M1tche

playing on wont have made it any worse unless there was another impact on it.

I doubt that, but we can hope. I've done simialr a few times and once you stop and swelling comes you're looking at a few weeks before running properly.

Unfortunately I'll be shocked if he comes out for the 2nd half

Couple of signings and no major injuries and I think we do it, its a massive ask but we are where we are on merit, so no reason to expect any kind of fall off

Cant wait to see him back and firing for us. Looked class being thrown straight in, so with now knowing the team and stucture more i think he'll be magic once back in the team

If we could give him Matty's shooting technique he'd be another level up already. He's played his role brilliantly for me so far this season ad now and again pulls off some lovely creative passes (the one to Isak vs Liverpool being the 1 that springs to mind) He definitely needs to scan more and half decide what he wants to do before he controla the ball so he gets caught on it less. These 2 pretty simple improvments will keep him in the squad for a good few years yet.

I think our system just about out does theirs. With the legs on the cover of who ever is paired with Bruno in the middle we can afford to have ASM (Whose tracking is lower than others) start to force Arsenal back and think about us on both side on the break. Having ASM, Wilson and Miggy start would make them have to leave 1 midfielder sitting in and the full backs 2nd guess going forward, thats key to winning the game

Not having to rush players back is one of the best things about how we are as a club now. Would love to see him playing ASAP, but love going into games still feeling confident of a result when he needs extra time

Its an 8 for me, would have loved to get at least 1 more in at CM, but now for me when fit we have a potentially brilliant front 3 in ASM, Wilson and Isak, a very good middle 3 with Bruno, Big Jo +1, a solid back 4 as long as Trippier plays and a great shot stopper in Pope. They said slow build from the start and I think signings like Bruno (I know that was Jan) Botman and Isak are ahead of the curve I expected tbh. We're making taking time and making educated decisions rather than rolling the dice and I like it.

Scared the life out of me when he went down

I think 7th, as long as Bruno stays fit and we dont have a load of starters out injured all at the same time.

Im thinking the same, especailly with Bruno being next to him as well. With him knowing the role better, confidence being high and that partnership we'll definitely see a few more levels from him

Not sure about Ben Arfa, but he looks a very talented player and hit some big tackles in that as well. Looks abit stuck between a 10 role and the more attacking of a double pivot. Good mixture of skill, technique and loving a tackle

From the few small clips i've seen of him he looks to be releasing the ball more so far, loving some of his reverse passing. If that becomes a consistent trend he could really move to the next level, him dragging his full back out of position and then playing a reverse ball into the runner that's filled the gap would cause teams all kind of trouble.

Always hoped he'd turn it round and come good and am so glad he has. Especially in 1 of my favourite roles in a team, the way he plays is like an old school CM and I love it!!

Bruno , Joelinton and Paqueta would be a exceptional midfield 3. You wouldn't really need a DM that just sits and wins the ball because between the three they cover enough ground, win enough tackles and get enough interceptions for them tmo share the ball winning side of the game between them. All three are what I would call proper CMs that seem to be pretty comfortable doing every aspect of the game needed in midfield instead of beminig pigeon holed like alot of todays midfield players are.

If we do somehow end up signing Paqueta we should most definitely looking up and thinking about top 4-6, he'll improve us as much as if not even more than Bruno did in Jan. He's an excellent player and as much as we've talked about it, I always just thought he was out of reach in this window.

Im not sure what people are seeing in Dubs, but he heas never been the 1st player i'd want upgraded in the team. Apart from a few mistakes (in about 3 years) and looking shaky getting back up to speed after his injury he's been a very good keeper for us. Pope and him are a very similar level so it should be whoever grabs the spot over pre season starts the season and either way i'm not sure it'll make all that much difference to us.

He's got the mouth from a BN biscuit

I think a move should only be consdidered if the current stadium is somehow holding up our progression as a club, but I dont see how that would happen tbh. St James' is iconic and should be expanded where possible.

I wouldn't be looking to sell him even if we get an upgrade. He's currently our 2nd best wide man and still think he could do a job as a 10 if we go that way sometimes. Looked like he was starting to recapture the performance levels he had under Rafa and I dont think we've seen the best of yet

I dont hold wanting to go to Milan over us against him at all, It's a logically instant choice really. Bigger club, league champs, champions league football, Maldini, theres so mant factors that make the more appealing right now. It's not like he sadi he didnt want to join us, it's just Milan was his 1st choice, most players we sign atm will likely have a dream club to join that isnt us.

If he was up for it and had enough left for it he'd be a great impact sub for us for at least 1 season, if St Max starts looking tired or it's not his day then who better to bring on. If it becomes any more than that then happy days.

I've been trying to get this message across for a long time now, but hardly anyone whats to hear it because we got to a semi and a final. Losing 2 games when really we should have won at least one of them if not both.

As much as it is a worry 3 strains in a few months, i'd be more worries if he was a few years older or even shorter and no longer growing. Muscles are weird at that age and height especailly if he's had a growth spurt over the last few years and has now made the jump from playing youth football to the pro game. I know people who have had similar and have experienced myself that after a growth spurt you can pull things alot easier at that age and you muscle have changed and you need to be a little more careful and manage you muscle until that have fully settled to the new length.