ponsaelius

Very good quiz but I found there wasn't much difference in difficulty throughout. Didn't really struggle with any of the levels except with typos and spelling mistakes where it took a couple of goes.

This is exasperating stuff mind, jees

A midfield 3 by its definition doesn't really need a designated holding midfielder because you've got 3 in there. Bruno deepest with Joelinton and Paqueta further ahead would absolutely work. I mean it definitely has more mobility and solidity than playing Shelvey at the base.

I'm aware of that - but you'd move Bruno back to DM and Paqueta plays further forward in the 3.

Paqueta and right winger and you could be effectively upgrading the two weakest positions in our current starting XI for me. Shelvey and Murphy/Almiron. Obviously Wilson's injury problems are a worry but in terms of starting XI he is one of our strongest players.

I'd rather Paqueta and a right winger and forego the striker if it was a choice. Paqueta can play as a CF.

The thing is Dubravka has 3 years left on his deal here. Any team signing him would have to be offering that as a minimum straight out of the traps to convince him to leave - regardless of playing time. I don't think he's going to get the level of interest you'd expect considering he's missed 50% of games over the last two years due to injuries.

I thought that but I suppose they have Perisic, Davies and Sessegnon for that left wing back role.

Joelinton winning the ball and launching counterattacks never gets old

Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson to Bologna and Hibs left back Josh Doig to Hellas Verona. Interesting that Scottish players to Serie A is becoming a well trodden path.

With Wood now back he's the only player who's yet to be spotted in training or accounted for in the U23s. Wonder if a move is in the offing?

Yeah can't see why they couldn't have played it at the GIS even. Would have been a sell out for them.

I like Dubravka but I don't see any teams in the league where he goes in as #1 other than some of the promoted sides.

This basically is the case, tbh. Stats are massively context dependent on tactical systems anyway but this is basically 10x the case with something like goalkeeping distribution. They will wildly vary based on what they're told and expected to do on the pitch. I don't know how they define the limits of 'short passing' for a goalkeeper but Dubravka having 100% short passing if anything might actually be a sign that he has poor distribution, because he's being asked by his manager to only ever attempt play it to the two CBs and full backs in the absolute safest situations possible. A goalkeeper with better distribution will likely have slightly lower stats because they will be more comfortable, and encouraged, to play slightly riskier balls. A supporting stat for better context would be to also have the total # of shorter passes a keeper is playing per game. But again - this is more a tell of how a manager wants his team to play.

It’s a nice article. Get the impression he’ll end up hanging around at the club in some form long term.

He has 3 years left. He can go if we get a good enough offer - otherwise stay and fight for his place.

Bellamy was way more technically gifted than Werner IMO. A more gifted dribbler and creator who spent a lot of his career playing out wide. Werner can barely kick a ball properly half the time.

My apprehension about potential signings from now on is that I'm convinced we have to be signing people of the right age, ability, future potential, injury history, wage demands and motivation for joining. With FFP I think we have to be pretty much nailing most signings from now from an investment perspective - as dull as that sounds. There's loads of excellent footballers on paper who I'd probably be apprehensive about us signing for the above reasons. Don't think it's being snooty, or 'turning your nose up', more an acceptance of the delicate squad building context we're in to progress. It's tricky also because you can go too far the other way and spend a lot of money on long term promise and potential that doesn't have the immediate impact we also need - and that the likes of Bruno will demand. I'm hopeful and indeed confident the club will get it right - but I think as fans we're welcome to judge and critique decisions.

Central midfielder, West Ham fan apparently. Mark Noble replacement.

To be honest the best chance of getting a fee for him would probably be selling him back to the MLS.

Almiron has proven he hasn't really got any output in the PL and is now approaching his later 20s. I don't see any PL club bidding any money for him. There would likely be quite a lot of interest from European clubs but they don't have any money. And what money they do have they spend on younger investments. You'd honestly be struggling to get more than 5-10 million for him IMO.

Wolves away is now a right faff by train with that Sunday kick off time.

I don't think this would work tbh as I honestly don't think Leverkusen have any need or intention to sell. It's more a case of they'll consider it if the right offer comes in. Think we're clearly just spinning lots of plates. We need to two players but only have a certain budget. How much we spend on a winger might depend how much we spend on a forward - so the loan for Broja might be a determining factor.

He's obviously better than him but he reminds me a bit of Callum McManaman when he broke through at Wigan. Eye catching because he's direct, fearless and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Struggling side so everything goes through him. However there's a lot of work needed in terms of end product and it really could go either way long term imo.

Fwiw I'd be happy and confident with whoever we went with because we have good people in recruitment now - just personally don't feel Gordon has shown enough to justify that fee and wouldn't feel confident of him adding significant end product in the immediate here and now (which is what we need).