Nine

Proper Dyche target man sort of signing, Everton are in so much trouble No one worth signing will want to go there.

Overall a very solid window, obviously another CM would have been nice but offloading the likes of Wood and Shelvey who were on big wages is a bonus in itself. It does leave us a player light in midfield though, with Gordon coming in it means Joe can be moved back into CM which lessens the blow of being a CM short but there’s also the factor that Joe can’t cover 6.. it’s Bruno or Longstaff there only. I get the feeling the answer to a potential CM selection crisis will be to change to a 4-2-3-1 rather than play someone out of position, it’s nice that we can flexible between that and 4-3-3 with Isak able to play behind Wilson as the #10 (he’s more of a SS). Short term I think Joe will get minutes on the left until Gordon is up to speed then will be moved back into CM, all in all it’s not a disaster not to replace Shelvey. The biggest negative impact to our form is injuries to our back line or Bruno, the current success is all built off our rock solid defensive form. One or two key injuries here could really interrupt us. Ive loved seeing how we’ve gone about our business so far, they have a rigid structure in place for each window ahead of time and where we are in the league won’t change that. They won’t go for broke and make more signings than planned to try and cement a top 4 spot and rightly so as that comes with its own big risks. The squad is going through a long transitional slow build, each target for each in window is meticulously picked out and you can see the trend developing (young, English, physically able to play in an intense pressing side with potential to fulfill). Even if we do qualify for CL I doubt the plans change much again for the summer, in fact I’d expect they would remain exactly the same.

Shelvey would have gotten minutes when he was back fit though

Imagine a big story breaks later today (Maddison or whoever) and then tonight we qualify for our first final in 20+ years? Would be quite the day, however unlikely a big signing seems at this point.

You’re not wrong but we are also one midfield injury away from not being able to have a CM option on the bench. We are only halfway through the season and with the intensity we play at it must become more likely to happen as get towards the final run of games. With that being said I understand if no one comes in now, it’s late in the window and options will be limited.

Think some of us are underrating him tbh, he’s very well suited to our style physically and has the technical quality to put him above Longstaff or Willock. Young, English and big potential to improve.. no wonder Eddies a fan.

Chelsea might make a deal for him difficult because it’s us, they’d much rather sell to a club that’s less of an immediate threat. 40m for him is about right imo.

Bruno is so good at 6, obviously comes up less with the goal/assists but he’s untouchable as far as being a press resistant efficient passer goes. To replace his quality and attributes in that position won’t be easy and it might be likely we turn to a more of an out and out DM if Howe really does want to push him forward back into that 8 role.. I’d quite happily have him stay where he is though.

I thought they had little chance after the way they recruited, huge credit to Cooper and his staff that they seem to have moulded these players into a decent team already. Even if they do go down in the end they’ve done well.

Please.

You forgot to add that we live rent free in your tiny mind

As expected really, contract almost up and on a decent wage

80k apparently. Goodbye sweet prince, thanks for the good times.

Might struggle with that at this point in the window

Do you just copy paste your last post and chuck in the latest likely signings name?

But he was due to be back from injury and you’d have assumed he would have got minutes, it absolutely does weaken us going forward to not replace in an already thin midfield

Think we’ll struggle to get one of our target CMs in at this point, Gallagher would be great however he doesn’t really fill Shelveys role.

Interesting, he’s on a big wage (80k pw?) and contract will renew if he plays twice more for us so this makes total sense.

Said it before, say it again. This lad is going to be huge for us.

Can’t see I’ve seen much of this guy but he’s clearly rated by management, this deal is robbery if he even gets close to potential they must see in him.

Feels like he’s been around forever

How is Junior Hoilett only 32

Gonna be a huge player for us, no doubts from me

LOL