Lush Vlad

So they did want to keep him. But now they don’t?

*don’t want to keep him? Haven’t they said he needs to go this window. But he supposedly wants to hang about there until the Summer. When he is leaving on a free. I wonder why….. Weren’t the stories that he was always up all night fucking about on his Playstation. Late for training. Late to team meetings. Not taking on board tactics etc.?

After the names we have been linked with, Nketiah seems a bit ‘meh’. However, he would offer that in behind FRET. Arguably even more so than Wilson with his pace. Just won’t be as reliable with his finishing. It’s mainly been against lower league opposition. But his goals in the League Cup have often been down to good movement and anticipation. If we get him. Then file under shrewd signing, as opposed to a statement or massively exciting one. I think Wilson might be out for what? 7-8 weeks yet? All seemed a bit up in the air with his recovery and he can’t be relied upon to stay fit. I doubt he’ll just be ready to go and play 90 once or twice a week the minute he is back.

This is transfer window. Manifest.

That's why you like him

I think there were plenty of articles and also Bournemouth fans saying 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1 was his usual formation. Tried something similar against Arsenal, Norwich we started like that before the Clark red and Burnley was also more this with Joe a bit further advanced than he plays now, from memory. The fact we have no midfielders capable of playing in a 2 and we don't really have a decent attacking mid/10 or second striker at the club sort of limits his options. I hope if we get the right players in, we revert back to this. So that Wood/Wilson/Zapata won't be so isolated.

Is it not Howe's preferred formation, due to the players available/the ability of our current players? He didn't seem to play the 4-3-3 until we stumbled on it, when Joelinton looked so good there.

Sometimes moves it slowly? From the clips I've seen of him, it's like I'm watching on fast forward. In comparison with our midfield dwelling on the ball or strolling about with it aimlessly.

King Lewy is different, though. Probably been consistently the best number 9 or at least top 3-5 in the world for how long?!

He's a cunt.

At least he didn't make any horrendous mistakes that led to goals in those games. As I guess you would have noticed him then. Sounds like an improvement.

He has been much improved under Howe. Especially his work rate and general effort. But it’s not like he can drastically improve his speed or athleticism at this stage. It’s been an issue for his whole career He seems a hinderance, especially if Howe eventually wants to go back to a midfield two in the future. He’s just too static and slow on and off the ball. Always feels like the game slows down when he gets possession and he is chasing shadows when not. Still plenty of the hands on knees and watching players walk or pass round him. Not as much pointing, mind.

He looks like the perfect Shelvey replacement. Wants to get on the ball a lot. Can pick a pass, looks to play it forward when he can. However, unlike Shelvey. He can also carry the ball forward in possession, he makes tackles and just generally seems more mobile than a pissed up pensioner.

He isn’t worth £50m even if he is under contract, surely? I mean, I think he’d improve us and he was quality at West Ham. But his career numbers and his age hardly scream £50m player.

Scoot has lost the plot

Not really seen much of him, but seems highly rated. I always thought Lerma looked good and worth a punt. Then again. I remember thinking Lemina looked class for Southampton whenever I saw him and we were linked a few years back. Totally dropped off. So not sure I’m the best judge of ‘average’ midfielders to take a punt on.

I still think we’re down without a centre mid. I feel like our options are even worse there than centre back. At this point, a high end Championship midfielder who can run about a bit and break up play would be an improvement. Get a CM in ASAP. CB and Lingard and/or a striker would also be nice.

This one will go down to the wire, I reckon. Still think a loan fee, that isn’t far off a transfer fee will be agreed near the end of the window. Meet in the middle. Why keep him and carry on paying his wages until June or whenever it is. Then lose him on a free, anyway. When they could accept around £8m or so and get him off the books now?

After extensive 10 minutes scouting of Carols, Botman and Badiashile. I said in the player thread, that I thought the latter is the one that looked the most exciting. Seems like we have had some hefty bids knocked back already for him, though? Plus it seems like he's the least experienced and not as well suited to just come into a relegation scrap and help us straight away.

Has he played much after his injury? I wonder if he is struggling a bit, as I can hardly remember seeing him play this season. Looked rapid and quality for quite a while next to VVD. But did seem like without him he, he was a bit more accident prone and understandably didn't look quite as good.

The negotiating seems like the 'Can I have my Blackberry back' scene from Peep Show.

Nice one. Cheers gents.

Sorry if it's already been mentioned or covered elsewhere. But were Schar and Clark both onside for the goal? I'm sure Schar nearly touches it and Clark dummies it. I thought they were both off and because they tried to play the ball, the goal would have been disallowed if they were offside? I only saw it at the time and the highlights on my phone, which were pretty crap, I must say. Not seen it mentioned on social media or on any match reports.

So just mindset and working a bit harder makes the greats consistent? Not because they are just in fact, better players with more ability? Hence more consistent? I feel like I’m slating HBA. I’m really not. I’m just not having this Messi thing. But that’s fine. Can’t all agree.

No. I really don’t. I’m not suggesting you think he is as good as Messi. I know what you are saying and I still don’t agree. There are times when I saw HBA do stuff that only a handful of players in the world could do. But to compare him to the best player the world has ever seen and suggest they are naturally as talented is absurd, IMO.