Sibierski

Depends what the situation is with Pope. If there’s genuine concerns about his future longevity, a goalkeeper went from not a priority at all in December, to a massive priority.

For me, it’s more protecting the players from unnecessary injuries. We’ve had a woeful season for injuries, and what do we do, piss off to other side of world straight after last game of season to play again 3 days later

TBF, playing late Sunday afternoon, then getting on plan at like 8pm for a 18 hour flight to Australia, to land at what, 12am Tuesday? Then get to hotel, adjust, light training on Tuesday PM seeing a proper cool down not been yet since Sunday, to then play next day in the evening. Then cool down on Thursday before getting plan back late afternoon/evening and being back home like Saturday morning? Not ideal for trying to avoid a muscle injury.

Can’t remember, but did he score final game last season and it was ruled out?

I only assume Ramsdale being linked is club feel he can come in and know the defence, coaching set up and overall team well straight away, whilst the Georgian one, despite the ability, there’s question marks on settling in/communication etc. that may be giving them cold feet. I’d rather the Georgian, we know what Ramsdale gives, whilst the other could be so far superior. Worth the gamble.

How would people feel if Gordon was moved permanently to the RW it meant club pursuing Kvaratskhelia as the big money winger signing?

Just can’t get on board with not wanting Europe. No guarantees the gap in games will help us, and like Neville etc. say in past, to be a top club, you’ve got to get used to playing twice a week. We need the regular exposure to Europe as a club, and we need to make qualifying for Europe feel the norm and a minimum. Doing that again this season would be 2 out of 2 for Howe and club. Massive step, and shows to potential signings, we are moving places. Backing up what club been saying to them. Likes of Bruno etc would’ve joined on premise that we’ll be regularly in Europe and competing. UCL the aim, but that will not always be the case each season unless you are a heavyweight, but being in Europe is still what players want.

Barkley is someone that just blocks the pathway of Miley/Anderson, without immediately elevating us a side. Rather avoid. If signing a CM, it needs to be one that’s a game changer, which I will be surprised if we do because of funds, but if a decent offer came in for either Willock or Longstaff, it’s an opportunity that opens itself without us needing to push it.

Euro guys will be joining up I assume bank holiday weekend, like Tuesday 28th. So when season ends, most would get a week away in sun to rest up, and the ones playing in FA Cup will join up with squad later and not feature in first friendly. So assume from Trips POV, it’s the not getting an actual rest from the world of football he has issue with, if he’s called up. Edit: Like most guys will be getting a week in Ibiza or something, or playing actual competitive games (FA Cup/UCL) and we’re heading off to other side of world for two absolute stinky games after a long season.

Hope we force him to have a nice long break after the Euros. Guy will want to return straight away, but we need to be thinking long term and tell him to go off and rest. If we don’t, just going to have him break down next season. Can see him being a starter at the Euros.

All of the penalties Gordon has won for us Brentford/West Ham two that spring to mind.

Start in play off round, which unsure what the date is but prem season is started by that game is played.

For me, more competitions involved, more chance of winning silverware. Would be delighted with conference league, also helps our club coefficient for future years.

Put it in the Tino thread few months back, but this was a possible suggestion we could head down next season (which was based on Hall not being here at the time) Still feel it’s something the side can evolve into. 4-3-3 out of possession, 3-2-5 in it. Could even look a bit like this in possession for other games: Tino, Tosin, Kelly/Burn Tonali, Hall New winger, Bruno, Willock, Gordon Isak Just options that I feel enable us to control the ball better.

Do reasonably well against Brentford, so I’m expecting a win. But felt that against Brighton and Man Utd and ended with 1 point. Just for the love of god, finish above Man Utd ffs. If they win FA Cup and we don’t get Europe, so be it, but just don’t finish below them again. Felt we stumbled late on last season and finished below them, don’t let history repeat.

Said in match thread, got the skill set IMO, and still at a young age to develop. Just question the pathway currently and his style for the team. Needs to be playing solid minutes next season, so I think a loan to the top end Championship would be great for him and us. He gets games in a side that’s regularly attacking, he learns and develops, and we have two options. Either improves where we bring him into squad a better player, or cash in with his stock increased. Not going to improve if he’s playing limited minutes, which will happen if everyone is fit. Edit: I’d be praying if that happened, it’s a similar loan to MGW as he was 21 then, and not looked back since.

Think he’ll be very fortunate to make the England squad IMO. Looks way off it, and someone like Gomez is more sharper going into the tournament as a utility back up RB/LB. Torn on his future. Shouldn’t be a starter, but his experience for one more year for Tino/Hall on the training ground could be worth the £5m or whatever in wages. Then look for a RB 2025 that can compete with Tino.

Concerns I still have which haven’t looked like improving, is the control to our games. We just haven’t looked like this season a side that’s coached well to build up patterns of play. It’s more on fast breaks, high turnovers, which works for most part at home, but away, hasn’t, so we end up sitting off more, clipping balls long and losing possession within 3 passes if it doesn’t lead to an attack. Need the right signings to help improve that and evolve the side, because it’s easy to point to injuries and say it’s led to the inconsistency, but then maybe change up the play/set up a bit to mitigate?

That 3rd goal so crap. Just a basic shot, where you can look at Burn/Hall, but end of day, it’s pushing striker out wide, onto his weaker foot, with a shot lacking real power and near central, yet it’s beaten the keeper How many times did he push it out into dangerous areas too last night? Just feels like he will throw one in every game, which is no good as a keeper, even as back up. On top off, he doesn’t come off his line. Just get him gone on loan at worse with some wages covered.

No fitness expert, but could his muscle size be a contributing factor to his injuries as he’s got older? He was more leaner in his 20s, then at us, over time seemed to put on more muscle strength, which may have a knock on impact for niggling injuries, especially in a hard tempo style. Just remember Ronaldo as he got into his 30s, went the opposite way because he was informed being leaner on muscle mass would help prolong his career.

The technique for his two goals at OT this season bloody lovely too. Strikes a ball more cleanly than Gordon it could be argued

I’m not really concerned that greatly about his defensive side, as it’s never going to be top class, just needs to be serviceable which will come with experience and exposure. His main asset as said before is going forward, wanting the ball, and allowing us to control play more out wide, and centrally if he comes inside. It’s one area we as a team need to improve bloody loads in, control possession to take sting out of games, wear certain opposition down, and it will see Hall in more attacking positions, where his strengths are really shown more. Think giving current England state at LB, he’ll be in the England fold next season, and legit chance of being starting LB come World Cup 26.

Anderson has the skill set IMO, just in the current make up of our style, not sure how he plays or gets consistent minutes. Like, if we stay with current set up, he’s competing with Willock/Joe on the left of the three. Bruno every minute going centrally, then Longstaff/Tonali on right, with Miley probably more left and central. Think he can do well LW, if Gordon then played RW/Central in games, but then we’ve signed Barnes for that LW. Pathway sort of blocked for him. Agree a loan is required, as he needs a solid season of minutes now to really tune up his game which could come from a top end championship loan. Fair argument that if he does well, it’s either bring him back in, or potentially sell for a decent fee if there’s hype around him after that loan.

Poor for majority. Robbed of a pen. Still wasted great chances. Pathetic mistakes cost 3 goals. Mixed bag, opportunity missed again.

That felt like a performance of a man whose legs have gone. Could be fitness which is fair at 34, harder to get up to speed, but if he’s coming into side next season rusty when Tino is injured, making mistakes isn’t ideal.