Rolta

Arguably we're not really overpaying for them if they're good enough and capable of taking us to the next level. We've been trying to unearth 'gems' for years. What is any team's success rate with these kinds of signings? And by that I mean, how often do teams unearth genuinely Top 6/8 Premier League quality players for cheap? Just because Brighton have one now doesn't mean it's easy—and the fact he's probably their best player at the moment says a lot. They have made plenty of other signings not as good as he is. What top team doesn't make these kinds of serious signings?

"We have done OK" is the problem. We did well finishing 11th last year. If we want to push on then this is the kind of signing we need to make. Luiz is great, but I'm in the 'he's not really a DM' camp. He's better further forwards. Genuinely, I think signing Bissouma will transform us beyond recognition.

I think Lange has seen the memes.

Matt's doing a very angry wank there.

I think that's very liberal use of 'everyone'! Some people? One or two?

I feel I've seen you make these posts for years. It always seems a bit hysterical and soooo negative. We've often gone on to win games and do well off and on after your pessimistic statements. And you fit phrases around your position as if they're some higher logic, but really we've played some of the best teams in the league, and been performing well. Sure but we lost to Brentford too. My main point is, I'm surprised how you don't see how negative you can be sometimes. You're entitled to your opinion, but just also consider other facts that might make you question your position a little (the quality of opponents, our lack of a bit of luck). We have been playing a lot better and we have had some really good results with Gerrard. But yes if we lose forever the players will get sad. No shit. But there's no suggestion at all that's what's going to happen though.

Some of moments when he dispossessed the United players were the definition of picking their pockets. He did it a few times. I mainly only watched the second half because of work, but he was great from what I could see. I like him a lot. I think he would benefit from a quality DM to play alongside.

I'm surprised if you can't see our improvement under Gerrard. I was skeptical at first, but we've been so much better. I've been truly impressed personally.

The alternative way of looking at this is we look much more dangerous when he's on the pitch because of the good work he does, and when he goes off, there's a player in his place who loses the ball just as much but has nowhere near the same level of incision. He is a bit frustrating, but hopefully he continues in the direction he's going and that should get less and less of a problem.

What was his mistake? I couldn't blame the goal on him. Who was following McTominay into the box?

With this logic we should be playing the kids now. The fruits of that investment will come later hopefully—but maybe in about 4/5 years. It's not really part of the conversation of improving our squad now and trying to raise Aston Villa up the table. I'd imagine the youth system will also benefit from Villa being a bigger deal and a more serious club.

Wow, that's really clutching at straws.

Not having MON as manager.

Superficial similarities arguably. And there're a lot of differences too.

Do as you wish! It's not like these teams of professionals ever make a mistake though. I openly said I was basing it on his YouTube, and my real comment is his Bologna YouTube isn't very impressive. It is only a YouTube though of course.

Name one of our attacking players who consistently makes the right decision. Even that ex player Grealish had his moments and he was still worth £100million.

But unless I'm wrong it's essential for the system Gerrard wants to play. And his lack of pace and bad touch (in the video) were my other worries, and they're pretty important. With pace, the last player's Youtube that had a low-pace red flag was Buendia's, and I think it is the main thing holding him back at this level.

It's full of bad touches, he doesn't look quick and there are no killer crosses. That's not a good thing! Hopefully whoever made the video wasnt very good at doing so.

I watched that video of Hickey a couple of days ago and it made me not want us to sign him. I saw bad touches and no real pace. So I think we're probably going to sign him.

Can we combine this thread with the old Coutinho thread? There's a kind of beauty in these things. Like rings in a tree stump. For any mod who is so inclined, I think it was called Philippe Coutinho (Inter) and it was back in 2013.

I see where you're coming from—I kind of think Watkins is exactly the same this season as he was last season. The things people complain about he was doing last year too. Personally, I think he's a very good player who does a lot more for us than some give him credit for in a difficult position, but he does have a few traits that you could pick on and wonder if he could work on them.

I don't know, but I do know his situation in Barca is more complicated than 'not getting a start in the worst Barca team for 20 years'. I believe their mess of finances and his massive wages have a lot to do with it. He's clearly being forced out and for understandable reasons when you look at the money.

Not because he's not good enough.

I want to look forwards to football games and signing Coutinho is going to boost that a fair bit. Keen!

We had Tuanzebe for this. It's only been one game (this season anyway). Although, of course Hause is more a LCB, so maybe he would have replaced Mings anyway. Hause was a bit casual for their second goal. Such a shame.