Holmesy

23 minutes ago, Tiotes Witch Doctor said:

The best thing I can say about the window so far is that we've been heavily linked to good players in each of the main positions we need to strengthen.

Apart from up top. Unless we count Pedro as a backup striker?

36 minutes ago, HayDen Traces said:

The question is, how many days into next week will they say it again?? 🤔

I want if he ever logs in here and feels sad that every thinks he a useless cunt?! 

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

Do people think athleticism is a talent? I do. But a lot of people almost don’t.  

Size, power, agility, balance, strength, speed, engine etc. all talents. 
 

I agree about Elanga vs Kudus btw. But Elanga’s physical talents are genuinely next level. 

It's the basis of the modern game. Not sure it's talent necessarily because I don't think it's something that can be learned. Honed, yes.

I had this conversation with a mate a while back. The game is undoubtedly worse from an entertainment POV than it used to be because you no longer have players like Berbatov, Cantona, Ginola, Gazza, Zola, Bergkamp, Figo, Zidane - the list goes on. The technical side of the game has all but vanished because that type of player wouldn't fit into the modern game, which values speed and athleticism over everything else.
Elanga is the epitome of the modern game - fast, effective, direct, athletic but sadly, not very exciting.

1 hour ago, MagPar said:

No meltdown regarding the Rashford rumours? 

I think everyone knows it bullshit. There's no sane world where Eddie signs a player with Rashford's temperament or lack of work rate.

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

Chelsea may not even come in for him.

They will if they know we're in for him

1 hour ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

I feel like the only way to do deals quickly or decisively is to either be one of the elite clubs or just spend money like it's no object in the way that Man City or Chelsea do. 

 

Apart from that you are going to either have to be lucky to find a player who really wants to come and doesn't have other offers to consider, or a club that really wants to sell for financial reasons. Only so many players fall into that category and it might not be the ones we want. 

Or line up deals during the 18 month to 2 years where you've signed absolutely no one. It's not like we've been short of time to get shit sorted early doors

Just now, rebelrouser said:

Brighton and Chelsea have been active. Surely they will have to make some sales to balance the books. I think we are waiting for prices to drop so that we can cover multiple positions.   

Chelsea are going to allow their fans to sponsor a square foot of the pitch at £1m per piece to fund buying every player we've been scouting.

Really surprised we haven't seen some early movement tbh. We've had 18 months to plan, monitor, negotiate and prepare bids.

I'm sure there's stuff happening behind the scenes but this really is dull.

The turd that won't flush.

Just now, Nucasol said:

Yes, Spurs.

He is a very Spurs type signing. Historically they've been absolutely wank at developing young players though, so it's a shit move for him

7 minutes ago, gdm said:

 

If he'd rather go to that car crash than play CL football, it speaks volumes. Cheerio

47 minutes ago, Ikon said:

Mbeumo would be an exciting signing. If we want him we better move fast. Usually we are quite slow. 

If we're in for him, we'll have been in for him for a while. Discussions will likely have taken place, we'll have asked them to keep us posted on developments should anyone come in for him while we're exploring other options. I reckon we'll know what the deal needs to look like, it's just a case of whether we value him at the price we've been told and if he wants to come.

Just now, TheBrownBottle said:

I still think Howe’s right - I haven’t seen him make much happen tbh.  He’s a fair way short - I would send him on loan to a second or third tier club next season and see if the lad can kick on.  He can’t be backup to Isak next season. 

He's scored really good goals (in the cup and the league), created chances, and scared Everton's defence more in 5 minutes than the rest of the team did in 90. 

He came to us from the Championship because he wanted to step up. I can't see him being happy going back there on loan, and rightly so. I'm not suggesting he should be starting but he should be getting a lot more minutes than he is based on the glimpses we've seen.

I know we don't like to question Eddie on this forum but seeing Wilson lumbering about the pitch doing fuck all while this guy sits on the bench is very questionable.
Every time he comes on he makes something happen. 

1 minute ago, Collage said:

I’m a little bit concerned. We’ve heard quite a lot about Eddie being a control freak and working with a DoF seems like a real problem for him.

I'm a little bit concerned - the last time we had to wait for a new DoF to be installed, we fucked around for an entire transfer window and signed no one. We'd had 2 more like it since. If we're back to the drawing board regarding signings, there'll be no one coming in early doors

2 hours ago, Menace said:

I feel like whatever this bloke does he can't win  

Well so far he's done the sum total of fuck all, so anything from here is a vast improvement

24 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Massive paycut as 3rd choice with someone like Delap coming in as number 2 would let Osula go out on loan for a year, see if he can get 15-20 goals in The Championship. Sheffield United maybe?

Osula has shown he's capable at this level in the few minutes he's been allowed to play. I'd far rather let Wilson leave and give Osula more playing time. Offering him an extention seems completely pointless. He's been terrible this season

Doula doing more in his first 30 seconds than any of our other attackers have done in 90

Pathetic! Absolutely gutless performance when so much is at stake. 

Time for Eddie to break character and be ruthless at half time - Gordon off, Schar off, Barnes on the left and back to 4-3-3

They’re all pissed!

1 minute ago, Unbelievable said:

Murphy ffs

He didn’t have anyone showing for the ball at all! Still shit but he had no help

8 minutes ago, Unbelievable said:

Get Gordon off, he’s playing shite atm

He looks a shadow of last season’s version. I’d rather we went back to 4-3-3 with Barnes on the left and Gordon on the bench tbh

I think you have to give some credit to Everton for denying us space in their half but we still look fucking shite. I’m not sure this formation is doing us any good.

57 minutes ago, Peder75 said:

It’s my 50th birthday today, and my first time at St James’ Park. A win would be the perfect birthday gift. I think the lads will deliver. 

Happy Birthday dude. Let's hope you're celebrating more than one big milestone later.