barry'sboots

1 minute ago, Delphinho123 said:

And there are people on here who refuse to entertain the idea that the club can do any wrong and every decision that is made is the correct one.

Would be a pretty pants "discussion" forum if everyone just wrote in and said what a great job the club was doing and they could do no wrong.  I don't think we'd get up to 1297 pages?!

6 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

Fair enough. I think we’ll get taken apart by teams with 2 in the middle but agree it’s the only way we can fit them both in the side. 

You don’t see many teams play 4-4-2 these days either. 

Agreed.  Certainly not with out and out wingers/creative wide players.

1 minute ago, DCJonah said:

By playing 2 up front. Simple.

Thank you Mike for that insightful perspective.

1 minute ago, Zatman said:

and signed Ings, Buendia and Bailey who combined got about 5 times what Jack did in goal contributions last season

But I don't think we can play 13 players, so you would have to take of the goal contributions of the others that they replace as well?? 

26 minutes ago, dudevillaisnice said:

I think both of their agents have played a blinder. Both have signed new contracts.

Not rocket science is it.  Look at the new contract that Jack could have signed with us.

I think its fairly easy to be a good agent when you have a good player!

28 minutes ago, jacketspuds said:

I agree, but even if we finish in the same place as last season I feel that we will be further behind challenging for a place in Europe than this season. Solely based on the business that Spurs, Leicester and West Ham have done. Then you’ve got the usual Top 4 so it’s just going to be even more difficult to challenge.

Agreed.

The other issue is that, if you are not showing progress then players like Watkins and Konsa may be tempted away next summer by bids from the Super 6.

1 hour ago, lexicon said:

 

 

 

Still don't get this.

We now have no right back cover and have to convert Konsa or Tuanzebe, the latter of whom was not great last time he played there for us under Bruce.  And what happens if one of them gets injured, as Konsa now has.

I would have thought it made sense to keep him around for the next 12 months with a view to, hopefully, Kessler replacing him next summer.

1 hour ago, lexicon said:

Yup. We don't want players who don't believe in the project though, that's for sure. 

I'm pretty sure Danny Ings, Buendia and Bailey wouldn't have joined us last summer???

2 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

We peaked too early...

Look, I wanted a DM etc as well.

However, it's nowhere near as gloomy as some are making out, once our key men are fit.

 

I'm disappointed in our window.  I wanted some of the Jack money redeployed into a "6", an "8" and a back up left winger.  I would have also sent JPB and JJ out to the championship for a season.

But I'm not thinking it's gloomy.  I am just thinking it's not as bright as I'd hoped it would be.  Certain people in the management of the club have talked about aspiring to compete for the European spots in the short term and I think the squad that we have at the minute is probably some way off that.  I feel that it is an opportunity missed!

2 hours ago, thabucks said:

Some of this pessimism isn’t healthy nor based on reality and is based rather on the modern malaise of instant gratification … Yes I would’ve liked more but understand why we haven’t. We signed Tim Iroegbunam for example to hopefully develop into our DM for years to come and not just for shits & giggles. 

The kid has just turned 19 and has no experience of men's football.  I would imagine he is at least a couple of years away - and probably at least a season's loan - from any meaningful contribution for us.

We need to bring in a strong DCM now, imho, if we are to progress this season.

If Iroegbunam develops as we all hope, he would then become this signings understudy and potentially push him out over the next 3 to 4 years.  We need to develop the first team/progress to compete and, if the kids are good enough, they will come in down the line. 

My fear is that, if we do not progress in the meantime, by the time the kids come through, if they are as good as we hope/believe, then many may be off to the Sky 6 or a large German club etc. before we have really got to see them.  If we get value, then that may be okay but it is not always possible.  I know its a fine line but, if we have serious aspirations (as I understood the owners do), we can't just leave holes in the squad hoping that 17/18 year olds will fill them in the future and we will muddle through until then??

17 minutes ago, jacketspuds said:

We’ve got El Ghazi and, potentially, Bidace. I’m less worried about the LW than the midfield area.

We’ve got so many midfielders, but they’re all quite similar. Need big seasons from Luiz, Sanson and McGinn.

The same back up that we had last year that could not produce anything when Jack was out injured??  I know many on here disagree, but I don't rate him as I think he lacks the intensity and fight to be a successful top half PL player.

I don't disagree that we could have done with a couple of extra bodies in midfield - a "6" to upgrade Nakamba and an "8" to compete with SJM, Luiz and Sanson for two positions - I see us playing 4-3-3. 

