I genuinely feel with the emergence of Struijk, Hjelde and Cresswell we could easily raise funds by selling a senior centre half.
As I said above I watched WHU fans comments about the game. They were saying that they need to sign a striker because Antonio is a converted winger who's instinct is not to get into the box. The game is moving away from a traditional CF which is why Bamford is so good, he does so much more. One of the comments was that would a new striker be happy to warm the bench behind Antonio. This is the same problem we would have trying to sign a MF. What happens when Kalvin comes back? My opinion is that we have ample cover even now with Pascal, Koch, Dallas and now Bate. Further forward we have a resurgent Klich, Rodrigo and Roberts plus possibly Greenwood. Up front we have James, Raph, Harrison, Summerville and McKinstry until we get Bamford and Gelhardt back. You guys keep telling us about even more of our U23s coming through. I think it has been a blessing in disguise because our U23s can just slot in. We don't need to go splashing cash unless the player coming in will improve us because we'd need to spend a wad to get better than what we've got. We MUST beat Newcastle.
Morning bud why change a winning team?. As for players joining i would deffo get an older jeeper in but doubt we will. This win which i was positive we could get puts us out of the pressure zone. So my opinion is Bielsa will stick with what we have. When bate got subbed he went to sit with the other subs. Or as i viewed it kiddies day out with uncle rodrigo. Moyes never once praised us for turning up with a very young bench the twaht.
You rightly pointed out it would cost a fortune to replace the midfielders we have. The issue with midfield is that Struijk can fill in but the game passes him by. He isn't a long term option. Koch actually plays the Kalvin role well which might release Kalvin to 8 like he plays for England with Rice. Dallas, Rodrigo, Klich and Forshaw are all the wrong side of 30 with Klich and Rodrigo not really showing much form over the last two seasons. These four will ALL need replacing in the next two years. That's a huge transfer budget needed. I think Bate is only 18 so we might have to wait 3 or 4 years for him to mature and Greenwood and Roberts don't look like they have the quality needed as yet. Therefore we need probably 2 players in to cover that position. If we get one in this year, one in next year whilst slowly selling or releasing the others it would be a gradual evolution of the squad instead of a complete overhaul in 2 years time.
Nah mate Newcastle need to beat us and could open the game right up suiting our style. If they come with a defensive plan we could take a draw no problem.
I was thinking the same but then wondered if I was being mad with all our injuries. Cooper is at an age where you wonder how long he has left and the youngsters already seem better than him. As we wouldn't get much for him would he be the one to keep as he would become our Berardi, Mr dependable. Then I worry about Firpo being injury prone, will Hjelde be covering LB more often than not? Llorente is the one at 28 that we could cash in on but if we want to compete at the top half we really need the depth
Looking at this again, can anyone remember the contact against James, it looks like their number three is fouling him
In the summer Klich will deffo go back to Poland. Cooper will spend most of next season on the bench. So we will deffo need a new No8 whatever happens, but already have Coopers replacement. Ayling needs a back up and will that be Drameh? If he carries on doing what he did on Saturday it will save the club a fortune. We do also need a younger Dallas so another player we need to bring in, thats at least 2 top midfielders to buy
there are some complex nuances to the everchanging offside law and interpretations that have caught most of us out… but it’s amazing that one thing that has always been a fundamental of the offside law… that it’s the second last defender that counts (it’s just the last man is usually the keeper) is either unknown or forgotten by a huge proportion of fans who watch the game every week. I’ve been genuinely shocked by this discovery in the last 24 hours And to think, every time we’ve rolled our eyes in condescending despair at girlfriends not understanding offside after we’ve painstakingly explained it with beer bottles and an ashtray… most people were not actually explaining it correctly anyway
Didn't notice anything at the time but will take a look later. For me once Rodrigo doesn't get the pass he should have got himself into the goal and then he couldn't be offside, instead he stopped and as you say started remonstrating with Raphinha. The picture you posted shows just how brilliant the pull back from Raphinha was as it took 4 West Ham defenders plus the goalkeeper out of the game. Such a great goal and football as a whole is the one that suffers when VAR rules goals like that out. Obviously they had no choice but without VAR the goal stands as no one could see the slight touch from Rodrigo in real time.
Hjelde is seen as a centre half but spent time on loan in Scotland at left back and from what we’ve seen has shown he can do a job in both positions. Probably perfect as left side of a back 3! I’ve been impressed with him. re midfield - we’re definitely at least 1 player short. Klich is 31, foreshaw 30 and injury prone. We’ve been window shopping for a year, and the situation has got worse not better. Not fair or realistic to expect bate to step up yet, though it would be great if he does.
Anyone else think, we beat Newcastle Saturday, the club will see us as safe and that will be it for signings. Honestly think they have been waiting to see our position after this weekend before committing to any signings.
It’s the inconsistency of VAR that’s annoying. Rodrigo was deemed to be interfering with play, which he clearly wasn’t, and yet last week Bowen was deemed to be not interfering with play, which he clearly was.
Think that's probably a fair assessment. Any panic or desperation signings now are bound to have an effect on the summers more planned and calculated squad enhancements. It's always been said and is absolutely true that we'll need 3 seasons back in the PL before we can entertain loftier ambitions.
The good thing is, IF it really does even itself out over the course of a season we have an absolute **** load in the bank in our favour
Agreed. There’ll be more choice in the summer. And also a lot depends on whether Bielsa stays for another year. A lot of potential signings will be swayed on whether he stays or goes.
I've been so annoyed with the lack of activity but this is a good shout and to be honest, with the break after Newcastle I'd not complain if we didn't as long as we win. We might even pull off a couple of deadline day deals from those who are holding out for more and will walk for free come the summer. I also wonder if the signs are there that Bielsa will be leaving so they want to give the new guy as much funding and choice as possible. EDIT - Forza just beat me to it
Yeah I think so and to be honest if we beat Newcastle I’d be happy if we didn’t sign anyone else. It would be nice to get someone like Swift in for cover but if we can wait until the summer and spend 25-30 million on a CM we’ll get better value and it’d be a better bit of business. Not sure what else we need but thinking a more defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder as well as RB. Then we’ll need to send some youngsters out on loan, keep some for our squad and buy some more to replace the ones that have progressed.
