Fraser was playing out of his skin last season so that's hardly an issue. Wilson is always an injury waiting to happen, so just make us of him while he's fit. Wood? Well he's only ever a stand in, but he "does a job" as they say. Almiron seemed to lose a lot of form last season and only briefly discover it, but a lot of that can be attriubed to going from first choice to a stand in. He's talented, **** off Grealish. Obvs we don't want Laecelles and Shelvey in there but they are leaders/vocal in dressing room, which will sadly influence Howe. However we've seen that Howe has no problem being ruthless and chopping first teamers if their form drops, ie Clark and Hayden.
Ah, makes more sense. Though I reckon we could count goal contributions from Almiron and Murphy on one hand. And for three seasons. ASM/Fraser is good enough.
No, agreed, as understudy to ASM, Fraser is a good option at our level for sure. I don't think anybody felt, at any point, that Hayden or Clark should ever be first team. Except Bruce. Almiron has talent in the same way anybody playing pro football does. Does he contribute anywhere near enough? No. And he's had like four years to do something. As an understudy he'd be ok, but we should be upgrading Murphy who's just crap.
Lascelles as Captain? He'll not likely start a game surely? This was an opportunity to start afresh... and it's blown.... I can only hope that it's a gesture before he signs for Forest.......
I agree, Murphy was a stinking signing that has never ever made sense. One of many that Rafa ****ed up. Queue the Rafa had no money brigade but what money he had he spent on utter ****e.
Personally I would keep Lascelles around, but as 5th choice CB at best. Let him remain Club captain but make sure Trippier is match day captain. We can'y just jettison everyone that's **** or injury prone, we'd have about 8 players
In my eyes he is already. I also think we will get another 2 or 3 through the door. At this stage of pre-season it's a dance off, clubs wait for a major move to start off a domino effect to then see who becomes available at more reasonable prices than what we're being quoted for main targets. If nobody becomes available then the club has to decide if it's going to pay asking prices or move on. From some of the names being linked for the striker role they seem to be happy to take a gamble on a youngster at the £30m range. I'm pretty sure there is a striker somewhere, better than Chris Wood for £30m.
I wouldn't, have you seen how **** he is at heading? Him heading a football is like someone sticking their head into a massive wet sponge the ball just seems to absorb his head and all power is taken off of it.
The ironic thing is I went into work. Had meetings and then passed out. Got sent home. I felt crap all day yesterday but then this morning I was burning up, dizzy, felt sick and my temperature was through the roof. So I have a bug of sort in this crazy heat……..
Hayden yes, but Clark's performances only fell off the cliff at the end of last year, and did so alarmingly quickly, to the point where he was a walking liability. Prior to last season he'd always been reasonably reliable, and done nothing to suggest the Norwich and Man City horror shows. Migz, like ASM to an extent, has always had the ability to turn a game and bring something new but always been so bloody inconsistent. He was one of our better players in previous seasons, and can get back to that level.
Howe's just doing his job to keep the dressing room happy. A change of maget etc can cause a ripple that could become a tsunami. He's a bright lad Howe.
It's remarkable that no one snapped him up before us tbh, given his outstanding record at Bournemouth. Villa getting Gerrard, Everton having to resort to Lampard and Watford getting Ranieri and Hodgson out of retirement, lol.
Agreed, dont see the issue as we all know who the real captain is and who will play more games over the course of the season so its basically a meaningless gesture to avoid a hissy fit.
He's probably thinking the captains armband means nothing really. He's obviously a good lad the players respect and im sure he'll get sold the minute another club goes after him..
