Vranny

For me it's one of; Pickford Holgate Keane Jags Baines Gana Schneiderlein Sandro Rooney Siggy DCL or Pickford Kenny Keane Jags Baines Davies Schneiderlein Gana Rooney/Siggy DCL Sandro/Rooney depending on what shape we go with. It's frustrating me to bits that we've bought in so many slow AMs and no wingers (or a marquee striker) to solve obvious issues in our squad. Think we're going to have to use Klaasen as a rotation/Europa player for instance.

Yep, play him out wide or up front with a partner. He hasn't got the ability or strength to play the lone striker role in the prem.

Seems a Koeman type. I was wondering when we would be linked with him after Giroud fell through.

I'm thinking: Pickford Holgate Keane Jags Baines Davies Gana Lookman/Mirallas Rooney Sig DCL Has a good mix of pace and grit, though wouldn't at all be surprised to see the 3/5 at the back rolled out again.

I just don't know why we didn't bring on Mirallas, or Lookman (or both) instead of Sigurdsson or Klaasen. DCL was making it pretty clear that the city defence was struggling with his pace, so we really had to be targeting that more 2nd half with them going down to 10 men. Didn't even look to bring one of them on for those last 10-15 minutes just to relieve some of the pressure on us.

Agreed. Think we're going to have to play a diamond in midfield to squeeze him and Klaasen into the same side. God knows what we'll do with Siggy as well.

I just think Mirallas is getting noticably slower these days. Didn't mind his decision making mostly (think he's better at this than Lookman for sure), but he just doesn't carry that threat on the ball that he used too. He either needs to develop a good partnership with Baines when played on the left, or get games up front playing with someone pacer like Sandro or DCL.

I'm just hoping Koeman plays Holgate, knowing that we'll be on the back foot for most of this game.

Rooney or Gana for me. Leaning towards Rooney with his goal. Pickford a very solid third pick too. Rooney completely dictated our attacking play second half, once he had a bit of pace around him. Gana was just a tackling machine and set up quite a few counters for us.

I honestly think one of the reasons for him leaving is to go to one of the teams above us in order to help him get games for England. Even with no CMs of any natural talent in the England side, Barkley couldn't get a look in at NT level once last season. Think he's looking for that bit of extra exposure that comes with playing for the Tottenhams, Arsenals, etc. So no chance of going to Swansea.

I feel like if we really wanted him we should've gone for him this time last year, instead of Williams.

It's my favourite current animated series. And I do love me some animation.

I usually follow this thread along when I watch replays of a game, but avoid the rest of the forum myself.

I remember us saying similar about Stones not so long ago... Keane and possibly Pickford I can see being potential leaders, but it's a bit early to pin anything on Davies and Lookman yet. I'm happy with the strong characters Koeman is bringing into the team for sure though.

Makes sense to bring him in if Koeman plans to play a back 3 at times this season. With Galloway out on loan and Mori injured for the foreseeable future we need a left footed CB. Shouldn't be a priority signing though, in my mind.

Barely played (or scored) in the last two years. For a player who's main attribute is/was his pace I wouldn't touch him, considering his age and recent run of injuries.

With the amount of change going through our squad I honestly wouldn't mind if we leave our full-backs for 6-12 months. I don't want too much upheaval in the squad :/

I think Barry is the only one in the squad somewhat capable of doing Schneiderlin's role if he gets injured too.

Or, more importantly, selling.

15-20. Reckon he'll do pretty well at United. Didn't think that would've been the case if he went to Chelsea though.

I think he was meant to be our version of Mane at Soton. I feel like Koeman just has a template team he keeps trying to assemble at each of his clubs

I'm putting a line through Bolasie until he's back on the park and played a few games. Have no idea what he'll be like when he returns. Lookman I'm excited about, but the way we're building our squad atm, I can see him having a bench role, while getting decent minutes in the Europa league. One of my concerns with our recruit drive this summer is how it'll affect the youth players coming through, but their should be plenty of minutes between Europe and, fingers crossed, a couple of good cup runs.

We'll still need some pace out wide, which I imagine Mirallas and possibly Sandro will provide. Mirallas has a decent cross too, just haven't seen it much when he's been played on the left more recently.

Would still rather a bit more of a mobile playmaker like Lanzini or Forsberg, but I think the plan is to play him out wide and smash in crosses to a target man. Would basically be playing the same role Tadic had at Soton under Koeman me thinks.

I'm pretty sure the thread was mis-spelt Das Bost back then too haha.