Has to be priority in January. If we had 1, who knows where we could be, 9th place as it is. Who would you like to see us get, realistically?
CM and Striker are of course the key areas we need to look at. Personally I'd like to see Danny Ings, but Southampton are mounting some sort of escape here so I think it's unlikely. I'm **** at naming signings if I'm being honest, I'm better at watching games and giving a basic opinion that people can nod too. It's why I'll be a fantastic politician one day.
Don't get me started, that fat spanish waiter cucked us with that decision. Mitrovic is gone, and gone for good.
Think he'd do well in our team now, almost like Carroll but not crippled. But yeah, can't see it Édouard from Celtic is another I'd be happy with. Or Moussa Dembele if he's within our budget, probably not though
I'm usually against resigning former players but if we got back HBA, Merino and Mitrovic we'd be a good side
How hard it is to get a capable striker these days means that almost every single one at a current premier league club is going to be mega expensive. Even pillaging Celtic and Rangers, a former easy task, is hard now because those two clubs only make money from Europa League games and need those players to get out the group stages. So, honestly, it's not wonder we went after Joe in the German league, as the French players have so far been either ****, or ****ing arrogant pricks. Is there a single reason we got rid of Merino? It seemed another ******ed decision without any cause... Why sign these players and just let them go when they show promise? I have a feeling Rafa would have let Almiron go for a free this January after he finally scored a goal. It's just confusing.
Think Merino wanted away because of home sickness, although more likely that he was fed up of seeing guff like Hayden playing ahead of him. Merino and Longstaff should have been our midfield for the next 10 year
Home sickness? The entire backroom staff and half the squad were Spanish ffs. What more can they want. Give them a sun bed at home and turn on the macarena, that will get them going.
Carroll is doing pretty well considering he cost minus £35 million - especially in comparison to the plus £40 million spent on Linton. Therefore I think we should invest in our past: let's splash the cash on Ronald Orr and Albert Shepherd.
I have two theories about Joelinton: 1) He was abducted by aliens after the Spurs game and was replaced by a representative of this life form who wants to learn what it is like playing for a middle level Premier league team. Unfortunately on their planet, football consists of running round slowly in circles, mouthing off at the referee at every opportunity. If we are to continuing playing him we need to get Gabriel Obertan back, as he was from the planet next door and probably could develop a better understanding with him than Carroll. 2) He was part of an attempt by Mike Ashley to get money out of the club without it appearing as a dividend. His actual value was 1million, the agent took 3million, the sellling club 10million (as a management fee) and the other 27million was paid back to Ashley. Presumably Bruce has been told he has to continue playing him until the 2019 accounts are cleared.
This has everything to do with us not having a scouting network. Every other club manages to get youngsters in of a reasonable quality. All we have is Rafa's tactics and a photocopy of his targets from the championship
Merino was great and it was off field reasons for him going. Shame as he was real quality. As the person who started the long thread on why we should keep Mitrovic ( the goals thread when he first went on loan to Fulham) I'd clearly love to have him back, I actually don't think it's out of the question but we'd have to pay 30 million or more I suspect. Ben Arfa, sigh, he was a passenger in the team when we got rid of him in what should have been his prime I just can't take seriously any suggestion he'd be of use now - buy him on Football Manager if it makes you feel happy.
I'd say that centre midfield is the area of greatest weakness. And Joelinton isn't going to be discarded if the transfer fee is genuine (I have doubts). But with us in the top half of the table, I'm more fearful that we'll be asset stripped in January rather than strengthened.
I agree - we look a different team with Shelvey playing as he has vision but he doesn't perform when playing against sides that press and close down quickly. Longstaff seems to be going backwards, although hopefully its just a spell he is going through and Hayden is okay if all we want to do is defend.
I was abducted by Aliens in the 70s,was probed and had something inserted that turns traffic lights red as I approach,honest
