Monkeypuzzle

1 minute ago, The_Steve said:

He looked better in the second half but his shortcomings and lack of pace are holding him back. The RB position is going to be addressed for sure - but we need better competition if he’s to stay. 

Saying that his is a position that we might to look for an upgrade is a perfectly reasonable statement. You could say the same about a few in our first eleven, that's how we progress as a squad. I just get fed up with fans slagging our own players off, calling them bad players and treating them like some kind of problem, when in reality, our whole squad have stepped up their game massively. The same happened with Bailey and people were getting really toxic when what he needed was our support and patience.

It's not like when we played the peripheral players in the cups against Man Utd and Stevenage. You could tell that Unai was not happy with those players and he has barely picked them as starters since. We should be more supportive of our players. If we replace them, that's one thing but far too many people are becoming toxic against players they should be supporting.

Utter rubbish! He did nothing wrong today. Great tackles, great pressing, was held back for their goal, which slowed him down, hence his leg playing them onside. His tackle and block, only for a late offside flag to be raised, was epic. He was marking two excellent players in Enciso and then Mitoma and did a damn good job too. If Unai thought otherwise he would have changed him quickly if he wasn't playing well, especially as there were two players on the bench who could have replaced him.

Cash has become a target for people's 'opinions', calling him rubbish based on nothing. When he has been fit he has clearly been Unai's preferred right back, but of course, you know better, he's crap and needs to be sold. Utter tosh!

Cash is not playing bad AT ALL! He has made some great tackles and blocks, is marking a fantastic, in form player and had one foot back for the offside as he was being pulled back by the offside player just before. Some of you need a reality check.

Why are you worried? Were never gonna take that deal!

If he comes, we want him to have a friend. Bring Goncalves with him. I'm sure we can squeeze him in somewhere!

1 hour ago, Villaphan04 said:

Ugarte 

Asensio

Nico Williams or Yeremy Pino

Lo Celso

 

I'd probably want an out and our RB (a CB would be fine there as well) but we haven't really been linked with rbs yet. 

We were linked to Dumfries from inter not long ago.

Why is everyone posting 4-3-3 formations when Emery has never played us in that formation? We play a 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-2-2 don't we?

16 hours ago, burchy said:

That’s an option but I’d worry about Konsa’s pace as he’s not the quickest. 

It was nice to see Carlos out there again, he’s only made about 3 starts for us hasn’t he or something ridiculous like that

I thought Konsa WAS quite pacey? I thought that was one of his strengths as a player?

1 hour ago, VILLAMARV said:

Olsen out and Steer to get released - New GK in

A.Young released - New RB in

Hause out

Nakamba and Sanson out - New CM in

Wesley and Davis out

 

That tidies up the deadwood and those OOC and would leave us quite balanced in terms of numbers

Emi - NewGK

Cash - NewRB

Moreno - Digne

Mings - Carlos

Konsa - Chambers

Kamara - Dendonker

Dougie - NewCM

McGinn - Bailey

Buendia - Coutinho

Ramsey - Traore

Watkins - Duran

And like quite a few of us I wonder if Digne is happy or a good allocation of resources, If we can't find a better option at CB than Chambers or a better option on the ball than Dendonker. Whether we can find a buyer for Coutinho that interests him, who out of Bailey, Bertie and Buendia might make way for someone a little more consistent and whether Duran sticks around the first team next year. On top of that I wonder what Archer has to do to get his chance and whether any of AJ, Iroegbunam, KKH, Azaz or Philogene might hang around next season?

We've got alot of the ingredients and Emery knows how to put things together. Perhaps time to start looking for some cherrys on top.

Whatever we add needs to be real quality

I'd rather keep Olsen, Young and Nakamba than not sign any forward thinking players! We need at least one first team player to help us better break down stubborn defenses.

Ok, I'm gonna do what I said I wouldn't and make some suggestions for one and outs.

Outs: Steer, Olsen, Young, Hause, Chambers, Nakamba, Sanson, Traore, Bailey, Coutinho, Davis, Wesley

Ins: Lafont, Dumfries, Pau Torres, Kokcu, Guendouzi, Goncalves, Williams, Thuram

That would give us a squad of 22 great players plus several top youngsters. I'm not saying we will make this many changes, or that we can even afford to, but what a squad that would be! Hell, why not get Merino as well just to be safe. Squad of 23 (24 with Archer).

