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Really? I’d say it’s a strength of his. My criticism of Mina is that he often over complicates things.

Can I suggest Keane and Holgate are grouped in the vote? Maybe call them The Chuckle Brothers!!!

I think he was maybe rushed back a few weeks ago and dropped back out so hopefully he’s fully fit now as we’re so much more effective when he’s playing.

His hair looked nice.

He never was but when you have as many injuries in that position as we have - needs must. Allan and Davies provided the platform for the creative freedom of James, Gylfi and Digne tonight - amazing how a couple of fit actual central midfielders helps the team actually look a threat!

Yep! Keane can’t play in a back 3 - Holgate isn’t without blame but I can see why we’re maybe looking for a commanding top class centre back in the summer. I can see why Keane isn’t in Southgate’s thoughts with his preference towards playing 3 centre backs.

We were always in for a centre back. Gabriel was supposedly pretty much done in February/March but for the pandemic to hit and we tried to renegotiate the deal.

Pretty sure £30m was quoted for Godfrey so hopefully Marcel will be able to negotiate this one just as well. Norwich seem to take pride in ensuring their ‘products’ are showcased by this I mean they wouldn’t negotiate with Man U for Aarons knowing he’ll be a bit part with Wan Bissaka. I think it was similar with Godfrey as Liverpool and Bayern, amongst others showed interest. Basically, what I’m saying, if the team’s right, Norwich will negotiate a fair deal rather than just send to the highest bidder. I read somewhere or saw an interview maybe last season about how upset they were about the Murphy brothers not fulfilling their potential away from Norwich. If you’re a youngster looking for a top academy, then there’d be a lot of positives pointing towards Norwich.

My blind hope is Swansea come up through the play-offs and see Gylfi as a ‘marquee’ signing and give us a few million.

Thank fuck for that! Forget this season... give him a full pre-season and let’s see if he can at least be a squad player next season.

Well let’s hope he stays and can turn this ‘failure’ round to success then.

I would say he’s had almost mission impossible getting some of them out of the club - even on-loan. Far too many players on massive contracts not prepared to move on. Who’s going to take over Bolasie’s £80k per week (pure guess work) contract after he’s had a serious knee injury? Tosun? That’s just bad luck - a deal was in place at the end of his Palace loan for it to be cut short by serious injury - I’m sure something would have been sorted with Beskitas but another serious injury!

The main part of Brands’ job has been getting players out the door up to now. We signed too many ‘duds’ during Walsh’s reign - expensive ones too and there was no clear strategy. I think we are in the early stages of a whole club strategy where younger players are getting opportunities in the u23s and it’s not just about winning a ‘pointless’ league - I hope our loaning out of players can improve though. I think we are negotiating transfers better - the Gylfi saga is probably the best example - Swansea took us and our new found wealth to the cleaners! With the big wages off the books this summer e.g Walcott, Bolasie, Besic and potential income from Kenny, Bernard, Kean - I think there will be more flexibility for Brands to do what he’s earned such a good reputation for doing. Raphina cost Leeds £17m last summer, Coufal cost West Ham £5m - there’s value! I’d love another Rodriguez type signing but with the huge wages that type of signing needs, we need more of these well scouted ‘rough diamonds’ on much lower wages too.

We will be closer to ‘clearing the decks’ this summer with the players out of contract. There will still be deadwood that we’ll be stuck with (Tosun most frustratingly) but hopefully we’ll be able to shift a few like Bernard and Kenny too.

Just a bit of perspective after seeing all the negativity in the match day thread. We have 1 less point with 8 games left than we did in the entirety of last season... a season where, bar the first few fixtures, have been plagued by injuries. I am fully aware that every club has injuries but as many in such a key area - in my opinion the most important area of central midfield. Look at the reigning champions - their injuries have been the most moaned about/ highest profile - all at centre back. They tried to sort this by putting Fabinho/Henderson (less so) but actually they’ve been better since they’ve had worse players in Kabak and Phillips there - why? Because central midfield is where you control and win more games and having Fabinho there, although they have many other options in that position as apposed to defence, makes them a better team. I’m certain, we could have lost players in any other position and coped better this season. It’s been so hard to watch at times but I understand why we’ve focused on being hard to beat over a more exciting system.

Doucoure, Allan, Gomes, Delph, Gbamin, Davies is pretty good central midfield depth to be fair - it’s been our problem all season, we can’t get a consistent trio or even partnership - such a shame as points wise, we’re not far off top 4.

No DCL, no King, no Allan... very threadbare!

Don’t worry, I don’t have the energy!!!

Fair enough but a fit Delph would have been very helpful. I know fit Delph is an oxymoron but hey ho!

We’ve been so unlucky with this signing - he sounded ideal to replace such a key player in Gueye. We also sign Delph as insurance to help give a bit of depth and bed Gbamin in - didn’t we sign Gomes permanently that summer too? We’ve been so unlucky in centre mid - add Allan and Doucoure to that too. We’ve had no consistency in this position for years now so no wonder our performances have been so inconsistent/frustrating. No wonder Davies has struggled at times too.

On Brands...

Another season ending knee injury in today’s game - stretchered off. Gutted for him but just as gutted that he’ll probably be on our wage bill for another year now (sorry to sound insensitive!)

He’s doing a good job but, with the depth and quality of squad, he should be. They SHOULD win the Europa and finish 2nd this season.

ToffeeTalk would have gone into meltdown had we signed Lingard in January. Fair play to him - he’s done great at West Ham so far. Spoiler alert... the top 4 will be Man C, Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool...

Spot on sadly...