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barry'sboots

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Everything posted by barry'sboots

  1. barry'sboots
    I have been told, by someone who knows the Grealish entourage quite well, that part of his logic for going there was that he wouldn't have to play as much due to squad depth and that would give his shins a rest/elongate his career. Makes sense - some players accepting squad/rotation as a positive.
  2. barry'sboots
    I'm sure I saw that, based on games since he took over, we would be 9th in the table?? Compared to 16th, from memory, when he came in?? Ant the Gerard period also includes 2 games each v Citeh and Plop. That's not too bad given that he has been missing any kind of DCM - crucial to his system - since Nakamba got injured early on. I am not 100% convinced as yet but I am a million miles away from your position.
  3. barry'sboots
    I think we are going all in BUT I think the players we are buying and looking to buy would be very useable by any manager! That is the benefit of having Lange and crew??
  4. barry'sboots
    I agree. He sounds like the perfect false "9" which Pep likes.
  5. barry'sboots
    I have you right for the most part but would add: Buy Tarkowski - Free Olsen - 3m Hickey - 20m Madueke - 20m And would probably spend less on a "9" leaving Oliie as first choice. Out - 160m Sell Ming's - 30m (Geordies want as per the Express) Hause - 10m I have you as 20m plus short but I would, in an ideal world, absorb this by selling Nakamba instead of Luis. in - 100m if all of that happened we could be some outfit next year.
  6. barry'sboots
    They were better than us last year but 7-2 didn't show that on the night!
  7. barry'sboots
    That's a fair bit of effort when you could have just said I think he'll go with the same starting XI?
  8. barry'sboots
    I assume that he was talking about the run in and saying that he would rather play with an inexperienced or lesser "6" than an "8" playing out of position, which I agree with (I think!). Obviously, next year, we will have a world class "6" to sit behind two of our "8"s!
  9. barry'sboots
    I don't disagree that we need a proper "6". I think everybody realises that and Stevie does as well. I see: 6. One of Bissouma/Phillips/Kondogbia/Kamara (ideally) with Marv as back up and Tim out on loan 8's . We play two from four of: SJM, Luiz, JJ or Sanson. 10. We have Coutinho, Buendia, Bailey and maybe one other. I see Traore moving on - he is great when he is on but just not consistent enough or high enough energy to play in the PL for me. I am not sure what Chukie is - is he an 8 or a 10?? He really, in my book, needs a loan to a top Championship side but he probably doesn't agree. May be academic to debate anyway if he is off. I think a midfield three of --------------------------- Bissouma -------------------------- OR -------------- Luiz --------- Bissouma ----------- -------- Luiz ---------------------------------------- SJM ------ ----------------------- SJM ---------------------------- could be really effective. Luiz (or Sanson as cover/rotation) maybe that bit more disciplined/almost a second sitter/double pivot, allowing SJM (or Ramsey as cover/rotation) to drive further forward and link up with the 10's in front?
  10. barry'sboots
    I can't believe that there are some on here who want to discard SJM. You only have to look at his Scotland form to see that there is a real player there when deployed in a way that suits his game.
  11. barry'sboots
    Agreed. Everton finished 5th and we finished 6th but we, and they, were the highest spenders outside of the top 5 (wages and transfers with Everton's transfer spend having been a bit more historic). O'Neill and Moyes performed to their XG in modern day parlance but we had an opportunity to do more I believe.
  12. barry'sboots
    I have you spot on. The positive this year is that we do seem to be making our priority - albeit it is only press talk I accept - to sign a very good player in the CDM area, if you believe the links to Phillips, Kondogbia, Bissouma etc.. Equally, we seem to be linked with a new CB and a back up LB - both deals are key. We now seem to targeting the right positions and the right quality of signings to make the squad competitive at the right end of the table. Anything on top, other than Kessler, Cam and JPB returning, I suspect, will depend upon outgoings.
