nyblue23

The number of times I screamed watching him make runs in between Holgate and Jags...

Realistically, once Coleman and Baines are healthy, what are we looking at as our best XI (with subs) after the window? Mine would be: Pickford Coleman Holgate Williams Baines Rooney Gana Walcott Sigurdsson Vlasic Tosun Subs: Davies, Lookman, Keane, Kenny, McCarthy, DCL, Robles That notably leaves Sandro, Klaassen, Schneiderlin, Jags, Lennon, Bolasie, Niasse, Besic, Baningime, and Funes Mori not even on the bench (Martina is not notable). With everyone healthy, the squad will be far too big for just the PL. This leads me to think that we will definitely need to do more business this window, and that we desperately need to loan several of those younger players away to lower-tier PL clubs (or competitive Championship sides). My preferences would be Lookman, Baningime, and Sandro. We also need to trim some fat. Jags really does seem past it, and with 4 other CB ahead of him, I think he needs to be moved on or take a coaching job (preferred). I no longer rate Schneiderlin due to his inconsistency, and think we could move him on for close to what we paid still. If we loan out Lookman and Sandro, I think Bolasie can serve as a valuable backup. Lennon should move on, as should Niasse and Stek. Any cover for injuries after that can be taken care of by youth (though I'm not sure this is possible since most are out on loan already, but whatever, we're shit anyway and square pegs in round holes). This is not to say that the starting XI above is good enough to break the top 6, but I no longer think that's possible this season, and we'll need to do much better business this summer than last to have a chance at a decent 2018-19 season.

I don't disagree, but I also don't see Bolasie being dropped.

Pickford Kenny Holgate Williams AnyonebutCuco (Garbutt?) Rooney Gana Walcott Sigurdsson Vlasic Tosun Subs: Lookman, Keane, DCL, Davies, Lennon (if not at LB), Sandro, Robles I think we could win with that lineup without compromising too much defensively. Doubt we'll see anything like it, though.

I think Lennon has to go with the Walcott signing. I know he offers the most defensively of our winger options, so Sam may not want to let him go, but I don't think we can afford to play him with Lookman and Vlasic in the squad behind Bolasie and Walcott.

I don't want to get rid yet. I also don't buy that we need to "balance the books."

I personally don't think he's much at a much different level than Oxlade-Chamberlain. Ed: oops. Late to the party. I think Ox edges him in skill, but Walcott has far more experience.

This is silly. Vlasic and Lookman are both barely 20. This spells no trouble for them at all. Neither is a wonderkid, but they're both obviously skilled players who can learn from a winger of Walcott's experience and take that role in 2-3 years. They're not polished enough yet to turn a team's fortunes around, as Walcott can hopefully contribute in such an effort. They'll be just fine.

Think Sandro can fill that CF/winger rickery role. If not, Onyekuru. Otherwise spot on.

I’d say move to NYC, because there are a load of us, but, you know, don’t, because who wants to pay $2k a month for a 2-bedroom apartment. But do visit. You’ll always have a shitty couch to sleep on and a bathroom to share with 7 others in Brooklyn. This is my biggest goal. Lived in Oxford for 4 months in 2009, but didn’t become a fan until 2010. I am determined to make it over in the next two years or so; just gotta figure out how.

Garbutt is probably not good enough, but I’m positive that he’s better than Cuco.

“And given his contribution when inside the area, the message to Everton is simple – get the ball in the box for the new boy as often as possible.” If only he ever had less than three defenders in the box with him to go along with no teammates.

Everton 1 - 1 WBA Sigurdsson

I don't think he is but I assumed he could be.

Good shout for Garbutt.

Agree with all that but the awful shot part. Think it was a cracking set-up for Son, and I think Aurier was fully aware of how shit Cuco is after terrorizing him for the first half hour, so knew he wasn’t about to block the pass. Cuco is absolute dogshit. We need to get Garbutt in there as soon as possible; not that I rate him particularly, but I can’t think of a worse option than continuing to play Martina. He is constantly out of position, easily tricked on the ball, offers little in the air (FFS, Kenny is better in the air and a fair bit smaller), can’t tackle (67% tackle success to Kenny’s 85%), and no longer offers anything positive going forward as he’s wrong-footed and Big Sam doesn’t know the meaning of the word “attack.”

Ugh.

Crooked in front of anyone’s name is no longer acceptable thanks to Fuckface von Clownstick.

At this point, I’d be ok with Everton paying him £5m/goal.

I think the last 2 managers effectively destroyed him. Curious to see how he fares back in Greece.

Mirallas plays for Olympiakos.

Fucking brutal yellow and Dembele was a textbook card. This is some shit officiating so far.

Yeah his passing has been pretty atrocious for most of the season.

True. It's just tricky to compare the situations because they're so different. The £15m is less important than the fact that he deliberately fucked us out of an extra £20m.

But transfers don't work in a vacuum apart from those things and we should have had £35m five months ago. If Sanchez had a year left on his contract, he'd still go for upwards of £60m. Arsenal aren't biting on that alleged £20m offer from City, and he's much more likely to go for more.