Hanshithispantz

Cannot really post it from my phone but there's a decent article in the Athletic running through the current status of our entire first team squad.

worth watching for the maddest compilation tune I've heard yet

Since it's fucking Hot Takes Central from Hans this week, Calum Wilson will score 20+ goals this season.

For reference Mbappe was 13 goals and 8 assists at a similar age for PSG. With 800 more minutes.

He's a year along in his development though from having a really strong season, unless we think it's just a purple patch I don't think i'm overrating him by that much. 10 goals and 3 assists in 24 games (15 starts) is pretty great for any age in Ligue 1. He is one for the future, I think the expectancy is that he turns into 20 goal a season forward, he'll obviou6bevsome way off that atm but I still think he'll force his way into the side pretty quick unless we sign another 2 forwards.

Like ASM creates a lot, so Wilson back and a better overall team with a full Howe pre-season might be the making of him, but if he doesn't he's a massive liability defensively. Spot the 19 year old: Ekitike obviously has a lot of potential but everything I've seen and read about him suggests he's already pretty insane like.

Like I cannot see how we've come to the conclusion that Ekitike isn't ready while also just deciding that ASM will 100% turn into the creative goal scoring forward we want him to be.

Unless ASM is spurred on by the talent around him and massively improves (which I hope happens) it'll probably take Ekitike about 3 games to take his place like.

So just completely ignoring our own chances then, nee botha We were fucked in extra time (hence the Croatians being weird after the game) but up until they scored the 2nd it was a decent game.

Extended highlights here. Not sure how that could be described as 'one way traffic' like. It was a decent game. Croatia are hardly minnows either.

He was horrific against Italy, no doubt and hopeflly he's learned from it, but it's canny mad suggesting Croatia should have beat us by more like, we were pretty unlucky. Pretty sure Kane missed an absolute sitter an all.

I'm not saying he should start on the wing from day 1, I said if we play 3-4-3 and spend this summer strengthening from the back we could get away without touching our central midfield and wingers. Ekitike from what I've seen and heard is more than capable of playing on the left of a front 3. I don't think he should be playing as a traditional winger. Atleast I don't think we'd need to spash £40m on a starter in those positions (not that I would be against it like). I just cannot see how we can come to the conclusion that he's deffinitely not ready, he looks quality. I doub't he'll be warming the bench much unless Howe views him purely as Wilson's replacement.

They play 3-5-2 apparently and (from what I've read) he plays the more free role of the two, dropping back to help out in defence and coming wide to isolate the fullbacks. Not sure how accurate that is like.

Also, we were literally trying to sign him a few months ago with the obvious intention of playing him. Otherwise we would have accepted the offer to loan him back to France.

If he's been bought as a number 9 he'll obviously not start because we have Wilson. If we're playing with wide forwards (not wingers like Howe was using last year) which wingback suggests then Ekitike will start if fit like. Unless he's a total flop.

Wide forwards basically are strikers nowadays

"crazy" He looks better than anything we have by a mile, man.

He's scoring goals in France though. He'll not be ready to lead the line by himself I cannot see him struggling much on the left of a 3 with a full pre-season behind him.

What are you basing this on exactly? He's 20 year old, not 16.

He's played a full season in France and looks better than anyone we have (including Maxi). He'll be starting 100% if we sign him.

Half a decade ago this would probably have been nailed on tbh McLaren and fucking Allardyce man

If Howe plans on going 3 at the back then we could get away with our current midfield and wingers imo, if we get Ekitike in and a LWB anyway. Someone like Botman and a more mobile CB who's good on the ball would look pretty ballanced (Targett could possibly do well LCB too). Fill any missing holes in reserve with kids or cheap backup. I'd probably prefer 4-3-3 but just bored.

We looked very strong in qualifying too. Three qualification runs without a hiccup now.

Southgate looks like the kind of bloke who tries to keep up with modern methods - he just prefers the more cautious side of the game. He's not a dinosaur and is probably a much more knowledgeable manager than he was at Boro. He's obviously been heavily involved with Ashworth, so he sort of has to be. I wouldn't want him here but I wouldn't be surprised if he did well in the Premiership like.

It should obviously be H.U.G.O to F.E.A.R by Ian Brown but I cannot be bothered thinking up a load of gibberish for the lyrics.