KingArthur

He has improved, but his first touch really needs to improve if he playes as a CM. Lots of pressing and running and is a goal threat, which is good. Will play quite a lot I guess.

Yes, but I think it was clear that our CBs are not very quick like. Don't really know that do they have to be? And we are not signing a starting CB anyway, well maybe Disasi can be starter..

It is weird, that the lack of pace was mentioned as a problem already when Botman was signed. Burn with him there is really a target. Was not a big problem last year, when we pressed well enough

Again, we have absolutely no right back cover.

To be honest, Walker is, and was at that time, England XI regular. Gallagher and McTominay are just mediocre local players that are really overpriced. We sold Sissoko for 30 million when we went down, and he was France international. Prices have really gone up..

That is true that it worked well, but it has to be spot on. Andersson's goal was like from a pub league. So easy

What does "Frees up Burn" mean in this case? He will most likely be second choice left back and second choice LCB. And there is even Dummett for that slot as a total last choice. No need for that at all imo. If Lascelles stays, we may survive without RCB, but it is a risk. Manquillo most likely is off, so we need backup right back for sure. That is why Livramento is obvious target. Club most likely thinks he is good enough to take the place when Trippier goes. We have two decent left backs and if you count Manquillo then certainly also Lewis as a LB? Most like both will be off I would guess. I would like to think we need rb, rcb and a starting right winger, but I guess wingers are done with Barnes. Defensive midfielder would be nice, but seems like Eddie will play Bruno as a sot of 6 anyway.

How did Tonali play?

We desperately need a RCB and RB. I mean if Schär gets his weekly head injury and Trippier does his hamstring, we are fucked.

If Dubs is not sold, then certainly Darlow is? Seems a bit weird to give Karius and Gillespie a deal. Though both are cheap most likely.

Fabinho 40, Henderson 10-20.

True, he or someone like him is a key player to unlock defences. But he seems to play totally different game than all the others. Stop and go -football. Pass to his feet, dribble, lose possession or create something. Rinse and repeat. I love the lad but he really is only asset that we can sell. Would have rather sold Almiron though.

Very sad to see him go if this is true. But he really is not very suited to Howe's game. What he is though, is ridicilously entertaining footballer to watch. You never know what happens and what kind of tricks he has. A big reason to go and watch games, even though might not have the best end product and all that.

Can he really play right back in our system though? I haven't seen him play, so no idea.

Burn is ok as a LCB backup, but we need a right footed cb behind Schär.

I would take this. We have no idea what is Krafths level after injury. Funnily that might be true for Livramento also.

Manquillo is reportedly off to Getafe. Krafth is not good enough and Ashby has not played games at top level at all? Most likely will be loaned. I wouldn't want to start UCL-game or against top 6 with Krafth right back, but I am content with starting Burn or Targett left back. (and yes, would be nice to have a quality starting LB also) And we need to sell left backs also..

I am not sure how people keep saying left back is a priority. We have absolutely no depth on the right behind Trippier, who cannot play 50 games a season. We were ok with Targett and Burn last season. Yes, we need to upgrade that, but getting an option for Trippier is a must. Livramento will be starting right back for us very soon, is English and not very expensive. Although a bit risky.

HJK Helsinki sacked their manager after this 1-0 win. Interesting to see how it turns out.

Top7 would be great. The competition is a lot lot harder next season. We will most likely be nowhere near top4, but that is not a worry for me.

Surely we need backup right back more than starting left back.

Playing a box midfield will require either A) wing backs B) inverted full back like TAA. That lineup means Barnes and the RW are wing backs?

The problem with ASM is that he really is not a team player. If he would have better decision making, he would cost 100 million and would play in Real. I mean, he wants the ball played in his feet, does not make runs behind, does not play one-twos etc. He is essentially a dribbler. I love the man, but understand completely why he is not in Eddie's plans. Our left side will never work like the right worked last season with ASM there. Of course we can pull the opposition to our right with overload (and most likely will next year also) and then switch play to get ASM 1v1. He just is not a player for passing combinations and pressing game. I mean, does he ever make a run behind the defender? We should upgrade both sides, but RW should be first.

He really is not something we need. If we are close to FFP limit, there is absolutely no point getting him. We have just got a 40m left winger in January. Yes, we need a strong squad because of the UCL-games and all that, but Barnes is just nothing special. Chieasa on to right would make sense tho.

Please, no Harvey Barnes, and certainly not with that price. He can't go past a player, and when we are playing more and more against a low block, we really do not need a player like him. He fits perfectly to somewhere like West Ham where he can use his speed in transitions. Barnes had 0,9 succsesful take-ons per game last season. ASM had 4,5. I would say Barnes was an option for Gordon, but after January we should not be after left winger anymore. We need a left footed right winger, but someone who is better at his right foot than Almiron, who is too scared to use his right. Using Saint-Maximin on the right messes up the whole right side, because he cannot play combinations.