M1tche

As much as I was excited that it seemed we were looking for players that the club thought were better players. I was also quite disappointed that we were looking past him after how good he was since Jan.

That's the obvious choice, but someone who seems quite highly rated, supposedly with a few decent options aswell coming to sit on the bench probably isnt something he's looking after a breakthrough season. It's bloody exciting to be discussing these sort of options though.

I not doubting St Max's quality at all, I think he's class and hope he can also push onto the next a become a really top player. My point was in our current system having him, Ekitike and Paqueta 1 would have to ben on bench and they would rotate in and out as and when. We're not at the stage for that kind of luxury yet and could see any one of the 3 getting frustrated with the lack of game time.

Also looks to be abit of a give and go merchant, which I love in a player. Its old school, but can be so hard to stop,

If the rumours are ture and we're looking to sign Paqueta and Ekitike then i could see us looking to cash in on St Max this summer. Both those 2 look like they use the ball really well and also have that can beat a man x factor about them, where I think St Max is more exciting, but his ball usage is lacking at times and sometimes tries 1 trick too many. I'd love to have all 3, but i dont think we're at the stage of having players of that quality not playing week in week out unless we switch to a 4-2-3-1.

From abit of Dennis Wise scouting i'm really excited about this signing. His 1st touch, movement, use of his ball and knowledge of when to pass the ball seems to be class for someone so young. 1st half of 1 of the videos i watched I was frustrated when he didnt get a shot off a few times, but then the 2nd half he smashed a few in from distance, he seems to be one that likes to catch people out with the unexpected. Him left, St Max right (interchangable) and Wilson through the middle would be a pretty dangerous 3 by the looks of things.

I personally think DCL would be brilliant here. Yes he's had a bad season full of injury, but he's a monster physically and we've seen that once he gets his form he scores goals in the league. On par if not slightly better than Wilson for me

Definitely worth keeping around for 1 more season.

He is an exceptional football player. How we got him while in the position we was in will never make sense, but I love it!!

Was happy when we was appointed and argued that he was definitely the right man to keep us up, but he has by far exceeded all expectations so far. Numerous players who i would have wanted and expected to be out the door in the summer are now looking like they could contribute for the next few years.

Only thing that makes me look at his time here fondly, was some of players, their performances and some of the goals. We had some brilliant players who produced some brilliant moments.

Just because if so many games in a short space of time i'd rest Shelvey and bring big Jo back in and look at an earyish sub bringing off Willock off and then dependant of Schar groin maybe bring Fede in as well. If St max or Manq are fit bring 1 of them in aswell

Abit of a random thought, but maybe its not a playing contract that he is going to be offered.

They haven't been in great form and we've looked quite solid, well probably look more solid without ASM, but fear we'll sit deeper without him now and lose alot of our attacking threat. Still could nick a point.

Surely even those that hate Shelvey can see he shouldn't be dropped unless he's not fit. Plus Rice and Shelvey wouldn't be a direct head to head, his job defensively would me more against Lanzini or whoever plays middle of their attacking 3.

Cant say i've really noticed him too much before joining, but if he plays like that consistently he's miles better than I thought he was. seeing him over free kicks as well was a plus, not sure why Villa thought Digne was that much of an upgrade compared to last night performance

Crazy discussion, all 4 mentioned were/are fantasic players. Ben Arfa was stupidly talented though, it's application that stopped him being class at a top club, would have loved to have seen him in the Keegan or Robson sides that Ginola and Robert played in.

I didnt think the tackle was anywhere near a red, as long as he doesn't go too far with it im all for someone in DM who puts those in for the sake of it and blaming him for the goal coming from it is crazy. Until the end of the season i think he's fine, for me Willock was very poor 1st 50-60 mins, running into dead ends and poor passing decisions. As much as in hope he comes good I can see him becoming an impact sub over the next few weeks

If he's not starting within 2 or 3 games ill be massively shocked, if he trains as good as that cameo was it's impossible to not start soon him reguardless of whats happening on a matchday. I can see a rotation being used though, depending on who we're playing. He might play the 3 without Shelvey for the odd game as well

Having him sit deepest in a midfield 3 is a waste, he has to play in one of the Willock or Joelinton roles. For me we should play Joe, Shelvey, Bruno and then Willock on late in the game up against tired legs and then rotate as needed. We need a proper DM in the summer for replace Shelvey and then we have a really strong midfield

Is there though? They're scored 2 more goals than us this season so far. Dennis was on fire, but hasnt looked the same since being held back from AFCON and is also now suspended for 3 games and Sarr is capable of a run of goals, but outside of that there's not really much also. Minutes to goals Wood is miles better than King, we've strenghten out backline and Bruno coming in should mean St Max doesnt need to come so deep to collect the ball, so I think that'll improve us massively.

Decent window I think, strengthened postions that needed it and got a back up striker in better than all the other No.2 strikers around us. We were also trying extremely hard on some class players, so hopefully we stay up and summer comes and we can do the same again and completely transform the team with players like Botman, Carlos and whoever else we might be looking at. Lingard would have a great not to finish on, but if we can get the original promising looking Miggy back and Willock even close to his loan spell, there's going to be alot of fun until the end of the season

Genuinely feel like this would be Kompanyesque for us if we managed to get him

Unless we sign a really good proper DM, it has to be a 3 of Joelinton, Shelvey, Bruno. I know alot on here dont think Shelvey is that good, but he's been improving under Howe and maybe the way Howe coaches him is having a similar effect to what Rafa had on Longstaff. Recently he's been making more tackles than i've ever seen from him and is playing alot shorter rather than trying 40 yard passes everytime and also at times being dangerous on the end of the box. He'll be fine to the end of the season at least

As much as Fede is a slightly better defender reguardless of who is partner is. Schar is the only 1 of our current CBs that i'd like to see an an option beyond this season, a commanding CB next to him and I think he'll look even better.