The Optimist

I couldn't give any less of a 💩 for so many reasons. Southgate being a large part of the 💩 I used to love international football as a kid. Linekar, Beardsley, Waddle, Hoddle, Gascoigne etc. Maybe one for the games gone thread, but, if Southgate managed to fluke a tournament, I am sure I would have enjoyed Emi winning the world cup more for Argentina in 2022. 

Is anyone else more concerned about what is that thing on the bottom of his right cheek? I mean, where does that come from? Is that an alien control device? What's going on? I'm disturbed.

Scary to think he's even ahead of George Ramsay... If he gets half of Ramsay's hardware haul, we're all going to be very happy.  

I'm surprised so many put Barry ahead of Dougie. Barry was a very good player but seriously lacked pace - that's not a modern day fitness thing, he was naturally slow. Technically, I think Dougie's Brazilian flair also outperforms Barry. I loved Milner and thought he was the heir to Gerard as England's ACM only for him to move to Citeh where he was only ever used at full back or out wide, neither of which really suited his game imho. What a waste of talent. I would bring prime Milner in to play off Ollie in front of Dougie and Kamara. I also loved Laursen - dominant in the air but prone to wanting to go for every ball and needing a partner who understood that and not really a footballing centre back. Konsa and Torres are complete modern CBs and compliment each other so well - they are not only really good for us I think they are up there with the best pairing in the PL at the minute. I wouldn't change them. For me, our only current weaknesses are at full back and the lack of replacements (squad depth) for JJ and Kamara, the former which Rogers looks like he will be capable of filling as we move forward, and possibly Ollie if injured, although I think Dhuran looks like he could be a player. I think if JJ had been fit this season and had played even at last year's level, i.e. no improvement, we could have been up there challenging for the title. We haven't just lost his qualities as a player but it has also unbalanced us at times as we have had to play through Bailey or Diaby on the right and not had a ball carrier on the left making us easy to defend against.  

I didn’t watch him, but this kind of signings are probably the best we do. I don’t think many will be prepared to spend to get him, his wages would be reasonable. If he success then we have done really well, if he failed he’ll not be harder to ship than some if the old players.    Some say only certain criteria can improve us, while I agree, but only if it includes young players with potential. Rogers for example, turning to be one of the most exciting players in the league lately. Ramsey raised his profile as well.    We got McGinn while we were in Championship (yet we miss him when we’re challenging for top 4. Luiz and Konsa were signed but a team fighting for relegation.    It’s a squad game, let’s get more of: Konsa, Luiz, McGinn, Rogers and the likes of Martinez.  Then have a look at some free signings wether like Kamara or even Youri.    The good thing, is that we have a good squad which should help young/new players. While not having to throw them and force them find their way which might affect the team (apart from Rogers who benefited him).

I think the key signing that we need is a defensive central midfielder that can cover/rotate with Kamara, unless UE thinks Big Tim is capable of taking that slot? Ndidi on a free - reuniting with Tielemans - has been mentioned a lot but I haven't seen him at all this season. Anybody watched much of Leicester and have a view as to whether he could still do a job as back up for a top end PL team?

I'm not even sure it matters who we sign because Emery seems to be able to develop every player we have into a world beater. Even he couldn't work his magic on Sanson though!😜

No, but I did change career and retrain as an electronic gates maintenance man. Lots of work around!