LFEE

Apparently…

You clearly haven’t had a bad bout of eczema. Can be very debilitating and take weeks to clear before being able to resume training. I’d suspect he’ll be available shortly if not already for this week.

Always suspected he falls into the trap of scoring a nice goal rather than a ruthless no nonsense finish. It’s crept into his penalty taking style a bit so could see the miss at Burnley coming. The Brighton miss reminded me of his home debut when he tried to be too cute one on one (think it was Palace) and fluffed a dink. Chelsea on Sunday he did the hard part then started to think how cool/extravagant he could finish and before he knew it the chance had gone. I still think he looks best as a two or able to float left or right as a wide forward. He’s not a fox in the box player. I appreciate his goal on Sunday makes that statement look silly

So I will return to my point. Which great player have we managed to extract without the club being absolutely desperate? None. They’ve only done business when out of their hands. So to me that limits our market in the division severely. Until a player wants to come so bad the club sets a realistic fee. Guehi didn’t and Palace teased us until the window expired. January window is going to be fascinating. I’ve no idea what’s going to happen and what direction we take. My guess would be abroad.

Best we’ve looked this season until Willock got injured early that half.

I agree with your second point but I think you are being naive if you don’t think clubs are making it more difficult for us. Just remind yourself of their attitudes when there was a sniff of us getting relegated to even loaning some players and the rules they’ve introduced to prevent our progress. Until we are a destination where the players are very keen to head to we’ve an uphill struggle. Hence back to the point I was making we got Barnes because it was a rare opportunity for us to nip in. Had Maddison not been for sale he possibly could’ve ended up at Spurs for example.

Your point was literally the opposite earlier. I’ve just illustrated it was wrong… “This clubs don't want to sell to us narrative is clearly bullshit mind. Given most of our signings are from other British clubs.” Tell me who we’ve signed who a club hasn’t wanted to sell?

Think I was the lone voice when he signed for us and everyone was being blinded by his skill levels and effort not to mention his undoubted charm. I constantly said there was no fear of an Elite club coming in for him and paying £100m. There are levels and he falls into a similar one to Merino at Arsenal. Rolls Royce in many ways but not got that great athleticism that elevates them to the top tier. Our midfield as whole needs a rethink and I still think Tonali creates as many problems as he solves which I reminded people of before his return as if he was the saviour. Solve the midfield problem and add pace to the centre of the defence (probably a connected issue to the midfield problem) and we aren’t far away amongst the top half dozen teams again.

No it’s not. We’ve either got them because club is in distress or player surplus to requirements. Off top of my head… Pope - Burnley relegated. Wood - Release clause. Burn - Surplus as didn’t fit playing style at Brighton. Targett - Surplus and wanted to fund replacements. Tino - Southampton relegated. Hall - Chelsea had 3-4 players ahead of him and needed PSR funds for that accounting period. Gordon - Everton needed £40m to pay creditors off that window for new ground. Barnes - Relegated and in PSR trouble. Ashby - Tribunal Actually similar tales for Bruno, Botman, Isak and Tonali and Ousula. Only Trippier really when club did the player and us a favour. Anyone else we’ve been rebuffed by club or player. We might of. Doesn’t mean he wanted to join us over Chelsea offering longer contract and higher wages overall in package. See Tosin.

Exactly this. It was the opportunity. Too many on here think you scout who you want then just pay the money they are worth and problem solved. Clubs don’t want to sell to us if they can help it. Look at the summer with Guehi. No different how Man Utd messed us about and Chelsea on occasions along with other clubs. Playing a high octane style of football similar to Klopps Liverpool which was basically our blueprint both on and off the pitch it makes sense to get the player on your list WHEN you can. Look at it a different way. Look how hard it’s been to sell two RW’s and replace them. ASM deal was possible. Miggy’s wasn’t so here we are.

I wonder if that was/is the plan and we are looking for PSR to fall apart. You just have to look at Liverpool to see what difference multiple dangerous wide players can make both sides with different playing styles. Can dig you out of many holes and gain you points from anywhere when not playing at your best.

Im hoping the solution is HB at LW… Isak central and somehow have AG close to him on RW and interchanging. Isak can be deadly up against a full back at RW for cut backs etc. Closest we’ve seen this was Spurs at home last season.

Losing the ball on the halfway line too much not giving us a chance to get out and build anything. Probably the overall biggest disappointment this season. Needs to up his game.

Yep. Need to update the playbook and also return to a few old favourites. No invention this season so far that I recall.

Weaker opposition and less physical games.

How does VVD get away with that without any card

Of all our recruitment it’s the the only one i couldn’t see the logic in. All the others i can see the logic being short/medium/long term. Not being critical of the player. You could argue he’s been our most productive player this season but the fee and how we’ve been so restricted it just didn’t make sense unless AG IS our RW for the short to medium term.

Like last season. There could’ve been a point there somewhere.

Good shout regarding Kelly. The type of game more suited to him. Either that or we defend deep…e..r… ah too late

Nah it will be Wednesday or Saturday.

Barnes and Isak need to step up today along with the midfield three.

I’d keep faith with him. Was sold short in the summer i felt similar to EH. His team look like they are fighting for him when I’ve seen them play. They’ve not had much of the rub of th green every time i see them and believe probably owed a few decisions. Crowd seem with him too. Didn’t see them today but a draw a Brighton a good result. Even better 2-0 down with minutes to go. Two late goals shows fight to me. What do you think?

His previous record suggests he would. Also his record since. The fact both you (fans) and the club have that question unanswered is the ultimate point I’m making.

Of course it was because it’s not enough time to judge a managers body of work at your club. 47% win ratio hardly tragic. Any manager should be given a full season at least if not two before you fully judge them. You sacked Jose week of your cup final because of player pressure. You did the same with Nuno after a bad month following a great month then a mixed month. Any manager can have a bad month. Especially when still new to club. Successive managers have all highlighted something wrong in the current DNA at the club. Nuno wasn’t there long enough to be part of that DNA or to solve it so would be harsh to include him in the multiple problems you spoke of. Only thing I agree with is he wasn’t the right fit personally coming off the back of Jose as you were only going to get more of the same. Once you hired him though you’ve got to give a season or two to judge him as a manger.