Monkeypuzzle

Goncalves!

Goncalves hopefully!

I can't think of a more high profile signing we have ever made. Coutinho had been underperforming for a few years, Tielemans had a poor season and got relegated, Kamara was high potential but hadn't really taken off yet, Schmeichel was in his twilight years. I can't think of a more high profile player in the prime years of their career who has been playing well when we signed them. Therefore yes, it is a huge signing. He could realistically expect to play for just about any team in the world. He is that good and that respected in the industry.

Isn't McGinn left footed?

I can't claim to know a huge amount about him but for whatever reason, the idea of signing this guy just does not appeal to me. I've never heard people talking about him as a stand out player in matches, he would be 4th or 5th choice in his position and I just don't see the point of this transfer. I understand that not every signing needs to be exciting and high profile but I just am not feeling this link. Maybe it's because our obvious requirements are at the other end of the pitch and we don't seem to be having a lot of luck in that department. Another defensive midfielder when we already have eight players that can play there is not the transfer news I want to hear. Goal scoring attacking midfielder/deep lying striker/winger to compete with Buendia/Bailey Another striker to compete with Ollie Hard working attacking midfielder to compete with McGinn and Ramsey Another right back to compete with Cash Those are our priority signings in my mind. The following are less important but would, of course, be nice. Replacement back up keeper to replace Olsen Additional top quality centre back to replace Chambers and Hause Nowhere in that list is another defensive midfielder to compete with Kamara, Dendoncker, Luiz, Tielemans, McGinn, Nakamba, Chambers and Iroegbunam.

Didn't realise he was a tree? How dare he? I'm outraged! Is he any good at his job? *Edit* This is not meant to belittle the discussion above about racism. More to point out that a monkeypuzzle is a tree!

So we have someone new at the club? Is there anything controversial about him people would like to discuss?

This genuinely made me laugh out loud. Well done sir!

I think that's a very helpful and important point of view to share. I've never experienced someone "blacking up" or "whiting up" either but I imagine either would make me feel awkward. What you say about no intention of malice is important I think. It's the difference between getting angry about the situation and just talking about it. Personally I don't see a difference between Tropic Thunder and White Chicks. Both are getting actors portraying people of different race and making humour about the ridiculous nature of it. However, I also understand the historical issues of black face that somewhat upset that balance. John Wayne playing Ghengis Khan is the situation we do not want to return to.

With Carlos and Konsa I am happy to let Emery look at them in preseason and decide who the best player is. Either way, we have a great back up and Carlos can play in both CB positions quite happily. If we manage to get Pau Torres in as well we will have one of, if not the best quality of depth centre back pairings in the world, surely?

Which emoji means "spray them with cold water to cool them down"? Is it this one ?

That's good, because I think (based on some subtle posts that he has made) that he might be @Delphinho123 favourite player at the club.

None of our players, other than Kamara, were press resistant before Emery worked with them. Remember how much McGinn struggled when under pressure under Dean Smith and Gerrard? He either got tackled or passed it straight to the opposition.

Are they back together? I thought they split up?

Tielemans and Goncalves, both linked, both penalty takers. Thank goodness! We desperately need some in the squad who can score a penalty reliably.

I like to think that all the other teams who get into the play offs will be thinking "crap, I hope we don't get Villa in the draw, they've been amazing this season and will tear us to shreds!" Whether that is Juventus, Leverkusen or any other team that we might come up against. Under Emery there isn't a team in that competition we couldn't beat with our current squad, let alone after he gets to make any transfers he can this summer.

He looks great! Such energy and directness of running! Some cracking assists and finishes too. Lots of that I against top opposition too! Only just turned 22?! Sign him up quick, unless he's another one of these young European stars of the future that we have no chance in signing?

What did he eat?

No it isn't, it might be an ambitious list but there is no one there that is beyond us. If we can sign Kamara we can sign Goncalves. If we can sign Coutinho we can sign Asensio. I'm not saying that we will absolutely sign those players but calling it highly unrealistic is showing a distinct lack of ambition and faith in our owners by your good self in my opinion.

Mamardashvili - GK from Valencia replacing Olsen (around £20m) Dumfries - RB from Inter replacing Young (around £20m) Pau Torres - CB from Villarreal replacing Chambers (around £40m) Guendouzi - CM from Olympic Marseille replacing Nakamba (around £20m) Goncalves - AM from Sporting replacing Coutinho (around £60m) Asensio - RW from Real Madrid replacing Traore (free) Thuram - ST from Monchengladbach replacing Duran (free) These are all players that we have been linked to in the press over the last month or so and some of them are available on free transfers or for less than their market price if rumours are to be believed. By replacing current players I only mean in the squad position. We may offer Young a new contract but I still think we will get competition in for Cash. We may decide/have to keep Coutinho, Duran won't be sold but I don't think he will be the alternative option to Watkins up front next season. This would give us the following squad of 22 plus extras for next season: GK - Martinez, Mamardashvili RB - Dumfries, Cash CB - Mings, Carlos, Pau Torres, Konsa LB - Moreno, Digne DM/CM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker, Guendouzi AM - Goncalves, Ramsey, McGinn, Buendia, Asensio, Bailey ST - Watkins, Thuram That is roughly £160m and hopefully we might get around £20m total for our own sales. £140m is a lot of money but wouldn't shock me to see us pay this Summer. Now add to that any promising youngsters that Unai wants to keep around plus any from the following list that we can't shift or want to keep and you have a squad I would back to get us top four next season! Olsen, Young, Chambers, Hause, Nakamba, Sanson, Traore, Coutinho, Archer, Davis, Wesley

Question: towards the end of the game yesterday Ramsey was hurt when a player stood on his foot just after he crossed it. He was down for about a minute and had the physios on. Why wasn't that checked for a penalty? He was in the box, it was a late challenge, why wasn't it a penalty appeal? What am I missing?

Hit the crossbar in the first five minutes. So unlucky. Fingers crossed it starts to click next season for him.

It is really easy to see just how much more time our players spend on the ball in possession when being pressed now than in the past. They shield the ball, turn and look for the best pass. I know those are the basics that every child is taught, but actually doing it in the Premier League is so difficult and requires such confidence. The days of panic and losing of possession when pressed are gone and I've not seen anyone do it quite as well as us on such a consistent basis in recent months.

Are those abs?!! What a transformation by our captain.

Discussion is fine but people are just saying he's rubbish, needs to be replaced etc. That's not discussing shortcomings.