of people taking the piss, don't really think anyone gives a shit

Ratcliffe seems massively like someone who will have made some patronising remark to Staveley that he wouldn't have to a man

I mean his source is probably that he read it on here

Surely shouldn't be hard to fathom the main reason why a young Argentinian would want to play for Inter Miami right now?

Great news if so. He's not at the Bruno/Isak level as a player but as a sheer presence at the club he's huge. Be class to have him locked down for four more seasons.

Is building the team around Isak using him as something resembling a false nine? I've always thought it would mean changing to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 and having a traditional #10 operating just behind him, but I just get the feeling Eddie wants to stick with the 4-3-3 and the flat midfield three as when we're at our best it's so effective in the high press. However, one of the issues we've had with Isak leading the line in a 4-3-3 is we've struggled to get support to him as the lone striker as his game isn't suited to being a traditional CF, holding the ball up. We've seen in the last week though that having a wide man like Barnes, who can make intelligent runs behind the defense, has been massive for Isak. I really do hope we get a run of games to the end of the season with Barnes and Gordon either side of Isak as having wide players who work hard, have great movement and are a genuine goal threat is essential if you're gonna play with a false nine (or modified version of it). The likes of Murphy and Almiron don't check enough of those boxes to be effective, but Gordon and Barnes do. My main question on Isak's suitability for the role is if he has the level of vision and passing needed to operate in the role, be one of our main creators as well as one of our main goalscorers. It's a hard role to play, but I can't think of many players we've had who I'd have more faith in pulling it off. Isak dropping into the hole. Gordon and Barnes look to offer an option in behind. Tino and Hall bombing down the flanks to fill the gaps left by the wide men. Joelinton and Tonali in the #8 positions getting forward. Bruno the base of it all. (You'd obviously be looking at a few signings on top of that too) Reckon it might be decent, like.

Don't recall there being any suggestion in summer that we were heading towards that system, in fact I recall quite a lot of talk about how Eddie wanted three CMs that were all capable of interchanging with each other and having rounded skillets. Was also quite a bit of talk about how they'd cooled on Maddison as a target as they weren't sure he was a good fit for the system. That may have been PR after it was made known to them that Maddison preferred a move to Spurs, but it's not like we've been linked with many players that fit the bill of being a #10. There's also the fact that when more or less everyone was fit at the start of the season we played 4-3-3.

It's a possibility of course but I just don't see any evidence of that being Eddie's long term plan.

I think he's a good fit, no doubt. Reckon you wouldn't want someone with a bit more quality on the ball though? Think between Bruno and Tonali we'd have enough bite that we could afford to sacrifice a bit of the presence Joelinton brings for someone who can affect the game a bit more in the final third?

He's looked better beating people than I expected tbh, was a lovely bit of quick feet to set up Isak against Everton, the one that was cleared off the line.

Who would be the perfect third midfielder to play at LCM with Bruno and Tonali in our 4-3-3? You're not allowed change to a 4-2-3-1, gotta be in the system we've seen that Eddie wants to play.

True, Isak could have done better. However, the pass was needlessly way behind Isak instead of put out in front of him. Don't believe for a second he was trying to nutmeg the defender either, was just a shite pass that was lucky to get to Isak at all.

I mean we're very obviously stuck with him until the end of the season but I do hope that he's moved on in the summer. Nowhere near good enough to be a starter for us if we want to push on and you want Miley and Anderson getting some minutes from their reserve roles. Think there'd be interest in Longstaff, he could do a good job for a lower half team and rarely misses games.

That pass with the outside of the foot over the top to Isak in the first half man, just filth on toast.

Really deserves a run in the side and looks like he'll get it with Willock hurt again. Think there's a player there.

I must say my initial reaction was that there was gonna be a whistle because in real time I thought Burn had fouled him. Once I saw the replay I thought it looked fine though, certainly nothing egregious enough to overturn. What's the directive for refs when they're sent to the monitor? Feels they almost have to agree with the VAR?

Good half IMO, we look sharp.

Unsticky the thread and end this madness.

Obviously was hoping to see Barnes and Gordon on the wings but Barnes is just back from injury tbf, two starts in 5 days might be stretching it.

Aye, the lack of young signings from South America has been a real disappointment and feels such an obvious route to building quality depth in the squad. Fuck I really hope we're allowed spend properly in the summer. I'm not even asking for superstars, just don't want to see the likes of Bruno and Isak having to play alongside the likes of Krafth, Longstaff and Murphy anymore.

It would be initially incredibly exciting of course but there'd be something very hollow about the shackles coming off completely and us going all out and spending a billion over the next year on transfers. I'd be absolutely delighted seeing us continue to shop primarily in the 30-40m bracket for a while more, buying younger players who aren't big names yet and looking to keep growing that way. Throw in the occasional Isak style signing, just to treat ourselves. The fact that PSR in its current form means we apparently can't do that is ridiculous, especially after getting into the Champions League last year. Was clear we were hamstrung last summer and our squad depth issues came back to bite us this season. Will be great if it becomes less restrictive and we at least have the chance to push on, even if it's not a level playing field.

His strengths as a player really rely on him being sharp. Quick feet in tight areas, that change of direction and burst of pace to beat a man. Him looking increasingly like he's a bit injury prone doesn't bode well IMO.

Lots of good tonight. Burn looked quality at CB. Anderson continues to look like he'll develop into a quality CM. Barnes and Isak appear to be developing some really nice chemistry. Let down by his shit players. Lots of players out there who've been made to look like competent Premier League players through Eddie's coaching and tactics but are basically a bit shit at the end of the day. The likes of Longstaff, Murphy, Krafth. Just absolute anchors around our necks in terms of playing decent football. Tonali, Gordon and Trippier out there and we'd have annihilated them tonight. Even then, needed a Paul Dummett masterclass in being useless to cost us the win.

Absolutely shite man. We'd honestly have done better just taking Hall off and playing with ten.