NobbySolano

I'm really excited to see how Eddie Howe balances the number of games but also the competition and match ups. Perfect example is Dan Burn. Assuming he is the starting LB, you could rotate Targett. However, depending on the match ups and frequency/value of games you could decide to start Targett just so you can use Burn in the center as rotation for Botman. Rather than depend on Dummett. I think it will be a new challenge for EH to look 4-5 games out and figure out rest for the starters in a way that doesn't mean we are throwing away a game because our bench is not there yet. I'm also curious if he will keep working a second formation and make us more flexible both in game but also when rotating players.

It's not that hard to understand. Whatever a player goes for is it's actual market value. There is only one group claiming to know better and saying ASM is undervalued. Yet nobody is bidding for him, and if/when they do then he'll go for his real market value. I personally think he should go for more, but the histrionics are over the top. You are right, fun is subjective. To a point.

I'm not miserable at all. I quite enjoy the game, a nil nil draw as much as a goal fest. Dribbling alone is not exciting by itself. It's exciting because it leads to something. A great pass, a chance on goal. Even the occasional defender on their ass. For my team, I care about winning. Preferably playing attractive progressive football. So yes, I need end product. I'll be just as entertained by ASM watching on the telly for another team, but I'd rather watch my team win. You can use per 90 if you want , it just reflects how little he is available. Only played more than 20 full 90s in 1 season. He'd be great off the bench as a squad player.

Eh, my guess is Howe is making a point. Likely he trained well during the week and rewarded him with a chance. He was awful though. Looked scared and clueless.

We'll disagree. 5 assists 1 goal is hardly a contribution to "deserve" a spot in the UCL squad. Exciting to watch is subjective. First free steps are exciting, until you see the key of the product with the ball in the stands or a turnover for a fast break. Could he turn on some magic? Sure. Reliably? Nah. Teams not going for him at what posters here say he should be going for is a valid point. If he was worth that then surely someone would pay it. I don't care what Barnes goes for. We'll pay what we think he is worth. SA is over paying for all players, which is why nobody else is really going for them. You are making my point.

His other 3 seasons: 121 (first season), 96, 57. Not to mention, dribbling without end product is just frustrating and not exciting. Which part? You think he deserves UCL? Why? How did he contribute so much to deserve it? I'm not upset if he goes or stays. I trust Howe and team.

This is totally fair and understandable. Agreed. You are right. This is shite, goals and assist, who the fuck would want to watch that. That shit is not exciting at all. We want to see dancing over a static ball while the defense regains shape. Should rename the thread and call it the circus. Full of clowns.

Are you talking to a mirror? Have you read the takes posted in this thread? The Barnes thread? It's the ASM fan club that can't stop posting fan fiction about his supposed quality. Honestly I would keep him as squad filler. We have much worse we should get rid but we can't. ASM is the only one that will bring anything close to valuable, that we can get rid of and won't impact the team that finish 4th last year.

Posters here tripping all over themselves claiming ASM is "one is the most exciting wingers in Europe". He is not even the most exciting in his own team. I don't get excited watching him on the bench or physio table. You can whine all you want at 30m but if it's so low surely one of the other 14 teams would be all over that. But they are not. Same as the Barnes discussion. If it was the other way around and we had Barnes already, someone truthfully tell me that Howe would spend 50m buying ASM as an upgrade. He wouldn't. He doesn't fit his system as well. We got other posters saying he deserves champions league football. What? Deserve? What did he contribute to finishing 4th? Lascelles contributed more from the bench with a couple of yellow cards. ASM is fine. I'd keep him as a squad player. Even split games and rotate. Would never pay 50m for him. And apparently neither does any other club in the league or they would be knocking our doors down if he was as good as some here claim.

Im not going to feed the troll - what are you? 13?

wtf you talking about? you dont have evidence to the contrary? how many times have the current management team missed? i swear way too many posters don't deserve anything good

