Sibierski

Another play they're signing on the fly. Alleyne can be carted back out on loan now, despite being good for two games. Value there now to sell for £20m+ in summer to enable Man City to spend some more on short term targets. They're a fucking mess, just throwing money all over this past 12 months. No concerted squad building in mind.

Man Utd are like English economy. Theres so much attached to it, they can rack up all the debts they want, keep spending, because there’s too many with money tied up who don’t want it to collapse. Instead of cutting cloth accordingly, it’ll be the little man (canteen ladies) chopped to enable them to spend £5m over a release clause so they can spread the payments. Rinse and repeat.

Issue id still have with that it’s effectively a light touch B team approach. Rather these players were contracted / paid by those clubs and had the desire to work back up, forge more a connection with the club then a loan. There’s enough money across the game and places for the top clubs not to hoard everyone, grind down peoples enjoyment for football and they drop out of the game early 20s.

‘Just’ improved passing is what’s separating us from really challenging the top sides. That alone will create far more chances, allow players to be higher up the pitch which will yield returns. It’s not just a case of lift in a 12 goal CM and they bang them in. Because they will be stuck in same situation or other CMs have with the ball in around the goal.

I know what you mean, but if it’s a loan for 6 months, there’s far worse options. Helps build from the back, close to Hall in that ability (just weaker defensively), can dip into midfield if we had a crisis and he’s an experienced pro. You’d only want him for possibly 6 starts and minutes off bench at most.

Reckon £65m would be our upper limit. Beyond that you are compromising deals in other positions. What’s the kicker with Anderson is the HG aspect too. Him, Hall, Miley and a number 3 GK (should’ve been Woodman), and you are sorted for next 3-5 years whilst you aim to develop more / sign 16-18 yr old foreigners who can become club HG.

Gray won’t cut it because he’s flimsy as anything. Just no-where near physical enough to make it in prem and his technical ability isn’t like super elite which can compensate it.

Be a good move for him if to end of season. Scores goals, his attraction is still there for low end prem sides next season. If he wants to get to that 100 club, 6 goals (think it is) should be achievable if he got a move there (Coventry would be a fairytale for him).

20 G/A 2nd half of season incoming.

Nah, that shit bet not ever happen either. Our pyramid is what makes football in this country. Teams just need to be told / restricted on the number of players they have. All the U21s team is squad bloat so they can hoard players years on post u18. Clubs don’t need multi clubs / B sides. They just need to loan the few players they have high hopes for, play others and release. Keep the eco system going across the pyramid. If that then forces sides into buying less and picking players up when they’re 19-20 when they’re playing well for Gateshead / Macclesfield, then great.

Wish he just went for a buzz cut.

I'd take two defeats, even 5-0 at home if it meant UCL (just 1-0 at home for Europe in general). Season is quickly forgot if we're in Europe.

Don’t take acid, kids.

Think that would be same for any striker we had this season. They’re always isolated, midfield not near, wingers with chalk on their boots, so the CBs can be aggressive and almost gamble in pairs because there’s no threat behind. He needs to use his size better, something Isak eventually did culminating in his peak last season when he was bullying VVD/Salbia. It wasn’t strength, it was positioning the body in the right places and using intelligence to roll them. Wolte hasn’t need to do that yet in his career, but has the IQ to do it you feel.

I could understand why Arteta would be keen. Been the main threat and annoyance against Arsenal when we’ve played them and he’ll see it as an upgrade on what they’ve got with room to go further (that bit I’m unsure on because his finishing is never going to improve it feels). He’s replaceable based on past 12 months, but it’s the work rate and application we lose, along with him being in the prime age group 23-27 and the connotations of losing yet another first team regular to the top sides. Be all fine if we were replacing with semi-raw players and accepting that as our position, but if spaffed money on more middle range players it would be a kicker.

Guy needs to get out of here ASAP for his own sake. He’s way down the pecking order and going on 23 in summer and yet still only started a handful of professional games in last 3 years since returning from his L1 loan.

Villa approach I’m not keen on at all, but it’s working for them and Emery, but if Emery left, I would not be surprised if it nose dived real quick with the squad.

I’m interested in seeing how he does over next few games and if there’s an upturn in his form. I get an impression the rotation now with Wissa has knocked him off stride, and he’s not someone who can come in and out the side and deliver. Then with his style completely different, it’s a shift in attack needed, which won’t help. Rather he started every game going personally and Wissa is coming on for final 15. He’s the striker we need to build our attack around moving forward. Wissa comes from a side that’s had no interest in building up attacks and is all about getting the ball into the box in the least amount of passes, and it shows.

Very worried about him breaking down. Put in another shift (and top class) performance Tuesday and cramped up towards the end. But he’s likely going to be needed against Wolves and against PSV, because nothing is seemingly on the horizon. Hopefully Burn is back end of month so he can start LB away against PSG / Man City (LC) / Villa (FA) so it takes three games out. But if we are still needing to Burn LB in February and March in big games it’s starting to border on incompetency for me.

Pope: Miley, Thaiw, Botman, Hall: Tonali, Bruno G, Ramsey: Barnes, Wolte, Elanga Defence picks itself. Trippier to come in for PSV UCL game because all experience will be needed for that. Midfield. Joelinton rested for UCL game, and with it being away, should lend itself more to Ramsey on counter transition. Attack. Barnes deserves a LW start. Wolte because Wissa is a joke. Elanga, despite being a joke, now has to be giving a run of 3 games with Murphy out and effectively told “show what you can you do”. Make our break for him, doesn’t produce, then I’m not sure how he can remain next season.

Wissa Get him sold ffs.

Been pathetic this game. No tempo and being punished, oh well. At least we should be fresh for wolves game and can toss away 2nd leg now.

Nope, but we can spend this window if we wanted too.

Hall fucking off Peps hand there. Good lad.

Not sure why we’re crying about the rule change, when we can easily benefit from it too if we wanted too.