skarroki

On the transfers thread, somebody said that the Twitter guy who gets most stuff right said that the deal was effectively done for him to leave. Was wondering if he'd be confirmed to leave now, or after the AFCON

Confirmed to be leaving once he's returned from AFCON? Or will we hear news sooner than that?

So, looking toward the end of the season now as I still can't see us getting into the play-offs, let alone winning them. Kozak, Hutton, Bunn and Johnstone are going to be out of contract so I won't include them in the squad. GK: Steer RB: De Laet, Bree CB: Chester, Baker, Elphick LB: Amavi, Calder RM: Adomah, Bacuna CM: Lansbury, Hourihane, Jedinak, Tshibola LM: Bjarnason, Green AM: Grealish ST: Kodjia Thats 18 players, I'd be aiming for 22 with academy products not included in that number (Calder and Green) they can supplement. I'd say allow Bjarnason more time as a CM if it is his favourite position, bring in a good winger. A good goalkeeper too, we could offer silly money and wages to Pickford before Prem teams snatch him. A centre back to potentially break up the Chester/Baker partnership, although I'd have no problem with us signing a promising player who's a future Prem player, to push Elphick down the pecking order. A strong attacking mid option for this league and 2 decent strikers to add competition for Kodjia. All of this means I've assumed the following will leave, along with expiring contracts: Sanchez, Veretout, Gil, Cissokho, Richards, Ayew, Agbonlahor, Westwood, Gardner, McCormack. In total, that means 14 players will leave the club in the summer which seems a lot again, but looking at that figure, 7 of those haven't played for us since October at the latest, the rest are squad players at best really who are ageing, in positions we have enough cover in, on too high wages for their contribution to the side, or all three of those. The only exception is Ayew who I'd rather stay, but he's a difficult one to fit into the side and if someone is offering good money, it makes sense to part ways.

Was about to say the same thing. The highlights reel doesn't do much for him but he's holding his own in a very good and in-form Fiorentina side. Being played essentially out of position too just to add. I'd have him back here now, around competent teammates, but if that's not going to happen then we should be able to make a profit on the peanut fee we paid for him under Lambert

What?

Lost in translation klaxon?

The Opava thing was the new year joke. He really does need to move on now though. I can't believe there wasn't a mutual termination agreed in the summer

I would imagine, depending on whether we're home or away / favourites or underdogs, we'll line up with Grealish attacking or Jedinak defending. Home: Lansbury Hourihane Adomah Grealish Bjarnason Away: Lansbury Jedinak Hourihane Adomah - STRIKER - Bjarnason Got a sneaky feeling that the Icelandic vibe isn't going away. Potentially see Finnbogasen signing too?

There's still time!! Please Hurry, hane

Thought Bruce was quoted as saying that Richards still has a role to play?

Johnstone Hutton - Chester - Baker - Amavi ----------Jedinak---------- Lansbury - Hourihane Adomah - Kodjia - Bjarnason Subs: Bunn, Elphick, Bree, Bacuna, Tshibola, Green, Ayew

Can't see this one being more than one for the future. Back up to De Laet or whoever is our first choice next season. Think he'll end up in and out the team

Potentially a temporary role, analysing the scouting and offering advice for the future before moving on? Don't know anything, just speculating. There's only so much analysing you can do before you go "right, that's how it should be, keep it at this level" perhaps? Signing players like Bree and Bedeau show a significantly different approach to the transfer window in comparison to Bruce and Round under Moyes, so I thought the guy from Southampton would be having an impact on that.

People desperately clutching at straws to find a way to make McCormacks behaviour acceptable I believe. If he was depressed and his manager was talking about him not showing up and taking disciplinary action, he would have grounds to sue the club or Bruce himself. Don't think the manager is that thick. He's just decided he doesn't want to be here, or that he should be starting every game and have the team built around him, or the latter has led to the former

Jeff Reine-Adelaide.....

I'm excited for this signing and think it's a good move by the club. However, he strikes me as an even rawer version of Amavi. Pace and ball control is great, puts himself into tackles but his crossing is very hit and miss, as is his decision making. Definitely the potential to be a great player for us and I guess this is the best time to develop him, but he's definitely not a huge upgrade on Hutton from what I've seen and he may well end up coming in and out of the team a lot.

The guy is head and shoulders above the rest of the players in our squad in terms of ability, athleticism and potential to improve. His only downsides are coachable, he's still got a decade of football ahead of him. Some of the people slagging him off on here seem to have either conveniently forgotten his style of play or have simply never actually watched him. Not all, but a large section of the criticism is completely unfounded. Would I sell for £12mil? Yes. Would Bruce and co? Most probably. But just because he's leaving and we're getting a good price for him, doesn't mean we have to make him out to be one of the worst strikers to ever put on the shirt for us. FWIW, I think his finishing is excellent, but he just doesn't produce the goods in matches. Which probably has more to do with confidence than ability. Watch the video of him, Gestede and Kodjia trying to replicate THAT Luc Nilis goal. First attempt, BAMM

Hasn't been mentioned recently that I can see, but I remember it being said that Rhodes was Blackburn's penalty taker which inflated his goalscoring record. As an example, the season when it was him and Gestede up front, he scored 21 goals that season. Only 2 from the penalty spot as far as I can see.

Got to say I'm warming to Rhodes. A natural goalscorer who's good in the air and can hold the ball up well. With a more purposeful midfield, in a 4-4-2, he could really be the missing link. I think he'd be a great foil for Kodjia, they could form a good striking partnership. If he comes into this current side however, he'll look shit because there is no-one to compliment him. If we sign Rhodes, Lansbury and Hourihane for midfield and then hopefully a left winger, this side would start to look very solid. Alternatively sign a left back and play the back 4 like a line of centre halves. Tell the new guy and Hutton not to go beyond the half way line. Stick Amavi on the wing.

I know this always gets said after a few posts like this, so I'll be the one to say it this time. I don't care how much we spend on a player. As long as Xia is willing to open his wallet, and it's a player the DoF and manager think is the best fit for the team, we need to go all out for these kind of players. Regardless of transfer fee. It's not coming out of our pockets. He might be steep. Their may be other options who seem to be better value, but if he comes in and fits the team completely and scores 15 goals to get us into 6th, I'll be glad we didn't get the cheapest good striker available.

Yeah I agree with you completely. I'm just saying that maybe that's not how Bruce sees it and he's picking players who are putting in the most effort every day. Chester answered quite a few questions in the interview. To anyone interested, it's well worth watching.

Found his YouTube interview quite interesting. Felt like it gave a good insight into how the dressing room works. Also his comments about Hutton and Bunn always getting to training first, and those 2 getting on well with Gabby, might explain why Bruce has persisted and given them chances despite the 3 not being up to scratch in most of the fans eyes.