Aidan

Pointless us selling him and reinvesting the money into the squad because the club is incapable of bringing in quality players, we will end up with shite as usual. Our best bet is to reject the £50m if they come back in for him and keep the good player we already have.

6 minutes ago, Matt said:

Can't stay fit?

2015–2016	Ajax	31	(21)
2016–2022	Napoli	93	(38)
2021–2022	→ Marseille (loan)	38	(16

https://www.transfermarkt.my/arkadiusz-milik/verletzungen/spieler/191891/plus/1

Plus looking at his appearances, only seems to have played anywhere near a full season of football once since leaving Ajax, 4 seasons ago.

Another player who can't manage to stay fit? No thanks. Let's build a squad with reliable players for once.

1 hour ago, chicagoblue said:

What kind of fee has been mooted?  From what I've seen he's busy and has some skill but finishing is poor.  I see him more as one who can play across the front line, maybe compliment DCL rather than a like for like. 

I read £15m

Finishing is questionable, but I really like him as a player and think he'd have a role to play in backing up Dom, or even playing in a wider position. He's an absolute handful, defenders must hate playing against him, goalkeepers not so much. The perfect back up striker for our level, if he'd be willing to accept the role.

More importantly we are desperate for forwards. We need at least 2 in and quickly if Dele leaves.

1 hour ago, RuffRob said:

https://insidefutbol.com/2022/08/16/claim-from-turkey-dele-alli-set-for-besiktas-switch/573674/

not sure I see any truth in this. Would it save us having to part with any money to Spurs?

The Fab says there is truth in it.

What a weird career Deli Alli will end up having.

15 minutes ago, dunlopp9987 said:

Problem is that Mykolenko isn't a good enough defender (yet) to trust in a back 4, so do you play Holgate there? Also don't think Vinagre is built to be a proper left back

There are a lot of areas you could point to in any system and say it isn't good enough.

The biggest area is in central midfield for me. Games are won or lost there and hopefully Onana can change this, but I'm not expecting much.

I just feel if we continue to set up with 5 at the back every week we are going to spend the whole season chasing every game. It's horrible to watch and a reactive way of playing football.

I get we have players out but I can't stand us being absolutely dominated in midfield week in week out and the more we lose the worse it will get for the players

Just now, Aidan said:

Onana. Oh dear.

This onana lad looks good.

Onana. Oh dear.

Might start making a thread about all the incidents that are ignored by the refs against us this season

Villa look so much more physical and up for the game.

Our players going forward neither look confident, aware of composed.

Think that's the game over. We're not scoring in this system with this forward line from open play.

Dwight McNeil has been awful this half.

27 minutes ago, Palfy said:

Defence looks the most solid we’ve seen in years once the midfield and upfront is sorted I can see us going with a 433 because we have the defenders who can cope in that system, but at the moment the midfield looks unbalanced and up front we look toothless so we are being forced to pack the defence, which will limit our chances can see this being a 0-0.

1-0 Coady last minute winner you heard it here first.

4 minutes ago, Bailey said:

Ill be stuck in a dirty dark sweaty pub in the heart of Portsmouth... I bet that makes you jealous!

Definitely not in Gunwharf then are you Bailey

34 minutes ago, Btay said:

9:30pm kick off here in Australia. Currently on a liveaboard dive yacht on the Great Barrier Reef so I’ll be having a few beers, watching the game and enjoying the surroundings!

Lets go boys

Not jealous one bit !

Sounds amazing have a good time mate!

Gerrard at villa seems to have be overhyped, I'm not sure why. Quietly confident about this one.

I'm hopeful, and from what I've seen in clips he looks to have some good strengths to his game, but I'm not expecting much from a 20 year old who has 11 starts in the French league coming into a premier League midfield.

Just saw that he's 24 years old. Never seen him play though so can't comment on him.

According to Fab, Onana has signed a contract.

Gueye talks are at "final stages" as of yesterday.

Looks like Onana is over the line and the club are waiting for whatever reason. I'm confident Gueye will sign and come back, not that I'm ITK, just can't see him fucking us about and I think he will want to return.

Although not to say Fab has never been wrong, he was initially wrong in saying Brighton had agreed a deal with Chelsea for Cucurella, then Brighton came out saying no agreement had been reached! Can't think of another example of Fab being incorrect though.

I optimistically put 11-14. It's difficult to guage with Richarlison leaving, however we've added quality in defence and midfield. I think 11-14th is achievable if we can sign a forward who is going to get us 10+ goals this season. If not, I fear where we might end up.

I would imagine as long as Lampard sticks with the back 3 consistently, Coady and Tarkowski will be first on the team sheet. It will be interesting to see who his preferred 3rd would be if all players stayed fit. I would think Mina, but I wonder what the pecking order is now. I still see Keane as more as a sensible option than Godfrey and Holgate.

Will play a sweeping role in a back 3, fitting into Frank's apparent philosophy, so is a signing with a purpose. But that's not the only purpose. A natural leader, which is well needed, as well as another player who doesn't miss a game and has experience in the league.

Out of the 304 league games over the last 4 seasons, Coady and Tarkowski have missed 7 between them. Seems like Lamps is tired of the current lack of fit players in the team.