KaKa

Yeah, I'd hope we could find another player rather than bring back Gini for a relegation survival scrap. Don't think he'd be up for it at all, having recently been with the likes of Liverpool and PSG.

That company he reached out to sounds like a really brilliant service for pros that want to work on and improve on their games further, alongside what their clubs do. Major kudos to the guy for seeking that out. 

11 minutes ago, mighty__mag said:

The Ben Mee, and Tarkowski link I feel could be a masterstroke, one they already know each other, but the biggest one of all, it's a shrewd move, if we pulled it off it leaves Burnley missing their two first choice Centre Backs.

 

If that left them scrambling around in January to replace them, it could prove hard, it could potentially relegate them.

 

Genius, although they're not my ideal defenders, I welcome the idea of it unsettling Burnley. 

I'm almost certain we'll be signing neither.

Eddie loves a left footed centre back on the left side, which is why he kept giving Clark a chance.

Botman is left footed and so could well be something in that one as we must be looking at bringing in another left footed centre back.

1 minute ago, Wilson said:

 

There are definite signs of progress... But fair enough if you choose to ignore them like. 

 

Honestly I'm not too positive about them games either, need a win from both... But I don't see it. 

I was actually at the game today.

Arsenal's pressing was very very good and we just couldn't get out effectively to counter often enough when we won the ball back, especially in the first half.

I loved the fact they were trying to play out though. I think that mindset is ultimately going to fare us well and pay off far more effectively in the next two fixtures.

14 minutes ago, Abra Dubravka said:

 

Happy to be proven wrong, but I'm dubious to think he's a reformed character or should have a future here beyond this season. Fantastic performance last out, and hope it continues but...

 

Howe is not the first to throw an arm round his shoulder and publicly tell him how talented he is. Monk, Laudrup, Rodgers, and even Rafa all offered him the world, before he eventually let down by him. 

 

Bournemouth's last season up, remember Howe constantly playing Phil Billing, and whenever I watched them he was just treading water, immobile and being run ragged in midfield.

 

Shelvey has always had ability, if we can get him focused that will raise performances, but he's physically and defensivly always going to let us down.

 

Howe is not throwing an arm around his shoulder. That is more Bruce's approach and for someone like Shelvey I think it's the worst thing to do, as it allows him to coast.

Sounds more like Howe is challenging him and demanding more from him because he knows he has the talent, and he is letting Shelvey know he is nowhere near maximising it.

We're going to beat these lot.

27 minutes ago, Tomato Deuce said:

More intrigued by that than the interim HC gig tbh.

Yeah, he's going to go in for the 6 months and assess everything from the manager seat and from right inside the dressing room, and then the next two years overhaul their whole setup and likely recommend some stud manager to take over. Excellent move. 

Think having such a young English manager that is so energetic and driven is just really good for Shelvey, and should really help motivate him, because he just really seems to need someone that has that kind of energy to help get him fired up. Really good to see it's having that kind of impact on him.

26 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

No denying Almiron works his socks off, but if he's starting with Joelinton, that gives you two forwards who don't really score goals. 

Two forwards who didn't score goals under Bruce, in his deplorable system.

25 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

 

Another double tonight. 11 in 11, 16 in 20, second only to Mitrovic in the scoring charts. Bound to be getting some attention you'd think. 

He's having a heck of a season. At 22 would be a nice young addition as an alternative option in our striker ranks.

Just reading up on him he seems quite versatile too. Can play out wide and up front. Good size too at 6 ft 1.

Considering the emphasis on pressing and how happy they were with the job Joelinton did with it, I imagine they're going to love Almiron as well because of his huge energy levels and effort tracking and closing down. Be really interesting to see the side that gets picked.

2 minutes ago, HWTL said:

Wasn't really meaning that top teams don't need a top class manager and a top class game plan, you can see that in Chelsea now that it makes a huge difference. All I meant was that at the toon most players are very average and alot not even Premier league quality so to get the best our of them they really need a manager to get them playing at a much higher level or a way that gets results as proven on Saturday with us. I could see anyone going in to man u and in short term getting better results just by laying down the law and a new face just because they have great player's. Long term it wouldn't work but I might long enough to say we were too hard on him.

Ah, okay. I see what you mean.

I'm not so sure though. I think the calibre of players they have, especially in Ronaldo and Varane would be so disgusted by his general cluelessness it would lead to a revolt. Think of the clubs, managers and the games those two have played in man. They would be absolutely floored by the incompetence of Bruce and the Steves.

10 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

He was unreal against Mexico at the Icetecca, two well taken goals in a freaking ice rink.   I'll take either of my Canadian brethren.  

Yeah, I saw the highlights of the game. Can't believe you guys are topping the group, would be epic if you made it to the World Cup.

Honestly, I remember stumbling on an Orlando City game back in the day and seeing Larin play, and I thought he had major potential. Great size, speed, good feet, finishing ability and a great header of the ball. Looks a very well rounded, modern day forward. Always kept an eye out for him since then to see how he'd come along.

Think his next move is going to be the one that sets him up to make a bigger name for himself now. I genuinely don't understand how no one in the premier league has taken a punt on him already tbh. Looks ready made for English football.

