Sibierski

Updated current Prem managers for me based on my criteria: Tier 1 = Elite. Coaches that vastly improve players because of the system they coach, with top end results to back. Tier 2 = Strong. Clear showings they are innovative, with recognition that can push the top guys. Tier 3 = Very good. Good coaches, have their identity that can be seen, and got room to move upwards. Tier 4 = Steady. What you’ve seen is what you get. Never going to get to Tier 2, only possibly considered higher due to managing in inferior leagues with superior squads to mask their fundamental errors. Tier 5 = Bounce between 4 and 5. Not a great deal of appeal. Tier 6 = Out of depth. Tier 1: Pep / Arteta Tier 2: Emery / Howe Tier 3: Iraola / Slot / Glasner / Moyes Tier 4: Silva / Rosenior / Farke / Regis Le Bris / Hurtzler Tier 5: Frank / Andrews / Nuno / Dyche Tier 6: Parker / Edwards Feels like to me the ones in Tier 3 is the highest they will go, Iraola the exception. Slot, I really do think is a a bang average coach where it just all aligned for him last season (strong settled side that knew their roles with Salah in Balon d’Or form). Emphasis to me that within the league, we do have the best manager we can get of the bunch. Howe does have his limitations, but shown more answers and adjustments than others below him.

Has anyone suggested Glasner to replace Howe?

Didn’t Howe get on with Mitchell though? Same with Ashworth? If somehow Wilson ended up moving in summer having done nowt, think it would be fair to say it’s the structure upstairs that pisses off these guys (not Howe / DoF relations). Because if everything needs signing off and it takes an age, I can see why a DoF gets frustrated as some deals are there to be made quick, so if you can’t do those deals and miss out, it’s all a bit meh for them.

Burn should never ever be a LB though, we have years of data and recent data to say it shouldn’t be. Then relying on players that had their own injury problems last season and on clear downward trajectory for RB is short sighted.

But we also have many other outfield players. It shouldn’t just be down to one lone person to be in that box, the opposite winger should be right in there too and one of the CMs (unless it’s a fast counter and quick delivery, in which case it would only be played if someone was there).

So glad we didn’t pursue Gnonto further, because he is garbage. Not sure what the underlying data was that made him attractive.

And he can do all this being the lone 9. Having one of the CMs run through central will help too. Like during Man City era of their false 9, it was multiple different runners from deep going beyond that scored. I believe Tonali would be exceptional at it, but we need him on the defensive side, so it’s either a defensive CM, or keep Tonali deep and get someone who can make those runs forward.

What we need to do more of to support him, have runners come central and run beyond him. There’s no point wingers being on the touchline, that doesn’t help him IMO. He’s passing ability (in terms of weight) is near Bruno levels. Do feel Elanga is prime to be that type of winger on the right, but we’ve been making him to play like Murphy does, which doesn’t help anyone.

Not like us to offer contracts instead of moving on.

Think he’s nailed on for WC, Tuchel wanted him to go to Euros and he’s been in his England squads since when fit. Him and James are the RBs.

Howe said he wanted one more in towards end of summer window, which I always felt was left back. Not sure how that would change going into start of this window, and now with more injuries how we are not doing business. And how it compromises summer buisness? These are players we need for both now and next season, so they need signing at some point. Or we’ve gone back to having a ceiling on what we will offer after overspending on players in summer.

Draw or win. That will give us something to play for 2nd leg. Going to be near impossible to overturn if we go into 2nd leg behind. There is a small window open though to do Man City like 3-1 or more because their defence is proper broken right now. Just has to coincide with us being clinical with our chances (we will have plenty of chances). Don’t really know what to make of the team I want to see because of so many games, but just Barnes LW. He deserves it and I think Gordon direct against O’Reilly is worth trying.

Wilson come in and using the 2022 scouting report. Wonderful.

Usually a good 2 months for hamstring. Probably safe to say he’s out until the international break and back after that hopefully.

Passing been crisp and Buendia is all over, taking ball in all areas as an outlet.

Anyone we can make a play for whilst chips are down at spurs? Like MVV is way off form, but someone we can get on form?

It’s like most of our fringe players it seems, they need games to supposedly get up to speed. But then they won’t be starters to get up to speed.

That’s what Osula can do. Need more for £55m as the season goes on and into next.

We likely will be finishing 9-24 in UCL which is a further two knock out games in Feb, with fa cup. Not signing players in defence is inexcusable. Hall we know can’t be expected to play every min going. He has too. Trippier is done so Miley will have to play every min going. Botman just back will have to play every min going to end of Jan when Burn maybe will be back. We do not want to be playing serious games with Trippier / Burn at full back. We have a genuine chance in three cups, but those chances will quickly reduce if we don’t reinforce, all whilst not impacting league season and what that can have a knock on next season.

Works both ways, Botman first went to go right, realised that was wrong decision, backed off and as ball is played, player runs around him. Ramsdale from that position will be expecting his CB to get there goal side and clear, not be comfortably beaten where player can get shot away.

Hopefully it’s all part of getting up to speed and we have something as the season progresses, but Wolte is the main starter for me.

Think it could be easy to blend his performances away when in a back 3 into the games at Brighton and beyond where he was more like today.

Main issue I have with him is his lack of pace. First season he mitigated that by being a step ahead of attackers and aggressive, but since then, he’s been a step behind, without the pace to make up and not as aggressive in his play. Who cares he can play a pass, when even Bruno G would back himself to run away from him.

Buendia went from being discarded to a key player this season

When’s the draw?