Thumbheed

I'm pretty non plusses about FFP/PSR tbh. I feel like the club know exactly what they're up against and will found way round this as staying stagnant as the rules are intended to force just won't be an option. 

I'm also quite confident that we're arguably the only club outside the top 6 who have a real good opportunity to grow our revenue to a degree the other ambitious clubs like Villa can't based on the fact we have an entire country's market at our disposal. 

Guess time will tell butfor now, I've seen or read nothing that's got my heart racing.

Unfortunately he's worth every penny and more. 

2 hours ago, KingArthur said:

Our wingers before Gordon were ASM, Almiron, Murphy? Maybe Anderson and Fraser? We really needed a winger anyway. And saying "what about Gordon" is a poor excuse anyway, you cannot spend most of your budget on a midfielder, when we desperately need reinforcements elsewhere.

Gallagher doesn't bring anything Joelinton or Tonali already aren't already providing us with. Except I would say he is not as strong in duels as Joelinton. If Joe would have left, I would understand Gallagher as his replacement.

We conceded because our midfield was injured or dead tired. And we had 17-year-old playing twice a week with Bruno and Longstaff, because no one else was fit. Who are we going to sell to make room for Gallagher? Anderson? Longstaff? Both are most likely cheap and HG.

 its not an excuse its a reason to be open minded. Like i say we have a terrible habit of judging players playing in poorly performing team despite the lessons we learnt of our own players. 

We don't know the budget and don't know the actually finances with revenue taking a significant boost this year on top of the likelihood of a couple players sales and with a number of players on good contracts leaving too. It's not unfeasible to have a more significant budget than everyone realises that's not based on a narrative that is imperative to the club not getting ripped off/subetly challenging PSR. We're continuously linked with midfielders, so it's fair to say it's a postion we want to strengthen and I 100% agree on it. 

As for the last point, it's the exact reason why another midfielder is imperative because they will still be our options off the bench and whilst there's certainly some ability in a couple of those player to be excited about they're not ready to be key players in a high performance team. Yet. 

5 minutes ago, healthyaddiction said:

I might be wrong, but I think his goals at Palace all came really really early in his time there and then he didn't score much at all in the second half of the season. Either way, across the length of his career it seems like a purple patch.

 

He's obviously not a bad player, but I would be surprised to see him start ahead of Joelinton Bruno Tonali.

Tbf, I'm not doubting that at all, I'm just giving him the benefit of doubt.

I'm probably more excited by his pressing because I honestly think it makes a massive difference to us, moreso than a midfielder who can chip in with a goal or assist now and again - sum of all part and whatnot

22 minutes ago, FloydianMag said:

If they did what a ball ache for the PL if FFP is ruled to be anti competitive and unlawful. Especially if Forest were relegated due to points deducted for breaches of the rules!

I'm surprised they've been so resrained with updating it. It's a house of cards and everyone knows it.

I saw a compilation of Merino  recently and I honestly cannot think of a more perfect signing for us. 

Completely forgot just how good he was/is.

Can see Forest going for the nuclear option.

34 minutes ago, healthyaddiction said:

Not sure he has much of an eye for goal. He averages 1 in 10.

Based in his time at Palace where admittedly he was a 10, he's definitely got it in his lockers. 

I'm not basing too much on what we're seeing at Chelsea, he's been in a few roles and in a side which just isn't performing at all. We should know better than anyone how you can't judge a player when the team as a whole I'd poor.

Put him in the situations Longstaff finds himself in and I'd back him to score over Longstaff. 

1 hour ago, KingArthur said:

Why? He wouldn't be a starting midfielder when everyone is fit. And even if he would, he is not a big improvement. If we are going to spend 50 million, it needs to be a winger or a centreback.

We had similar views about Gordon and were completely wrong about him.

He's quick, strong, technically very good, has an eye for a goal but on top of that, his pressing is second to none and his ability to win duels further up the pitch is one of those indirect variables that have a significant impact on our overall gameplay.

We conceded so many this season, not because our defence was in dissaray or poorly organised but because we weren't able to press as effectively in the middle. 

36 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

I've never been 100% on the Sesko rumours. Not because I don't think he's any good, I just think if we're going to sign a forward it'll probably be someone more flexible across the front three rather than an out-and-out CF which I think Sesko is?

 

He could be on the list of signings we'd make if we ended up getting £100m for Bruno and wanted to bring in 5 or 6 players rather than 2 or 3.

I don't actually buy into the fact we're looking for a player that can play across the front 3 because the striker role is such a specialised position, plus is it actually practical to have that sort of player as they'll inevitably settle into the position that they perform best in? 

Gallagher would be a great signing for us

51 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

Article on how much we've mixed up the tactics in the last few games.

I thought we looked quite good vs City with the same tactics. 

Hope we stick with it tbh. 

13 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

My lass's dad's mate (I know) is apparently a bit of a Blackburn itk (although maybe not considering ) and was absolutely convinced that we were signing him. 

 

 

 

I hope we're still interested

Adam Wharton looks a top prospect at 20. 

He'd be absolutely perfect for us.

9 minutes ago, STM said:

For arguements sake, with no incomings or outgoings next year:

 

PL:

                     Pope

 

Trippier    Schar    Botman   Tino

 

                    Bruno

       Tonali                Joelinton 

Gordon                             Barnes

                      Isak

 

Europe:

 

                   Dubravka 

 

Krafth     Lascelles    Burn    Hall

 

                      Miley

        Longstaff         Willock

Minteh                               Anderson

                     Wilson

 

Obviously I'm aware there will be players in and players out and also that you don't have to change an entirely 11 from one game to the next. But that European front 6 is decent but it highlights needing defenders.

It also highlights how far away we are from the squad quality of the teams we're hoping to be competing with long term.

We are still in the very early stages of our development. Incredible really. 

7 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

We're only 3 wins behind last season, which is ridiculous.

 

Would tend to agree that if we got 5-7th this season it'll rival last season in terms of achievement within context. Just ultimately a 'what if' season that was frustrating with some brilliant highlights.

Liverpool and Everton will haunt me the most.

Still can't quite process how we're in 6th having never been able to pick our strongest 11 at any single point in the season. 

I'll say it quitely but should we finish here it probably usurps what he achieved last year imo. 

Short of the Peps and Klopps, I think we have a genuinely elite manager.

19 minutes ago, STM said:

I'd have CB as job number one.

 

Under Howe, we score goals, we always have and always will. We need more quality in defence. Pace in particular.

I think our struggles this season have been from not being as affective winning the ball further up the pitch. I'd go for a CM first and foremost but I guess injuries take that out of our hands.

1 hour ago, TRC said:

I really don't think it is. For us Shearer was never the best striker in the world.

 

I feel Isak is the best striker in the world.

I mean even if that was true it was in an era of Ronaldo, Romario, Batistuta, Inzaghi, Del Piero, Vieri, Raul. I could go on. 

To actually be in 6th after this shitshow of a season is fucking phenomenal. 

On 26/08/2022 at 11:30, Thumbheed said:

Billy Gilmour is training with the Chelsea reserves, he must be available for decent price and would be unreal for depth. 

Shameless self plug.

Ffs

He's already been clear on where he stands on all this, so I doubt he'd lay his cards out like that without being crystal clear on the actual legality of it all. 

4 points behind 6th place.

If we could just hit that vein of form we know we have in us, then 6th would be ours. 

The sooner the Wenger offside rule comes in the better. 

Never understood why we punish attackers for reacting quicker whilst still being behind the defender.

Inject it straight into my veins