Sibierski

Sunderland have a better academy then us and it’s fucking depressing Watson / Rigg head and shoulders above anything we’ve produced in multiple decades. Miley the best we’ve got to rival.

At least 2 shots this time in London please. Then take it from there.

It does, but he still delivers in the big games which is key. Just needs to improve his end play more greatly, which has been a thing for 12 months the same issues. I back him to do it, as he’s got the mindset.

Depends now if he’s cracked on with the baileys in his morning coffee.

Gallagher was a full international, doing well, and he was forced out to fund a KDB buy. Everyone is available at Chelsea, and if they need sales, it will be the ones who have a market they need to sell.

Let’s be honest, if we’re early into 25/26 season and Schar / Burn are still key starters for us, then we’ve fucked things even more. So of course they will be players you happily move on, just the fee is minimal so doesn’t make a dent when needing to raise funds to make big changes.

I’d still want us to target Madueke in summer for the star RW. Chelsea need sales and they have Esteavo coming in summer so need to make room in their attack, in particular RW.

Each time I see spurs, I get the impression Ange style is heavily reliant on VDV because of his recovery pace. But when he’s being asked to do countless sprints each game, he’s hamstring only going to get more fucked over time.

Almiron is a weak RW, but one thing I've always felt comfortable with him is his ball retention. Surprised we don't see him at all this season, must be a bit of "trying to make you want to leave" decision to his game time.

Gordon doesn't protect Hall in the sense of coming back and being on his toes, protects him by being a reliable outlet ball high up the pitch where it's retained. That's so helpful when at full back, knowing you've got someone you can pass too and it not come straight back, where you are potentially out of position.

Chances on him signing a big new contract in July, and presented as the new Number 9? Must be the focus upstairs using that as a selling point and him to be the spearhead for our future success.

Issue though, we need to move someone on to be able to manoeuvre a bit more in the market. Breaks down to the below for me: Players you don't want to sell, unless it's an insanely daft offer: Botman, Tino, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Miley, Gordon, Isak Players you sell if the offer is reasonable: Joelinton, Barnes, Longstaff, Willock Players of minimal value that you happily sell, but bring in fuck all: Dubs, Pope, Greek Guy, Burn, Schar, Krafth, Trippier, Kelly, Targett, Almiron, Murphy, Wilson Basically four players to focus on, one of which has signed a new beasty contract, one who's nearing end of a contract, one who's injury prone for past 18 months and then Barnes.

Fulham have Reiss Nelson, who I'm sure they would rather turn into a permanent buy than sign Barnes. None of the other clubs listed by Kaka would come in for him, except West Ham and that would be dependent on Kudus leaving. Leeds coming up I could see them dropping £35m on him, because he's a goal scorer that they will need. Outside that, it depends on clubs losing a player to then sign Barnes.

Just seen Wolves next three. WHU Away, Ipswich Home, Leicester Away. That’s their season there.

Still a way to go for me. Wolves are capable of doing much better and it’s West Ham downwards (West Ham should pull away with a competent manager). Everton and Leicester have a bastard run coming up, so could be getting minimal points over coming weeks. Tracking at just the right level of point a game, but you expect Wolves to get to that level and so others would need to up it a tiny bit.

He was very poor for me. Easy to glaze over because of him being competent in a set up that meant little defending for England in summer, but even in the final start for us last season he was bad. Showed that he can’t come back in after games out and be the same guy, because he was so rusty and Man Utd took advantage. And when you are at that stage, it’s either an expensive coach or move on. People wanted the experience and as it turns out this season, that’s no where to be seen.

Think it should be Dub moved on for a nominal fee, Trippier £0 and Almiron for any fee above £5m and that’s us ok. And if we want to make a significant signing in January, it’s sell Barnes. Be proper short term (and dumb) of us to sign someone in January knowing we need to sell before end of June, and the buyers not there because they know the crack. A loan with option to buy feels a best placed moved in January, which means Barnes can stay, and if we can sell him end of season it allows it to be triggered. If not, it doesn’t impact us, but means paying slightly more to make it permanent in next years accounts. Modern day football

I thought he was quite good. Had that poor moment he was sacked, but I put that down to him wanting to keep the ball and no-one showing. If the team had confidence to play balls back to the GK in those situations, it helps us enormously. Many times in that game, he took players on in tight spaces on the byline, and it broke the press. That’s a key skill of his. Confidence never dropped with the ball and retaining under pressure after that first half mistake, which was important for me. Very good player who will continue to go up levels.

3 goals against a side that will win the league (having conceded just 8 in 13 before), along with creating another load of good chances, should give us the world of confidence moving forward in final third. That’s been the thing that’s hurt us the most this season. Mistakes happen and they always will unless you are a proper top level side, but the goal scoring for us over the years has powered us through. Need that mojo to come back and hopefully it does now. When you see what Murphy give us (directness), I can see why we’re linked with guys like Elanga. Like if we had Guler last night, think we’d be worse off, but other games he’d be so key. Almost need two RWs

We’re not getting a fee for him if he wants out of England. If it’s to a prem club, could get say £2m, because someone down the bottom will see that being recouped by getting safety and a position or two up the table. No-one abroad paying a fee so we’d be best to let him go for £0. Considering he wasn’t giving captaincy in summer, surprised we didn’t try and get him gone then? Or could it be Howe wanted him still, then as the months moved on, it’s turned out he’s not been recoverable.

Having someone on the right who can make quality runs behind (and then both sides being clinical) will take Isak to another level. Plays so many good balls through, where it’s not finished so he doesn’t get the assists in his stats to reflect his contribution. Salah flicks one through, they smash it in.

Hardest test now on Saturday. Away to Brentford who are silly strong at home this season. Don’t know how, because they’re proper shit away so that has to catch up with home form soon. Villa / Leicester home, with Brentford and Ipswich away. If we are to have ambitions of Europe, then it’s 12 points minimum and a League Cup SF to come. Because Man Utd / Spurs away after are hard games against sides we need to finish above, so can’t afford any more silly dropped points.

Can’t wait for the apologise for the missed penalty.

Colossal in the middle. Think Joelinton needs dropping for Willock and that’s our midfield.

Sell Barnes and get Isak new deal tied up.