sushimonster85

What do you feel Hall offers that Miley and Longstaff don't?

I don't know. Hall's worst game for us was that first half v City in the league cup and he was playing as a CM then.

Last game I was at was the Fulham game & Tindall was constantly trying to get Dubravka to get higher with his starting position.

How long before the inevitable 'cash + Ramsdale' articles start. Despite the fact cash + player deals never actually happen in this day an age.

Totally agree with this. And (assuming most of the lads are back for Feb) I'd say thats the case even if we don't sign anyone in January. Barnes and Willock especially could be game changing in the last 2/3 months of the season

Don't think we've done this only to sell him in the Summer. Think we probably do sign a CB in the Summer, but it will be Lascelles who leaves. The new CB will probably be signed with an eye to be phased in as Schars replacement over the course of a year or so.

Longstaff isn't going anywhere as long as we continue to have issues not having enough home-grown players to register a full squad for European competitions.

I love Steve Howey as much as the next guy, but you can't be serious?

Initially sounds crazy, but when I think about it certainly think he's the best I can remember (born 85, so going back to early 90's). Woodgate would probably be up there, but wasn't here long and was always injure. Think if he progresses as people hope/expect Botman could pass him eventually.

If Longstaff had a bit more composure with his finishing he'd be a 50m+ player. Swear he seems to have 2 or 3 nailed on chances every game. Great at making that late run into the box, or hanging back for a chance on the edge of the area. Hardly ever converts them.

This lad is homegrown at the club, and good enough to start/be in the squad next season. There's no way he is being sold. In terms of the UEFA rules on homegrown players he is invaluable to us at the moment. And given he is 26, and how long it could take to see the fruits of a revamped academy, he likely will be for a chunk of the rest of his career.

His wages would make this a no go.

Feel like they're are a couple mitigating circumstances with Bruno. The main one being it was a freak transfer. He had been tracked by Juve and Arsenal at least, and within a couple games for us it was apparent that he was clearly one of the best CMs in the league. We had no right to get him when we did. The second, and I mentioned this in a earlier post, it's easy to think of Bruno as a kid because of his nature. He turns 27 this year, he can only wait so long for us to get back in the CL. Say next season he stays, we invest and improve, but with City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Spurs, Chelsea, Villa etc our improvement is only good enough for 5th/6th. He then would face not playing in the CL (forget realistically competing for it for now) till the season he turns 29. I don't doubt how genuine he is being when he talks about how much he has fallen in love with the club & the area, but the lad will have personal ambition to, and has the ability to reach it. But it's a small window, and it's closing all the time.

Been saying for a while now that no European football next season will likely mean Bruno is off in the Summer. Because of his nature it's easy to think of him as a young player, but he turns 27 this year. Even with a lot of work in the Summer there's no guarantee we make CL next season. He isn't going to hang around into his late 20's to see if we get back in. He likely needs to move in the Summer, and so long as we get the 100m release I think it's not as dire a happening as it seems on the surface. Yes, he is the talisman of the team. But there's plenty even at the club now who could take up that mantle. In Tonali we have an elite CM ready to step up next season, and we will have 100m on top of what the budget would've been in the Summer. With smart scouting/recruitment the summber budget could go a long way. (Just to clarify in case it's not clear. I fucking love Bruno.)

Willock, Barnes, Anderson, & Wilson should all be back by the end of the transfer window, or in other words they're all unavavailable for another 2 league games at most. Likely having some impact on what we do.

Jota? The guy who went over from Celtic. Tore up the SPL, not that thats saying much.

Said it before, but assuming we don't have a wild injury crisis again in the second half of the season I think we have the squad for top 7, maybe even scrape into the top 6. Once Barnes is back Almiron won't be playing every game.

No mention of it being a loan, so potentially looking at a full on transfer. They recall him from Forest, we buy him.

When I see everyone taking for granted that Bruno will be here next season with no CL in the season he turns 27.....

Put me in the wait till Summer camp as well. Honestly think we will finish in the top 7 a (7th to be exact) which should be Europa assuming Liverpool win the league cup. It will get worse before it gets better. Expect the bedwetter to be out in full force by the end of Jan as I think there's a decent chance we could start Feb as low as 11th. But with (hopefully) close to a full squad from Feb onwards, and fewer games, I back us to go on a decent enough run to climb up to 7th. Re-group in the Summer when the FFP burden will have be lightened further, and go big in the Summer window.

I worry that the other shoe that drops here is with no CL Bruno is way more likely to have his head turned if a Madrid, PSG or City come in for him and match his release clause.

Seem to remember reading that it's pretty much us or Juve for him. Unless he fancies a bottom half scrap with a Palace or Everton.

Kalvin Phillips talks to begin soon according to Luke Edwards.

We're not selling Longstaff anytime soon. Until the academy really starts producing consistently we will need Longstaff around for homegrown rule reasons in European competitions.

To be fair to Howe, it's way easier to rotate when the only aim is to not get relegated. Rafa seasons we never really looked in any danger of relegation in the second half of seasons.