Nine

Shelvey isnt physical or mobile enough for the press playing further up in a midfield 3, hes either the DLP position or hes not playing.

As great as Paqueta might turn out to be isn’t he an out and out #10 much like Coutinho? I can’t see how a luxury 10 and ASM fit into a starting 11 together, not without a world class DM behind them anyway. Our side with our current squad needs to be far more industrious than those 2 players would allow being on the field together.

This lad is always the main target after a bad result

Thrown all that good first half work away

YES

Exactly, we wont get to many chances today so we have to hope we can make them count

Keeping it tight and absorbing this early pressure well

Solid team that, no complaints

Shocking run that, any insight into whats going on there?

Besides 18/19 almost half of his limited appearances have been coming off of the bench for either Barca or Bayern (injuries or not). You need to understand we cant bring in players on 200k this summer when the current core of our squad dont earn even half of that, unless you want to upset the dressing room it is just not viable.. it must be done in stages over multiple seasons. Experienced and young players yes obviously, but not ones that come in on 200k a week.

We could, as long as the deal fits in with our wage structure.

So did he not sit on the bench for 2 years during his prime at Barca? Doesnt exactly strike you as a player that regained the hunger he had at Liverpool does it? Im sure hes a decent lad all told but that speaks volumes tbh, hes done decently at Villa since coming in but its a short stint there which he probably hopes will trigger a bigger club coming in for him. In footballing terms is a luxury #10 player as well, not the type of position we look anything like utilising from what we've seen from Howe so far. This convo is pointless anyway because as I said hes outside our wage bracket. I get that alot of fans will want him (big name, previous success) and will look for reasons why the transfer would make sense but at 200k odd a week it just doesnt. Also its amusing to see that its already silly season around here, I've seen some lately that have seriously wanted Ben Arfa back

Burn is also a CB, if you have been watching football for 5 minutes you will know that CBs generally peak later than attacking midfielders/#10s and especially ones that just sat on the bench during their peak years (a position that we currently dont play btw). I understand peoples desire of 'big names' but we will not go down that route.

Interesting

Hypothetically, if PCP were broke and took out a loan to buy us for £25m while we were dead and buried 20th in the league.. would they still protest?

Burn isnt past his prime. Trippier is a full England international, leader and all around a great personality to have around the squad - he was signed for an initial £12m and is on under 100k a week. Wood was signed because of circumstance rather than on his individual ability, although he has done his job. Coutinho would want 200k a week and has been happy enough to take his money and sit on Barcas bench for the last 2 years, hes not the type of player/personality we will sign.

That fanbase is weird enough to do this

Exactly my line of thinking, or if Abraham leaves Roma.

Gabriel Jesus will move to serie A within a season or two.

Sterling and Bellingham? There is going to be some twisting when we don’t sign any well established ‘big’ names this summer isn’t there?

LB + Targett CB CM RW ST

I'll say it again regarding the likes of Dybala/Neymar or whoever. I really dont think we will be signing anyone of this profile this summer (or next), they will be on far to much money compared to the rest of the squad and its a risk upsetting the dressing room/throwing wage structure out of balance. I expect us to go in another direction entirely and sign the likes of Bissouma/Antony/Paqueta rather than the already established mega expensive types.

Just so poor creatively/going forward tonight. Bruno cant do much with those front 3 that started the game, gutted to lose against these fuckers.

Botman off injured?

Some sloppy moments tonight but overall he had another good game, what a ball in for Wood.