Tiresias

Is that the same Frimpong who used to be at Arsenal?

Can I sit somewhere in the middle of this argument? I hope Anderson comes good, I think a loan last season may have been better than him staying but with shortness in midfield he probably had to stay. I think realistically though I am not sure he is going to make it, we need home grown players coming in but is he really going to come close to Bruno and Tonoli's level that he can even adequately deputise? Hope so but it is a high bar, and unless he improves he's not going to avoid players being brought in to play ahead of him.

We are still clearly short in midfield. If Bruno has a season ending injury we are in crisis even now. Things are better with Tonoli of course but that would still have a massive impact on us, we couldn't brush that aside and say we are going to compete on all fronts for rest of season

I think the challenge is going to be a lot more teams are going to drop deep against us this season. The majority of the time I think the starting 11 will stay 4-3-3 as before, but now he has more options accross forward line (and maybe more to come) so that may get varied. I do think we are going to see Isak more than Wilson, I don't think Isak will return to being shunted out wide, but if Wilson keeps up his form who knows, the competition seems to bring out the best in both of them. Against teams that will sit deep I wonder if Howe will ever feel he can give up the security of a 3 man midfield and play isak and wilson together or something? Will be interesting.

I don't think for a second they will go as bad as Southampton, I just think they're more likely to tick on around where they are, probably dip a bit lower this season due to Europe commitments (like I expect us to as well tbh). I am sure they have 3 or 4 players I've never heard of who will prove to be great (and that ferguson looks ace too), but I just think it will probably be too much churn to sustain a real champions league push every year. Honestly though, I am just delighted that we will be trying still. I mean that. I don't think we are in a position yet to be 'expecting' a top 4 finish, particularly this season coming when Liverpool will be better, Spurs and Chelsea both may be better. We will have a lot of games. I just want to enjoy it and I want to enjoy competitive games against other good teams and to hell with 'worrying' about it. I am going to save my nerves for getting deep in cups and maybe getting close to a top 4 finish but I think we'll finish 5th or 6th, and I am sure I will be pissed about when it comes to it but I will try not to be, what will annoy mostly is if we are beaten by chelsea somehow being rewarded for their stupidity which does tend to happen now and then in football. I'd love to finish above liverpool again too.

Villa could be very good next season and could end up ahead of us but i doubt it. They seem to have recruited well and have good manager. Honestly it's good for the league to have us villa and Brighton competing for the champions League places, I'd be a lot more pissed if somehow boehlyball pays off. I think villa will be there it there abouts but Brighton do fear for a bit they're brilliant at changing but i think there may be a glass ceiling to it. Liverpool will be much better too but are still in transition

In fairness ineffective forwards becoming defensive mids is becoming more of a thing now lol

Excellent business this imo

I am disappointed, I love ASM's skill on the ball and unpredictability and think when he was fit he was generally much better than some thought, he also looked like he was trying to play howe ball when he returned from injury last season. I am always going to adore his style over that of Barnes, but Isak does bring similar skillful thrill to his play so it's not like it's totally gone from the team, as does Bruno in a different way. Viewing it as a straight swap is always going to feel odd as statistically of course Barnes is an upgrade, and yet the fun and joy of football is rarely if ever captured in the statistics. I am sad to see him go, but I am excited about Barnes too, not to the same degree I am about say Isak managing a full season, he is a known quantity, but his price reflects that, he is just another new attacker who will bring goals if not quite as much flair. I want the team to have bits of flair and joy, and I hope more players join who bring it, but I don't get why Barnes is measured by ASM who was always more promise than he actually delivered. It's sad, we will move on though. Anyone furious needs to calm down like.

We all know he's better than a £25m player but he has repeatedly failed to demonstrate it unfortunately. I hope he would and i think he gives us another option but also i do understand it

Wonder if we don't feel we can ask for more for appearance of propriety more than anything

Paulhinha would be excellent for them

ASM as part of the deal? He would tear up Italy one suspects

Fabinho was great then had a bad season (as did a lot of them)

and willock can play wide left in a pinch too but we're not getting kvaradonna man

worring

fucking idiots lol

Having a quick google for evidence you may have a point, jury convictions for rape have gone up from what i thought, it's getting to trial is the (severe) problem, so I have to acknowlege i was basing on haunting anecdotal testomony of court reporter talking about rape trials.

He's entitled to be treated as innocent, so fair enough but juries clear rape suspects lightly all the time

Oh was ages ago and was meant to be a light hearted thing about silly big hair being a sign of a bad defender. I just think most football writers never gave enough of a shit to watch us play and still have crap surface level knowledge of the club in the way they'd get sacked for if it was spurs

Not long ago a footy writer used him as a random example of a 'comedy' bad defender and i nearly wrote an angry email.

I dunno good fundraiser for Gateshead and really not too fussed regardless so probably won't pay. Should maybe have been framed as that rather than good news you can watch it as if it were free

I know why he says that, and ultimately for us sure, but saving Bournemouth from implosion then taking them to the premier league (and staying for for a fair few seasons) was a huge achievement. He is certainly a better coach now, he used the time away well, but I hope he either privately does, or one day give himself huge credit for that.

Lets not be too harsh on fat rude emerati kids jesus