Play it the other way around: Trippier plays for 10 games, and Krafth or Ashby (lol) plays for 45 games & new LB plays for 40 and Target/Burn play for the balance Or Trippier plays for 10 games, and Livramento plays for 45 games & Burn plays for 40 games with Targett the rest The drop off in quality at RB is massive. The likelihood that you have to play the back up is also likely higher (given age and style of play). Not to mention that Burn plays LB because tactically it fits better - he becomes 3rd CB in attack, freeing Trippier to go forward. This is by design... at least last year. If you have a LB to bomb, you are not going to hold Tripps back to become 3rd CB. You would have both go forward and have to hold Bruno and Joelinton/Tonali/Longstaff to provide cover for the defense. Now, you only need to hold 1 of them back - so who do you rather have in a amore advanced position? a new LB or Bruno? We need to upgrade the squad in general, and LB would be great but not a priority. We know our starting 11 can get the job done, and we know the next 11 are absolute garbage. In a pre-FFP world you upgrade the starting 11 and dump the shit, but not in this world where you have pick your spots. At this time, you have to close the gap to your backups and at RB you are not going to upgrade on Tripps. Its not that different than the problem with Schar - although you could arguably upgrade Schar.

I don't rate Tierney as high as some but that would be a strong window. Assume Anderson improves, Gordon gets better, and Ashby is usable and that's not a bad place to be.

In how many games? I played once last year for 15 mins with 1 goal and assist. I have a better xG + xA than both. ? At least be intellectually honest in your arguments. That's mickey mouse bullshit.

Holy hedge! None of the reasons you use to claim he is not a great footballer are things that can easily be fixed with the right coaching. I'd argue that we have seen them fix those in other players. This is not a veteran player that can't evolve and improve. Apparently ASM is more than capable to adjust and improve but Barnes is just a goal scoring donkey that won't change and improve.

You got it wrong nobody is hating on ASM. We are just realistic about what he can and cannot contribute, and we have landed that Barnes would be a good addition to the team. On the other hand, ASM lovers are so insecure that they immediately jumped up ASM getting sold, and then to say Barnes is shot, which we know it's not true. Objectively, ASM is fun to watch most times, but also frustrating at others, when he is on but his end product is not great. It's hard to tell how many are just emotionally attached because of what he did for the team in the dark times vs people truly thinking that he is all that good. People can't stop pointing out that Almirón had a purple patch and will go back to the mean. But ASM lovers point to his man city performance as if that's his baseline. The guy can't even get on the field. When he does, he struggles to adjust to our tactical plan (he has gotten way better and hopefully he continues to improve). But by adjusting him to our way, he has lost what made him fun to watch. I think it's ok to say that he is not the best fit for how we play, but I think he could get there and I'm in no rush to sell him. But he is also not the guaranteed starter in the team.

For those in the US, it's on CBS.

But if you take their goals away all 3 of those are also shite ? The fucking takes here by those that just love ASM are laughable. Even more so by the assumption that it's to replace ASM. For that, ASM would have to actually be available and playing well.

I didn't see these posted before.

Did not see this posted yet: https://wyayescout.com/2023/07/03/analysing-newcastle-uniteds-new-italian-midfielder-sandro-tonali/

FFS that's a terrible change. In that example, the attacker is blatantly gaining an unfair advantage.

Mount for ManUtd will be a good fit. Still need a keeper and a striker Rice and Havertz also good buys for Arsenal. Surprised to not see them upgrade in the back. Saliba missing showed how weak they really are. Liverpool taking MacAllister is also a big upgrade for them. Villa making good moves - will contend for top 7 West Ham may struggle this year if they take Europe seriously Spurs are meh - Maddison good fit, but losing Kane leaves a big hole. Did they sign a keeper yet? If so, where is Raya going? Brentford signed his replacement already. Whatever is happening with Sanchez at Brighton? I trust the team and think we'll see more action after July 1st. But its clear all other teams are improving somewhat significantly. Tonali definitely an upgrade but we still have an issue with depth in key areas.

Sure does, at least internally and to the fan base. "Nobody came for him/nobody paid his release clause". Now the release clause window is gone, and they can take "the best offer", which might be much lower. They are never forced to sell but if they wanted to sell its tough to do so below the release clause. I still dont think we get him just based on the lack of movement and they dont need to sell. Happily surprised though as I do like him and think would be better than Maddison

A couple of good threads on him from Sanjay https://twitter.com/nufcsanjay/status/1673388742252412928

And it was Brentford, Brighton, us, and man utd twice. Lost to man city on a pk. Lost to Emery's villa. Drew with Liverpool. Yes there were lots of draws and 1-0 losses. But the games after getting sacked were Leeds, Southampton, Everton, Wolves, and West Ham. Just a little more patience and i think Vieira gets as many if not more than Hodgson. And I'm not even a fan of his at all