Transfer Rumours Let's ignore the big ****ing elephant and blame the latest manager, again. Are we nearly there yet?

Sounds like we are in for Lucien Agoume of Sevilla as an (much cheaper and reasonable) alternative to Baleba.

I don't know much, obviously, but he sounds like what we need, albeit with none of the experience that Baleba has in the premier league. Can learn from Casemiro and be integrated into the side, alongside Mainoo etc.

The surplus striker issue, I reckon the one that's surplus to requirements now is Zirkzee, not Hojlund. I don't see where Zirkzee gets into the side now, but Hojlund is still a useful bench number nine and can fill in for Sesko when required.

 

Yup! Ugarte was awful on Sunday in the few minutes that he got. He persistently made poor decisions. This is why we are in the market for a decent defensive midfielder. We need someone with really good football IQ like Casemiro.

 

Another Saudi team making a play for Bruno - I wonder if Amorim might be thinking whether, given Bruno's new role, he could now afford to let him leave and use the money to go for Baleba as a last-gasp transfer in this window.

 

Comparison data for Lammens v Onana -

https://fbref.com/en/stathead/playe...4-2025&player_id2=e9c0c1b2&p2yrfrom=2024-2025

 

I'd he concerned about bringing Lemmens in as 1st choice keeper.

He's 23, and only ever played in Belgium. Not sure he'll be up to the premier league just yet.

Would have much preferred Donnarumma.

 

Of bigger concern than our league position is the midfield conundrum.

Or, even more specifically, what do we do with Fernandes?

It's debatable that both Cunha and Mbuemo should have been signed, given that Mount is still playing and that Zirkzee is also in the squad.

We really needed was that midfield partner for Fernandes. Or, sell Fernandes, replace him in the side with Mainoo, and buy a Baleba.

Or, sell Mainoo otherwise, as he is not getting a game any time soon with Bruno in that position.

Ugarte is ****e, this is a long term Casemiro replacent we now (still) need.

 

Ok, I will answer this myself as no one else has chipped in.

Started to be of the opinion that, if there is a genuine Saudi offer on the table, that Bruno should be sold now.

Mainoo fills that role, and we buy a Baleba, or alternative.

There, said it. **** knows what will happen over the next few days, but I think this provides a solution to a glaring problem.

Ergo, I personally would prefer to keep Mainoo over Bruno, but one needs to be sold.

 

Mainoo gets a start tonight,

• Onana
• 33, Fredricson, Defender
  33
  Fredricson
• 5, Maguire, Defender
  5
  Maguire
• 26, Heaven, Defender
  26
  Heaven
• 2, Diogo Dalot, Midfielder
  2
  Diogo Dalot
• 37, Mainoo, Midfielder
  37
  Mainoo
• 25, Ugarte, Midfielder
  25
  Ugarte
• 13, Dorgu, Midfielder
  13
  Dorgu
• 16, Diallo, Attacking Midfielder
  16
  Diallo
• 10, Matheus Cunha, Attacking Midfielder
  10
  Matheus Cunha
• 30, Sesko, Striker
  30
  Sesko

Not pasted qyiute how i expected

 

Anyone would think we need a decent keeper, eh.

 

The two positions that still need addressing vividly highlighted in a league cup game.

Ugarte, utterly ****.
Onana, utterly ****.

 

We can let Bruno go - we now have others who can make up his goals, Mainoo isn't up to the job - sell him this window and we suddenly have 200m to strengthen.

 

Four days to buy a genuine midfield No.6 and a goalkeeper capable of making saves.

Did Onana actually get near any pens last night? Against a team in league 2? Not really.

Ugarte and Maninoo over ran in midfield by a league 2 side.

Dalot his usual **** standard. RWB has not been addressed, we switch to a back four at least Mazaroui is there.

Amorim genuinely now has two or three games to make this system work, and the club needs to get those two crucial players in.
We still need those two players even if he did switch formation by the way, although we'd be better to switch to a midfield three, definitely.

Otherwise, he'll be gone, they'll be starting again (with a massive surplus of forwards and lack of midfield) and we'll be going down a very deep and dark hole.

 

""I felt my players spoke really loud today what they want"

So, how to interpret this?

I think one of two;

• 1, They want me out and so I will resign
• 2, They want a change in formation, which I will (or won't) do.

If it's 1, then it's back to the drawing board and the players have won, again. They really should be able to cope and play what is a simple enough way of playing football. Who will they accept, and what formation will they accept. (Southgate name tripped out yet again)

if it's 2, then 4 3 3 is the way to go. He really does need to be flexible and give it a go, so the centre of midfield isn't over run and we are using actual full backs.

I genuinely hope it's 2. He needs to stay.

A back four of Mazaroui, de Ligt, Yoro and Shaw looks solid.

Midfield three of Casemiro, Fernandes and Mount/Mainoo ( we still need that No.6 long term mind, regardless)

Front three of Mbuemo, Cunha Sesko/Zirkzee.

Give it a go ffs, show some flexibility.

 

That's his problem (and why Liverpool decided not to hire him according to some reports) - he's just too stubborn, too inflexible in his approach. What might have worked in the Portuguese farmers league plainly isn't working in the PL so he needs to look at his players and play a system that complements their strengths rather than trying each week to play square pegs in round holes. If he doesn't - he will definitely be gone by December.

 

It was also working in European competition.

I can't lie, I find it baffling that our players 'can't' adapt. Are they that illiterate football wise?

The wing backs are crucial, and this is where it all falls apart. Dorgu looks capable enough, but Dalot can't play at RWB and neither can Amad really. It leaves them very exposed out wide.

The other problem is that the centre piece of the three man defence is supposed to step forward into a CDM role when in possession, and both de Ligt and Maguire are far too cumbersome for that.

And don't get me started on the goalkeeper ffs.

 

Sadly the boat appears to have sailed as far as Donnarumma is concerned - he would have been an ideal signing. I'm right in thinking that Onana was signed as much for his ball playing skills as his shot stopping - yet whenever I watch him play he does no more than play a 20ft pass to a defender or a long punt up field,

 

Or straight in to touch!

I don't get why Amorim has persisted with him. Onana is clearly ****e, it's been right on front of our eyes since the day Ten Hag signed him. I even said it on day one!

Last night should have been his last ever game for us.

Unless they pull a rabbit out of the hat next couple of days, we have to persist with Bayindir.

Or even Heaton.

 

I'd give Heaton a game or two - he was excellent in pre-season and can't be any worse than the other two.
All we need now is a Roy Keane and a Peter Schmeichel.