sushimonster85

Exactly this. For all the bullshit they spout about it being important in stopping clubs getting into financial difficulty, it's prime reason for existing is to make it as hard as possible for teams to upset the established top teams.

Hey man, that goldfish has a name. Seth Johnson.

Wouldn't be shocked at all. Could see a loan with option/obligation to buy in the Summer.

Have a feeling this will also be addressed in the Summer. Feel like Howe will want a better out and out LB long term. Only knock against us I can really think of at the moment is (with ASM not playing) teams know to expect 90% of our danger to come from the right hand side with Miggy and Trippier.

One caveat I'd also add to Tielemans. He may be deliberately waiting out his contract. If he is available on a free in the Summer it likely means a big signing on bonus for him.

With his contract being up in the Summer I honestly don't see how it can be more than £15m at the absolute most. Wouldn't be shocked if it were £10m. It's that or he walks for nothing in the Summer.

This is where I am at. I would think maybe as the more outright attacking player in the midfield 3. Only issue with that would be Bruno playing as an outright number 6. Which he is great at, but he can offer so much more higher up the pitch as well.

Taking that with a grain of salt as I honestly don't think any journo will have an inside track now Ashworth is in and will largely have a team in place. That being said, I do think either would be exciting. Obviously Maddison would be the more headline grabbing option, but I do see how Tielemans would fit. Essentially would unlock Bruno to operate higher up the pitch without having to worry about leaving holes.

Trippier can also play LB. In fact he is probably the best LB at the club, just so happens he is the best RB in the league so he plays there

Given his gradual increase in minutes, and an opposition who will likely be happy to sit back and invite us onto them to break down so they can counter, I actually think Max will start against Leeds. The Bournemouth game was a reminder that we still can struggle to unlock sides when they're happy to sit back, and ASM has that bit about him where you can give him the ball and he can go past a player or 2 at pace as suddenly he's into the box and the opposition are shitting themselves. I love Miggy, but he often needs to be played in by someone.

Aye, that one seems to have genuine legs. Only thing that may now make them think twice is Jesus being injured, though Nketiah seemed to do fine the other night.

Jorginho thing is either his agent trying to create some 'interest' in his client with his contract being up for renewal, or Chelsea saying 'hey, come get Jorginho so we have room to bring in Fernandez.' There's no way we're actually interested I reckon.

Aye, he seems to be happy spewing out whatever is fed to him by agents.

Also think he is likely a little too similar to Bruno. Whole point of getting a top quality holder is to allow Bruno more freedom to roam. Tielemans also likes to play with a similar sort of freedom, rather than just sitting deep.

Aye, feel like he was on course to have his best season for us. And, as you pointed out, seemed to be showing signs of being more of team player. If I remember rightly his injury was likely caused by him busting a gut chasing back for the Wolve/Jimenze goal that was ultimately ruled out for offside.

Hoping he is our main target in the Summer. Absolutely no chance of it happening in Jan.

Aye, feel like even when we were broke/shit we had become a bit of a bogey team for them.

Has Villa written all over him. And will subsequently work out about as well as their other high profile signings.

Yeah, must be honest I had barely seen anything of him till the world cup, but when I heard he was a French forward player who could play anywhere across the front 3 I pictured someone of a similar height/build of ASM or that Kingsley Coman lad. Was surprised by how big he was. Looks like he would have no issues handling himself in the PL.

True, but once Ashworth came in it went radio silent till it was pretty much over the line. Same with Isak.

Would definitely take a draw. The improvement from Leicester already started before the break, think they will be one of the form sides in the second half of the season. ASM looked good when he came on last night. Think if he is ready to go he will start. Without him it's pretty apparent to teams that all our actual threat comes down the right hand side through Trippier and Almiron. Having ASM back and firing would allow us to genuinely stretch teams. I may be wrong, but I think it was only after ASM got injured that Miggy went full God mode. Would love to see some games where they're both bang in form.

He is going to someone who's around the first team immediately. Not one for the future like a lot of the other kids we've signed. £25k p/w is about right for a squad player of his age. Guessing the main incentive for him is watching Trippier. Learning from Trippier. Covering Trippier. Then eventually over the course of 2/3 seasons aiming to become the guy he hands the RB role off to. By all accounts from down south he has a lot of potential.

Haven't seen anything re Maddison, but I saw some talk on Twitter last night that the Harrison Ashby deal is basically done. £500k for West Ham and the kid on £25k p/w.

Wasn't there last night, but was at the Palace game. There is a noticeable difference, but I largely think that's due to the presence of families/young kids. Which I don't think is a bad thing, just have to accept the atmosphere will suffer a little for it. Have to convert the young'uns early. Even if they spend most of their early games (pre-teen at least) bored/sitting on their hands.

I actually think we may see Bruno get a healthy amount of minutes tonight. I know he has been away, but he has barely played over the break. Could do with getting 60 minutes in his legs. Especially as I assume he will be starting v Leicester.