barry'sboots

14 hours ago, tomav84 said:

our style of play leaves us totally exposed if they're not 100% on it. and tonight they weren't and we saw the result

yes we can point fingers at the defence...and we should've dealt with the goals better...but tonight just proved the need for a real enforcer in front of the back 4.

marv would've done well tonight actually. we needed someone to break up the play and he's great at that

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.

1 hour ago, CVByrne said:

He'll be offered a new deal this summer if he continues to do well. Then we can decide if he's ready to get more first team minutes or go on Loan again (probably to a Prem club or a team like Norwich who will win the Championship). 

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.

2 hours ago, MWARLEY2 said:

No tue wrong Davis. We are talking about the powerhouse of a centre forward with great technical ability and the vision to set other players up for fun and create chances.Who has under 2 managers shown enough to be given contracts as they all believed in his ability. Who when he is on the pitch is a real asset for his team. And who was plucked aged 18 from Biggleswade after having zero academy training. The same man who has had the most bad luck with injuries i have seen . Maybe he will find his level in the Championship or maybe he is over his injuries and will now blossom into a really good forward who offers a very different option. 

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.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

Thats fine....but I support Aston Villa, and see it from their perspective.

SG wants 2 players for every position, with a view to them competing for the shirt....thats a healthy view for any football club.

Matt chose not to accept that option, so left.

You make your own mind up.

Good, some of the players of the past chose to stay ( Hutton, Taylor, Elmo)and fight for the shirt back....thats all I am saying.

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.

5 minutes ago, TRO said:

I was disappointed to learn that Matt Targett chose to go to a relegation scrapping team, rather than fight for his shirt at Villa.

Maybe he thought the fight was beyond him, but that's a bit defeatest, in my view.

SG is trying to raise the bar and some of our players will be tasked to do more, its inevitable if we want to progress up the League.

I do confess, I am surprised he chose the easy option ( on the surface)...we need fighters in our squad, sadly Matt never measured up to that.

I wish him well, but hey ho.

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!

2 hours ago, Follyfoot said:

The comment Aston Villa don’t do release clauses springs to mind

Got a horrible feeling about this

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.

On 27/01/2022 at 16:50, Paul33 said:

LOL !

What, based on a few minutes in a substitute performance ? He is injury prone and woefully short of fitness (understandably) if he ever does get back. If he is going to rip anything, it will be his thigh / groin / hamstring / calf or whatever !

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".

3 hours ago, gwi1890 said:

Or the famous DM no 4 Patrick Vieira, and Claude Makelele.

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

3 hours ago, thunderball said:

Apparently Dougie hasnt been offered a new contract yet, he may be pleased to sign one if its offered. There is always this whisper that the club would listen to offers though - Roma in the Summer, Arse or Newcastle in this window?

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.

46 minutes ago, AvonVillain said:

Another Sanson, then?

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.

18 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

Nothing I've seen of Bailey with us in limited time says he's better than Traore was last season and it's like Traore is an afterthought now. 

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.

On 22/01/2022 at 23:00, Keener window-cleaner said:

I think it has more to do with ppl overreacting to him losing the ball and being outmuscled on a couple of occations early in the season. He had a full PL season before and performed really well. Never any doubt that he would this time as well. What I have been most impressed with is that he now seems to have upped his game even more, out classing Man U. I knew he would perform against mid and low table teams, but now he has showed that he can perform against the top teams as well. Very encouraging!

If Coutinho had played like Buendia today, we would probably have said yepp that's a £100M+ quality player. Buendia showing his worth. And the two of them in the same team is just amazing, just imagine whenCoutinho get up to speed.

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!

2 hours ago, PaulC said:

Yes very annoying. Once again we just need to match their intensity like the Everton game and we should beat them. They outran us at Villa Park last season. A real eye opener for us. We cant let that happen again 

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.

21 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

We're putting things in place to hit the ground running next season.

There were fans talking about Europe when Smith was here but that was so unrealistic given what we had to do to start building. 

3 full years in, our squad is going to look very strong for next season. I expect us to really push for that top 7 next season. 

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.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

If it was....I would be much more confident, going in to this game......all 3 have offensive play tendencies, so stopping Everton gaining the initiative in the game, will prove tricky.

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! 

On 19/01/2022 at 21:44, Pablo_2531 said:

They cannot STAND Steven Gerrard (in fact he is probably the person Everton fans hate more than anyone ever) so the crowd an players be well up for it.

No change then from the last two games

11 minutes ago, abdulaziz1 said:

I’m not with selling Bailey. But I’d sell Watkins, Cash, Sanson/Luiz and Targett. Ofcourse not all at once. But we’ll need to upgrade on those (we’ve done with Targett, but I’m not sure we have a young cover). Watkins price would reduce, and to go to next level we’ll need an improvement. I’d sell him and get Suarez until we find the proper CF. 
Cash as well we’ll need a Digne there. We shall sell as once he gets to the bench his price will reduce. Potentially Kesler could take his place on bench. 
So in reality it’s not selling for the sake of it, but improve the starting line up. 

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.

9 minutes ago, Cizzler said:

He will play in one of the roles either side of the lone striker. Gary McAllister has said he fits Gerrard's preferred system. He won't be playing full-back (?).

Some of the reactions in this thread are quite bizarre. 

He's returned one goal and two assists in 9 appearances. Grealish has two + two in 15 games. Sancho has 1 + 0 in 17 games.

It's a tough transition from the Bundesliga (Havertz, Werner, Sancho, Konate, etc.) - but he's passed the eye test every time I've seen him play. He's only 24. People on this forum seem scared of having a squad of players that actually challenge each other. Traore, Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey are great options for two positions. As are Ings and Watkins, Digne and Targett, etc.  

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!