the_eristic

Gonzalez would be Zat Knight v2. Good in the air and at clearances, but just doesn't have the pace and possibly worse on the ball than Baker. I'd be looking at Deandre Yedlin. 20, super raw, but has pace to burn, some trickery and is very aggressive, can cover the wing or right back, though probably not ready to defend in this league. He is remarkably good at getting in behind defenses and cutting it back. Alejandro Bedoya *might* be able to make the step up, as well. He's been steadily improving year after year, would be roughly comparable to Hoolahan, imo, but younger and with more physical presence. Johansson (after a bit of bulking up) would probably be decent option up front if we were to play to his strengths, but I don't think we would (or even could, at the moment, as we don't have anybody to play through balls or proper wide men).

Wouldn't be surprised to see one of Baker or Clark sold on near the end of the window, should the ownership issue be sorted. Clark and Baker now have Vlaar, Okore (from what we saw before his injury, anyway) and, presumably, Senderos in front of them (Donacien I think might get a Championship loan or start getting some time at right back due to his pace). As they're 24 and 23 respectively with a good bit of PL experience, they'll probably not want to be cover much longer. Brooks already has the physical tools in spades and more room to grow as a footballer than Baker has shown over the past couple seasons, could make a nice partner for Okore in a few years with his height and presence. Probably be reasonably cheap, too, unless his stock goes up majorly during the Cup, and surely on low wages at Hertha.

Tactics didn't make much sense, especially there at the end, sending crosses in to nobody. At first, it looked like Italy was susceptible to your pace, but as soon as they sussed that and/or your players started tiring, they hardly posed a threat. No bodies deep in the box to get on chances, nobody with enough presence or cleverness to outmaneuver or at least try to contest Pirlo and the Italy midfield enough to prevent them controlling things. Fullbacks just weren't up to it, either.

Sickening.

Bias aside, this would be the best result possible, as it would most definitely maximize the amount of global butthurt.

Did his cruciate right as he started to break into the Ajax side, got loaned out then sold shortly after returning, fairly steady presence for Roda since. Admittedly, not a great side, but he's been one of their better players. Can actually pass the ball, unlike Sylla, so that's a start.

I want to believe it could be one of the two or three I'd be glad to have back, but it's probably Zat Knight.

This is a signing I'd make on FM just to make him tutor my youngsters.

I can remember exactly how sick I felt when Heskey was announced and we then proceeded to sign NOBODY else as we watched our starting eleven start burning out.

Only one of those applies to him as a manager.

>previous assistant sacked for being a bully >replace with Roy Keane >seemslegit.jpg

Some fantastic players on that Bosman list. My inner FM character is creaming his jeans.

Maybe he feels if Lambert is on the way out, the plan for his future here is likely done, too. Don't know why (aside from injury) he didn't get more minutes. He did well enough in every appearance for us, at least as far as I can recall. Never went anonymous like many of our players.

No options in midfield, completely outnumbered.

Is it possible to have negative possession? I think we're about to find out.

Keep him in the middle. Work rate out wide is great and everything, but his ability to zip into the mix and find space is mitigated on the flank.He looked so much more natural playing centrally.

Looked like a player trying to grab his opportunity with both hands. Hope he can keep it up!

The only player we have who'll press for the ball in the opponent's half.

Our attack is perfectly suited to a shaken home team desperately pushing for a win. Questions are can the defense contain them and can we get our heads back up after the garbage on Saturday? 4-4 or something similarly silly.

Whole team bullied far too easily, especially in midfield and at fullback. We desperately need a tall, strong dedicated DM.

Got into the DSII betas a several weeks back. Absolutely terrifying.

Could we hoof it a little more?

Bacuna has supposedly never missed a penalty. Imagine that would get him on the list. Wouldn't be terribly confident about anyone else in the side right now.

Hahaha, what am I watching?

Seems to like making little first-time touches and layoffs to players near him. Unfortunately, we've not really had the players to make good use of that for, um, ever. Extremely interested to see him play with Benteke.