Happinesstan

I wonder if this can work both ways. By agreeing to triple the player's wages we have inadvertently revealed how much we value the player, and how keen we are to sign him. The selling club have every right to play hard ball.

We do, and a midfield 3 of Joelinton Lingaard and a DM will be a good midfield for our situation. Unti we get that DM I would play Longstaff. Drop Shelvey, and let Longstaff and Joelinton do the graft. We'll still have a [hopefully temporary] weakness, but that would be 10 times better than what we are currently getting.

Especially those who went in the editor and upped the reputation.

We've dropped nothing through players that were never here, not being here.

Talks ongoing. What are we keeping them up through the night, hoping they'll sleepily accept a cheeky bid that's missing a zero or two?

Now then, now then.

I've been paying little attention to any of the rumours. As ayedub says, Wood is the type of player we went in expecting, Tarkowski for example. The players we've bid for are way beyond that, Trippier included. We seem to be going for quality that will guarantee survival, before settling for those that give us a chance.

That has been the problem for a long time. The club simply aren't prepared to pay the premium for the type of player that can perform, week in week out, under that atmosphere. We have players that can maybe raise their game, every now and then, but expecting them to do it every home game is asking too much. Trippier is the first of hopefully many that change that going forward.

I'm that confident in my attacking plan I just keep Dubs close to the bench to receive instructions. Also he can cover for Trippier in the last 20 mins, because Schar will have switched off by then.

Bollocks. If he doesn't want to play for us he won't play for us. It doesn't alter the fact he's a great player.

Hayden will find a club, no problem. Just ditch Hendrick, what's it going to cost? 8 million?

Hendrick, Hayden, Krafth, Gillespie, Clark, Gayle. 6 players out. Trippier, Wood, 2 new CBs, New CM, New wide forward. 6 players in. The rest can be U21s. And we can look at getting rid of Ritchie, Schar, Darlow, Woodman, Shelvey, Fraser, Manquillo, Murphy, that's 8 off the top of my head.

30?! I thought 28 or 29. Yeah I see no reason why he shouldn't be allowed to see out his career with the club. Maybe move into coaching. He's unlucky that his career has coincided with one of the worst periods in our history, and yes he's a reminder of the stench, but I believe he is reliable enough to cleanse himself in the next 2-3 years.

Definitely. But this is where squad management comes into play. Wrap him in cotton wool, we will need him at many times over the next 2-3 years.

I think we've witnessed with ASM, and to a degree HBA, that such players need to be on their game, for their unquestioned talent to outweigh their luxury. If I thought he was remotely interested in playing for the worst team in the PL it would be a no-brainer. The last thing we need is another half-arsed fancy pants losing it when our WBs are advanced. I'm not calling ASM a half-arsed fancy pants, but he is when he's half-arsed.

I think you're being harsh. He's never let the club down. I'd happily pay him 40k a week to be there when needed. Edit: Not in FM though. He's the first useless bastard out the door.

I'd like to see ASM and Willock find that connection they had at the end of last season. I think playing Manquillo on the left can maybe facilitate that. As well as drawing the wide opposition inside, he will take away the focus of the central opposition which should allow Willock to find a run into the box.

This is the question. Do we rush to sign the level of quality that might see us get three points against Leeds, but fail to get anything beyond that. Or do we battle on for another week for the quality that we believe will almost guarantee safety. I think if the latter involves signing Hazard we're fucked, otherwise it's probably the sensible thing to do.

So would I, but Lewis is himself returning from injury and we want to learn from the error of keeping a tiring LB on the pitch in the last 10mins of a game. I see no need to hurry his departure. For me, the benefit of playing 3CBs is to allow your WBs to attack, Dummett is the ideal [ not perfect] LCB in that system.

I would. He's versatile, loyal and reliable, and will always give his best. A more than worthy squad player. I'd obviously hope we didn't rely on him too much, but I'd be more than happy to see him come on [either LB or as a third CB] for the last 10mins to secure a 2-0 win.

Good points ASM likes the ball into feet and Dummett likes to do the simple things like that. He could be just what ASM needs on that side. You would always assume that bringing off ASM for Almiron would shore things up, but taking off ASM apparently gave them more freedom to attack that side. Football, Saint, is a funny old game.

First game in a long time, harsh to judge his contribution in the 88th minute. Probably shouldn't have been on the pitch by that point.

Dubravka Schar Fernandez/Lascelles Dummett Trippier Manquillo Longstaff Willock Joelinton ASM Wood Attacking down the right with Trippier crossing for Wood, with Willock arriving late for a knock down and ASM arriving at the far post. If their plan is to double up on ASM he can drift across their back four and cause chaos in their defence. Attacking down the left with Manquillo as an IWB dragging wide opposition inside to create space for ASM to exploit. Again if the plan is to double up on ASM, Manquillo can release Willock or Longstaff through the middle or try to find a wide open Trippier.

Can totally see this being the case.

His belief in his own belief in others, is the vital element to Keegan's success.