Martinez          Lafont

Dumfries          Cash

Carlos               Konsa

Pau Torres       Mings

Moreno            Digne

Kamara            Dendoncker

Luiz                   Guendouzi

McGinn             Kokcu

Goncalves        Ramsey

Buendia            Williams

Watkins            Thuram

25 minutes ago, picicata said:

Aren't they quite different in play style? Guendouzi more of an aggressive ball winning, McGinn like player and Lo Celso a more controlled ball player like Luiz? 

How many records have we broken since Unai joined? I know we have broken the scoring consecutively in games with a new manager record and Ollie's 6 away game scoring record, but are there any others?

Where are Ealing and Kesler playing? Aren't they both right backs?

Which position is he playing for the u21s? I know he is normally a right back but it looks like he is playing at left back in recent games?

11 hours ago, romavillan said:

Are you busy weekends? Rather have you there than Olsen...

I take up a lot more of the goal mouth than he does but I still think he might be better than me, even if you're not his biggest fan

3 minutes ago, romavillan said:

Let him do whatever he wants but don't let's have him on the bench or near the squad. He could do some landscaping at bodymoor heath maybe, or take up tennis?

Last match we had 4 keepers in the match day squad. He's gonna be in the team even at third place.

8 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

When are people going to get over the fact no top team plays 2 CFs up top any more.

We're not spending big money on a player like Thuram and play together with Watkins. 

Brighton flying this season with only Welbeck(barely used) and Ferguson( Archer equivalent) and using attacking mids up front a lot of the season (Trossard who did same role at Arsenal before Jesus back)

I could wax on about other top teams that don't play 2 CFs or even have back up CF 

People can say Emery said striker is priority but I'd put money on it being attacking mid that play across front 3 upgrade on Bailey not a CF type. Plus Archer maybe used if playing more comps. 

 

Firstly, we need another player who can rotate with Watkins. Just like Ings did. Was anybody complaining that we had too many strikers when Ings was here? Secondly, how many times has Unai brought Duran on to play alongside Watkins this season? He doesn't always replace him, does he? I am not sure that Duran AND Archer will be in the first team next season. One may go out on loan. Also, Thuram would be a free signing.

9 hours ago, burchy said:

You had me until this bit ….

Gk - Martinez, OLSEN, Sinisalo

We have Martinez to play in goal. Obviously if we can get an upgrade on Olsen we will make a change but he's not a priority to upgrade. I'm looking for first team upgrades. On his wages he will be hard to offload. He may become our third choice keeper before then.

I see someone like Guendouzi competing with McGinn. Someone who can either play an aggressive attacking role or a forward thinking defensive midfielder when cover is required for Kamara or Luiz.

Goncalves I think would compete more with Ramsey, Buendia and Coutinho. Coutinho will probably stay in my opinion. He hasn't had a proper chance to show what he can do under Emery yet, apparently had a 50% sell on clause from Barcelona and I just don't think we will have many serious offers for him until Unai works his magic on him.

If we are after someone of the Bailey or Traore ilk then I would expect it to be at one of their expense. This would be the Williams style signing. Personally I think we have played best with Buendia or Coutinho in that central attacking midfielder/centre forward role rather than Bailey (can't stand the phrase support striker, what does that even mean?) However I think Unai would like a speedy winger and proper second striker as alternatives to mix things up.

I honestly don't think our back line needs any additions, although good opportunities should never be wasted. 4 top quality additions at the attacking end, e.g. Guendouzi, Goncalves, Williams and Thuram would give us 25 good squad players and some to move on.

GK - Martinez, Olsen, Sinisalo

Defenders - Cash, Young, Carlos, Konsa, Mings, Chambers, Digne, Moreno

Midfielders - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker, Iroegbunam, McGinn, Ramsey, Buendia, Coutinho, Bailey, Traore, Guendouzi, Goncalves, Williams

Strikers, Watkins, Thuram, Archer

Possible loans - Marschall, Kesler Hayden, Feeney, Chrisene, Revan, Bogarde, Swinkels (if he gets a new contract), O'Reilly, Ramsey, Philogene, Barry, Duran

Definitely going - Steer, Hause, Nakamba, Sanson, Davis, Wesley, Chukwuemeka

Do Liverpool have an easy fixture list for their run in? They seem to be predicted much higher than I expect based on their current position.

We are Intertoto Cup winners and proud! Wooooo!

What do the opta stats say about our final predicted place, now that we've beaten Newcastle?

2 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

Could sign all 3 and wouldn't start any ahead of team that just beat Newcastle but we do need strengthening in those areas

Add Goncalves to that and I'd be thoroughly impressed.