Shadow Puppets

Was he though, because his head / shoulder looks perfectly in line with the defenders foot, but some fucking arbitrary lines drawn on make it look like he’s comfortably offside. It’s millimetres if anything.

Such a shame after an excellent performance. Dunno where the extra 3 mins of stoppage time came from, but we didn’t manage the game well enough at the end. Such a shame.

I mean, he pretty much is. His engine is incredible, his tackling and harrying all excellent. He plays slightly more advanced but is basically playing as a DM.

Lineup makes perfect sense to me like. 3 games in 6 days, this one being the least likely to get a result. Rest a couple of players that need it, and put out a full strength team on Saturday. It’s called using your squad.

Disappointing but Fraser did a great job last season when he had to fill in for him. ?

I know... I said "more often than not". Let's be honest, it's absolutely entirely believable that our business is done. Everyone works themselves up into an excited frenzy as deadline approaches and 9 times out of 10 nothing significant happens.

He's probably right, to be fair. He is actually right more often than not, the prick.

He also said he doesn't expect to do any major business, and loans are more likely.

I like Tielemans a lot but I just can't see us spending big on the last day. Still fully expecting a loan of some kind.

Howe said yesterday that ASM is a doubt but Trippier is fine.

They'll have been preparing all week with Wood upfront (without knowing if Isak could play) so I fully expect him to be on the bench.

@Ando7 is the master of bullshittery like, but I love him for it. ? So vague and non-commital, but with a desperate audience.

Tielemans isn't the fastest, but my god he's a good player ?

If you watch Eddie's press conference he does seem pretty adamant that we're unlikely to do any more significant business.

It’s literally got nothing to do with us.

Howe has already confirmed that he expects Isak to play with Wilson, which leads me to believe Isak is the right sided forward moving forward.

Sorry I should have made it clear, my post wasn't solely in relation to the Dendoncker post... just a build up of frustration reading stuff over the last few days.

I didn’t say it wasn’t fine to be hopeful. I just see a lot of posts from people on here and on Twitter being disparaging about players like Dendoncker when they’re a very realistic signing who would significantly improve our midfield options. It’s surely setting yourself up for massive disappointment to be expecting another deal the size of Isak or Bruno to waltz through the door in the next 2 days. Be hopeful, sure, but you must surely see why that is unlikely. We’ve already had a very good window…I just think people need to be mindful of that. Regarding your other point, you being pedantic. Everyone can see with their own eyes that Willock usually plays as the most advanced of our 3 CMs. And regarding the “Arrogance” comment… pot kettle. Right back at ya.

There’s some absolute knackers on this forum like. People seriously setting themselves up for disappointment expecting a big name midfielder or RW to walk through the door in the next 2 days. I even read some requests for another RB after Krath’s injury. It’s laughable. Of course it would amazing if a high profile CM does arrive, but I think it’s also massively unlikely (and that’s ok). We’ve absolutely transformed the first team over the last two windows. Incredible work really. To expect them to also transform the bench in that time too seems just a little bit ridiculous. No team in the history of football has a perfect squad, apart from possibly Man City. If we can improve the squad options in the next two days then great, but people should not be too disappointed if we don’t. Look at our strongest 11 now… it’s outstanding in many ways… Wilson ASM Isak Willock Joelinton Bruno Targett Botman Schar Trippier Pope I’d be more than happy going with what we have if necessary, but a CM who can compete with / improve on what we have would be icing on the cake.

Expecting (and would be perfectly happy with) just a decent CM on loan.

I think the RW position isn’t something we’re focusing on. Howe has already said he expects Isak and Wilson to play together, which leads me to think he’s planning a first choice front 3 of Maxi, Wilson and Isak. Almiron and Fraser are perfectly able backups for that. CM is almost certainly the priority.

Doesn’t bother me at all this one. Pope is considerably better and Darlow is an adequate backup. Dubs has likely forced the move.

I think it’s very unrealistic, and people are setting themselves up for disappointment, expecting 2 starting 11 players to walk through the door. When has ANY team ever had a perfect window and solved all of their problems at once? I’m at the stage where I’m expecting a CM on loan and that’s all. And that would represent a very solid 2nd transfer window.

Seems a lot like agent talk this Alvarez one. No decent sources reporting it.

It’s pathetic isn’t it. The reality is that we’ve played OK, been undone by a lovely goal, and have a lack of quality in depth up front / in CM. There isn’t a team in the country that wouldn’t struggle with two of their best CMs missing and both of their decent strikers unable to play. To say you hope only 3 of these players will be here in 3 years… Pope, Botman, Schar, Trippier, Joelinton and Maxi deserve more respect than that.