Villaphil

Rest Watkins, Traore up top, bring on El Ghazi

Given our current position and form, I’m of the opinion that if a player was interested in joining us last summer, I’d want to double check that they are still of the required standard now.

Let’s get Sancho from Dortmund and show everyone we mean business.

Thought I saw something about time off during COVID outbreak has given him chance to review squad and speak to some players.

Genuine question...... on the assumption we get a couple of Brooks and Sanson type players this month, should we really be spending on another striker right now? If you believe there’s a player in Wes, that Traore can play as a 9, and that Barry is good enough for the 1st team squad next season, aren’t there other priorities? I can see a loan move if Wes isn’t quite ready, but permanent move for Barkley and possibly CB and LB cover would be higher on my list.

Exactly as you describe, Rashica was everything you want from a transfer story, it gave far better entertainment, over a longer period, than any of the actual transfers this summer. The pantomime of whether or not to re-open the thread was hilarious.

Not sure I agree on your definition of ‘few’ either.

Intrigued by the link to Erikson, strong believer there’s usually a reason these links appear. Don’t believe it’s true, so who and why put this story out there. Don’t see it coming from Inter or the player trying to drum up a buyer. I do wonder whether we are negotiating a fee for Barkley and the club are suggesting to Chelsea they have other options ??????

I wonder whether Lange may be expected to work his magic in Jan. The drop off in quality between the 1st team and the wider squad has led to us using the fewest number of players (19) in the league, this season. With the wider squad not playing, their value reduces. I’d want Lange to be looking for replacements for these players. If we can’t get rid now, we may be left with them running down their contract because no one will pay for a transfer or meet their wages. If we can sign a first team upgrade then great, but otherwise, replace them with players Lange has found who will be relatively cheap but likely to increase in value and be an actual option off the bench. For me at least, Elmohamady, Hourihane, Lansbury and Taylor will all leave on frees in the summer, and so they may be difficult to move on. That leaves decisions to be made on, Steer, Engels, Guilbert and Nakamba. I wonder what value the club loses if these players remain on the fringes?

Not from the start, but with 20 mins to go, he’d bring Wes on for SJM or Luiz ??

I think we’ve missed the guile of Barkley in those situations. If Wes isn’t the solution up front, then he serves no purpose in the squad. FWIW - I think 4-4-2 with Watkins and Wes up front is what we’ll go with. Then make a decision on Wes in the summer.

What’s great to see is that we are looking into the longer term with our recruitment. Assuming we can shift players out to resolve any FFP issues, and we can get someone to significantly improve the first team, over the next 2-3 years then we’ll spend. If there’s no-one to fit the bill, then we’ll continue as we are, strengthen by the return of Wes, Heaton and hopefully improved form from Traore and AAG.

Always a balancing act, just a little concern as per the below (SJM).

Still early doors, but might be tempted to rest SJM, he played in all of Scotland’s games. Maybe have Luiz, Nakamba and Barkley start in midfield. Luiz a little more advanced than normal. SJM to come off the bench. I guess it depends it’s whether you think this form is temporary and so want to ride the wave as long as it lasts, or whether you think this is where we belong and we need to rotate the squad to keep us fresh to stay there. Is there a touch of the MON about playing the same team week in week out, and then at some point being forced to rest half the first team due to injuries / fatigue ?

Love the idea of the habitual Europa League team only ‘growing in confidence’ once the mighty Leeds Utd have fluffed a few chances.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Stay until your love is, love is, alive and kicking.... (one for the dads)

Aren’t these deals normally paid over a number of years, not sure why we’d need the full £30m now.

A big if, but what if King does go to West Ham, where does that leave Brentford and Benrahma? That will mean both Palace and West Ham have walked away. Not many clubs left in the game at that point. Press will talk Arsenal and Chelsea, but that’s not realistic. At that point and only if we can create space in the squad, I think we’ll try something last minute. £15m + AEG + £5m in add-ons. Running out of options may mean his salary requirements fall too.

I thought we knew we were paying just over £100k for Drinkwater and just under £100k for Barkley ??

Assume the Barkley money comes from the not paying Drinkwater anymore money ??

Fair point, but can we agree if we are going to limit the reference time period, then the use of the word ‘ever’ is probably a little misplaced ? A bit like the phrase ‘best ever in the premier league’.

Draper, Southgate, Savo.

I presume.... Elmo covers CB, is a senior voice in the dressing room, and Kaine Kessler takes the back up RB position from next season anyway.