Sibierski

Lavia moved for more than clause (and they ended up spending money on chasing players of no better quality), and Delap will be same. Even before both, Porro and Luiz both had clauses which they turned down. What level do they expect the players to reach when they’re moving them onto lesser clubs, do well and then move on again, if they’re repeatedly not activating the clauses they put in.

They had option to do that with Lavia and didn’t, so doubt they do it here. Strange club, especially when you put those clauses in and not use them.

They’ve been helped by Inter faulting, but it more shows how Conte can get his ideas and style across quickly, and it’s very effective in league football. Drop off always large, and probably why he’s linked with a move away already Bit of a weird manager, where his CV looks great (and is) for leagues. But I don’t rate him and wouldn’t want him ever here

Love how McTominay is doing in Napoli. Like it when a player leaves the shit show of Man Utd and thrives elsewhere

Good atmosphere I thought from them to celebrate it. Can only imagine what ours would be like, the scenes outside ground into the morning would be silly mad

Average player in general.

Meh, they still look shit even if they fluke a win. Just a nothing side.

Same would still apply, 3rd choice in all those positions. Might well be the guy is very happy to be that role in his 20s, like our version of Origi for Liverpool. Never going to be a starter, but good egg and got the ability (over time) to impact games.

Watching the game in person up in the gods, what was telling for me was how often we turned down the pass into central areas, and why it reinforces for me we need a CM/Someone that can take the ball on half turn between the lines. Willock was often in those spaces, around Isak at times, but we wouldn’t punch the ball to him (either tactical / players didn’t have confidence / Willock didn’t confidently want it) so it would end up having to go wide. During first half up till Isak move LW to get the red, it felt all predictable. Thankfully Ipswich are awful, but against competent defensive sides that sit off it still feels we lack the tools to create good chances in open play.

Think Howe/Coaches must see him as a RW long term which may be why he’s seen so little action because they want to really drill down what’s required in that role. Just if so, what’s the situation next season because we should be signing a RW and he’s then 3rd choice seeing even less football.

I think the issue with Willock, if he gets a run in team he gets better, but for that CM role that won’t happen. It’s going to be couple games in couple games out, and so we need players that are up to speed and not require confidence building up. I like Willock, but he needs to improve his game in terms of being confident/conditioned to come in as and when we need him to make impacts straight away. Otherwise we get back to situations of not being able to rotate midfield confidently.

He’s built like a shithouse, gets around the pitch, gets involved. They will start to rack up now, why we need a good CM so he can be rotated more (and because his style isn’t needed for all games as we have Tonali that can bring the combative side in games).

Same XI.

Tonali was banned all last season and Joelinton missed chunks. It’s easy to forget how many games he was starting LCM before he got injured early in season, and was probably part of Ashworth thinking at the time of not being sold on giving Joelinton a new deal.

Yea, easy to forget he was getting quite a few minutes last season too than the injury halted things. Otherwise there’s a very high chance he would’ve made CM he’s own IMO. All history now, but maybe he can come back in the future

Market closed off for him really. Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal don’t need him as a priority. Chelsea have countless wingers with more coming. Man Utd won’t be signing wingers. Spurs and Villa have players tied up in those positions already, so would need to sell first. Probably could see Brentford selling for max £50m, because they can’t drive a higher price.

He’s a Greek international, we surely can get £5m-£10m from somewhere? Anderson deal is always painful for me, but at least it’s been redeemed with the cup win. The trade off for the pain there worth it. Regarding earlier post about PIF commitment, after the cup win I’m even more settled into happy for this to be a 5-10 journey to the league. The approach we’re taking to signings is great, not been chasing mercenaries and been signing players we all love and enjoy, and when they do eventually move on it’s going to be on good terms because they’re giving their all on the pitch each time, and that’s all I want. Keep the same ethos going, the journey will be enjoyable and the cup monkey is off our backs.

At least have it open till late evening the day it closes than, 12pm just feels off.

Speaking of the ballot, I wish they had the window open a bit longer. A few times this season I’ve seen the email from day before and it’s 3pm in afternoon and window closed

Old so may been covered before, but we really were done dirty for ASM

Said it before as a bit tongue in cheek, but after the Ipswich game at weekend, get Delap deal thrashed out and agreement done in principle whilst he’s there and the club. And it’s a case of waiting till service is officially finished to confirm it.

I can’t start to think about Chelsea game till we get past Ipswich, take care of that first. Be such a buzz and boost to atmosphere before Ipswich game if Chelsea drop points against Everton.

Money for a GK IMO doesn’t equate to quality. Like Ramsdale for any club will be £25m+ ffs, can pick up goalkeepers from all over Europe of same ability at worse for 1/5 of that. Like Hermanson joined Leicester for around £7m I believe. The value in goalkeepers is so thin unless you are signing the truly elite.

If we signed a £10m-£15m keeper, they would be good enough to start but I could see it be a ‘ease in’ I.e. cups and when an injury arrives, they come in and rest is history. Our first big signing will determine what approach we take for others IMO. Like the Murphy form and output might be making them think a £50m RW signing isn’t required, and a raw £15m+ one will suffice and they spend big on a CM instead.

Probably how I’m feeling and could see it happening. RW / CB the starters, GK / CM ones that won’t be expected to be starters but with aim they can be as season progresses.