Matt1892

It seems every footballer pulled up for gambling claims they have an addiction.

He has the ability to be the driving force of the team and completely change our attack, think what Gordon currents offers this season and he would offer way above that. I am not saying he is currently better than Bruno; however he has the ability to be as influential to us and I believe he has the potential to go on and be a better midfielder for us.

I am 100% serious. Howe would make him one of the best midfielders in the league.

The photos of this were released a month or so back I think so I’m not sure what the delay in announcing was. Happy for him even if I do think it is a position we need to upgrade, it is a squad game and he deserves his place in the squad. I also think he has a legitimate claim to a spot in the England squad at left back and it is a failure on Southgate’s part for not calling him up.

A full season under Howe and he would be the best midfielder at the club.

Surely it would be better to go after Gibbs White rather than Smith Rowe, even if he was to cost more.

I’m not dismissing anything, only saying that it isn’t an indicator that you would want to use on its own.

Sell him to Al-Ahli in January before he’s charged.

As I’ve said in the part of the tweet that you didn’t quote, my issues with the midfield is not about the side creating chances but more it being able to strengthen what I see as weaknesses that we should look to rectify, with the aim of making us even better.

I found this article on ESPN and they say that in 21-22 Holland would have been in the top 2 for coefficient so that could be right. https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38238696/champions-league-new-format-how-premier-league-gets-5-places?platform=amp Osasuna will also count in the numbers for Spain even though they didn’t get through qualifying which is a plus.

I’m not sure having eight teams is an advantage but I could be interpreting it wrong. For example if Brighton were not in there we would have 5.285 points compared to the 4.750 we currently have.

If we signed someone like Paqueta to play on the right we could switch formation between 4-3-3 and wingbacks with a box midfield mid game which would be a nightmare for the opposition to try and stop.

I think the 21/22 season falls off for FFP too where we spent over £100 million net.

Over 50% of our XG came in 2 games this season so it isn’t an indicator that you would want to use on its own, in the same way it could be said that we have had a tough start so it was to be expected that we would struggle with XG in the more competitive games. My issue with the midfield is that from a defensive point of view that we can be exploited in the hole we leave between defence and midfield, then from an attacking point Isak can become isolated as nobody is pushing up to link with him or run beyond. I think this is a role that Willock can play by the way and with a calmer head could have easily got half a dozen goals from midfield last season. The other issue with the midfield is that again the club has failed to bring anyone in that can cover the role of Bruno when he inevitably misses games, so we are still going to have to invest there.

I agree and I see it as the natural evolution of our tactics but I’m not sure Howe does. The other issue with doing that is we arguably have Bruno, Longstaff, Joelinton and Tonali batting it out for one position, unless Bruno can play the DM role without the support of team mates.

Targett and Murphy possibly.

We should be spending money buying players to improving the first team and not wasting it on squad players.

Right forward.

That’s pretty much the same thing; Burn isn’t going to be back up centre back if he is first choice left back.

I am not sure if Howe sees Burn in that role any more since he went with Lascelles.

Nico Williams is still showing as out of contract in the summer too.

Lloyd Kelly is out of contract in the summer, I would have thought Howe would be after him as a squad player.

The club have emailed me to say they have availability in the Wings hospitality area at £250+ VAT for the Palace game.

Pope’s positioning isn’t too bad at all here, the ball has been chipped over and he is ready to smother the ball when Emerson takes a touch towards goal. He didn’t expect Emerson to take the ball down the line which is what did him; however from a percentage point of view a player is more likely to shoot from that position once they are passed the last man than not. Sometimes as a keeper you have to make the decision to commit, in the same way Areola did when Isak went around him before it hit the post. It looks worse for Pope in that he stayed on his feet and tried to run back. EDIT - Watching it back I don’t think Emerson meant to play it wide, it looks more like he fails to control it properly which puts it down the line.

Anderson out wide reminds me of Milner out wide, everyone can see he is better through the middle. He has also changed his body composition to have more impact through the middle than out in the wide areas.