Lush Vlad

It is and it isn't. He wasn't the answer long term and if it means we end up getting an upgrade in at CM, I'm guessing loan with an option/obligation to buy, then I'm all for it.

Pedro, Isak and a CM on loan, or someone a bit cheaper as a bit of a squad player, even. Then it has been some window. I still worry we are light at CM. Unless he really thinks Anderson is ready and he sees him playing in place of Willock/Joelinton at times, or he thinks Almiron can fill in. Then I think we are really light. Longstaff isn't good enough to be starting regularly and Bruno is the only one that can play that deeper role effectively.

Isak - £60m Joao Pedro - £30m Paqueta - £40m Close enough.

I think/hope we still go for him. Look at his highlight reels and he spends a lot of time in wide areas and drifting about. Something ASM and Almiron have had licence to do at times under Howe. As mentioned, Watford fans seemed to be suggesting he is best inside left or right or behind the striker. Not as the 9. A squad where you have the pace and dribbling abilities of Isak, Joao Pedro and ASM is going to be pretty exciting to watch.

Wants to link up with Big Emil Krafth. Heard it's what tempted him here.

I hope so. Bruno has been immense on and off the ball since signing. Fit as a flea and covers so much ground for someone who is 'slow'. But I would like to see him get a bit further up the pitch when he can. Someone sitting deeper, like Shelvey did last season, but who can also cover more ground and offer a better screen to the back 4 would be ideal. It was probably by design, as Howe was very aggressive with the midfield and bodies getting forward against City. But I felt like the CB's didn't really get any help from a CM sitting in front of them.

Watford fans on Twitter and the only Watford fan I know, seemed to be suggesting he is best used as an inside left, right or behind the striker.

Ando’s reaction to Trippier’s goal

I was speaking to some lads that know him and the family well the other day and who played with him at Bury Town. I think pre-Charlton and not long before they signed him. His kicking was barely amateur level by the sounds of it. The coach and GK had him working on it a lot away from training and it improved massively. But I don't think it comes naturally to him and at 30, I don't think it is going to get much better. I don't see it as a massive issue. His throws and quick assessment of what his options are once he has collected the ball are usually spot on. Kicking out of hand isn't too bad, but it isn't great off the deck. I think his other abilities more than make up for it and it's a fair trade off. If his kicking was even half as good as say Ederson and Alisson. He wouldn't have been at Burnley so long and he wouldn't be playing for NUFC. Didn't realise how much of a unit he is. He must be about 6ft 7"?

Hope he is ok after we decided to recreate the Robert/Bernard incident.

I think we need a couple more in if we want to keep these levels up. A couple of injuries/suspensions and we are really struggling. It feels like we have a decent XI, with solid cover for the back 5. But you start looking further up the pitch and the options outside of the regular starters are serviceable at best. Even if we have nearly everyone available. Yesterday proved how short we are with options off the bench to change or see the game out. As I think Wood and Longstaff are a significant downgrade on Wilson and Willock. The wide options are all poor and there doesn't seem to be many goals outside of Wilson, as it is.

I thought both he and Bruno were superb off the ball. Considering they saw less of it than usual and must have been absolutely knackered from working so hard out of possession. When they had the ball, they used it pretty well and never seemed particularly flustered or panicked. Despite being up against a squad which consists of world class players across the board. He is certainly going to get bans for the 5 and maybe even 10 yellows suspension limit, plus maybe a red now and again. But I can't help but love him for being an absolutely mad bastad and charging around like he's possessed. The wrath of Joe. What a fucking man.

Unreal. The Wicken Wall.

Just came in here to post this. Grim read.

Is there actually any rumours flying about from decent sources? Or has this thread just been reduced to people listing players from Chelsea that we should go for

Should have been clearer, I guess. Always liked Barca over RM and other top teams as a kid. Right back to watching Romario and Stoichkov highlights on shows like Trans World Sport through to our games against you. Figo, Luis Enrique, Frank De Boer, Overmars, Kluivert (loved the Dutch team growing up). I went in 05/06 sort of time for a CL game against Dortmund and as a 16/17 year old. The city, stadium and team absolutely blew me away. I guess I always loved the fact a lot of the players came through the youth system, you had an identity and weren’t spending daft money in comparison to a lot of other clubs. Seems that has gradually been chipped away at over time and rightly or wrongly. It just started to feel like they were no different to any of the other super clubs. Maybe it is just the press reporting of it. But these last few seasons have seemed like an absolute car crash and the transfer situation now is an absolute joke.

This is some heel turn from Barca. I mean it has been gradual over time. But they’re really ramped it up a notch of late. At this point, they are about as likeable as Real Madrid. Shame

Plenty of teams play with two right footers, don't they?

He’s a filthbag. Seems a right dirty player. Was it against Reading where he stamped on someone’s head?

No.

I agree with Benny Blanco from The Bronx.

It feels like that need for another signing just got a bit greater. Not really a big fan of his. But he has been loads better under Howe and has clearly been working hard to fit into the system.

Yeah. Looks leaner. I think most the squad look hard fit. Amazing what proper training will do. As opposed to jogging round a pitch for a bit, followed by a half arsed game of 5 a side and then fucking off early.