barry'sboots

I agree with est1874, I think Brentford are the best positioned (assuming they don't suffer injury to key players) to stay up of the promoted teams: They have a front foot way of football that is well developed and well drilled - a little like Leeds but more pragmatic (at least to the initial Leeds). There was a recent TIFO article that explained really well the way that they play and recruit into that style of play. As mentioned above, their recruitment is very smart. They have kept their best players from the Championship (last season) and have built a consistent squad over their time in the Championship and haven't had to make wholesale changes like we and Fulham did. It will be really interesting to see their progress. You mentioned Sheff U - I think their big issue in their second season was largely down to poor recruitment, the loss of Henderson and a few key injuries early on? Once they had lost that momentum they were always playing catch up. I also think their game was better suited to playing in front of crowds - huge support at home and backs to the wall/never say die away from home?

I think SJM (of Scotland form, pre-injury in the first season and last couple of games is on a par with these) and I think Dougie (of post project restart) is also, but neither have been consistent recently (Dougie is obviously still very young). I am not sure yet where Sanson sits. We certainly don't have a Rice or Ndidi type though and that is a key requirement for me. Another "8" (McKennie or Rafinha) would give us another quality option for a 4-3-3 which I think suits SJM/our personnel better. I agree with your view on position etc..

We are 10th now and I'd gladly take that at the end of the season IF we don't do any more business.

Southampton will have a very interesting (and young/developmental) full back pairing with Small and Livramento.

I know - I don't expect it to happen ... the signings that is, I'm really not sure as to how realistic the threesome option for you is!! But it seems such a shame when they are all available and at "sensible" prices; we have the FFP headroom, as I understand it, following Jack's transfer; and that net spend is a drop in the ocean for our owners and is relatively small given the investment to date. It seems like another opportunity to take a big step on their stated aspirational 5 year plan that we potentially look like spurning? I hope that we are both surprised with the final week of the window ... and you with some hot threeway action!

Three signings - Doucoure, McKennie & Damsgaard - and three out - Nakamba, Hourihane & El Ghazi - for me would be a great window (excepting the loss of he who shall not be named!). All do-able it seems and would give us a net outlay for the window of circa £40-50m. That would, imho, give us many more options for rotation/cover/impact subs with two good options for every position (4-3-3) and move us from a 10-15th placed team to a 5-10th placed team.

I don't see him as a "10" from everything I have read and seen. I think he is a right winger that drifts centrally. Lots of Norwich fans saying the same i.e. that he never played well when used as a "10". I think we'll see him on the RW in either a 4-3-3, as at the weekend, or a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 with Ings and Bailey up top. Traore will be the back up/rotation - which is not a bad position for us with two quality options on the right.

I think we'll see a better Buendia when there is pace around (Bailey and Watkins) to stretch the opposition back line and create the space for him to operate in.

I guess that is the point - he would have to over compensate with goals for the lack of product elsewhere on the pitch.

I don't think it is over the top - I would have gone with a higher number. I guess the proof of the pudding is asking the Swansea fans if they would want him back? Like El Ghazi, CH can hit a ball but he is just two yards off the pace and lacks the energy or intensity to play at a high level UNLESS you can build your team around him and just let him do what he does.

Personally, I would probably keep him around this year as cover/bench option (a bit like Ramsey was last year) and, unless he does something stunning, would look to loan him out next season to a top half Championship side to play 30+ games and really prove himself/develop with a view to bringing him back as a fully fledged first teamer (assuming he develops as we all expect) the following year. Similar to how Liverpool have developed Elliott??

Didn't we buy Konsa for £12m - I know he still needed a bit of nurturing - and Martinez for £17m? That's some pretty good value around the £15m mark?? We aren't "yet" (hopefully) big enough to compete at the real bang end of the market and I personally believe we can build successfully the way we are going. I think Doucoure at £15m is partly a function of the position of the French clubs and the market. From what I have seen/heard, I would certainly be happy with this £15m??

Not many PL clubs readily accessible from either of those places?

Spot on. I also think people sometimes ignore the benefit that a younger player might get by going out on loan to a less pressured environment and getting regular minutes. Billy Gilmour will go out to Norwich and play 30 games + this season and come back to Chelski a much better player (as Mount did before him), where he will either be capable of participating or will be sold for decent money. Harvey Elliott had a great experience at Blackburn and is now back and keeping Thiago on the bench. The big clubs don't stop their buying to allow the kids to come through, they continue to bring in quality and then challenge their youngsters to be better than that quality or, worst case, sell them on for decent fees. I hope that we are about to start acting like a big club! There are pathways as Elliott and Curtis are showing at Liverpool and Foden is showing at Citeh but there should not be guarantees and the development plan/pathway should always be tailored to suit the individual. I think the development of our youth alongside continued strong recruitment and development of our coach/manager will define how successful NSWE will be and there is no room for romanticism in there.

