Vranny

They're not spending 60 million on Alex Sandro for depth, and he's not being signed for depth, he'll be the clear starter if they pry him from Juve.

Sure, but they won't be getting rid of Alonso either then, due to a lack of options in that left wing-back role. Very much there's any chance of someone being able to sign him, bar a ridiculous fee being put forward.

When he shoots the crowd is more in danger than the back of the net.

So the answer you are looking for is no

He'd be so deadly if he could actually get shots on target, but he can't even manage that usually -_-

I was wondering about that too. Alonso has been great for them this past season. Wouldn't mind him here...

I'm pretty sure it's a signing for depth, rather than a replacement for Alonso. They've got Champions League again this season and I'm pretty sure Alonso is just about their only left footed full-back (apart from 1 or 2 youngsters, but when do Chelsea give them a go? )

I think he would've been a good playmaker for us in, say, Martinez's team, but at £40M and considering Koeman wants his CMs to press, I'm glad we've got Klaassen instead. I'd rather we look for a playmaker with a bit more pace who can also play wide, like Lanzini for instance.

Bit late on the discussion regarding Klaassen's abilities, but while I honestly don't rate him too much as an individual, I reckon he'd be a good fit for the style and formation that Koeman settled on in the second half of the season. He'd be able to slot in as a more experienced option instead of Davies or a more attacking option than Gueye, while still providing pressing and hopefully adding some goals to the centre of midfield. I'll be very interested to see if we can get this one through and at what price.

I completely agree with the whole western world looking out for itself sentiment, but in this case two Australians died in the attacks, so I'm assuming the primary reason for the minute silence was this, rather than to show support for the UK.

He just needs to be played as a striker and not a winger. Giving him regular games there could have a similar effect to Henry's move from a winger to a CF at Arsenal.

Not bad that mate that's exactly what I want to happen

Just sounds a bit shit to want to see a team relegated in order to get a player off them, but I suppose it's a dog-eat-dog world and all that.

It sounds bad, but we need to beat Swansea to keep them in the shit, so we can take Sigurdsson off them (not to mention it'll help keep Hull up and increase our chances of getting rid of Niasse).

I really like him, but if we're going to keep playing 2 pressing centre mids in front of Morgan I don't think he'd really fit into the team.

It was Pulis buying Nyom on (or very close to) deadline day that stuffed up the move. From memory Brunt was still returning from injury, so it was either play Galloway at LB or drag their best CB in Evans out there. That alone probably would've seen him get 10+ games, but in reality I think it was foolish not to make it a 6 month loan, or include a clause to bring if he didn't play a certain amount of games.

 

And Gueye's better So the question we should be asking is, who do you rate more, Gana or Morgan?

 

Still rate Kante better Gueye, mostly because of Gana's brainfarts when passing. And Morgan>Gana. The guy is pure class whether in the tackle, or with the ball at his feet

Agreed- quality player but not world class.

 

It's hard for me to determine where he stands on the world stage when I don't take much interest of football outside of the premier league, but honestly, who do you rate as a better defensive mid in England? Kante is the only one who sticks out for me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5BrQRSTxg6cslZKcrMnfc40/the-apostrophe-quiz?intc_type=promo&intc_location=sport&intc_campaign=apostrophe&intc_linkname=radio4_fac_quiz1

 

Really pissed off I only got 9/10 .

 

9/10 for me too! Got the Richard Harris question wrong

http://punchng.com/coventry-city-sack-yakubu-aiyegbeni/

 

 

That footage is painful to watch. Just looks like pure petulance on a football field.

Another game when I don't know what he's actually done.

 

I want to be blown away by him like the rest of you .

I think the main issue is that he's been jammed into the team at AM since buying Schneiderlein and getting Gana back (plus playing Ross out wide). I don't think it's a coincidence that his first few games were his best for us, when played next to Barry in a box-to-box role.

 

We just need to get a marque playmaker and use him as a rotation player next season. Can't afford to rely on an 18 week in and week out anyway.

 

Edit: Plus injuries are certainly a factor. Could've been McCarthy playing that same role if he wasn't out.

I might bring Lookman in for Ross

Thought Ross was reasonable tonight and I think Lookman is more suited as a bench player anyway. I just don't know why Koeman is ignoring him all of a sudden. Tonight's game was screaming for him to come off the bench.

Went for Jags as well. Thought Robles, Williams and Barry were excellent in patches too.

 

I think we'll need to go after an AM in the summer, if Barkley is going to keep playing that free role. Need someone in there capable of giving Davies a breather. I didn't notice much of him today and I feel like that's been the case in a few games now.

How has Gueye not been sent off there? Haha.

Shaw was really good before his injury and he's still only 22. I'd still be a bit worried about Mourinho's comments. You don't often hear a manager criticize a specific player about lack of commitment and ambition.

 

This is Mourinho we're talking about though

 

He certainly looked the real deal when he first burst onto the scene, but I honestly having been following him at United between his injuries and not following the league as much this season. Based on his Southampton form and young age I think he'd still be well worth pursuing.

I used to work with a geordie who wold say "belter" when something was good.

 

Belter gets used in Australia too, mostly to describe good batting cricket pitches for some reason

I'd like him here. I was going to mention why would he move here to go from one bench to another, but I suppose the major selling point for him would be having a crack as the no. 1 right back at the club while Coleman recovers unfortunately

Still can't believe he played (most likely) our three slowest centre backs in a back three. Lining them up head to head against the pacy and mobile front 3 of the shite was always going to end in disaster.

Thanks for....um, er....let me think about it Tom. You'll be missed by someone probably, off the top of my head I can't think of who .

He scored a long range header late in the game against Newcastle to get us a win. Trying to think of anything else he's done though...