Conjo

They did him dirty in the highlights video by not properly showing that bit of skill before the pass to Isak that started the move that Parkinson Joelinton'ed. Doesn't have the pace of an ASM or Doku, but looks like he could develop into a smarter player.

He's got Joelinton's Syndrome in front of goal. He'll become a great midfield destroyer in 5 years Parkinson.

Girona starting with their second string?

Brilliant commentator. Burn was a great buy from Fulham. Longstaff was the Geordie favorite signed by Rafa Benitez.

Based on previous games I'd assume if we are in desperate need of a goal, Howe will keep Isak on in addition to Osula. Only time Osula will be subbed on for Isak is due to injury or seeing out a game we are leading.

Ginola had 16 in 76 appearances and ASM 21 in 124 appearances so not a massive difference. Playing a bit of devils advocate here, but couldn't you also say that it should be easier to do well in a better team?

No way. At worst it'll be like last season where they play like dog water but still accumulates enough undeserved 1 goal margin wins and some draws where they'll never be truly out of reach of European places.

I just see that more as being effective than creative. As I said above, probably just me who has a more narrow definition of what creative means

Through ball to Barnes against West Ham last season f.ex.

When I think of creative players it's the Bruno types who can split open a defence with a pass nobody else sees or predicts, or dribbles past players in unconventional ways like Isak and HBA. Maybe I do have a narrow definition of what creativity means, or just very high standards Nothing to see here. I love Gordon.

If you go back and look at his assists, they aren't a result of him being a creative player. Either easy lay offs after working hard for the ball or whipped crosses for the most part. Didn't he win almost as many penalties as he got assists? If they counted as assists his numbers would have looked absolutely ridiculous, but he do fall over easy to win them many times, hence my comment. This isn't intended to shit on him before any white knights chirps in. He's a great player. He just isn't what I consider a creative player.

Keeling over by the slightest touch in the box to win a penalty is being a creative outlet? He's ruthless, effective and hard working, but creative isn't a label I'd put on him personally.

Given Trippier Schar Woodgate Enrique Batty Bruno Joelinton Ben Arfa Ginola Shearer Didn't read OP so might have misunderstood the assignment, but that team would have been so much fun to watch.

We had a young back-up striker in Shola for 14 years

Just nice to have a young promising striker available to take some of to load off if Isak or Wilson is injured so the fit one don't have to play every minute of every game, thus increasing the chance of both Isak and Wilson being injured at the same time.....and obviously to have a recognized striker available if both are injured at the same time.

That ship sailed a year ago.

It's based on last season, the season before that and the season before that again. Two examples that has occurred once each hardly breaks with his general reluctance to rotate unless absolutely needed.

Desperately need a Norwegian in next now. What's Per Ciljan Skjelbred doing these days?

He prefers to use experienced players, and keeping a settled starting 11. It seems he values a settled 11 with fatigued players over playing a fresh players, or opting for a different kind of player in a position where the player in the settled 11 is hard countered by the opposition. Only notable changes I can think of to the teams he has fielded has come through suspensions and injuries. Would be very happy if he proves me wrong this season, but that is what he has shown me so far since joining.

As long as Wilson is staying, I'm confused as to what kind of player people who aren't happy about this rumou are expecting? Isak is and will be our number 1 striker. We play in a system that only uses one striker. We have Wilson right behind him who will get game time whenever he is fit, and he already fills the experienced back-up role. Is Mitchell and the team supposed to unearth an unknown yet world class striker in his prime years whos been banging in goals for fun for years that nobody else knows about, that will be ecstatic if he gets to play 15% worth of minutes of a season of domestic only football?

It's the way Howe operates. Don't understand why we have to make excuses on his behalf. He didn't play Livramento either unless he absolutely had to. Same with Miley and Anderson.

Yeah, I'm not convinced it was happening at some point if injuries weren't forcing his hand either.

A bit surprised. People were shitting it that we'd lose Isak, Bruno, Gordon when we didn't get to europe. By the looks of it we are now keeping all our key players, have added Kelly, signed Hall permanently and some underwhelming keepers in. Yet there are so many that are miserable that we haven't solved all of our problems.....? If we manage to get a decent right winger in I'd say we've had a pretty good window. If we manage to get a decent CB on top of that we've had a great window. If we manage to get a striker in on top of that again it's 10/10 for me. Without anything more happening I'd still say we've got a team we should expect to compete for top 6 unless we have an even worse injury crisis than last season.

How do you know?

I don't think he's that good on the right, and limits him quite a lot not when not being able to cut inside like he does on the left. Better to play Almiron there imo.