Mikky

Just bring on Ritchie and end our misery please 

This is a rancid performance 

That performance was a disgrace - no excuses - damn right unprofessional 

9 minutes ago, BonesJones said:

Don't know if it fits the 'system' but my god I want us to get our David Silva! Feels like the one type of player we just don't have, and could be game changing, for Isak in particular.

Retiring end of season

17 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

Think he's decent and would've taken him last summer, but I think 40-50m for him is way too much and he's not the type of player we need anyway.

He isn’t the profile of midfielder we need so it’s a no from me 

Don’t think we will see Schar - Joe - Krafth and Isak until Liverpool 

2 hours ago, arnonel said:

I'm really liking Eric Martel 

Good defensive midfielder at Koln

Good shout - He’s very Declan Rice in his style - makes some good progressive passes - can fill in at CB too

I am still all out on Yousuf Fofana 

34 minutes ago, toontownman said:

Completely agree. Just don't think they will bring one in until the summer with Murphy coming back and Barnes, who shouldn't really play there but has. Then they can shift either Murphy or Miggy along with Ritchie in the summer to make room. I think it would be foolish to shift Miggy in general but certainly this January. Murphy is only just coming back from injury so it's unlikely he will be sold. No one will buy Ritchie. I can't see us signing anyone and having another player sat outside the squad not playing. We are too careful with FFP. I would be shocked if we spend big this window other than one player and a loan or two. Would be a good time for a shot in the arm backing with spending though, not least given current harder/frustrating times. We have clearly gambled a bit on avoiding short term pain for long term FFP gain, so I think there is likely money there if the right deals are out there. We have loans to use too. 

Still think it's an either or when it comes to Striker or RW this window. Not sure which we need more. We have an easy-ish switch out for a DM and GK, then it gets more tricky. We could drop Dummett and Ritchie then bring in a ST and RW. I expect Manquillo will leave this window, maybe Krafth (think he will wait til summer, he looks fine as backup)

People that can be bumped from the squad for the second half of the season: 

• Tonali - gone
• Pope - gone? or not

The likely lads

• Dummett 
• Ritchie
• Manquillo

Other options

• Targett
• Krafth 
• Gillespie or Karius - Keep Pope drop Gillespie?

 

I can see us cashing in on Miggy in the summer and we buy a RW to replace him - bearing in mind we have 2 starting RWFs in Barnes and Gordon, plus 2 very able deputies in Anderson and Murphy, adding a RW will finish those positions off

I have a sneaky feeling we go back in for Ekitike - fits the profile too perfectly - then there’s Marcus Leonardo 

17 minutes ago, Ronson333 said:

RW I think we’ll go for Neto at Wolves

Just hope he isn’t one of those injury prone players 

Neto - Olise - Bakayoko - Cherki (doesn’t have the pace)

5 minutes ago, toontownman said:

No GK? 

 

If we could bring in 4 that would be amazing. I don't see it but fingers crossed. 

 

I think RW waits until the summer. A versatile forward in January is possible though that could play through the middle and cover out wide if needed.

Goes without saying the RW has to be a starter and has to be the same calibre as Botman and Bruno - it’s such an important position that we have to get someone of a high level - if fact our next 3/4 signings all have to be at a high level, which I trust they will 

1 hour ago, SUPERTOON said:

What’s everyone’s thoughts/predictions ahead of the window ? 
 

Names or how many players are people are expecting us to bring in ?

Window or no window, for us to progress to the next level we need 4 players - CB - CM - RW - FW

CB - I think we have sufficient depth to see us through - then in the summer buy a long term partner for Botman - a real elite CB

Answer - wait until the summer

CM - long term worries over Willock - Tonali  banned - potential injury to Bruno.

Answer - Phillips on Loan - no obligation - buy an elite CM in the summer 

RW - Murphy potentially back in Jan, so is Anderson - Barnes/Willock unknown - so you potentially have Gordon, Anderson, Miggy and Murphy, who knows how long Murphy lasts - do you take a risk and not sign a player?

Answer - gamble on the fitness of Barnes, Murphy and Willock - wait until the summer and sign a top class RW - Bakayoko? Neto?

FWD - Isak and Wilson can’t be trusted - ideally you want a hybrid forward in the mould of Jota and Ferran Torres or a J Pedro - how many are out there?

Answer - sign Marcus Leonardo - wait until 24/25 and replace Wilson with an elite forward 

So Phillips and Leonardo - wait and see what happens with Dubravka - short term keeper may be required 

3 minutes ago, MrRaspberryJam said:

Trippier will be fine imo. Only way he’ll get his confidence back is by playing. 