I'm with you 100%. As said above, I don't hate the guy either and would always support him if I was at VP but I don't think he is anywhere near good enough to be a part of our squad if we (or I should say the owners) have the aspirations I believe that they have. HITC features a tweet from Aston Villa Statto: "Number of times an Aston Villa player has mis-controlled a pass this season: Anwar El Ghazi - 11 Danny Ings - 4 Jacob Ramsey - 4 Matty Cash - 3 Tyrone Mings - 2". This is just symptomatic of El Ghazi's game from my perspective. He just lacks intensity. I always feel that he might have a goal in him and certainly can take a penalty but he adds nothing outside of this for me. No assists last year is telling for a wide attacking player. I would love to see him sold - I thought he cost £8m and I would sell for this or above which I think his goal output alone might justify - and replaced with Damsgaard, who we keep getting linked with. This would give us four quality wide options in Buendia, Traore, Damsgaard and Bailey, who are all interchangeable to an extent, with JPB as a very credible fifth option/bench cover. We would potentially have a really exciting bench then - as wingers and "9"s are typically the key subs used to change a game. However, even if we don't sign Damsgaard (or equivalent), I would still be happy to see him depart as I believe that Young and JPB offer better options.

I agree. He certainly wasn't great at RB when Bruce was playing him there as he struggled to get forward/play the ball. Not helped, I'm sure, by having Jedi inside him at CB!! Equally, I am not sure we should be looking to develop his game in an area of the pitch that is crucial to us when he will make mistakes there as he learns and we won't necessarily benefit from his learning longer term as he is only on loan with no option to buy. Great as a third/fourth choice CB that could also allow us to switch to a three at the back if needed but, as much as I like Axel as well, I wouldn't look beyond this at this stage.

I didn't get to watch the full game as was out - just caught snippets. Is he now of a standard that people are happy with him as a potential starter in a 4-3-3 when we are chasing for top half OR would people rather we invested in a, say, Rafinha or McKennie (giving us three/four experienced options at "8" depending what we do at "6"/how you see Luiz) and let Ramsey go out on loan for 30+ games with a, say, Swansea or Bristol City? He clearly benefitted from the less pressured environment at Doncaster where he was able to add goals to his game. Personally, I would rather he developed in a less pressured environment in the Championship for 12 months and then came back a more experienced player (or was sold on for a profit depending how the other four worked out).

I've said it before but for me he is the Hourihane of the wide players. He has a good shot on him (albeit it has become a bit too predictable as he tries to cut in and shoot every time) but he offers nothing else. As you say, he has no heart for a fight. No assists last year says it all. If I was Watkins/Ings and saw AEG's name on the team sheet, I would sigh heavily! If Roma really want him and will pay anything above £10m for him I would snap their hand off (he's obviously played with Tammy before) and I would re-invest in Damsgaard or McNeil - 4 wide players of Buendia (I don't see him as a "10"), Traore, Bailey and Damsgaard with JPB in the squad/on the bench/covering injuries would be quality. Again, as you say, I think he could have a good career in a more technical league.

Just interested - why would you start El Ghazi ahead of JPB?? On the basis of pre-season, I would have the kid way ahead of him.

I think, if Smith gets his selection right tomorrow (imho - a 4-3-3 with the same midfield that ended the Watford game, Ash at LB, and Buendia (RW) and JPB (LW) either side of Ings) we should have enough to beat the Geordies BUT I don't believe he will if last Saturday is anything to go by!

I'd rather he wasn't starting or getting on but if he does play you are spot on, he should be as far away from the right side as possible. I can't understand why Smith can't see this as well???

Agreed. Let him go out and get games against men. Equally, when you are that low down the pyramid, I think it probably grounds you that bit more and presumably gives you the added motivation to make sure that you make it. The kid is 18 coming on 19, he can go out on loan to the Championship next season!!

I fully expect to be!

I really hope that Smith doesn't start with El Ghazi tomorrow!

Personally, I think the squad that we have - without a "10" (I don't see Buendia as a 10) lends itself to 4-3-3. Of our senior players, we have one "6" - who is poor in possession - and four "8"s, but one of them, imho, could do with 12 months out on loan at a good championship club. I would love it if we bought in a decent "6" and an "8" so we could rotate/fill a bench/use subs/cover injuries. I see a midfield of: ---------------------- Doucoure ------------------ with Nakamba as cover, but wouldn't mind if we sold him to Everton and used Luiz if Doucoure was injured --- McKennie ------------------------ SJM --- with Luiz and Sanson, if he ever recovers, as rotation etc. and Chuck in there as well making benches etc.. We currently have four wingers - Buendia and Traore as RW and Bailey and El Ghazi as left wingers. For me, El Ghazi is just not up to it and if Roma would give anything more than £10m I would sell and replace with Damsgaard (or McNeill). This would give us four quality options with JPB in reserve. Trez should also be off once he has recovered imho.