  13. barry'sboots
    We saw the significant impact that having a proper DCM can have on Stevie's set up in the first few games before Marv got injured. 4 wins out of 6 and the two losses were narrow defeats to two of the best sides (if not the best - we'll see soon!) in Europe. I will be the first to admit that I was not a huge fan of Marv but with Stevie's influence and set up Marv looked very effective. I am more than happy for Marv to stay as back up (possibly whilst Tim gets some first team minutes on loan and builds up his CV) but I think adding a Bissouma/Kondogbia/Phillips/Kamara (?) will elevate our midfield to a new level and will allow Dougie (if he stays?), SJM and Ramsey to focus on what they do well. SJM has consistently looked fantastic for Scotland in a more advanced role that he hasn't been able to consistently play for us. Equally, an upgrade at CB to bring in a leader like de Vrij and better back up at full back (Kessler's return plus, ideally, Hickey to compete with Digne) would strengthen our defence. I think you are spot on - get the platform right and other players will also benefit from this. I make it 4 signings in the summers - de Vrij, Bissouma, Hickey, Coutinho (or equivalents) - with more exits and I think we could be very competitive.
  14. barry'sboots
    I don't know what to expect!! I doubt Gerard will make material changes. I would like to see Sanson unless Stevie has already made his mind up about him. If Digne is injured and we have to play Young (although I would prefer to see Chrisene as he is the future) I would prefer us to play three CBs and go 3-4-1-2 or 3-4-2-1. If the Villa team that turned up in the second half against Arsenal or the first half against Spurs (minus the sloppy goal) show up for 90 minutes, we have a great chance of winning, but that has not happened for a while.
  15. barry'sboots
    Its what i've seen the media talking about. It would be great for us imho. Ings hasn't looked at the level I'd hoped he would, he is over 30 and he injury prone. Cash in, move on and go and buy Darwin Nunez ??
  16. barry'sboots
    I can't see us selling SJM/I really hope we don't. We know what he can do operating as a proper 8/10 (we have seen it in the past and we see it every international break for the Scots) and that's where he needs to be next season with a proper DCM behind him. ------------------------------ Bissouma or Phillips/Nakamba --------------------------- --------------- SJM/Sanson ---------------------------------- Ramsey/Chukie ---------- I am assuming that Dougie is off in the summer.
  17. barry'sboots
    I'd definitely keep him around as a bench option - he just offers something that we do not have anywhere else in our front line.
  18. barry'sboots
    See several reports saying that Citeh are not happy with Jack and he is complaining about playing time etc.. Lets bring him back home - a cheeky £50m bid over the summer??
  19. barry'sboots
    I accept that they have gone backwards since the start of the season BUT I think this is principally due to a lack of talent at the top end. Even so, they are comfortably mid table. Put Watkins, Buendia and Coutinho up front and I think they might be pushing for Europe?
  20. barry'sboots
    You can forget me ... I only have eyes for the Blue Rinses!!
  21. barry'sboots
    Aaggh. Is that your homosexual tendencies showing now??
  22. barry'sboots
    I think you can never have too much pace on a football pitch which is what excites me so much about a fit Bailey. I sat behind his runs when he came on against Everton and you could see Ben Godfrey - who I do rate - *****ing himself when Bailey got on the ball. Can't wait to see him get properly back in the mix - hopefully after this break - and rotate/sub in with Phillipe and Emi. I think Ollie will benefit from the space created by Bailey stretching the back line.
  23. barry'sboots
    I think it all stems from not having a proper DCM. Get that, free up SJM and one of JJ or DL to be more progressive and Ollie will get better supply/the opposition will be more stretched. A proper DCM is critical to the way we play and getting the balance right.
  24. barry'sboots
    Agreed. Man U seem to over promote too quickly and then end up in a position where they need to offer huge new contracts to keep these players. Citeh, Chelski and Plop do it much more discreetly - may be easier to do I suppose if you have better experienced players so don't need to rush the better kids through. It must be particularly hard at Man U when you are living under the shadow of their noisy neighbours and constantly hoping for talent to come through to allow you to compete.
  25. barry'sboots
    Lots of talk of new strikers. Personally, unless we are selling a striker, I don't see us needing anyone in that position. Assuming that Coutinho signs, the key positions for me are: CDM - Bissouma, Phillips or Kamara would be great (in that order for me) Back up left back - Hickey Back up keeper - Olsen or someone else if he is off Beyond that, I would only be signing anyone if we are upgrading/selling, especially with the progression of Kessler Hayden, Iroegbonum (maybe a season on loan?), JPB and Carney. If we are upgrading, my priorities would be at CB.
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