Hanshithispantz

It would be nice to go ballistic in the narket but the off field improvements are far more important. We will likely make another big signing you would imagine though.

We could easily see better performances from players we've already got. Fraser had a really good season for Bournemouth a few years back (about 20 goal contributions), Targett looks like he could probably improve going forward, Maxi showed more of a willingness to play for the team late in the season and Longstaff was looking solid. I don't expect every player to turn things around or improve but there will no doubt be a few we'll be looking back on in a years time in a different light.

He could be getting help from family. He could have pulled a loan out etc. He could also just be making more than what is assumed. Jamie Reuben got him tickets to the races before so the club helping out with flights and tickets isn't exactly out there.

We had comfortable top 4 form for half a season without ever looking out best. We could finish pretty much anywhere tbh, it's hard to tell how we will be, but Howe and the team showed last season that they can perform above midtable level for prolonged periods of time. Carrying that into next season will be very difficult but it makes little sense pretending our ceiling is lower than we've already shown. Willock is a year older, we have Wilson and Trippier back, Botman and Pope are clear improvements on paper, and everyone has a full pre-season under (from what we've seen so far) the best manager and staff we've had in recent years. I wouldn't be shocked at all of we finish 6th like (although I wouldn't put money on it )

It's a shame it's so hard to find old interviews and thigs as there's a load of Pardew content out there which will sadly be forgotten I remember one where he says something about someone/something being "brilliant" with a proper cunt smile on his face, the "naked eye" comment etc. He was just an absolutely ridiculous cartoon charecter and it's easier to see the hilarity of it all after the takeover.

The Pardew years are atleast funny to look back on. The dance in the FA Cup final was so outrageous too that I struggle to even dislike him anymore. There's just nowt about Bruce.

Made a mug of absolutely everyone of us thinking he was the wrong choice for a relegation battle due to being too attacking like

Good watch. That, along with the things we're seeing like the squad meeting with Brailsford, are why I'm not even questioning our recruitment, or the contracts we're giving out. Most players in our squad will never have had a pre-season like this. I think we'll absolutely batter Forrest on the opening day.

Which one is this?

He's in the 99th percentile of wingers/forwards for being dispossessed. Also in the 99th percentile (top all in all I think) for successful dribbles. He's obviously very good running with the ball but he needs to make better decisions.

Depends on cup runs but 5th or below would be disappointing I'd say given Ten Haag's reputation.

We agree in anycase, I'm saying Draxler is more suited to a possession based side (if out on the wing) where as we need either someone like Harrison or Diaby (both direct, the forner being more rounded, the latter being more attacking). He would probably do a job in a midfield 3 but I would much prefer Paqueta, aye.

I mean he's played the majority of his minutes on the wings like (even at PSG) so that's a canny mad claim to make, zero. I suppose him on the right of a midfield 3 would make more sense for us though.

There's not much difference between 3 goals a season and 5 goals a season in this context tbh, they both suggest a winger not really suited to scoring goals, or who is playing in a system that doesn't cater to it. Given the fact he doesn't really contribute off the ball and gets dispossessed more times than 99% of the league, he really needs to be contributing to like ~15 goals a season. The kind of numbers Bowen and Barnes are hitting. I think he could do it with better players around him if he listens to the coaching staff.

You would imagine any winger we bring in is left footed with an eye for goal like. Or someone like Harrison who's a decent mix of graft and ability. Haven't seen Draxler in years, but he seems more suited to a possession based side?

I checked Transfermarkt and they labelled Trippier but that could be way off. I'm not sure on the full fee (just that we had to pay more after staying up)

Take away Joelinton and we've already broken our transfer record 4 times within half a year We'll probably do it again this window too. The most important moves are being made off the pitch in anycase, but over the next couole of windows we'll 100% continue to see a dramatic improvement to the squad. Both in purchases, and exsisting players performing beyond what they were previously seemingly capable of.

Agree he's a forward like, or atleast seeing him last seas he looked like he'd be better there. Howe does seem to see him as a midfielder though, so I trust him and all that blah blah... He's clearly very takented though so hopefully he can fully adapt to whichever rile he's given. I like Longstaff but he's pretty limited.

Possibly not but the club aren't revealing much. It's hard to know how much is legit, other than that we obviously aren't letting clubs take the piss.

Paqueta looks world class and potentially a bargain at £40m if that could get him. On paper he instantly transforms our best XI.

I cannot see how it's mental at all. We play a 4-3-3 with 1 centre forward, and as we've seen in recent years teams don't always need a goalscoring number 9, especially if they can play with inside forwards. The fact Howe mentioned Maxi as being able to play there suggests he wouldn't be against doing the same.

Howe will want his wingers to defend from the front though. It does Maxi no favours when he's visibly sulky after losing the ball, sitting on the floor instead of getting up and blocking off a passing line or applying pressure to their player in possession. He doesn't necessarily need to track back. But SJP would go crackers if he showed more determinination off the ball and contributed more to the opposition losing the ball in their half. Pardew was playing awful football whilst also depriving us of the only form of excitement we could get on a matchday. HBA contributed far more in possession outside of rinsing fullbacks. I get the comparison but they don't really fit imo. I love Maxi like, I really want him to adjust and become a part of Howe's team properly.

Obviously not playing as a 9 like, we would have to rely on the wide forwards making runs into the box.

If we had better and more attacking wide fowards ASM might work through the middle tbf.

https://fbref.com/en/players/57e3f0c7/scout/365_euro/Nicolas-Pepe-Scouting-Report Stats are fine as well for the most part. I know it's not everything and they could be decieving due to Arsenal's style of play or something, but on the surface it suggests he hasn't been as bad as is made out with the minutes he's had over the past year.