Super Duper Branko Strupar

Unfollow him now.

Until we start getting drawn against German clubs in Europe.

Im not sure I agree, tbh. A player such as VdB who made a big club move in a clear career progression is entitled to want even a loan move to a club of similar stature, playing in similar competitions and at a similar level. If players such as him are not sold on a loan move because of our lack of quality and how playing in a poor team might mean hes not able to show his best qualities during an important 6 months which is going to dictate his next move, i find it hard to argue, tbh. Hes not at the end of his career struggling for suitors.

This is clearly going to be an issue with a lot of players, we'd be silly to think it wouldnt.

I'm not sure you even believe what youre trying to suggest there. What's Ronaldo's goals to game ratio this year? Is it 1 in 1?

We've signed 2 players in 2 weeks. Have you tried meditation?

I get the sentiment and frustration but at the same time there are loads of examples that support that statement which means it's at least a gamble that sometimes is better to avoid if possible. So many players take time to adjust and we need them to hit the ground running. Look at Gabriel at Arsenal. Completely underwhelming last year and brilliant this. Thats not to say proven PL players can come in and not perform too, mind.

Oooh now that's an interesting shout. Colossal gamble obviously but he showed some real brilliance for a bit at Wolves. Petered out quite quickly, mind. Would only realistically be a squad addition in our predicament atm though I suppose.

Rights

Or the difference in league position and propsective league next year.

Could be wrong, but I seem to remember he started every game for roughly the first half of the season, after he'd been scoring for a few months, and he carried on playing for a bit after his form dipped and he stopped scoring. Then he was dropped. And Fulham started playing better by the end of the year. I dont have anything against Mitrovic, I just think its strange to suggest a failed striker here would have been a better option than Wood, after one game, because he's scoring in the Championship. And the 25m would have been better spent on Mitrovic. Adam Armstrong scored a lot in the Championship, cost Southampton 15m, and currently starts on the bench behind a Chelsea loanee.

Yep.

He must have made a huge jump in ability since last season then.

Maybe. Mitrovic didnt exactly set the PL on fire last season either, mind. Although he had a good start. Just dont feel like he'd be the answer either, given what we know.

Mitrovic scored the same amount of goals for us in 3 years as Wood did in one PL season for Burnley. One of those years we were in the Championship.

I feel for Howe in this situation, like. I would any manager that came in. Dropping your club captain is a big deal, especially when your options are so thin he's going to have to play anyway with injuries. You cant risk demotivating your players who are going to have to play before you have enough cover for it not to be an issue.

Considering the only other CB option is injured I kinda understand, like. When Fernandez or new singing is fit and ready though aye you'd hope he was dropped.

That's not like you, Beth.

Allan St Maximin. Doesnt understand triangles.

And a cartoon drawing of Muhammad.

The annoying thing is it'll only make him him better, too. Fucking get your head up, pass, run and get the return. Then maybe you only have to beat 2 players instead of 5 and you still get the opportunity to score. Its so infuriating

I know Howe has made noises about Shelvey in public, but I dont feel like it's out of any real rating of his abilities, more that he's the midfielder he's going to have to play that can potentially be effective. You're not going to talk him down in public when you (unfortunately) need him. I hope thats true anyway. Im sure an experienced manager is going to be as aware as we are how deficient he actually is. We absolutely need to replace him now, though. He's killing us.

Shut up you muppet. Your initial post is entirely relevant, mind. But he scores and assists as well, so... I'm not sure if thats actually more damning to our team and style of play though. Ive never been able to make my mind up on it. There's no doubt about it he could be infinitely more effective but he'd need reigned in. I just wish he got his head up and was smarter because if he was we wouldnt be in the bottom 3.

I didnt see the game, so I'm going on past experience, but he's also less likely to be successful if ASM doesnt start releasing the ball a lot earlier! A Chris Wood type striker does not work with a forward who tries and take it from the half way line in to the box on his own. He'll be crowded out or offside by the time he gets it. He needs the ball early or it'll be a pointless singing.