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Unfortunately pressure is all on us here as the established prem side we simply can't win here. Not literally but if we win it will be the money spent and squad assembled if its a draw similar to the loss narrative and if they win we won't ever stop hearing about it.

Both him and elanga came from the league and while every transfer is a gamble it could end up costing nearly 100m for the pair. People rightly or wrongly put a high level of expectation on them due to this. They arent 20 year old raw gambles from abroad they are tried and tested. Critique like "tidy" or "did ok" doesn’t feel good enough for where we want to be and the fee they came attached with. He never hid from the ball but seemed clumsy with it at times just feels like an opportunity missed for him in today's game.

I tried it on in the metro today looked like a fat smurf and put it back don't think it suited my cuddly frame

He hasn't been a success every where he went and while he looked world class with us clearly he wasn't the only factor in looking that way. Class is permanent and form is temporary but even some Liverpool fans must be starting to worry they have signed something not quite as a sure thing as 100m should bring.

Never sure these days is that real ?

He was quite good helping out our defence and quite good when trying to attack the ball in the final third. But where his position is meant to be he looked hopeless in the middle of the park giving possession away and putting us under pressure. Heard on commentary he had to sit down twice first half no idea if hes carry a knock but like a few if them can't fault the effort but execution is massively lacking.

Agreed being isolated up top with 3 on him at times I do feel sorry for him when he has no one to lay it off to. I know holding the ball for others to catch up is important but we didn't always attack as a "pack" at times wondering if thats the team, the set up or a confidence thing.

They scored from their 2 chances and we hit the post cleared off the line etc we looked ok but didn't have that cutting edge. Frustrating as feels like an opportunity missed.

I agree with you but feel a utility forward may be better the way i see it you go one of three ways. A younger up and coming development player maybe around 21 who is a long term successor to the shorter term Wissa. - downside obvious issue isn't that what osula was meant to be and not getting regular games stifle their growth. An older player who can do a job but isn't going to be mad getting minutes but not regular starts.- downside is wissa in footballing age already the older player with limited resale return do we want 2 of those types on the books. Or my preferred option a utility forward/hybrid player who can play a number 10 should we ever to play with one and across the front 3 so we have options to bring the starting striker off or play 2 up front and have that rotation option there. - downside is likely to massive limit the pool of players who meet this criteria and the phrase "a jack of all trades a master of none" springs to mind.

Unfortunately if we look to sell in the summer based on his contract length we will be lucky to get near 20m for him. Its not going to get us our money back bit the squad has been upgraded and hes never quite kicked on from his loan spell with us. Squad player is all he will ever be here and think he would be a better player for someone giving him regular starts. As has been mentioned we cant afford to let him go for free but also not mad keen on giving him another 3 or 4 year contract either. A sale in Jan is unlikely but dont think we would rebuff a good offer coming in for him.

He will be 27 come the summer and will be in his final year (unless we have an option for a year) He doesn't score enough to be an attacking midfielder and doesn't defend very well to be a defensive midfielder. Hes always looked best with a consistent run of games something which with our first choice midfield he finds impossible to do. Still think he could do with a fresh start and we could do with the funds to reinvest and freshen things up. Hope he continues to have an impact when he plays and stays fit it will hopefully add to his fee or increase the number of suitors.

These two mini up turn appearances don't convince me to give him a new deal. Would be nice for him, us and ultimately his asking price would benefit from a good second half to the season but I am still on the side of selling.

Willock running it out for a goal kick to them could be considered a tactic 😂

When we have tried other players in striker position we still often play like there is someone in the box recall a fair few balls put in but no one there. We are capable of scoring outside of a striker but not ideal. Pushing big nick now with wissa still to have a return date along with osula we would be kicking ourselves for putting him out there for this game. I know its a negative mindset just need to learn not to flog players which hope this is the reason.

Saving Barnes legs for Saturday may also rule him out as option up top gordon hasn't played and didn't go away with England so is the "fresher" of the two. If elanga doesn't start then hes likely to be Gordon's replacement should he tire. Where are they goals coming from? Schar 25 yard screamer it is 🤞

Got to hang your hat/prayers to the England tournament he was used in the middle and was top scorer? https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0283-1871d669de39-41d3412d964f-1000--england-s-anthony-gordon-named-2023-under-21-euro-player-of/ Got it in him? Yes will he? thats another thing entirely.

Assume so far from your news the rest in terms of 11 appear to be the same from earlier just who goes where?

Second in their league, already beaten PSG this season. Managed by De Zerbi who is familiar with us and just put past 5 Nice on Friday so also had an extra day's rest. Not expecting it to be easy at all.

Yeah sorry that many alleged rejections forgot about him https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-pedro/profil/spieler/626724 I am happy with big nick to be fair could we have done better with 55m ish spent on 29 year old wissa or 50/55m spent on elanga its probably harder to make the case right now we did the right thing. But early days and that narrative can quickly shift.

Probably Mbuemo and ekitike out of the forward bunch https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/hugo-ekitike/profil/spieler/709726 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bryan-mbeumo/profil/spieler/413039 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mohammed-kudus/profil/spieler/543499 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/liam-delap/profil/spieler/610849 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/benjamin-sesko/profil/spieler/627442 Hard to answer how they would fare in the context of our team, system and manager though.

Seems like kraft has travelled so maybe him and tino share mins? Unfortunately burn will be straight back in if hall went off with cramp. The rest all comes down to who needs a rest and how much we can afford to rotate. Its less urgent to pick up the points in the champions league the prize money bonus would be nice along with the feel good that winning brings to the side. However we badly need to pick up momentum in the prem. So hard glad I dont have to make the choice 🤣

He peaked 2 seasons ago and hasn't been close to replicating what he said was needed to be a elite level winger of 20 goals/assists a season in his interview on the overlap. Some of this hasn't been his fault but his bumper new contract extension hasn't then manifested to an upward trajectory on the pitch. Hes got age and time on his side but right now hes not performing enough. I hope the chance to go to the world cup will spur him on but I wouldnt mind selling him if the fee was right. Its nice having so many players getting games in the England setup but I care more about the club performances than internationals.

Agree we have rotation options available to either give players a rest or mix it up a little. Full backs and striker are the two areas we have real rotation issues with tino cant possibly play 3 games in a week if trips and kraft are still injured its an issue and we all can at least see the downside of burn on the left. Elanga/barnes/Murphy/gordon have all had turns being up top and none has really worked but like I say can't keep flogging big nick until wissa can lighten the burden.

Eddie suggested it was "touch and go" for gordon to be available on Saturday I am assuming that means hes close unless hes still not training.

Big Nicks played alot of mins for club and country wonder if we try Gordon back up top it doesn't really work but if sean neave isn't ready we need to give him a break some time especially with osula injured and wissa weeks away.