barry'sboots

You can see the evidence from last season - at VP with a similar set up we lost 0-3; away at ER with Marv in we won (1-0 from memory). There are certain games/teams where you need that shield. Dougie is a great player (imho) but is better as an "8" or in games where you dominate the ball as a "4". However, I'm happy that the club have identified this - bidding for Bissouma in January - and am confident that we will address this in the summer with a quality buy.

Gives you a real interest in the Championship. Depending where we are next season - with incomings and outgoings - it could be good to see all three of our current championship crop playing on loan for a newly promoted PL side/bottom 6 side and getting 30+ games. The way that Chelski have done it with Gallagher is real "big club" stuff and I am hoping we can do similar.

I agree. I would probably look to sign him up and then loan him out to a newly promoted PL team, much like the way that Chelski have managed Gallagher. Let him go somewhere and be a starter in the PL for a season. Having said that he could come back and get in the mix with Buendia, Coutinho, Bailey and Chuki if he continues to perform at the level he has started at - he was apparently MOTM last night.

When he is "on it" he is a joy to watch (his "roll it in" goal v the baggies is one of my favourites of all time) but, as Tro says, he is just not on it often enough. I think you could level this comment at the majority of "wingers". He has definitely got more involved defensively since he has been here but not enough imho. I think this is symptomatic of why Stevie G looks to use two "10"s - because conventional wide players/wingers are typically not involved enough and in many games you are effectively playing with 9/10 players for much of the game. Gerard's system - like Klopp's and Guardiola's (although they are helped by having v good players!!) - negates this to an extent and ensures a more cohesive team performance. Man U, as an example, are still living in the past and looking for exciting wing play and for flair players to make the difference rather than for a cohesive team performance to win games, and this imho has been part of their downfall.

Bang on. I was there when he made his debut v Norwich and set up a Hourihane hat trick. I said several times last season that he was criminally under utilised by Smith when we were crying out for options when Jack was out injured. I think that there could be a real player in there - he was up against PL opposition yesterday and did not look out of place. I am really excited to watch how KD, Archer and JPB perform over the next couple of months.

I don't see Ings staying at VP after this season - he just doesn't work in a Stevie G team imho. Links today to Lacazette who I do think would be a great option/back up to Ollie and would fit our style of play. I also think Ollie will come good playing as a "9" with two out of Buendia, Coutinho, Bailey and Traore feeding him. I think both Archer and Davis have roles - Davis is a real handful and offers something different whereas I see Archer as a more direct replacement for Ollie. However, I think Archer, and possibly Davis (assuming he carries on his current Forest form) might benefit from a loan at a bottom 6 PL team next season - getting regular minutes in the PL would be huge for both of them. This would be similar to what Chelski have done with Gallagher. We could then assess them properly rather than bringing them in as pure bench warmers.

He's under contract, so it's not his choice! He doesn't strike me as the sort who would have kicked up a fuss if we'd have said he had to stay until the summer but I don't think we have said that. It looks like we've said wages off the books plus decent loan fee .... we'll take that and all the best Matt. Maybe they see Chrisene as decent cover as well as Ash. There is no fight, imho, because Stevie wants a different type of left back to Targett - he's only playing if Lucas gets an injury. We all know that and Targett would too.

I think that's harsh. His style doesn't suit Stevie G's way of playing and I'm sure he can see that. Equally, playing with St Maximin would be a bit like last season with Jack which suited him. I can see why he's gone - and they are a big well supported club BUT i wouldn't have let him go!

I think if someone wanted to buy him of us for £100m we'd probably move him on?? It's virtually impossible to not do release clauses on a new contract if the player insists/it's the only way he will sign a new contract?? You have to play ball to secure any value and, in Jack's case we got massive value which has set us up from an ffp perspective for a good while. I think that quote refers to signing new players.

Not aware that he has been injury prone before this current problem - I thought he had been fairly consistent at Leverkusen. As a rotation option with Phillipe, Emi and, hopefully Chukie he should be great.

It's clear what we need: to offload dead wood (Trez, AEG, Targett and probably BT); and bring in Bissouma, or equivalent, Hickey and a reserve keeper (unless Olsen is staying). Sign up Phillipe if he performs. Any more depends upon who else leaves and/or how the kids on loan make out and whether Chukgoalmaker signs up. At the minute, I would probably look to move on Ings - I just don't see him fitting with Stevie G's tactics. Replacements depend, to an extent, upon both ffp headroom and how Archer and Davis perform. in terms of upgrades, I would look at Mings. But it would need to be a leader to replace him.

Don't understand this at the minute. Don't care if he wants to play football - he signed a contract and it's up to us what we do with him. If Digne gets injured, we are light here. I also don't understand why we haven't sold him but rather loaned him? They desperately needed reinforcements and we have given them a free hit. No guarantee we will sell him in the summer. It would be great if we could offload him - either now or in the summer - and bring Hickey in as back up. I have nothing against him - I just don't think he suits "Stevie G ball".

When I was growing up 5 & 6 were the centre backs and 4, 8 & 10 were the midfielders.

There seems to be lots of media comment now that we want Bentancur and then will Still go back in for Bissouma in the summer when he has 12 months left on his contract. This is probably just paper talk but it would mean someone would surely depart and we would have a midfield capable of crashing the champions League spots.

