Stick Lavia in there and it doesn't look too bad. RCM and RB maybe a little weak (Phillips as left though so LCB isn't correct)
I was just about to write something similar. I think a little more flexibility wouldn't hurt, but that's the way he plays it.
And that can be frustrating for the fan when it's clear the plan isn't working, as it wasn't the first half of last season... We didn't start doing better until he switched it a little.
And RCB and LCB both look weak. Why did I think Thiago had left? Not sure I like Jones starting. He's great cover but not sure he's as good as the rest of the starting XI.
A specialist DM and a RB and it's decent as it stands. An RCB (I assume that's what you meant) would help but isn't crucial. Provided we don't get too many injuries of course, that's the real worry. Like mito, I'm more concerned with the system we seem to be trying to force onto them.
No, I meant RCM. Morton is very young and really untested. I'm not convinced about Elliott in that position. Plus, a better option here could free up AMC should we wish to play him LCM or DM at some point #options Edit; although I think Zobo and AMC need switching in that image
I agree. Its also fine to have really good young players as well. IMO we miss milner most of all. I can't wait to see eventually what % of these young players we actually get into proper first team roles. Davies (i think he will be really good) Pitaluga (needs to grow a bit, is highly rated in the club) Ramsay (loaned due to injuries) Bradley (lets see, i am not sure on this one) Mabaya (injured for a year but another well thought of as RB/RW) Quansah (another loan i think) Chambers (needs to grow as well, I think a loan will occur) Clark (decent but again slight) Morton (full decent championship season in him, can pass but also slight) Mcconnell (nice looking young player there) Bajectic (really good shot) Doak (everyone is excited now) Gordon (really forgotten man here) With Elliott and Jones already doing a job for us it really shows what FSG and the club have been targeting on the longer term. 8 of those were all SIGNED into the academy rather than coming up as u8/u10 or whatever. Basically there's 240million of investment in the forwards what we have put in place and about 200million of this in the past couple of seasons. we'd all like another 200mil into the midfield but its not happened and we have 2 or 3 more players there coming through
The CB backups aren't great but they're not terrible (as backups) either. Trouble is, Konate, Matip and Gomez are all injury prone.
We may have made bids all over the place and the other clubs have kept quiet but Southampton feels the need to leak their side every five minutes. We certainly haven't been pronouncing every bid we've put in, we never do.
It's all about those two really. Bit concerned with how excited people are getting about Doak ATM; hope it didn't go to the lads head. We've seen it far too many times before when a young players looks a potential work beater to them just completely fall away.
Phillips hasn't actually left yet. I think Leeds have enquired, or whatever the term is today but he's still here.
Or we've another sterling. the last kid that i recall that we had fans basically on the edge of their seats the second he touched the ball on debut. It was ridiculous how much he was waited for. hopefully its neither but he's moved from Celtic to get his big shot so we have to cover the club and treat him like any other foreign mercenary. (BTW he will be one of 17 foreign players in europa squad)
maybe but its unlikely. We will more than likley have talked to agents more than clubs and this is the "strategy" go buy this guy.
Jordon Ibe was after Sterling Doak has the hardest job in our entire squad; getting in the team ahead of Salah!
Reports that Ramsay is coming back from loan because he's experiencing problems following the surgery he had. It's such a shame as he looked good in the few games he was involved in (maybe last preseason?).and again completely unforeseen when we bought him.
he was but it was never the same level of "excitment" with him, not in the ground. The two that stand out above all others are owen and sterling for kids who were 15 or 16 and fans absolutely impatiently waiting for their debut and raving. I personally had jones, wilson, bajectic and a couple others who never made it on my watch list but some come up and surprise
