Coffee_Johnny

I enjoy reading both of those posters! Oh, guess that means I’m probs on the list!

I can see the logic, and hope, in it. Looking to the past, sometimes often a needs-must, our youngsters have been left in to develop and perhaps become better players that they would have otherwise. But then again perhaps not. I am thinking of Lee Clark, Steve Howey, Steve Watson, Alan Thompson (I think without the car accident he may have been the pick of the bunch), Robbie Elliot, Shola Appleobi.

Express: “TIMO WERNER refused to rule out leaving Chelsea when quizzed on his future earlier this summer. Chelsea flop Timo Werner has reportedly agreed to take a 50 per cent pay cut on his current £275,000-a-week wages if a return to RB Leipzig goes through this summer. Blues boss Thomas Tuchel claims that he has not yet spoken to the striker about his future, days after hitting back at suggestions that Werner 'could be happy elsewhere'. There was excitement and anticipation among the Chelsea fanbase when Werner signed from RB Leipzig in 2020. But his goal-scoring rate has not been anywhere close to what he managed in the Bundesliga, notching just 10 in the Premier League over the course of two seasons. His downturn in form has been a mystery for many, given the ruthless streak that was on show with Leipzig during his four-season stint at the club. Indeed, a mammoth 34-goal haul in his final campaign prompted Chelsea to fork out £45million two years ago. With the World Cup just around the corner, the 26-year-old is surely keen to rediscover his best form and is believed to be exploring his options. Bild claim that Werner has agreed to take a 50 per cent pay cut as Leipzig negotiate a loan deal with Chelsea, which is likely to include an option to buy. Fellow out-of-form Blues frontman Romelu Lukaku also struggled to gel with Tuchel's system. The £98m man effectively jumped ship earlier this summer and joined Inter Milan on loan, with little sign of his Chelsea career reigniting in the future. Kai Havertz and Lukaku were deployed through the middle last term, often forcing Werner to deputise on the wing. That left him unable to recreate the magic that came with playing on the last man at Leipzig, even though his finishing in the Premier League has generally underwhelmed.”

The Mail and Manchester Evening News suggesting he is being actively courted by Man Utd.

Not many defences would fancy him and Maxi running at them, whilst also trying to cover Wilson and Bruno/others joining through the centre.

Nice sentiment, but there’s no place for it in the Premier League. Plus, our (varying) preferences obviously have no influence on what Howe et al see as their strongest line-up against Forest.

Christ it is exciting to imagine that kind of attacking threat in our current system.

I can understand the points for all parings (just about all pairings) but still think we’ll see Schar and Botman. I’d be curious to see (someone commented on it in here but can’t recall) how they line up in defensive drills in training. Such regular, and away from prying eyes, practice is the best indicator of preferred line up.

He has a golden boot from an international tournament, has found the net against France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and a host of others. Not to mention 4 Champion’s League goals with Chelsea. He’s 26 years old. There is an absolute top drawer player in there with plenty of time to shine.

I don’t profess to know much about him, beyond the occasional highlights and internationals. His experience and demonstrated quality—pretty much 1 in 2 for Germany (24 goals, 53 games) and 88 top flight goals (183 games)— makes me confident that he would be an incredible asset. I also believe that Howe could/would get the best out of him. To get a striker like that on loan not only fills a glaring gap in our squad but frees up finances for outright purchases elsewhere.

Yep, but when push comes to shove it doesn’t hurt to be seen in this way.

Review of Colback: ”Worked well with O’Brien alongside him. The two of them seemed to form a decent understanding, even if the attacking platform wasn’t necessarily there”. O’Brien a new signing, not sure of position but guessing CM?

I think it is probably the preseason mix and match which leads to this opinion. Which to be fair, in a nod to Rafa, has been a triumph for system over personnel. But moments of magic win tight games and I agree, not confident many of our back-ups have many of those moments in them.

I bet he does! ?

Nottingham Forest’s preseason results: Forest 1 - 3 Coventry Burton Albion 0 - 1 Forest Barnsley 0 - 0 Forest Forest 3 - 1 Hertha Berlin Forest 1 - 1 Valencia Worth noting that Hertha Berlin also lost to West Brom (2-1) and Derby Count (1-0). Line-up for Valencia: Dean Henderson Joe Worrall Steve Cook Scott McKenna Neco Williams Jack Colback Lewis O’Brien Harry Toffolo Jesse Lingard (Cafu, 77 mins) Brennan Johnson Sam Surridge (Taiwo Awoniyi, 62 mins)

Purely Bilbao-ta!

Haaland is just what City have been missing, to my mind. He’ll have a decent first season. I actually have a sneaking suspicious that Alvarez will have an even better one.

Pretty sure it is in this thread—twitter link with someone stamping on a flag.

Tbf, pretty sure they were hammering the right before he came on.

I’m not even letting loose both barrels of my deluded wish list! A secret already agreed Osimhen deal lurks in that murky corner of my mind.

Maddison and Cornet bought. Werner on loan. That should cover it.

I know it risks a wishful jumping to conclusions, but a sudden willingness to splash a large fee on a midfielder maybe linked but a strong sense of being able to fill another needed role with a loan, like Werner for instance.

I was there last weekend and there was a stray one flying around the atrium and into the corridors, thinking you may not have been as far away from a dead pigeon as you think!

I think he’s looked ok. Would love to enthuse more about what he’s showed in the PSFs, but just think he’s been alright; didn’t look out of place. Don’t think he’s done enough to be seen as a reliable option in the coming season. But then people who know better will make the decision.