I read him as More of another Luiz but better INA defensive role and with more composure. Maybe thinking Dougie isn't going to sign a new contract and will be off in the summer and getting his replacement in beforehand? Equally, able to share the role of the defensive midfielder before we move for Bissouma at a much reduced price in the summer.

Did you not watch the Everton home game? I think it was probably his only fully fit game for us and despite being a shaft cameo it was electric. I sat right behind him for the goal and he had Godfrey - who I do rate and think is a very good defender who should be playing as a CB for Everton - on toast. His pace offers something different and will stretch the game creating space for Buendia or Coutinho. I think there is a period of adjustment coming from the Bundesliga - look at Havertz and Sancho - but I am excited by Bailey.

Agreed. And throw a fit and firing Bailey in there as a rotation/first change and we have three really strong options for the two "10's" with Chukie and JPB coming through. If Bailey had been there on Saturday his pace would have changed Everton's second half approach. Godfrey has still got twisted blood from the 3-0 at VP.

Seventh choice now behind Buendia, Coutinho, Bailey, Chukie, Bertie and JPB (when he comes back). No point him hanging around!

But we dominated them, although the scoreline was tighter, in the reverse fixture at Elland Road if I remember correctly, albeit with Nakamba playing DCM. "Bielsa ball" has proven nowhere near as successful this season, especially with the injury to Bamford. We have beaten all outside the Superleague 6 under Stevie G, except Brentford which we should have won, and I would expect us to beat this lot at VP. I'm also looking forward to having Bailey back on the bench - what a substitution option a fit Bailey could be against a tiring back line?? I really think we are one good CB and one good DCM - both of which we seem to be in for - away from being a really good top half team that could outcompete Leicester and Wet Spam and genuinely challenge the big boys.

I don't think it was totally unrealistic BUT I do think it required Jack to stay fit, which clearly did not happen, as Smith couldn't find a way to play without him and maybe we didn't have the quality to play without him. I agree that we are building a strong squad - a young left back to replace Targett in the summer (Hickey hopefully) (not because he is not a good player but because I don't think he'll want to play second fiddle and he doesn't suit a 4-3-2-1 the way Stevie wants to play); a good back up CB; a quality DCM, maybe another "10"/wide player and a back up striker to replace Ings (I can't see him staying if he doesn't get serious game time and I don't think he suits Stevie's style) - and we will have a quality 23. Also depends upon how some of the youngsters progress/do on loan.

I know that you are keen for us to bring in a strong DCM - I bet you almost wet yourself when we were linked to Bissouma - and I don't disagree as this kind of signing would give us a top quality first XI with good cover everywhere. However, I do think Dougie can do a good job in there, particularly if he has two strong players (and I think Sanson and SJM are the strongest defensively that can play alongside a sitter) alongside him. Anyway !

I would hope we can at least get a draw - with exception of Brentford Stevie has done well against teams outside the top 6 and he has, outside of missing Bailey and Nakamba, a largely fit and strong squad. I hope that he plays Watkins at "9" with Ings on the bench. I thought Sanson was largely good last weekend apart, obviously, from the short pass that led to the second goal BUT I think he knew that. I would start him with SJM in front of Dougie - I think that's a battling three which we may need against a fired up Everton - and push either JJ or Chukie into the second "10" role. I think it might be time to give JJ a rest and Chukie a start, bringing JJ and Phillipe on for the last 25. Nice to have some quality options!

No change then from the last two games

Wow. You'd sell Watkins!! The best striker we have had in ages. An England international and a supposed target for Liverpool and Arsenal. And replace him with a 34 year old who is approaching the end of his, admittedly stellar, career. I think Watkins is a fundamental piece in our jigsaw. Danny Ings is a fine finisher but doesn't fit in a Stevie G 4-3-2-1. I didn't understand the acquisition in the summer and it just hasn't worked - we should have moved for Daka or Edouard as backup to Ollie and spent the difference on Olise (if we could have got him out of London). We need to get Ollie back to "9" - where he was great last season when he had supply (Jack). With Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey ( back on topic) to supply he can be even better. Cash is raw and young but he has much better physicality than Targett and I wouldn't be rushing to throw him out but would be looking to coach and improve him. I do believe Kessler can push him. Imho the big spend needs to be on a progressive DCM (with Nakamba as back up and Dougie as an "8"). We also need another CB. I do agree that Targett probably needs to move on in the summer and, ideally, gets replaced with Hickey as Digne back up - if he would come to be back up. El Ghazi should have gone in the summer and Trez should be off soon. Bailey fits perfectly for me because he can play left or right (means that you can play two from three and sub/rotate) and means that you can have a kid - job or Chukie - as fourth choice. I do, however, agree that it will be hard to have two genuine quality options for each position without European football to allow for rotation.

Agreed. I'm excited to see Bailey return and he gives us a fantastic third option for one of the two behind the "9". Two out of Buendia, Bailey (who can play either side) and Coutinho is exciting and allows for rotation and a real impact off the bench. I sat right behind Bailey in the Everton game and he looked scary - as said elsewhere any manager that can't use that is not a manager I want and I think Stevie will definitely use him!