Nine

We need him so Shelvey doesn’t play though right?

Same.. he’s become just the answer to everything. Need a striker or RW? Paqueta. Let’s play him out of his natural position just to have him.

If we only sign 2 more to the end of the window and they arnt £30m+ players then a big bonus from that will be to temper some fans expectations. It’s always more, more, more, now, now, now.. any other club would be the same as with a lot of fans it’s just natural human emotion taking control so I’m not saying it’s specific to us.

Some of us are already wetting the bed I see, can you imagine if someone else signs Paqueta before the end of the window

Could be that PIF is in cahoots with Ashley and we’ll now re sign Colback and Carroll

I think this is where the confusion between us is coming from, I 100% see Bruno taking up his natural defensive role. Others dont and thats fine. For me Shelvey will be second choice next season regardless of who we sign in CM. My only point being, whoever we sign going forward Shelvey retains his spot as second choice DM - Paqueta or whoever you like, it doesnt upgrade Shelvey. It will be Bruno/Shelvey in that role.

We 100% sign a CM, just to light there going into a new season which is why we played Bruno out of his natural position during our run it. (Not saying he cant play there he was great, just that is real position is where Shelvey plays). Point being to the 'Shelvey is a weak link' posters is that signing a new CM still means that Shelvey will keep his position of second choice going forward, it doesnt matter if he started last season or not.

Yes exactly. Bruno played out of his natural position because we were light in midfield, he was the better option to push forward while Shelvey remained at DLP. This season we will have a new CM which means Bruno can play in his natural spot meaning Shelvey is still second choice. That was my only point. Signing Paqueta over any other CM still means Shelvey is a big part of our midfield.

Which was my original point - 'weak link' Shelvey is still second choice Holy shit man

Because we are so light in CM we played Bruno out of his natural position. Its really not hard to understand.

Read my last reply to you, not sure its worth going over again.

Abolutely we sign a CM I think although its of a lower priority than RW. We are so light in CM otherwise, one injury and a suspension and we can barely put together a midfield let alone have options on the bench.

Brunos natural positon is Shelveys position, he wont be playing part of the front 2 of midfield after the summer. Shelvey remains as second choice there. I'm amazed this needs explaining or is at all a confusing concept.

Bruno/ Shelvey Willock/ Joe Longstaff 'Shelvey is a weak link so lets sign Paqueta!!'

But Shelvey is still second choice to Bruno who would be starting there anyway? Bruno wont be starting as one of the front 2 while Joe and Willock are fit.

Bruno will be starting over Shelvey there most of the time anyway though, thats my point. Its his natural position.

Obviously but you're missing the point, you've got Paqueta and Brunos positions backwards on that. So if we sign Paqeuta that still means that Shelvey is second choice to Bruno.. so again - how does signing Paqueta upgrade the position that Shelvey plays in? The clamour for Paqueta has gone into overdrive just lately.

?? So you identified that Shelvey is a weak link then suggested that we sign Paqueta to fix that which does nothing to strengthen the position that Shelvey plays in? Im lost

Well I dont see you're point then? We sign Paqueta and Shelvey remains in the same position, second choice to Bruno or starting if Bruno is pushed up.

Paqueta wouldnt be playing in Shelveys position.

Notice how a pre season training exercise has ending up in a Shelvey debate Says all you need to know really.

Post Bruce? Thats not surprising and doesnt mean he was bad.. Bruno/Joe/Willock stats will be much better regardless. Stats dont tell the whole story with the position that he plays.

I mean, its a pre season game where we changed the entire starting 11. We arnt going to learn much at all other than seeing who gets up to speed fitness wise.

With the effort hes put into getting in the best shape we've seen him in this summer I think he will be able to adapt his game a bit more now to cover those weaknesses, the lack of chasing always seemed like a bit physical limitation for me. I think this will be his best season for us.

Hes showing alot of promise although it is only against pre season sides and he will be pushing himself hard to impress, perhaps with the 5 sub rule he might be a option to keep on this season. He certainly wont be kept in the squad to start games though (other than cups), he will be eased in carefully over the season as Howe likes to do.