Mazzy

Alot of people on here (including me) were saying they wouldn't want Coutinho. But now he's gone to Villa, I've seen far more comments saying what a good signing that is for them. If Villa also got PEA would most be slightly envious of them? I know I would. They may not be the players they were 5 years ago but they are still head and shoulders above what we have here.

This could all be a gameplan by Lille, just saying he isn't going to raise the next bid! I don't think this is over just yet.

Just watched a couple of YouTube videos of Ekitike (as you do) and he looks decent. Kinda gangly in his style of running and moving about but definitely had ability with the ball at his feet. Would be a stretch to think he could move here at his age and just slot straight into the team though. We need someone else AND Ekitike.

Now linked with Hugo Ekitike from Reims. He's only 19yrs old and has scored 8 goals in 17 games this season. Understandable to look at younger players but it would be a big risk. That's a young age to move to a bigger league in a foreign country and be expected to hit the ground running.

Agreed. He's the one I would want of all the midfielders we've been linked with but unfortunately haven't actually seen us legitimately linked with him. We could be one of the four working to sign him, but we need him now not in the summer.

Not that I want him in the team in any way, shape or form but Clark would be another option at LB. He's left footed and played there a fair amount when he was younger.

I'm hoping that there's talks ongoing with players that we have yet to hear about. I know it's unlikely as the selling club do tend to want the press/other clubs to know about it but after the amount of rumours in November/December it feels we just keep hearing about the same 3 or 4 potential signings.

How incredibly selfish of them! I'd gladly give them Clark, Krafth, Longstaff and Darlow for free and this is how they treat us.

I'm not sure what you're basing that assumption on? If the owners want us to stay up, they are going to have to make a signing pretty much every week in January now. Especially if the rumours of us making up to 6 signings are true. We've only got 1 in so far.

In my opinion Wood and Cantwell are fine, that's all, just fine, nothing more than that. If we'd had got them both in the Sumner I think we'd be in a better position than we are now. HOWEVER, with where we are in the table we really do need better than these two and I don't think they are good enough to keep us in the league now, specifically Wood, we need a better striker than him to get us out of this problem.

Need him in before Watford! Can't imagine how we'll win otherwise. We can't score without Wilson and we can't keep clean sheets regardless of who plays at the back. Need him in ASAP.

As much as this signing wouldn't excite me, I do see the logic in it. However Burnley would surely not let him leave in January and especially not to us.

Seen alot of people saying if we'd had a proper striker playing we'd have won this. Don't think it would've made much difference tbh. ASM, Fraser, Willock, Almiron, Shelves and Joelinton should all be more than capable of scoring against L1 opposition regardless of position they are playing in. No excuse for this.

Obviously this was a terrible game to lose and most definitely the lowest point of Howes reign so far. Drawing against Norwich comes close but that was all Clarks fault. I think other than these two games, it's been pretty much what I expected from him. The next 4 games are the biggest test of him and this squad (including whoever else we get in).

Agree with most of what you say, however there have been a fair amount of times this season alone where he's done everything possible to lay a scoring chance up on a plate for someone and they've ballsed it up. Vice versa he's been in the position to score and he hasn't received the right pass because most of the fuckwits that play for us can't handle a 5 yard ball to feet. He can go missing in games for certain but I'd love to see him in a team where he has quality around him. Until that point I find it hard to be to harsh on him.

As long as he's professional and still has the desire to play (both are big ifs) I'd take him. We need to bring in more than 1 striker, he has Premier League experience and the kind of fight that I think would help us out right now.

Not sure he really has a choice with this. I'd say that applies to 70% of the squad right now if not 100%. Especially with the amount of players we are being linked with and who we've put bids in for. The current players will be well aware of this and they'll have their heads elsewhere now, even if it is only subconsciously.

Need a win, simple as that. A loss costs us hugely in terms of who else we can attract into signing for the club. Can't see it being anything but extremely tight, 2-1 if we are lucky. No way are we keeping a clean sheet and tbh I'm being generous saying we could score 2.

What a come down! Buy a new squad please Amanda

Looking forward to us getting a few free kicks around the box now with Trippier here. Gives us more options from corners/set prices as well.

They are different types of players though. Alot of things Big Jo does (holds up the ball/aerial duels/defending set peices) Gini isn't so good at but the same goes the other way round. Wijnaldum is much better on the ball and uses it more effectively to keep possession. And keeping possession is something we desperately need to improve on.

Nor will they be if they get injured in this game. I know which I would rather.

Dubravka Krafth Fede Lascelles Manquillo Murphy Hendrick Longstaff Almiron Anderson Gayle That's what I'd go with. Should be strong enough but it doesn't risk any of our more important players. We need our best team 100% fit for Watford, no exceptions.

I'd rather not risk him. We have enough players who can play RB(manquillo/Krafth), it's not necessary

Does seem too far along now to not be done by next week. If terms are agreed as others have said Lille are just grasping at straws to eek a little bit more out of us. Need this done by Wednesday at the latest if he has any chance of being involved meaningfully against Watford.