Coffee_Johnny

Struggling to decide whether to go with three forwards (Alvarez being one of them) or adding an extra midfielder, Neto, who is more likely to play. Assuming if no forwards on bench, who do play, then if Alvarez doesn’t appear it’s tough luck/ an alternate position/player isn’t included in the scoring?

Good to see you! Did you. It used to organise this/something similar?

Not reached Manchester press yet.

New (to me) name. Giacomo Raspadori. Who we’ve supposedly ‘bid £21m for’ though I doubt it. He’s reportedly now put in a transfer request. 22 years old, 5’ 8” forward; partnered Hammers-bound Scamacca last season for Sassuolo. 18 in 75 for Sassuolo (10 goals and 6 assists last season). 3 in 13 for Italy. https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/08/03/report-after-bids-from-west-ham-newcastle-33m-target-has-now-handed-in-a-transfer-request/

He’s been quite busy, out and about around a fair few local retail outlets. Likes stotties, Milky Ways, people’s fathas () and unprovoked rudeness (allegedly).

More attack minded Rafa.

Totally agree, wouldn’t be wise to expect to carry on where we left off. In fact, I do wonder whether there has ever been such a season of two halves: 10 points after 19 games (10 at home); form, which if continued, would have meant 20 points, relegation in 20th place, bottom by 2 points; 39 points from 19 games (9 at home); form which, if continued across a whole season, would have meant 78 points and a third place finish (4 points above Chelsea, who finished 3rd and an incredible 20 points above Man Utd who finished 6th. But I am not saying that only Liverpool and Man City will do better than us. I am saying that taking into account everything, it doesn’t seem ridiculous to aspire to a finish between 5-8th place.

Given: we banged out a ridiculously good 19 games, which gave us the third highest points accrued in that half season; we have improved the squad; Howe and team know the team better and have had a preseason; the established system and style of play preseason; and my belief that we will add at least two forward players this month. Even taking into account other teams improvement, I think 5-8th is achievable.

Think it is just worry based rather than boring. I get the anxiety. Can’t recall the last player I would have been so upset to lose; particularly if it was through lack of ambition.

And another one down…

Another one bites the dust.

Hear there are potentially some Schmeichel sized shoes available for him to slip into.

This is how delusions start…

?… ? ? … (no it’s still going) … ? ? ?

Perfect linkage ? ?

Shouldn’t laugh, but have to admit that I did!

Are you from Glasgow? Do Celtic or Rangers have any forwards or versatile midfielders who we could sign? ?

He sauntered into Greggs, in an overly tight fitting Shane McGowan drinking suit, pockets bulging with 500 riyal notes. Cautiously checking he wasn’t overheard, he leaned over the counter. ”Psst! I’ll give you 89p for that ham and pease pudding stottie. Waddaya say?” The bemused looking youth scratched under his Castore sponsored cap, before uttering. “They’re £2.55 sir.” ”Hadaway and shite!” Whispered Ashworth, in a surprisingly convincing regional accent, before shouldering through the panicked placard waving Tyneside public who’d gathered outside in hope of a successful purchase. Their heavily furrowed brows were eased slightly when he shouted: “I’ll be back before closing time. Be a shame to chuck it oot, like!”.

Yep, I get the difference. Just wonder whether we know we need another body in there, but who we go for and the brief then given to the other midfielders may vary according to who we get. We are lucky in that Bruno can play any role in the middle. Also conscious that the whole ‘double pivot’ preference has been discussed regarding how best to use Bruno. Here‘s some blurb re Onana’s playing style: ‘Onana is a central midfield player. The Belgian can play in a number of positions in the centre of the park but has mainly been used on either the left of a double-pivot or else as a single pivot… The right-footer is also quite solid as an ‘8’, playing in a more advanced role in a midfield three or potentially even a diamond depending on the team’s choice of formation.“ https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/amadou-onana-at-lille-2021-22-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics

Hope you get your sample size, kidda ? And enough data to come to balanced sensible conclusions.

Plays anywhere in midfield, I think. 6’5” promising young Belgian, who played full championship winning (?) season with Botman last year. He’s not a goal scorer/creator, but then Bruno obviously can be.

Amadou Onana as a genuine Maddison alternative or (and) to angle/‘motivate’ Leicester and Maddison? West Ham and us after him and Cornet it seems.

The disparity in salaries, on and off the pitch is quite disgusting when seen in such harsh light. I totally get the argument that there is so much money in Premier League football that inevitably clubs are going to pay the ridiculous salaries we see for players. Should there not be the same argument and some trickledown down to all employees? That is, if you are exceptional at ‘marketing’ or whatever, should there not be a Premier League club weighting added to that?

The impact of formally bidding, however close or far from expected value, of confirming your commitment to purchase a player shouldn’t be underestimated. It can set all sorts of hares running. It also serves all sorts of purposes; some direct/obvious, some more indirect/sneaky; including indirect communication to other targets/clubs. Don’t get me wrong, gone are the days of tipping our cap towards a player and then bemoaning the failure with an ‘at least we tried’. I choose to believe, and see no firm evidence to contradict, that they know what they are doing. And that however frustrating and inexact buying players is, we will have our required positions filled by 1st September. I hope it is with Howe’s strongly favoured targets, rather than the he’ll have to do variety. However much of an emotional rollercoaster this window has been, we’ll only be able to validly judge the approach taken when it closes.

Got to be one of the most influential. Given the fact that we—thanks to him—managed to lose a game we dominated, was effectively the difference between us and Man Utd winning the league.