It’s all arisen from something Adam Blackmore apparently said about him having trouble staying at the club.
Yeah, I mean I'm going to ignore that for the moment. But were it true, we can push Livramento up, we can use Elyounoussi/Tella/Walcott etc. Plus we could then buy another CM. But I really do hope it's nothing.
People seem to be focusing of the calf part specifically . Has a calf injury been used as a smokescreen before for another player who eventually left ?
I’m guessing it was a slip of the tongue. Ralph said at the pre-match presser that Stu was not yet back in training and would be out for the Newcastle game. Sometimes a minor injury actually is a minor injury, don’t forget JWP missed a chunk of preseason with a similar knock, and he doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere.
In theory we should be able to get another CM anyway (loan or buy). Squad space isn’t the issue especially if one or both of our extra strikers are moved out. Shouldn’t need Armstrong to move for that
No other club has been linked to Stu though right? Not even a rumour. Is any club above us legitimately gonna be in for him? No. I could understand a move back to Scotland, but not now, at the peak off his career. Maybe in a couple of seasons.
If Armstrong moved on, it would be an indication of a personal issue that the club and player didn’t want to get out. Either there’s a fitness issue (related to COVID or a recurring injury) or personal/family problem. We’re not moving him out for the **** of it. I don’t think he’s leaving. Edit: obviously given that he’s out of the Scottish squad it appears it’s just an injury and that all the rumours are just that.
No Scottish club could afford the fee we would want for someone with three years left on his contract . Leaving aside the wages for a moment And Celtic don’t have enough players we would want to even make a trade worthwhile. Perhaps if this was back in the day and they could throw in someone worth over 10m like van dijk or wanyama. I don’t think they have any of those now
I know the club have effectively said our business is pretty much done, but I can't help feel we will get 1 more in. Partly because Ralph made is clear he wanted another "6", in the form of either a CM or a CB that can also play CM, so far we have signed neither. I also think that loans tend to happen later in the window and we still have 1 loan spot remaining. We saw the same with Lemina & co - we tried to sell for a while but come the end of the window we decided we would rather save on his wages with a loan rather than get nothing at all. That could be what we are waiting for.
What do people understand by “number 6” when a continental manager says it? I have been taking it to mean “Romeu’s position”. But Ralph is now quoted as saying Ely played as number 6 when JWP went off suggesting he considers it the JWP role If true i would suggest it isn’t a number 6 we need as diallo is closer to JWP than Romeu and even before Ely returned it was a position that Armstrong filled in It is Romeu who we have zero backup for. And I don’t consider sliding JWP into that role and bringing the others as counting And I believe Lyanco has played there only a handful of times so is not the answer Edit: a google search confirms my understanding and therefore it is slightly baffling that he claimed Ely can cover at “number 6”. Against Newport when 6 or 7 up maybe. But no other time
Blackmore is a bit of an idiot sometimes and speaks before he thinks. The only reason I can think that Stuey might be disillusioned here is being left out of the opening game but a confirmed injury is much more likely.
I don’t think there will be any more signings as Ralph has said we won’t be looking at the keeper position before next summer. Let’s face it - with Ely and Valery back we have effectively got ourselves a complete outfield team this summer. Nothing short of remarkable for the money we’ve dished out and the quality we’ve brought in
I think that we're pretty ok for CM options. We have Romeu, Diallo and JWP who can play a deeper role and JWP, Stuey and Smallbone who can play more forward.
I think Ralph describes both Romeu and JWP as a "6". Ralphs midfield system has 2 sixes and 2 tens. I dont think it is that scientific in terms of describing their roles, it is just a way of saying Romeu & JWP are the more defensive midfield players and Armstrong & Tella/Walcott/etc are the more attacking midfield players.
The 6 is a CM. There’s a requirement for the CM players to be able to play both ends (with and against the ball). JWP/Romeu/Diallo have the skills to do both from that position. Smallbone might be able to in future and Armstrong can fill in but it’s probably not a great use of either due to their lack of ball winning ability. Unless there’s an academy player looking like a particularly athletic all-rounder or we get a last minute deal, I think we’re going to have to make do for now, with intent to recruit one in the future.