I think Bidace looks like a really interesting prospect but, like JJ, I would really liked to have seen him go out on loan and get proper game time/30+ starts in the championship.  I want these guys to have a pathway but I don't think we can have them "learning" with us if we are truly aspiring to compete for European spots.  I don't see us doing that at the minute.

2 hours ago, thabucks said:

Why haven’t we improved ? Why are we supposedly worse off ? Why will we be lucky to finish higher than last year ? We are developing as a club and squad and have amazing selection of youth potential within our ranks. They will have a roadmap for each one, that’s not to say all or any with make it, but you don’t develop and invest heavily in the youth system only to buy expensive players to block the route off ( unless you are Chelsea ) we may or may not have a better season … we just need a bit of patience and perspective. For me the glaring area we are short in is CB IMHO. We have enough central midfield combinations to get us by. 

Chelsea have Mount and James starting and have sold youth in Tomori, Tammy, Livramento and others that have allowed them to recycle considerable funds into new players.  I think their model is not as broken as some think.

Clearly, if we have good youth then they need a pathway but I personally think they would develop better with a loan, e.g. JJ, and we should sign someone - to give us 4 x "8"'s, as I see us playing 4-3-3 largely.  I think relying on the youth too early, unless they are Harvey Elliott (who looks some player) may be too burdensome and doesn't necessarily put you in a position to challenge for Europe as I thought we were aspiring to.  If the youth deliver then they deserve a crack but, like Mount and Elliott, they need to push a quality player out not just fill an open gap that is kept for them, if you really want to aspire to be a top side.  

2 hours ago, Steero113 said:

Firstly, you've never seen Bailey play so you cannot judge how far a 'step down' we have made at LW. 

Secondly, if you see Buendia as a direct replacement for Barkley (personally I think J Ramsey has stepped into that role) then Buendia is a massive upgrade on Ross. 

Thirdly, you do the club a huge disservice by referring to Danny Ings (currently on 2 goals and 1 assist in 3 games) as squad depth. 

Clearly some would have liked to have seen 1 or 2 more statement signings to really go for it, but what you've written above is such a one sided its like watching Man City vs Arsenal the other day. 

I am hoping Bailey is fantastic BUT I will be massively surprised if he is on, or nearing, Jack's level, at least in the short term, or else you would think we would have had to pay more than £30m for him?

Buendia hasn't looked like much of an upgrade on Traore as yet but I'm hoping he will come good.

JJ could be very good but for me, personally, if we are aspiring to European football, he should have been out on loan this year getting 30+ games at the top of the championship.

I think it is fair to see Ings as squad depth as I just can't see the two of them playing together without a radical re-shape, which I am not convinced Smith has it in him to deliver, and 4-4-2, imho, will leave us very short in our weakest area - midfield. Ings, Tuanzebe and Young are, hopefully, squad depth but will not improve us much on last year as we barely used Taylor, Engels and Davis who they are, in theory, replacing??

1 hour ago, DevonIsAPlaceOnEarth said:

I think a lot of the frustration wouldn’t be here had Bailey have been fit for the opening games. Without him we look clearly light.

An injury to Bailey and we look light ... that is back to Jack territory??

The loss of Jack and the poor start (albeit with a number of injuries and disruption to pre-season) has massively dimmed my hopes and aspirations.

I am also disappointed by the lack of business activity in our Central Midfield area.  A net spend of -£5m might be great business, but I saw an opportunity to really press on this summer and think we may have missed it.  I am also not confident that Smith can come up with a plan to compensate for the loss of Jack - on the basis of what we saw when Jack was out last year and what I have season this season to date.

I hope that I'm proven wrong.

30 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

We need Hourihan to go out and then there's a very slim chance we get a new midfielder in. I think we'll look to make move for a new midfielder in Jan not now. 

Ramsey/Sanson/Chukwuemeka all need game time. 

I can't believe that he'll be looking to stay after seeing how many of our "8"s were out on Saturday and still not getting on the pitch.  Ash and Chuky in front of him must be a pretty clear steer.

1 hour ago, GingerCollins29 said:

No, it isn't. Nowhere near being described like that

Agreed.  I think we have some good options but its just a bit unbalanced and Smith can't seem to make it work. 

It could definitely be enhanced by a strong "6" (Doucoure for me) and another option at "8" (McKennie would be great).  Whilst I love SJM, it could also do with a real leader (barking out instructions) in there.

