mighty__mag

Last home game, I'd have expected Eddie to go with the strongest available side, unless he's thinking too much about Man Utd?

Not sure why we couldn't deal with that. Was poor defending.

I really rate Enciso, such a talent.

Let's gooooooo

Minus Tonali and Botman, we're close to full strength again. Taking into consideration, Pope, Trippier, Schar, Joelinton, are all still not 100%

Exceedingly munificent

Ready for Arsenal

Eriksen was so casual, walking right next to Palace players in possession, no attempt whatsoever to try to tackle/press. Not interested.

It's over.

Who can spend all week teaching a team to be utter shit. It's remarkable.

Harsh, the ? has never been much of a nuisance.

Boom

Palace piling it on.

It's absolutely pathetic, how they'll move on players nobody wants I'll never know. Saudi or bust.

This has shown for a while now. The odd one or two who aren't key players try just in case they get selected again. Appears like many can't be arsed. He's losing the dressing room?

C'mon don't spoil the fun.

I should be looking forward to it then. Casamiro at CB will be beautiful with Gordon's pace.

Will we be this fortunate with your defense when we meet?

Personally think we're getting one over on Man Utd, I'd bring him here as head of recruitment, and still bring in a sporting director to work alongside him. Pretty much what they wanted to do with Freedman and Ashworth. Freedman and Mitchell Forgot about Nixon, can we have two head of recruitment? Head and Deputy head of recruitment

Fair enough, but surely you can see its less to do with him going out and buying a load of tall boys, and more to do with him converting players to be adaptable in various roles. People think its genius that all these players can do all this stuff, and that players can only play one role etc. but, the same way Pep has asked his players to play fullback midfield Centre back, it's not much different to Joelinton transforming from striker to CM, he could even play CDM for me Joe, absolute monster. People might laugh but I think Livramento could play right mid ahead of Trippier but with the ability to cover him and vice versa, but obviously Howe doesn't see it like that. Each manager has their own methods, I'm definitely a believer in this trying players in other roles and having hybrids, Peps certainly made that obvious.

I'll be so annoyed if Palace turned it on for us, and then don't put that same mentality in for these tonight, history says we've never finished a season above Man Utd, but with bald hag, and this side being their worst in history, I hope we finish above them.

Real Madrid: Fran Garcia/Vasques/Carvajal Leverkusen: Frimpong/Grimaldo Inter: DiMarco Liverpool: Robertson/Trent Just thinking of a few of the great shorter fullbacks around, take the point about big or small, what you need is adaptation, and choice, but I wouldn't just convert Akanji and Ake to fullbacks, its not what Pep has done at all, even Gvardiol, they're all traditional CBs Pep wants them all to be comfortable in covering all defensive positions, over time even Walker became a hybrid, used to be traditional RB but slots in at CB, I don't think for Pep it's a height thing, it's having a back four confident in switching and covering, even stones dropping into the middle, same with Rico Lewis covers fullback,midfield, Pep wants players who do everything well, and are adaptable. For us we've not just shelled out on two young fullbacks that aren't over 6ft for nothing, Burn is versatile, but in no way shape or form he's a proper LB in the way we play, he's done extremely well considering, his recent stints covering CB make him look a lot more comfortable, if we did have the option of taller fullbacks, you'd have to consider Antonee Robinson of Fulham over 6ft and plays like a fullback, rapid and up and down, Lloyd Kelly also started his career at fullback with Bristol, as did Tyrone Mings at Ipswich, Kelly is quite similar to Mings. Don't really think it's a major thing and that everyone needs to mimic Pep or Arteta, as Arsenal would rip your hand off for Frimpong and Grimaldo. I do believe Pep uses many of his players as hybrids, and expects them to slot in where needed. My opinion for what it's worth.

We should be targeting players with potential who will flourish under Howe, young talent that can grow into the side or be profitable. Antonio Nusa of Brugge, see teams like Brentford being linked in January for €25m but then holding off until the summer, we should be all over that, he's got huge potential. Likewise with this Dean Huijsen, Hope we're braver on youth than in the past, much rather see us target talent with potential, than paying over the odds for squad fillers, or relegated teams wantaways.