STM

I'm convinced that we met with his reps last summer. Said as much in the plane spotting thread.

Pope Trippier Schar Botman Burn Bruno Anderson Willock Murphy Joelinton Isak Need to get Joelinton back out wide. Anderson your time has come.

I also wonder if Eddie will see Joelinton as a 3rd choice striker.

That's a fair point. Gambling on him having a good run of fixtures though. Also see people's point re replacing ASM with someone worse. It does seem a bit daft but it has logic if said player is more reliable over a big season.

I'd like us to sell ASM, in order for us to sign a winger for both sides. Reports of us wanting 6 players; 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 forward players. I'd be looking at something like this going into next year: GK: Pope, Dubravka, Karius/Darlow/Gillespie. (2nd and 3rd choice goalkeepers are fairly easy to replace). RB: Tripper, Krafth, Ashby. RCB: Schar, NEW CB (Tomori?), Lascelles. LCB: Botman, Burn, Dummett (fills our home grown quota). LB: NEW LB (Tierney), Burn, (Trippier as cover). DM: Bruno, NEW DM (Ugarte/ Thuram/Lavia). CM: Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock, NEW CM (Maddison), Anderson. RW: Miggy, Murphy, New RW (Diaby/ Williams). LW: Gordon, NEW LW (Barnes/ Harrison), Joelinton (and Isak) ST: Isak, Wilson. I'm aware we need another forward player but my preference would be someone young and versatile who could play across the front.

I was with you on the bernabeu but could you not have found two better than Marseille and Benfica? Nou camp, San siro, Allianz arena....

Lies, damned lies and statistics. For how many of his "available" games was he coming back from injury? Took him best part of a month to find form and fitness last time.

ASM is a saleable asset and yes, we should let all of them go. We will get pennies for them. If Howe wants to keep Dummett around for his off field influence, I won't argue with that. And just to be clear, I wouldn't want to lose ASM without a replacement. I suggested Harvey Barnes if Leicester go down, that's how the conversation began. Harvey Barnes hasn't got the ability ASM does but he'd contribute waaaay more over a 50+ game season.

I also said if he can prove his fitness. If he can't then we shouldn't buy him. ASM can't prove his fitness. He's a waste of a shirt. If he has a season next year where he plays 25+ games, I will be the first to admit I'm wrong. Eddie Howe will sell ASM IMO. If he does, will you still say its incorrect decision?

Don't disagree to be honest.

Wonder if we still have an eye on DCL.

Brighton are going to score but too late.

LB is going to be the hardest position to recruit. Finding a good defender is fine, finding a flying full back is fine but you rarely find both. Need our scouting team to be on the ball. Tierney might be the best bet, if he can prove his fitness.

Oh wey, we can just have a cheerleader in the treatment room, who comes back every six weeks, takes a fortnight to get back up to speed, gives us 3 class games and then gets injured again. That's what CL clubs do. Pep and Klopp would have him out on his arse ASAP. We've no place for carrying mavericks.

Oh it's 100% bullshit, the term "on the beach". It's up there with "new manager bounce" and the idea that corners are really good goalscoring opportunities, when in reality, you hardly ever score from a corner.

Well he needs replacing by someone.

I'd like us to sign a new right winger, like Diaby etc.... Then sell ASM and replace him with someone like Barnes or even Harrison if they go down. ASM is unreliable. Class on his day, but unreliable.

Nope. Been sloppy. If they'd given 100% they wouldn't be getting beat.

We could be playing Brighton on the back of two defeats. Perfect IMO.

Don't care about Everton getting relegated either way. Don't and have never seen Brighton getting in the top 4. Alot of football is timing. We played Everton at a good time. We might play Leicester and Brighton at good times too.

Don't see us beating Brighton at home mind.

Everton playing well. Brighton not got going.

Is there a reason why nobody is linked with Caicedo?

I would love Rice but ultimately it makes zero sense to spend 100m on one player, where we are right now. That's close to the same money we paid for Botman, Bruno, Tripper and Burn combined. When we are down to a case where we need 1/2 special players to complete our team, fine, let's go get a player like Rice. Realistically, we are 2 seasons away from that situation. I know it feels like a Rice or Bellingham are available now but there will be a new wonder kid/special talent on the horizon in 2 years time. We need to hold our nerve and not lose focus. I want a squad of around 13/14 elite players, right now I make it: Trippier Botman Bruno Isak Joelinton Wilson (just about) By my reckoning, we can get 3 this summer and some players with potential.

Another reason why Targett should get a game is because he can take some corner duties off Trippier. They have gone stale again.