Optimistic Nut

Oof, 3 exclamation marks? You mean business this morning. That's not my job, but I'm sick of your high & mighty, cocky approach to this, "let's get these players before they go to team x" for example. Very few players make that jump from where they are to the big clubs and slot in.

And those played that you mention don't become the players they appear at your Brentfords by sitting on the benches of the bigger clubs so they? They're just as likely to turn into your Vincent Janssens, Hojlunds, Batshuayis. All players who in their day match the sort you crave here now.

What if we'd got Wissa before Brentford? Would he have been the same player here? Or is Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Sunderland the level for this sort of player?

What makes you think Igor Thiago would be any better at a top club?

Let's see what Thiago is like past Brentford? I think their system is what makes them look better than sum of their parts (Wissa perfect example, Mbeumo looked better there than at Man Utd so far).

Just a bully of a centre-forward. Would be great in a peak Wimbledon or Stoke side which is why he fits Sunderland like a glove.

If we'd signed Brobbey there'd have been hell on and rightly so.

Season is pretty much a write-off. If Howe had any sense he'd use the last 7 games to try and work towards a way of playing that we can take into next season. Going back to a keeper who bricks it every time the ball goes back to him, then slices it out of play for a throw in 30 yards from goal isn't going to do that. Would sooner stick with Ramsdale, with view to a better version of him coming in who can just slot in come August, with the defenders and midfielders ready used to that way of playing. The results have been no better or worse with either anyway so I'd go with the one who'll help change the way we play.

Left-wing and midfield are possibly the two areas I think we're locked in quality-wise and depth-wise. I'd sell Willock and get a squad-filler as 6th in the queue but otherwise we're fine.

100% out of form. Don't think it's helped him having to play so much the last few months. Ideally, him and Gordon spread the load on the left, but the absolute car crash of a centre-forward situation has meant we can't really do that.

He's been prolific at this level for about 5-6 years. Remember reading this sort of thing 20 years ago with Robert.

At least. Good luck finding a winger with his output for less, like.

Scotland's forward options for this round of friendlies. He's been disappointing lately but let's not talk utter drivel.

Well that would have been a wasted visit as he'd be Scotland's best forward player by a country mile. Numpty.

Might even be good for Howe. If we're thinking of someone else, break it off now so he can get a couple of months rest himself. He'll sail into a good job.

Arteta.

Great goal that.

Been all one-way. Arsenal fucking awful.

Dodgy Kepa.

And if Trafford is going to cost £35-40m now, pay it.

We need a backup RB & LB. I keep mentioning Hickey at Brentford because he can play both and is a good age at 23 to try and push Livramento and Hall. Someone of that profile anyway.

I see the Scottish Premier League became the usual boring 2-horse race again today.

I just don't see it anymore. He should be 3rd choice CB now, 4th when Schar is back. He only seems good in the air when he has a run at the ball or unchallenged. When he's in a dual he's weak as fuck.

Definitely but realistically could we get two? Think more likely Pope stays on as number 2, or he leaves and we negotiate Ramsdale way down from the £20-25m mark.

We're seeing with Trippier, Burn, Pope, Murphy & Willock that we're bang on to start phasing these out. All heroes, but the time is now. Problem has been the replacements haven't been good enough..