Lush Vlad

I used to feel this way about Twitter and before that Facebook. I used to argue with someone on it every day and would get so wound up. I think it has actually helped me be a bit more patient in this regard. I barely use FB these days, as it's total shite. But with Twitter, I can read stuff and skim comments without feeling the urge to get into a petty squabble. Some real gold on there, amongst all the shite. Plus it's useful for keeping up to date with my interests. Anyway, Greenwood seems like a right wron'un.

Half of Europe would be in for Zapata if those were the terms, no? What exactly is the positives for Atalanta there?! Makes no sense. Absolute bollocks.

If we signed a forward. This window would have been a 9 or a 10. Probably sat at about 7/10, for me. Better than I was expecting and ultimately in a much better position than Jan 1st. I just worry we don’t have enough goals or creativity in the side. Hopefully the new signings can give everyone a lift and perhaps even a kick up the arse some of these players need.

Targett is the most uninspiring signing of the window, for me. Assuming he comes, he just seems like he might be a slight upgrade on the 3 options we already have there. Not great going forward by all accounts, so not even a different type of player. It doesn’t seem a position of need, really. But if we still got another attacking player in tomorrow. Then I suppose it doesn’t matter. Not like it’s either or.

I mean, he’s low down my list of attacking options. Obviously it would be nice if we were getting someone like Zapata or Origi. Lingard to cover a few positions. Even one of the players from Ligue 1 that we have been linked with. But I’m not as down on Nketiah as others. He’s been a bit part player for most of his career and he is still pretty young. I think his movement and positioning has often been good when I’ve seen him. Just a bit hit and miss with the finishing. If he managed to get a run of games for us, then who knows? Either way, I think he’d offer something different and be an option off the bench at the very least.

We’ve got your man Chris Wood. I know you’re a big fan of his. I’m sure we’ll be fine.

Nketiah gives us something different to Wood up top and could possibly even cover the wide forward areas. I’m not against it if we’re interested. Especially as Wilson can’t stay fit and there is no guarantee he is back at the start of March. Targett seems a bit pointless. Would mean we’d have 4 options at left back. All of them can defend pretty well, but not great going the other way.

I think ASM and Fraser have the pace to get in behind coming off the line from out wide. But it seems like ASM always wants it to feet and doesn’t want to attempt to make those off the ball runs. Fraser hasn’t really shown anything going forward the whole time he has been here. Murphy would be the one in the current squad that has pace. But he is hit and miss and seems to be bench boy for Howe.

I think Manquillo deserves a shot at left back. Although it would mean we have only one left footer in the team, assuming Burn starts. So width could be an issue on that side.

Start of Jan, then absolutely. After all the daft links and transfers that were seemingly close. It would feel like a bit of a letdown, somehow. If we get another attacking option in. I think it will have been a brilliant window, though.

I like this signing. Addresses a massive area of need and he should be starting games right away in the short term. He will be a good player if we go down (assuming he’d stay). A decent squad player moving forward if we start chucking serious money around. It’s kind of uninspiring compared to the players we have been chasing. But the fact he should be able to slot straight in is a massive positive. Plus him being left footed gives us the balance that Howe wanted at the back. I am guessing he is half tidy on the ball? Must be if he was regularly playing for Brighton.

I do see your point long term. Assuming Howe is here for the next few years. It would also be a concern of mine if he had a big say in transfers in the years ahead. All that said. In the here and now. I think Henderson is clearly better than Dubravka. Based on only seeing him a few times and from watching our centre backs for the last 2-3 seasons. Burn is surely an upgrade, as well? Bit uninspiring after the players from abroad we spent weeks chasing. But there you go. Wood was overpriced. But it felt like that was a bit of a needs must signing to fill in for Wilson. We should have had a back up to him already, of course. Not sure it was ever meant to be an upgrade on him.

The lad from Montpellier can play wide and more as a striker, can’t he? Mavididi? Would be a good option and cover seeing as the Lingard deal is dead. But may have left it a bit late now. As not like a loan or a player they are actively looking to get rid of.

I don’t particularly like Ronaldo. He’s a whiny cunt. But wasn’t that all thrown out and there was no case to answer?

Not so sure. Willock has a place in this team based on the Leeds game and his time here last season. He will be an option from the start in certain games. Especially if we’re away from home and/or looking to play on the counter.

I haven’t made any knee jerk predictions? I’m just questioning yours? He ‘may’ improve Burnley and he ‘might’ score more than Wood. They could still go down, as could we. All guesswork at this stage.

We did overpay, yes. We were desperate and needed someone in short term. Who would also hang about and do a job in the Championship next season, if required. He hasn’t looked great, but he has been part of a team that got 4 points in Jan. If we get some results next month and maybe he chips in with a few, before Wilson is hopefully back. Then it won’t seem so bad. As for this other bloke being an improvement? How the fuck do we know that and that he’s going to score more? Wood is proven in this league. But is having a bad season by his standards. This bloke looks like a statue that has been playing in the high scoring Bundesliga. Coming into an awful team mid-season.

Would you have said they got better if they signed any striker? Or just this one you hadn’t heard of until he was linked with them earlier this week? “Burnley sign Dwight Gayle and Shefki Kuqi.” ”Ah yes. As I predicted. Burnley have used the money to get better.”

If we can’t finish above Burnley on our own merits. Then we deserve to go down. Anyway, unless we’re a couple clear of them, then we’d probably be down, regardless. They look fucking awful.

Well he’s the only one who consistently wins the ball back from tackles and interceptions. But Shelvey always seems to sit that bit deeper. Doesn’t really protect the centre backs, mind.

What about sitting that bit deeper and having the legs of Joelinton and Willock ahead of him? I think we will persevere with the 3, for now. I also think Shelvey will start most games when fit.

Aye. Still an absolute stroker.

Same. If he was a deadline day deal. I’d be absolutely buzzing, mind. Can’t see it happening and so not excited by it. Plus he’ll just breakdown after a few games, anyway.

Well…. I’m not sure what’s more impressive?! The balance on and off the ball. The tackling and ability to nick the ball back. The passing and vision. The calmness in possession. His skills?! Only ‘weakness’ I’ve seen mentioned by journos and from clips and his stats. He doesn’t score many and you’d also think he’d have more assists for how good his passing and through balls are. Some awful finishing on show, mind.

Exactly! I’m agreeing with you. Didn’t they make some official statement basically telling him to get fucked once he said he wouldn’t sign a new deal? Sid Lowe has been on Twitter with loads of it of late. They want him gone this month.