juanpablosaliceband

100%.

With four days to go until Sheffield United, I think we still have a lot of work to do in this window. I’d have expected more additions by now. I don’t mean to be negative as I’m hopeful of a good season but I think some of our fans are getting carried away with talk of European football coming back, etc. So far, at huge cost, we have acquired two players from the championship and a 28 year old goalkeeper who has never really been first choice. Two of those are non essential signings in my view. Heaton is targeting our fourth PL game for his comeback and I rate Guilbert at RB. We can’t say for certain that either of those signings will improve our first 11, which is what we desperately need. Watkins looks like he has what it takes but he’s still a gamble at this level. Traore has mixed reviews at best and Rashica looks far from a done deal. I haven’t seen enough YET to suggest we won’t be in another dog fight this season. I’d like to see more steel down the spine of our team. We lacked some character for much of last season, albeit we finished well. I think we need two mature, experienced pros at CB and CM.

Interesting that it still hasn’t been announced. Reports that he had his medical days ago. Are the club holding out for a double / triple unveiling?!

He reminds me of Stewart Downing a little; cutting in from the right onto his left foot with a powerful shot. But faster and better technique. I don’t know much about this guy though. Opinions seem mixed.

After the frustration of the Everton game, I went and totted it up. It was then 21. The West Ham game brought it to 23. We were second only to West Ham I believe.

Thanks. Excited to get Rashica in. Looks a player.

Any ideas how real or close these three transfers are? All three are being reported as done deals but still no announcements. If players are booked in for medicals, etc, there must be some intel.

I think it’s the old ability versus performance debate. Ability is useless if you’re not on the pitch performing to your potential. I think Axel has more ability but for various reasons hasn’t got himself on the pitch performing at his true level. Sentiment and romance can tend to get us longing for underperformers to get back to their level.

That was the low point of the season for me actually! Even before that, the Engles situation was strange. He seemed to have been almost frozen out at one point, in spite of injuries, and seemed to come in and out of favour unpredictably. I still think he’s a good player and will come good. I’d be much quicker to sell Hause. Not sure he can improve much further.

I agree. I’d be far more confident going into this season if we had another solid pro at centre back. A 2020 equivalent of Olof Mellberg or even Richard Dunne would work a treat. Not necessarily spectacular signings when signed but reliable performers and neither cost a fortune. Valid points being made about the squad potentially becoming bloated in certain positions though and the wages, etc. that could with it. We already have at least four centre backs in the squad so would make sense to sell one if buying any more.

I’m surprised by this one if he signs. The reaction on here seems positive. Seems like a big price for a 28 year old keeper. He’s been at Arsenal his whole career it seems and I hadn’t heard of him before last season. Is he that good? And what about Heaton? Surely he can’t be that far off a comeback if he was out training on the pitch three weeks ago. Has he had a setback? I thought we’d find a safe pair of hands for a few million or a loan until Heaton is 100%. We’ve spent a lot on keepers in the past 12 months and have let some good ones go in recent years.

That’s true. Equal amount of potential leaks from our side. So many people involved in a deal. It only takes one big mouth with an agenda to start singing. Very hard to keep things 100% confidential.

Once we make an enquiry, there are other sources of leaks than the Villa side, ie. the selling club, the player, the player’s agent, the player’s team mates, the player’s friends and family, etc.

Me too. Feels like one we could regret if we let him go. Lots of his appearances have been in fits and starts and he’s played well apart from the lack of goals. If he gets a goal or two, I think he could flourish.

It’s gonna be 12 months before we know if this is good value for money or not, assuming it goes through. Definitely some risk and hope value at that price but the potential upside is significant. For now, I’m quite relaxed and happy we’ll have another player who should improve the first 11 and help drag the club away from those relegations spots. Those years in the championship still haunt me. Avoiding a return is priceless so go spend the money and get more good players in.

If Hourihane is in our starting 11 at the start of the season or by the time the window closes, we’ll have had a poor window. I like Hourihane and think he’s a good squad player, especially for home games against weaker opposition when we need a goal. But going into our second season in the PL, we should have higher quality in the first 11.

I wouldn’t underestimate the potential impact COVID may be having. Our owners are business men and the world’s major economies are being smashed at the moment. Football is not immune. Some clubs may be impacted more than others. It’s speculation on my part but funds that were lined up six months ago may not be there now.

For me, the thing about Tammy that causes divided opinion is that he’s not really a brilliant footballer. He has that goal poacher’s knack of scoring goals, which is obviously priceless if he can get enough of them, but his all round play isn’t great. He’s not particularly skilful and doesn’t really have a wow factor. I can’t remember too many spectacular moments from him and even in the championship with us, I often thought he looked a bit laboured with the ball. For those reasons, I wasn’t convinced he would do well in the PL this year, but he’s clearly done OK. It’s a tricky one!

Sorry. My mistake.

Harsh to leave out his early season glut of goals. He got 15 in 34 league games which is a good return.

It might not have looked like a mistake as there was no calamity factor, but the shot was from outside the box and dropped in only about 1 metre behind where he was standing. He took an eternity to move his feet. Any premier league goalie would have kept that out comfortably in my view. Anyway, all is well that ends well!

Big no from me. Getting stuck in quicksand for the West Ham equaliser was enough for me. And he’s only going to get worse.

What about Matt Targett jumping about 15 feet in the air in the dying minutes to head the ball back into West Ham’s penalty box from his own half! I knew at that point we’d hold strong! Huge commitment again today. Proud of all involved!

I stood up during injury time to do some nervous pacing and my legs completely gave up on me. Had to sit down again!

Tried that in the last 20 against Everton. Doesn’t work.