ramshackler

We made a huge mistake last year going into season with only Wesley and Davis. We paid for that mistake. No way if samatta goes will we make the same mistake. I definitely think another forward is incoming

Rumours Chelsea may be looking to let RLC out on loan. That would be a perfect fit for us. Yes we don't want to develop others clubs players but Chelsea will continue to push on and spend and he may naturally become surplus. Definitely worth a gamble would add real strength and dynamism to our CM

Exactly. The list of players with these attributes who are available for this kind of money is a small one. Even smaller when you factor in who wants to join us when we are seen as relegation strugglers.

Spot on. This lad should have been out on loan the minute he arrived. Has lots of natural attributes, but needed first team football and confidence early on. Our shallow.squad has seen him kept around with no real likelihood of regular playing time. It's stifled him

I've probably been one of his biggest critics and I still think he is pretty poor at decision making especially when running with the ball, but credit where it's due the first touch and cross for Watkins goal showed real quality.

As long as we get Traore and Rashica then won't be too unhappy. He adds pace which is much needed.

Benrahma and buendia clearly not what we are after. It's clear Smith wants raw pace out wide both wing and full back

Gustavo Bartelt?

We shall see. The guy has barely played for his whole career. For me it's a lot of money for a keeper who looked good in the last six months. Hope he's the real deal, but when Heaton is fit he'll have a real job to be number 1 (Martinez)

I absolutely love Delaney. The most committed player. How many times did he injure himself doing some ridiculously brave clearance writing himself off against the posts or other players. Think In the end it was one of those knee against the post jobs that was just one too many injury. Was a really good player as well with a great engine. I was working at BMH towards the end of his playing days he was a real gent off the pitch as well. Delighted he has stayed around and forged a good coaching career with the club. Strikes me as an ideal personality to be bringing up young players

Wow, must admit hadn't paid any attention to this lad, but looks some player! I thought he was winger but from that looks more like a CM?

The difficulty is it's looking more and more likely that Jack will be out left sided forward. Strong rumours we are after another Central midfielder. Benrahma is class but will cost £30 odd million. More likely to go for a right winger/ right forward that's where the Josh King rumours make a lot of sense. We would then have two players that can play across the front three positions.

I've had a real dislike for Butland since staying at Birmingham Hilton few years ago. Think Stoke were playing WBA or someone the next day. All the Stoke players were milling around mixing with each other. However I swear the previous evening and the next morning Butland never left the side of the manager (rowett) and his coaches. He was sat at their table then followed them to sit on same sofa. It was painfully obvious they didn't even really want him there and the other players were taking the piss Just came across as a total teacher's pet who didn't have any kind of relationship with his teamates

Yeah and AEG missed most of those! Trez bar the last few games missed more than his fair share as well!

I mean I believe he is a better player than Wilson, but this just smacks of desperation now. Does anyone believe King was in the top 3 of our targets this TW?

I'm genuinely concerned at developments today. The last thing we need is Jack having a really impressive game for England right before the start of season... Great for Jack, not for us

CM. But has a real eye for goal

There is also a huge argument to be said that now is the perfect time to blood youth. No huge crowds. Let's them adapt to the different pace and physicality of men's pro football without the added pressure of crowds. If he settles well by the time crowds return he has that self belief already

Agree. Throw him in see what he is made of. It's clear that there's been a change of direction in the academy with a drive for younger players and clearing out anyone over 21. If he is shit no loss. But if he is good enough he will thrive playing at this level. Stop the faffing around. This lad started off really well for Doncaster last year got rave reviews from Darren Moore, but had 6 months of his development stolen by covid. So throw him in see what he is made of. He would be competing with Hourihane, Nakamba, McGinn. None of which have really nailed down their place by showing they are top PL quality (I think McGinn will in time). So throw him in and see what happens

I'm saying have him in squad and be bringing him on for genuine minutes 20-30 minutes. See what he is made of. If he not great consider loan in Jan. But I'd be seriously tempted to throw him in and see what he is made of. Clearly didnt phase him yesterday!

Interesting. Considering we are quite light in midfield when it comes to genuine attacking goal scoring midfielders, should we be loaning him, or blooding him in first team? I don't want him to be the next in a long line of our u23s who have been left to rot until after they 18 and not kicking on. He is 19 now. Only had a handful of games competitive last year. I'd be tempted to keep him around and see if he can kick on and put pressure on McGinn / Hourihane

As frustrating and ridiculous as last night was not using grealish in a game that was quite literally screaming it for him, for us is a good thing. Jack coming on for England and scoring or changing the game a week before the season would have started up the Man United rumours and interest again / or turned this Niggle into an injury that kept him out for a while. His time will come, glad it wasn't yesterday

Quite literally my point. Sorry not literally. I used a metaphor about taking him (the puppy) back to the pound! Maybe that's where the confusion arose!

Nyland definitely has incredible potential. His shot stopping is some of the best I've ever seen. I mean that quite literally. But he isn't the most commanding aerially, kicking poor. But you could forgive that if he just got rid of the regular absolute brain farts, he would be excellent. But my god they aren't just brain farts are they? He full on shits the bed and drags his arse along the carpet like that new lab puppy you are trying to house train. Sometimes no matter how much you want it to happen, the pup had to go back to the pound!

Butland is an odd one. Rumour is he is available for £8 million (was£20+ last summer). Hard to tell if just demotivated or he is doing a full on Joe Hart? He was always a better keeper than Hart, I wouldn't be unhappy at taking a punt. We have excellent GK coaches who could bring him on then you've got a potential top keeper for 10+ years