I think his problems are away from the field tbh - there’s definitely something not right post his comeback from England - in an ideal scenario we take the load off him - just depends on how Krafth holds up these next t few days 

You could play Tino RB and Burn LB

IF Gordon is out you have to play Hall as there doesn’t seem to be anyone else left 

17 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

While this is true, I'm sure our normal approach to 1-0 leads isn't going to be to stop playing and park the bus. 

 

Circumstances have dictated that.

Totally agree - we did what we could yesterday - we could pick this and that - they scored in the 92nd minute through a howler 

We didn’t have the luxury to start with or bring on Tonali - Joe - Joe - Anderson - Isak - Barnes - Murphy - Schar 

I do think the next phase out of squad completion is to buy to ensure we can cope in the future - CB - 6 - RW - Attacker - if that bloats the squad so be it 

2 hours ago, mouldy_uk said:

About as useful as a set of speakers put out on the pitch which shouts at people. Really can’t believe Hall wasn’t a better option 

What happened to that winger we had who scored a lovely goal against Gateshead via a Miley cross? He looked decent 

By me reckoning - given how players are still crocked when coming back 

Pope - Pre season 

Tonali - Pre season 

Targett - Easter 

Schar - Liverpool 

Gordon - Notts Forest

Krafth - Notts Forest 

Andetson - Aston Villa

Willock - no idea

Barnes - no idea 

Joelinton - Liverpool 

Isak - Liverpool - maybe Luton, if so he will be injured again 

J Muphhy - Aston Villa 

We will struggle to field a team vs Luton - given Eddies love for Ritchie - he will start

11 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

Two good signings this January and we're laughing. Assuming there are no additional injuries, of course 

Sureky there’s a player out there who can play all 3 forward roles? It’s a priority - along with a 6

Then a CB and RW in the summer 

6 minutes ago, Coffee_Johnny said:

We gifted them fuck all. We hung on with a limp-along first team squad. Took a lead, couldn’t impose ourselves and dug in. The collective effort was, once again, outstanding. The epitome being Gordon—our best chance as an outlet to get a second, and kill the game—playing on whilst obviously hurting, after receiving a clear red card tackle.
Supremely proud of them all. We just couldn’t ride it out. Daft as it sounds, alongside how much possession Chelsea had, the number of bobbles,  loose balls and throws which didn’t go our way just put me in the mindset that this isn’t going to be our day. We’re not getting the rub if the green. 
We will obliterate teams come the run in when we’re stronger in depth. Hope it starts in the FA Cup. 

That was Chelsea at full strength bar the 2 full backs - even then they had 2 internationals playing 

Find me a team that wouldn’t suffer when having Joelinton - Tonali - Anderson - Willock - Barnes - Murphy - Isak missing - Gordon injured - Miggy spent 

Miggy at the end - take the ball to the corner - had a pot shot on goal 

That was our 26th match of the season - take out the internationals - around 26 matches in 3 months 

50 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Not seeing that personally. The players are visibly out in their feet, some playing with injuries.

We’ve basically played 8 games in 24 days with the same squad - barely had a chance to rotate - no rest periods in between - prior to that we played 7 in 21 days - it’s insane - all tough matches 

Not had the luxury of rotating 3/4 players a game - our 2 wingers literally played all the matches - same with the full backs - centre backs - Bruno - Miley - Joe - Longstaff run into the ground - Isak strapped up and thrown on - Wilson playing consecutive  matches. 
 

We will learn from this for sure and make sure next time round we don’t suffer the same 

2 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Nothing against Ritchie at all but seeing him come on is a dispiriting feeling 

The fact he’s still here - can barely run AND gets in ahead of Hall who is supposedly our future is truly shocking 

Howe should never be bringing him on 

4 minutes ago, Beren said:

Really, really poor from Howe (said it when we were winning also).

 

So disappointing.

 

Going into a game where you're knackered, they're not, the aim has to be to bring them down to your energy level - not increase the disparity by chasing shadows with eleven barely fit players. Absolute mad tactics.

 

 

 

 

Agree with this - Miggy was spent after 55 mins yet continued to play him

The Ritchie sub is unforgivable - might aswell play with 10 men 

I can’t see Ashworth leaving for Man U - No way our owners let it happen - They moved heavan on earth for him - he stays 

2 minutes ago, gbandit said:

Raphinha would be so perfect for us

Another Brazilian which would be class

6 hours ago, Stottie said:

If Juventus actually want Kalvin Phillips, that's a vote of confidence.

My association with Italian midfielders is technically competent, good engine, and a bit radgie.

Given their recent signings I would say this amounts to a vote of no confidence