jackflap

Thought other than pinging the ball out of play trying to find Gordon in the first half he was tidy today but it was like he became redundant after VVD got sent off. Liverpool sat deep so there was no chance to put the ball in behind and we almost refused to put the ball into the box for him. Noticed him dropping short to look for a pass a few times but anything resembling a risky pass into central areas we shied away from. There was one moment in the 2nd half that stood out where Trippier had loads of space to put a cross in and Isak was in a good position between the Centre halves, Trippier just turned back and recycled the ball into midfield. Wilson frustrated me more with 2 needless naive efforts on goal when we'd good numbers in the box and the opportunity to keep the ball alive.

We're in a vastly different time now in marketing and broadcasting. People staying up all night and paying money to watch YouTubers box is a thing now FFS.

I think once we managed to get Bruno that more or less ruled us out signing an elite out and out DM. I'm firmly in the camp that I don't like him playing further forward. He hasn't that natural burst of athleticism or snap shot ability that you'd want from someone making regular runs into the box. That's why we surround him with ball winners like Joelinton and Tonali/Longstaff, it's a trade off. But it's hard to make a case that the defensive side of our game is suffering when we were among the meanest defences last season. A low assist count from midfield is probably the main outcome of how we're set up.

Real ASM vibes from Doku, strange signing for City considering how structured they play. Not going to happen but would love it if we went in for Palmer, feels like a natural fit considering the business we're doing lately.

Can't see another signing barring injury like Howe said, he seemed fairly definitive and I don't think it's his style to mislead. Plus it's not like other clubs where owners and directors splurge without management being on board. Squad harmony is another big thing and we've a lot of bodies as it is. I think we'll be quite content with Lascelles being the option of last resort and going on last season he seems fairly satisfied with that too. Burn will probably be the backup CB covering both sides I think. They won't sign someone just to have around to cover every eventuality, like CM in January. RCB will be the big one next summer and I think they'll have a primary target well lined up in advance.

Like the Livaremento deal this one is a bit left field but when you take a step back and look at our recruitment it's really going to pay dividends in the years to come and they've done a great job of lowering the average age of the side. Every position now has a long term option for at least the next 5 years with the exception of RW, RCB and maybe GK. We've 6 first team midfielders and the oldest is 27. We've also a smattering of some very talented youngsters. All this in a little over a year and a half and starting from a baseline of 20th in the table. Now watch out for title contenders talk if they beat City this Saturday.

Don't think so, the high profile most prized asset signing that catches the headlines will go for astronomical fees, think your Mudryk, Fernandez or Caicedo. Because the selling club knows that the idiotic buying club owner on the other side of the table isn't accustomed to not getting what they want. You'll still find value in the next tier of players who could have the potential to be just as good anyway.

Or gauze bandages at the very least

He's like a mafia bruiser, all suave and sophisticated one minute and kicking your teeth in the next, love it

I can see why some people may consider Barnes boring but when you look at his goal involvements today he's just efficient, beautiful in it's simplicity. First goal took a bullet pass in one touch out of his feet allowing him to play a perfectly weighted pass to lay a goal on a plate for Wilson. Second goal he gets the ball 40 yards out, in 2 touches he's at the 6 yard box never needing to break stride and ensuring that he's able to get a clean strike away that has enough power that even a touch from the keeper can't keep out. I think if you put ASM in those scenarios at least one would result in a missed opportunity. That's the evolution of the side in a nutshell, we don't need a winger to create something out of nothing anymore, the team creates now, we just need someone to get in the right positions and make it count when they do.

They're looking at a loan move too, their record signing is 20m Euros so can't see them paying more or less double that for Tierney. If he doesn't want to leave the PL I think Arsenal might do business to get him off the books.

If they've no buyers before the end of the window I could see that changing.

A quality LB improves the team more whereas a serviceable RCB does more to improve the squad. It's strange as I don't recall us being linked with any LB's all summer. Perhaps Tierney on a loan signing is all but agreed and Arsenal just want to hold off until the end of the window in case a long term injury occurs to their other options or to have extra cover until Zinchenko returns.

Ashworth: What tends to happen is pre-season finishes and clubs hold a slightly higher number of players. Players then tend to be released from there and then you have the domino effect when the season starts and it accelerates. Tierney seems like the most obvious going off the above. No doubt Arsenal would be reluctant to do business with a PL rival but if Tierney rejects moves elsewhere I could see it happening but sounds like one that will go down to the wire if it does.

Caulkin: Ideally, Howe wants one more player in – another defender, most likely a left-back – before the window closes. This is his take after an interview with Eales and Ashworth

Was just thinking the same, Euros next summer too and Scotland are a virtual certainty to qualify.

40 million is about the same as Trippiers cumulative transfer fees for his career.

Sounds like West Ham might be walking away from a deal for Ward Prowse, with nobody else linked him staying put would surely help our pursuit of Livaremento.

Such a ManU transfer, overpaying for a knock off Haaland. The lad could be good though looks pretty raw to me. Very one sided. No doubt the comparison to Haaland is inflating the fee though.

Will hinge on how much he wants the move and whether he'll force the issue, can understand Southampton not been keen to sell, he wouldn't be a high earner, will be one of the best players in the championship and will likely be worth more this time next year if injury concerns are put to bed.

Mudryk, Shakhtar still laughing.

Nice stockpile of players with their peak years ahead of them we're building up. If he lives up to his early promise I can see them shoehorning him in at LB after a settling period. Too talented to play understudy and looks very comfortable slotting into midfield so maybe we'll be following the trend of the other top clubs.

Can't see another wide player coming in myself barring further sales or a long term injury. We'll have Barnes, Gordon, Miggy, Murphy, Anderson and Willock/Joelinton capable of playing there. Another player leaves us with too much invested in the position IMO. Considering the investment in Gordon they'll want to see his gametime maximised as well and it's unlikely to come up front barring injury. I could see a scenario where we move towards Gordon and Barnes starting on either side and interchanging frequently, given how much Howe seems to prize tactical flexibility.

Plenty of reasons why he might have struggled other than he's shit. Our recruitment has been spot on so far barring doubts over Gordon and has been given deserved credit for it. Ekiteke was their primary target since day one of the new regime. I'd still trust there's a player there somewhere especially at that money.

Perhaps keeps lads ticking over in the off-season when it's a slow time for putting up games of FIFA on YouTube masquerading as highlights.