CVByrne

I think the key is outgoings, we need to shift these players for good prices and bank profits. We then need to get key targets in before we jet off to Australia.

Ah ok, my apologies so

Why make up random wages to get effect? Nowhere has it been reported he is on that and we know we wouldn't pay him that as doesn't fit wage structure. The point of a wage structure is for dressing room harmony. Imagine how Coutinho would feel if we brought a 22yo in more money than him. Never going to happen. It was reported he wanted Atletico had a greed 6m euro per year with him but he wanted 9mil euro. So £115k is the Atletico wage agreed and what it was reported he wanted is around £147k a week. I'm sure what he's got is no higher than £125k a week, a signing on fee and the standard bonus structure which means he can get up to 30% more in salary if we finish high in table.

Not in the quotes there but Gerrard said they signed him as a midfielder. Also the Athletic saying he was told he'll be starting no6 for us next season.

Percy said we were interested. Been linked ever since

Wesley isn't back until January

Not much use to it really. Teams who defend a lot block more shots. Teams down the bottom will have the most shots to block

Targett, Guilbert, AEG, Trez, Davis and Luiz will be sales. 4 of them are in their final year of their contract. Sanson, Hause I can see being loaned. Traore has 2 years left so we should sell him, but a Loan might be an option with a decent Loan fee.

No offense to Buendia, but there is only one player at the football club who would have scored the goal Coutinho did against City. I think we're lucky to have two outstanding players here in Couts and Buendia. We just need the Strikers to click and finish the chances they'll create

If we land - Kamara, Bassey, Tarkowski, Bissouma and Suarez - to add to Coutinho, Digne, Chambers and Olsen. Then that is some proper proper business. Targett, Guilbert, Hause, AEG, Trezeguet, Davis, Sanson, Traore and Luiz all leaving.

Why would Luiz sign a new contract when he's guaranteed to lose his place in the team ?

Luiz and Sanson will be leaving you'd imagine. JJ, Kamara, Bissouma, McGinn, Nakamba, Carney + Coutinho/Buendia can play 8 if needed.

We need 4 CBs why would we sell Chambers or Konsa? Chambers can play CDM, CB or RB. Konsa will get plenty of game time still.

All right footed CBs in the squad. Gareth probably knows what Mings is about and wants to take a look at these two younger players

Nothing, hasn't even had a red card.

Bizzare he's been dropped when he's played so well

Only 2 clubs play the ultra attacking full backs in a back 4. Aston Villa and Liverpool. Wing backs are a massive part of Conte and Tuchels success but they are with a back 3 and two 6s. The full backs in most teams only overlap one at a time because almost every team has wide forwards to provide width. We play no wide forwards and so our full backs are the players to provide width. There is no situation we will play 4 2 3 1 with a double pivot. It's just too far from how we currently play. So people will cite hey, what if we play Coutino Ramsey Buendia behind Watkins in a 4 2 3 1. When we would really just play a 4 3 2 1 with the same players and Ramsey given more freedom to get forward and we'd make tweaks to how we play within the same structure. This is why I wish people could take it as a done deal we will always play with a back 4 and always play with a 3 man midfield and think about our signings based on that.

If it's a 3 man midfield yes. If there is 10 in front of them who is meant to be an attacking player then he cant as he's part of the attack. It's about you shape in attack. Majority of teams operate a 6 /4 or 5 / 5/ Defence / Attack when in possession and attacking opposition half. We play a 5 / 5 and are 2 3 5 in attack. With the front 3 and two full backs as part of the attacking 5. City for example have a 2 3 5 also but they have their fullbacks tuck into midfield and their 8s work in half spaces in attack etc.. So if we play a double pivot and keep our 2 full backs always as part of the attack we're a 2 2 6. If we want a 2 3 5 we need to keep one full back from getting too far forward and essentially joining the midfield and the two 6s move left to right depending on which full back is attacking. At no point is the 10 ever in the defensive picture when we are attacking. I think playing a 4 2 3 1 with double pivot requires us to have wide forwards to hold the width on one side and a full back on the other. This hinders our success story of the season which is Digne / Cash being excellent in attack. It also means we need wide forwards which is a big departure from our transfer strategy. For this reason we'll always play with a 3 man central midfield in every game with one or two 10s ahead of them. It's why a Bissouma joining for example works alongside Kamara. They both can play in that 3 man midfield

This is incorrect. If the double pivot cover the fullbacks who is covering the centre? You need the three man Midfield relatively flat forbthe way Gerrard plays with the fullbacks. By playing a double pivot with a 10 in front and wide forwards we end up with a 2 2 6 attacking shape. When the 4 2 3 1 works by the steering wheel approach to fullbacks. One stays back and the two pivots shuffle over to cover for the other fullback who is far forward. The wide forward holds the width one one side. Gerrard won't make this change to how our fullbacks play as it requires wide forwards. It's too big a departure from everything he's done so far in charge of Villa.

No, Mings carrys the ball forward better and is definitely faster, supposed to be one of the fastest in our squad. Mings is better at playing from the back on what we've seen to date too and Southgate clearly trusts him. Mings is as good in the air too.

I think we need 4 Strikers so 3 plus Archer. Gerrard will swap between one 10 and two 10s depending on opposition etc.. next season so we need at least one more Striker signed.

Yeah Ings has done well in every department bar scoring more. Both himself and Watkins have missed as many big chances as they have scored according to the Premier League site. We know Ings is better than this in front of goal and has proven it so of he hits form he'll be superb for us now he has developed a good relationship with Watkins.

Well Tarkowski does what Konsa does but better in every department. So can't see why they wouldn't be a good partnership. Only issue is the one stated around building from the back we'll have no ball playing CB. Unless we see Chambers as doing this maybe?

Mings is on 85k I think so I can't see Tarkowski being offered much more than that. I'd say £80-90k

I think Mings has had to take on far too much responsibility this season. Playing out from the back. Full backs ultra attacking. Martinez and Konsa having poor seasons.