2 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

I don't care if he is 3 ft 6, Ginger, and has a micro penis, as long as he can do the job.

Billy Gilmour has already gone to Norwich hasn't he?

1 minute ago, commander said:

I like him but you're swapping someone with a goal roughly every 3 games with someone who scores a goal every 18 games.

I can't see his assist figures.  I know El Ghazi's were zero last year.

1. He's young and will develop.

2. He brings intensity and contribution - El Ghazi brings goals (but 4 of his goals were penalties - Ings ain't bad at those) but nothing else to my mind - combined with pace and ball carrying.

3. Damsgaard's international stats for Denmark are 4 goals in 8 games.

4. Judging by the England game, he brings a free kick ability that we haven't got?

5. He can play as an ACM and, from what I have seen, can get his foot in.

I would start the same as last week but bring in JPB for El Ghazi (unless Bailey is ready).

If SJM is downed by COVID, I would think about a 3-4-3, bringing Tuanzebe in for SJM.

On 22/08/2021 at 18:39, chappy said:

Ivan Toney (their replacement for Watkins is highly rated).

Aston Tavern is an option, pre pandemic was £3 to get in but you got curry and rice for free in one of the side rooms. There’s the Aston Social which you might have to be a member of, I’ve never tried to go in there but always looks full. Or bit of a walk from the station (20 mins) - Barton’s Arms is great too; traditional pub with a good Thai menu as well, went yday and it wasn’t too busy. It’s about another 15/20 min walk back to the ground after though.

There's an oxymoron if ever I've seen one????

4 minutes ago, mickjacobjr said:

We have Traore Bailey bidace buendia all can play wide plus Watkins if stuck 

I'd love it if we finally got Damsgaard who we have been linked with.  From what I have seen he has the intensity to his game that El Ghazi lacks.  This would give us great options out wide with flexibility and mean that we could make changes during a game without dropping the intensity/threat.

47 minutes ago, Czarnikjak said:

You can get excellent value for £17m if you spend it wisely. Bertrand Traore and Emi Martinez cost about £17m for example. Traore is definitely a better player than Elghazi, I don't have to explain what Emi brings.

Actually half of our starting eleven cost less or around £17m (Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Targett, Luiz, Mcginn).

Back in real life, I don't see anybody actually paying £17m for him in this market, it's all just rumours.

I'd take anything over £10m.

On 24/08/2021 at 14:30, omariqy said:

Way I see it is we have one of the best back 5’s and forward players outside the top 4/5 teams. Our issue is still quality in depth and the midfield. McGinn on his day can be up there and likewise Luiz - issue is consistency. We are probably a top midfielder away from being on that level. 

If I was to categorise them

Top 6 to 8 players

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings
Targett
Young
McGinn
Luiz
Bailey
Buendia
Ings
Watkins
Traore

Unknown

Sanson
Tuanzebe

Need improving on

Steer
Guilbert
Hause
Hourihane
Nakamba
El Ghazi
Trezeguet
Wesley
Davis
 

Prospects

Ramsey
Chuk
JPB

I wouldn't disagree with much of this, except I think Hause is good enough as a second choice left sided CB for a team competing for the 5th-10th spot.  I think Steer may be good enough for a second choice keeper but we haven't seen much of him recently so hard to know and I would say the same of Guilbert.

22 minutes ago, RicRic said:

Well everyone wanted Buendia as RW right midfield etc after the watford game and he was moved there for the game against Newcastle and lets be honest he was non existent and didnt do anything more there and didnt take on any of the defenders, he would be wasted there IF he does not bring that pace and speed in that area whereas Bailey would be causing destruction. Time is the essence so he will need to impress sooner or later because we need all areas to be utilised greatly, bidace has to be given a start soon as LW, he needs to be more clinical in the final third however and make better decisions but he causes tremendous problems for the opposition and will certainly be more of a dynamic nuisance than El-Ghazi

I think (hope) that there are three factors:

1. He's getting over an injury

2. He's not yet fully fit

3. He's not helped by the fact that he hasn't got legs around him - I think Watkins' running would make Buendia look better (as at the start of pre-season - accepting it was only Walsall) and Bailey's pace (or possibly JPB) on the left hand side will also stretch the defence/create more space for Buendia to operate in.  Equally, I think if we could get the balance right in our midfield then this would make Buendia's job easier/him look better.