thunderball

Some will say we will play 4-4-2 and therefore we dont need to but I think Ings sits where Barkley sat so the shape is similar. I like the fact that Buendia and Bailey seems very comfortable on either side, and Buendia can play at 10 or even more deep lying - that’s progress. Ings is the curve ball, it could be the Joker in the pack, but it will depend on him getting through a bigger workload as well as carrying that greater threat. We lose Barkley’s dribbling and creativity but hopefully gain goals. We hopefully get the creativity as well as greater modern endeavour from Watkins/Buendia and Bailey. I think Traore will contribute this year also. It’s all going to take time to click though, with our fixtures I really can see us in a pretty poor placing come November, but hopefully kick on from there.

To address some of the general points of issue here: 1. We could definitely do with a more dynamic, progressive central midfielder. Whether they compete with McGinn, Sanson, Luiz or Nakamba is irrelevant, we lack this player and none of those we have have made an unarguable case for themselves as the stand-in candidate, in fact, far from it. 2. We haven’t replaced Grealish on the LHS. Bailey can deputise but he is not the like for like replacement. 3. I think we are short of quality due to international competitions this year. We will lose key players for prolonged periods and that will affect us, but the silver lining is it might give the youngsters a chance. 4. If Wesley is gone, its likely for good. And if he wasn’t good enough then Davis has no place here either, sentiment has no place in that, we need a much better deputy pushing Ings and Ollie, neither neither may with us for too long and we need cover and continuity. 5. Unless we are a lost cause like Sheffield Utd, I dont think Dean Smith is going anywhere this season, even if results mean we regress. That might change during the summer, but we won’t panic unless we are terrible before Christmas. I also think depending on how we fare this season we go big next summer, we now have the money. I also think we will sign Cantwell in January for >£10m or next Summer on a free - his age and style are right up Dean’s street.

'We are done' is definitive but "Pretty much done" leaves the door wide open. Deano's full of deception/tricks like that I expect another 3 or 4 at least.

....we will never know

We have a better chance of beating them in this than in the league. It’s depends what team we want to field, they won’t be full strength.

I think it would be a mistake to sell Luiz, there is a player in there but we havent quite managed to get it right for us or him, but that doesn't mean we should sell. Get him a new contract and be patient unless Roma are willing to pay say £30m its pointless? I think the issue is the McGinn balance. Maybe its one or the other, but its rash to seel now, I am sure we will regret it in two years time. Nakamba isnt up to it for where we want to be, that is now clear. If we can replace him great, but I think Ramsey is a decent stop gap. I dont think there will be many takers though?

The brilliant thing is, they are actually the brightest ones on the pitch so far this season: tonight; Ramsey for the seniors last two games; kids during the friendlies. They have a familiarity of how they are playing and interacting, making runs. I do think the better ones need men’s football now to kick on, they are ready.

OK. But just tell us anyway? Go on…

The club was quick to replace him after his first full season with us so it suggests there is something they don’t like. Wasn’t sure if his loan was keeping him hot while Elmo played out his contract and he would deputise and compete against Cash, and maybe wait for the kids to step up, but the body language suggests that isn’t going to be the case?

Great finish, well done lad

I just think we are much better than that.

Until then not much tonight. Hopefully that will help him settle and he will have a storming second half.

… under the press and pass to Steer who hoofs it clear?

In fairness to AEG, he does score them when needed

Nakamba can only pass backward can’t he?

We might be two up but we are pretty slack at the moment and inviting trouble. This passing around the back is embarrassing considering we are a PL side.

He’s not dislodging Young any time soon is he?

Has he got one, because his earlier effort wasn’t at all?

I hope the Ramsey’s get on second half. Did you see Aaron’s cheeky free kick vs ‘Boro?

Gilbert is struggling to shine tonight too

Have to say I would expect Hourihane to be bossing this but he isn’t, in fact I reckon the game would be better if Hourihane and Nakamba were subbed off at half time. We aren’t playing at the pace or technicality we can and Barrow couldn’t live with.

Decent goal. WTF is Cameron Archer Target looks very rusty and nervous.

I know, but they have the talent to turn that around. Last season after a poor start their second half of season form was excellent, in fact one of the best. They have only improved on that squad. If they click, Arsenal could be top 6 again.

I read some where that 55 points usually would get you 8th place, so we were unlucky. Is the question of "improvement" will we finish higher or with more points, not necessarily the same question - we could finish with fewer points but higher, or with more points and lower? How do we gauge improvement? I would suggest where we finish below Europe is irrelevant as long as we improve our metrics: Goals for; Goals against; % Possession, controlling games; shots for; shots against; clean sheets; xG; xPts etc. If you improve those, you would hope to finish further up the table but that doesnt necessrily follow. There is also perception: do we have momentum for example, after everyone has bedded in? because last season we stuttered after Christmas and we dont want that again. I guess all things being equal progression means where we sit amongst our peers - the second tier (without sounding too presumptuous). Who of those around us will we finish above: Leeds, WHU, Arsenal, Leicester, Spurs, Everton all finished above us and dont intend to roll over, and Brighton and fading star Wolves will likely want to finish above where they did last season and that means above us in 11th. This is not an easy task, but we could conceivably improve but a good season might only see us finish say 9th. Its fine margins, we ll know the games we dropped points in last season, and we arguably have already vs Watford and it wont end there. I think anything above 9th is a very good season and all those metrics will be improved also. Back on topic - this does suggest we cannot be complacent and two more very good players would help this cause enormously, not just in general performance but going the course of a full season, in all competitions with a strong squad.

With a tiny bit more discipline, urgency, coaching and luck, Traore is a very decent player, glad we have him.