Dr Jinx

He can’t be everywhere at once, there’s been games that we’ve been overrun in midfield when he’s played. He has pace but the others around him don’t seem to have that quick acceleration from standstill, it’s something we should be looking at, even if it’s just cover for games where we just need that sort of energy.. We’re already a good team and it’s just minor tweaks to the starting 11 that will bring us to the next level. JP is a good signing if it happens. If we can get a ball playing dominant RCB, a goalkeeper who can save as well as Pope but who can keep possession through distribution and a bit more reliable cover for midfield, I reckon we’ll kick on again next season. The extra games are going to take a toll so we need more bodies for the smaller games, if we play all our best players week in week out and with CL.. we’ll be fucked by December.

Something just doesn’t seem quite right about paying more than double for a player who has pretty much stayed around the same level as his previous club. Not saying he’s a bad player or anything, just the fee seems all wrong. Has he done anything since his move to Brighton to warrant doubling in price?

Seems we’re waiting for July 1st to start doing business. We’re going to miss out on quite a few decent players if the likes of Liverpool are throwing money about now. Not totally convinced by him, as what I’ve seen at club level has been patchy, he looked great for England at the last tourno though. Does he lose a lot of headers because of the lack of height?

The Stack announcement would certainly point to SJP continuing for a few more years as is while a new stadium is built, if that’s the intention. No reason to doubt that yet. Am guessing any new stadium would negate the need for the stack after that but you can’t deny it’s been a massive success, would be hard to replicate that inside a new stadium.

Overall Howe did an excellent job last season although with the same consistency issues. Saying that, between Ashworth and Mitchell, Howe has appeared to use whatever sway to limit the input by both, seeing them off essentially. You can argue that he’s earned that veto but it’s not a good look for anyone coming in that he just won’t work with them.

Every club has that blueprint now that Chelsea have set out, i can only imagine that we're not going that route because of legal council we've had. OR.. the owners are dead set on turning us into a force gradually and tiny step by tiny step. We won't get that consistency until we start making the right appointments to support the manager.

When he's on the pitch you can tell the difference between what he brings and other "captains". Even Bruno looks to him for guidance as you can see after we won the cup final. The flip side of that is that he's been massively out of sorts this year and last over his family situation. Whether his own doing or not, i can synpathise. He's also reaching that age where things will just slow down, but he's far from done yet. Would be happy if he stayed another year.

Maignan Is 29, while not old for a goalkeeper it doesn’t reduce the squad age like what was an objective. Trafford is the one if we’re going domestic.

I think after the season he’s had, the 30m fee is quite reasonable. We’ll be getting one of the best goalkeepers in the league if it comes off. Pope will push him if he stays.. but his kicking will ultimately see him as the backup eventually. We could potentially have a full back line that are regular England international starters. Some change from the Ashley years.

We know the drill, Eddie won’t use him until he fully trusts him OR the glimpses we see are irrefutable. Like Bruno, we could all see the quality, yet he had him on the bench for best part of a month, maybe more.

It’s just like for like with Wilson really although different players. Body is knackered and he’s low on fitness and confidence. It might work out but who’s to say.. the idea is to take some of the pressure off Isak.. I just can’t see that with someone who will either continue to be injured or take very long to get up to speed with how we play. Hope it’s bullshit.

Howe has never wanted a director of football. He just needs a head of recruitment to get players he wants in. He’s starting to build something here now that doesn’t require someone overseeing him. In fairness to Ashworth, in that aspect he was pretty good, but that ship has sailed. Never go backwards. Recruit from within unless they have a gem lined up. I suspect the new CEO will be a heavyweight.

I’m starting to get the feeling that there could be some big changes in the squad this summer ahead of a big revamp. Still effective mostly but with the top sides we’re a bit predictable at times. Isak and Tonali are really the only players who are untouchable. Maybe Tino and Hall in terms of potential. But with question marks over Botman long term and a long term goalkeeper, the future spine of the team is only 50% nailed down.

Very surprised he was kept on. Absolutely shocking going forward and even worse at the hard work bit. I suspect his peak value would have been last summer. But he’d still get close to 100m if we sold. Just not sure who’d bite based on this season.

Gordon is pissing me off

We look toothless

Willock for Gordon, Osula for Wilson.

Wilson has been a passenger the whole game too though.

Reckon the final badge design will have a shade of green in it.. the brief will be keeping the heritage of all the previous designs while giving a nod to the current owners. They need to be super careful though.. it's thin ice territory and one misstep and all the good up to now will have been undone.

It’s maybe not as bad as I thought first glance.. it’s the cheap looking club crest and white back that let it down. The design on the stripes is actually decent.

Fuck, that’s set me off again 🥹

Our cup loss to them is fairly easily written off now. Not that we didn’t try in that game but we weren’t going to risk the chance we had in the cup final by overextending. Not had a great record against them though which I’m concerned about.. every team has a bogey team and they’ve been one of ours along with Liverpool over the last few seasons. We’re due a result. We’re a better team than them, we just need to be tactically set up to cut off their passing options from the back and try to nullify their pace from the wings. Bit of shithousery today and frustrate them before we start to impose our game. 0-2 (Barnes, Isak)

Could see the writing on the wall while it was still 1-1. Bruno needs to come off.

There’s not loads I’d change about our squad, it’s become a unit again. GK to challenge Pope RCB to compete with Schär CM to replace Longstaff or Miley. CF to replace Wilson RW to compete with Murphy If Gordon leaves let Cordero be backup for Barnes.

Nick Pope - still our best keeper but.. Martin Dúbravka - he’ll leave despite contract. Odysseas Vlachodimos - will be sold. Mark Gillespie - backup to the backup. John Ruddy - basically a coach? Kieran Trippier - 1 more season! Sven Botman - best defender we have Fabian Schär - exceeding expectations always. Very important still. Dan Burn - see above. Jamaal Lascelles - time to move on. Emil Krafth - basically the only backup for Schär. Reliable. Needs to stay. Valentino Livramento - better at LB than Hall. Lewis Hall - talented and not the finished article yet. Matt Targett - time to move on. Alex Murphy - not seen enough to think he’s going to make it. Loan would do him good. Bruno Guimarães - lack of pace his only chink in the armour. Superstar and needs to stay. Joelinton - been brilliant of late. Has to stay. Sandro Tonali - Keep at all costs. Sean Longstaff - can be useful.. but if 1 had to go it would be him. Joe Willock - hopefully injury issues behind him but jury still out. Lewis Miley - he needs to play more. Loan? Anthony Gordon - anything around 80-100m would take. Harvey Barnes - better than Gordon. Jacob Murphy - Deserves his place on merit. The soul of the squad. Alexander Isak - keep at all costs. Callum Wilson - time to move on William Osula - lunatic. Potential. Keep. So basically the only ones that should even be considered to leave would be Dubs - new contract, small fee? 2m Odysseus - shady Saudi deal Lascelles - owes us nothing. Targett - 3-5m A. Murphy - loan Longstaff - sell for 15-20m Miley - don’t sell if Longstaff leaves. Loan be good. Gordon - sell reluctantly. He’d cost a bomb