6 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

Whilst I agree with everything you've said, this is the same oaf that got us to 12th last year by pure fucking luck. There's enough individual talent in that ManU squad to win big games despite who's on the touchline. It's the expectation of any sort of sustained success that will evade a PFM type.

I get what you're saying, but he got results with us in the classic neanderthal way of just having everyone sit on top of themselves in our own box, which is the classic PFM go to move. It's a grotesque approach that will inevitably manage to fluke enough results if you have a couple of 'bit of magic' players like we do with ASM and Wilson.

Can you imagine him setting up like that at Man Utd? Man Utd fans would be raging! He would have to have the team push up and play, and there will be no defensive plan or organisation to stop them getting badly exposed at the other end like they have been already this season. It would be pure chaos IMO.

Hopefully we get to see it happen. What a Christmas that would be 

10 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

Pacey, calm, composed, creates chances too. He's done well for himself from his time at Genk Gent, Lille and our National Team. Time for a bigger stage and pay day, me thinks.  

 

 

 

Yeah, he's going to get a big move for certain next summer, if not this January coming.

I saw we were also linked with Cyle Larin today, who I like a lot from way back in his Orlando City days. Had a great season last year with Besiktas and has started this one really well again. His contract is running down next summer and so he will be available this January for a really good price. Think he would be an absolute bargain. 

1 hour ago, HWTL said:

Its hilarious they are even mentioning Bruce but that team really shouldn't need much coaching, I would hate it if he went there and got results, there full of great players and really should be able to play well without a manager, can just hear the pundits already saying they knew he was top class and badly treated. Won't actually look at any evidence and results. On the other hand could go in and prove what we all know.

I genuinely cannot believe people can still say this sort of thing in today's football. It just doesn't work like this anymore. There are too many decent managers with very well thought out philosophies and preparation in this league now. From Pep at Man City at the top to Thomas Frank at Brentford who have only just come up.

It's clear Ole was already a manager that thought little of tactics and coaching and it caught up with him, and you really think Bruce who is definitely more clueless and far lazier, would get results there? Against the likes of Klopp, Pep, Tuchel, Conte, Rodgers in the league without getting humiliated like they did by Liverpool last time out? Not to mention the cabbage then taking them into Champions League games with his 'lets play' philosophy? 

The idea that he can just go in there and remind them what a privilege it is to play for Man Utd and that will suddenly get them playing at a high level is impossibly funny to me, and I pray they get suckered into it by all these ridiculously pompous ex-Man Utd players that they flood the studios with every time there's football on. This would be so incredibly satisfying if it transpires man. Fingers firmly crossed.

Look forward to Man Utd packing 10 men in their box and then lumping the ball up to Ronaldo on the half way line every time the ball comes near them, in order to stop them conceding so many goals.

8 minutes ago, The Bonk said:

 

My guy scored too. If we're spending big, it should be on him. 

He is very good. Puts chances away so calmly.

Jonathan David vs Karim Adeyemi ... geez! Place must be jam packed with all of the top club's scouts.

Unai Emery losing at home to  Carrick's Man Utd ...

Looking forward to the clamour for Carrick to get a chance now 

We still have a recruitment team in place and Howe apparently already had targets in mind for January, specifically for staving off relegation, and so I really don't think the DOF needs to come in for transfers to be done.

The DOF is more important for the restructuring of the club's whole footballing setup, and then for the longer term recruitment of players once staying up has been achieved.

10 hours ago, Ronson333 said:

Being linked to Jonathan David, that would be a cracking signing.

Also linked with his Canadian strike partner Cyle Larin who I've always really liked the look of.

Someone is going to get an absolute bargain with Larin as his contract is winding down and he will apparently be available from Besiktas in January.

Liked him since his days in Orlando City. Think he's class and has all the attributes you'd want in a modern day forward.

1 hour ago, Dan Gleebals said:

As sensible as the loan approach might be, I just don't see the top 6 sides loaning us anyone (from the prem).  They were dead against the takeover and are hardly going to lend us players to surive relegation.  Buy at an inflated price or piss off will be the most likely scenario.  

 

I am sure they will invest, most likely in younger exeptional talen that will be less concerned about a year in the championship (should that happen).  If we can cut the gap and get back into the bottom half of the table, or look like we could, I think they will spend big.

if we are still 6 ploints off going into the transfer window, I am not so sure.  We are hardly going to attract top players then anyway. 

Man City and Chelsea didn't care about the takeover.

It was pretty much Spurs, Man Utd and Arsenal that were throwing the biggest strop because they are all in a moment of such uncertainty.

Could easily see us loaning Ake with a loan to a permanent move in the summer for example as he wants to play more ahead of the world cup next year.

Could also see a similar type deal with Chelsea for the likes of a Ross Barkley too if Howe wanted someone like that.

Ultimately though if we are interested in any of these clubs players that they aren't really using, really don't think they'll turn down money as they need t for their own rebuilds.

2 minutes ago, Froggy said:

 

If Zidane agrees to go to PSG now Poch will come the other way. 

 

Romano reporting we had contact with Valverde tonight. @Village Idiotwhat's your opinion on that? 

Interesting. Be fascinating to see how that all comes together then.

It will probably take a few months to sort out I imagine, so until then ...

1 hour ago, Froggy said:

 

Yes, all of this is also nonsense. 

 

It's Pochettino lads. Sorry. 

Now or end of season?