LoughboroughLion

Edit

His comments were interesting last night - 'We need to take more calm with the ball, more possession and break the press. We were in a good moment for the second half.'

So many times we gave possession back to them too easily. I think it was Watkins' comments about Gerrard that he and Ings struggled because they were always competing for long balls played forward. 

There's a definite and noticeable change in trying to play ourselves up the pitch and beat the press more. Will take time.

Also explains why we did so well at the weekend - because Utd/Ronaldo didn't press as much. We need to be better on Sunday because after seeing that performance Brighton are going to press high I would have thought. 

For me the key message is our spending and balance sheet is funded via share issue and equity rather than interest bearing loans.

We knew it already bc of companies house filings, but it signals interest and intent from the owners.

We’ve got to get at that defence - should be fragile 

Anyone travelling to and from London - last train looks to be at 22.00 and bus 22.25

Curious to know whether there are any other options available?

Can anyone give me some advice - I’m mulling over two options

Ings, Bruno, Toney > DCL, Ronaldo, ESR (only Ings to DCL would be this GW)

Bruno, Ings > Cristiano, Jota

No mention in today's presser?

6 minutes ago, Enda said:

Nah it’s Steve Staunton that was from Cork. Bacuna was Dutch.

Shall I tell him or does someone else want to?

3 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Bacuna

Ah yes. That chap from Cork. 

1 hour ago, BOF said:

Over the first 6-8 games I can't. All I can say is over the first 3 yes, and you have transfers. Rafa could set up defensively and we won't, plus DCL just back from injury.  But all things being equal (which they never are), then DCL over 6-8 is the better pick if you were planning on not transferring.

This is it. Sound advice

I’ve a reluctance to ‘plan’ transfers within the first 6 weeks or so as naturally there’ll be fires I have to fight and don’t like playing wildcard too early.

Clearly Ings wins over the first 3, but DCL over the longer period.

Richarlson back boosts DCL’s appeal. But Ollie being absent oddly boosts Ings appeal for me.

Too tight to call

Someone convince me to get Ings over DCL

I typically set my initial draft up with the first 6-8 weeks in mind

I have Buendia btw for coverage

1 minute ago, VillanousOne said:

it felt like because of the cancelled games at the start we have played a hell of a lot of football in a short space of time, as well as internationals, not saying we are alone or hard done by, but how else do you explain half our players stopping tackling or pressing or winning any 50/50s in the second half, just standard sh*tness?

Barkley is injured we know that and probably shouldn't have started, McGinn looked a shadow of the player he was in the last game.

 

Every team we’ve played has had fitness problems and injuries. It’s a weird year and we need to be better than we were, irrespective of fitness

Anonymous second half 

Anonymous second half 

12 hours ago, Tom13 said:

Really excited to see him.

No pressure but gotta be our saviour.

He’s not our saviour.

He’s a very naughty boy. 

Gareth Southgate gives out parking tickets to guests that use his drive 

He offers no discount for early payment 

Footage of the future kings at the next FA meeting

34 minutes ago, useless said:

We might bring in more than one striker, but doubt we'll be signing two that will cost £50m plus between them as would be the case with Watkins and Édouard, that would be a big chunk of our budget on one position when we already have three strikers at the club fighting for that one position and we only play with one striker as it is.

More than likely we'd go for one of Watkins or Édouard, or someone else, and then if we wanted an additional striker it would be someone cheaper with potential to develop, someone like Maja could be an interesting option if we could get him for around £12m.

(If the talk of four players and 100m to spend etc etc. is to be believed) Our two weakest positions this season have been ST/Winger, so I think that’s where most of our budget sits and don’t think 50m+ on those positions is out of the question. 

Josh Onomah starting lively - not 3m + Grealish lively - but lively nonetheless 

27 minutes ago, hippo said:

but unless he has been kept under wraps- and has already been watching us, I think it might be too late for him to have an impact this window already.  He has to come in - see where the gaps are - see who smith wants, settle in himself.

Maybe our signings this summer are going to be more predictable, Sarr, Behrama, Billings, Wilson,  etc - as you say we don't need an SD to sign players.

I agree - not sure someone could come in and within 3 or 4 weeks be up to speed on everything and be an integral part of a plan. 

I don't think this would be a bad year for us to go down the predictable route - 3 or 4 big signings that are 'known'. Yes, we may overpay compared to some obscure European gems but in the grand scheme of things we're hopefully building a structure that means in two or three seasons that will be a thing of the past.

Having a first eleven of superstars is of course what everyone wants, but look at most sides outside top 7/8 and they have 3 or 4 good to great players maximum.

Having a known and consistent playing structure and style with a few good players can’t be underestimated. 

For us, Heaton, Mings, McGinn, Luiz, Grealish (hope so), new striker, new winger would be more than enough for us to progress. 

We’ve tightened up under Smith now and have a platform to grow from. 

That said, go down and we risk losing it all  
 

Maybe being optimistic, but I don't think we're too far away from being a solid top 8/10 side challenging for Europe

If we stayed up (please), signed a top class Striker, Winger, CB (20-25m each) and convinced Grealish to stay with those signings, I think we would have a really good squad.