It is such a shame VD is being a cock. Even though we kept a clean sheet yesterday, I think our defence always look vulnerable, particularly on crosses. With VD in the side you can pump in the crosses all day long and get nowhere. The performance seems lower than MP1 and FLD, but we are just one or two players hitting form from being absolutely outstanding. In my view.
Problem identified, solution identified, problem finding the answer to the solution. I shall just throw a name into the ring TSS. What about Arsenal's Joel Campbell, could pick him up for £5m, or again from the same club offering maybe £7m for Lopez?
I agree with the current conversation about a focal striker but I can't decide how to accommodate- i.e. who to leave out. After thinking about it here's my effort: Forster (/McCarthy) Soares Stephens Hoedt Bertrand (somebody cheer him up) JWP Romeu Lemina Redmond(Tadic/Boufal) Gabbiadini <new target man> Can't believe I've dropped Davis! Gabbiadini given license to play off the target man or to supplement the middle/wide play
Having just watched the highlights, I'm left with a few impressions; Forster, who I've been critical of in the past, kept us in that. A CB pairing of Maya and Jack just isn't good enough, which isn't a criticism of either of them as individuals - just that, as a pair, they come unstuck too often. Davis and Redmond combined to create the best chance in the first half. When Cedric puts the ball into the box on the ground, there's a chance of someone getting on to it. Shane Long still scares the **** out of defenders.
This is an interesting comment because I felt that when Boufal came on against Swansea he was far more effective winning the ball back from the Saints half than doing anything creative. Defensively he played well. It is odd to have the likes of Boufal, Hojbjerg and Classie not in the team because of the money spent on them. There are times when I have felt Classie has been really good although I would add that he is rarely consistent throughout 90 minutes. Hojbjerg looked terrific in the friendly matches under Claude Puel but has never replicated these performances in league or cup games and has become an increasingly fringe player. As for Boufal, I was convinced that he would be sold on this summer so as to recover some of the costs. I wasn't convinced that a new manager would fancy him unless we went for another French coach or someone familiar with French football who knew of Boufal's reputation. I would rather he moved on and the money spent on a decent goal-scorer. At least Classie has shown he can perform and I think that Pierre Emil will eventually come good - an investment or the future. Booufal was bought to make an immediate impact and I just cannot see him getting in to this squad. Judging by the money we spent on him, how much does this make the ever excellent Steve Davis worth let alone Romeu? For me, Davis is as vital as VVD and perhaps our best bit of business in the transfer market after Rickie?
We have to accept that transfers will be hit or miss....you can hope that research will tip the odds in your favour, but nothing is foolproof. Recent hits are Romeu, Cedric and Gabbiadini. The jury is out on Boufal apparently, but I would be amazed if he ever amounts to much for us. You can choose a player with the right skills and character, but still discover that their brains aren't quick enough or adaptable enough for the PL. However, you have to have back ups in case of injury, so not everyone can be a starter. We shouldn't take too much notice of the player's price....each one may be our dearest player....but this may reflect the market price, rather than suggesting they will be our best player.
In other words, he tries too hard. Don't get me wrong, I'd love too see him show us all what he's capable of, but from what we have seen so far, both Tadic and Redmond have a better all round game (though both can be frustrating). I wouldn't even think of dropping Davis at this point btw.
I'm sure it's been mentioned that pretty much all these players are so, so young (sorry Davis). We saw how much players like Ward-Prowse and Redmond improved last year. Weekly performances will go up and down but it will all gradually move in the right direction.
Davis's play not to his normal high standard so far. Maybe his role as captain on the pitch shouldn't be underestimated though.
Ref rotating the scapegoat squad and putting Fraser into it in place of Yoshi: Today: cf Jun 28th: Vin
You could be right. I think my judgment's clouded. I'm just slowly getting sick of scapegoat bingo. Actually, I'm just getting tired of the utter negativity of some people. I don't think they even notice how they see our games. Like plenty of our fans at home games, they seem to be looking for something to complain about. Vin
Boufal was signed with an injury Ian, so not quite sure where you get the "instant impact" from. No way was that possible last season. I'd hoped that he'd be flying this season with a good pre-season behind him. Not happened yet though.
Wow, someone who can't pick up on sarcasm and has nothing better to do than check out 2 months worth of my comment history, which in itself proved nothing.
Or we can view it as we aren't going to go down this year and we aren't going to challenge top 6 this year, with or without VVD. So if he is causing a big issue behind the scenes we can take the 60/70m and don't have to get a replacement straight away as Yoshida/Stephens/Hoedt should be fine til at least January. We have every right to be annoyed I think that the club has not improved the attacking options this summer, but again, as FLT likes to say it is about what you expect from the team. In my view our first priority every season (like 13 other clubs) should be to get to 40 points ASAP and then anything on top is a bonus. So 5 points in the opening 3 games against other teams who are trying to do the same thing isn't a bad return in my view.
