Btay

Dobbin showing more in his cameos than Iwobi has his whole time here. The boy is ready so let him loose Rafa

Yep. Moshiri jumped and sacked him when he should have backed him with 1 window to see what could happen. This for me is the exact moment our players got the mentality they can down tools and the manager will take the brunt

I don’t think it matter who our manager is until we get rid of mega money players who are contributing nothing. Too many players chewing up our wage bill and restricting us from getting in any sort quality in the transfer market. Gbamin, Tosun, Delph, Mina & Iwobi all need to go. That’s 5 players who were signed to be in and around the first team and barely contribute - by no means accurate but a quick google as a guide has that at £18.88m in wages p/a for a combined 1819 minutes. I imagine there’s a clause in Gylfi’s contract for these situations so I haven’t included him.

I’d have him back in a heartbeat to be honest.

You could actually see it happening though. Rafa has clearly said no to Coutinho so Moshiri wouldn’t even consult him and Sanchez just turns up to the training ground.

Agree. Coutinho on his day is world class but so was James. Rafa for all his flaws we have to give him credit that there’s a certain “type” of player he wants and he is sticking by that. Also again sounds like the transfer strategy has finally got some direction to it.

Trying to work out the team there because the format has turned into a complete mess but I will say we need to walk away from Barkley. Doucoure has shown his quality getting forward this year we don’t need Barkley. If anything let’s get another physical midfielder & go 4-3-3. Gray, Richarlison and Dom is an excellent front 3 - Gordon is improving game on game and can provide a spark if need be. Midfield of Allan, Doucoure and someone who can really get stuck in and allow Doucoure forward with that front 3 is the key. Back 5 need time to gel and hopefully these young fullbacks can perform at this level quickly.

Seasons saved

He loves to stir shit in foreign interviews that’s for sure

Despite sitting 15th in the league these 2 windows are the first of which I feel we have any real direction. I think they may have been a little bit more money available than we all thought but it wasn’t spent as the right targets weren’t available. If we move Digne and maybe Holgate on we could re invest in a proper left footed cb and another dynamic midfielder. So far I’m happy with Rafa in the market. Tactics though - he needs to get his shit together because it’s not good enough.

We would concede less goals playing no central defenders at the moment

This could turn out being one of our best transfer windows…

Right profile of player again though.

I don’t quite understand the logic. You all saying Rafa needs to win this but then keeping the same team that has returned 1 win in 12….

You haven’t seen us play lately then

Iwobi will be away at AFCON. If Rondon starts I just hope he has Dobbin running off him as he looks a real live wire.

Same, I think he’s a quality centre half and seems like an alpha in the changing room but we can’t afford his wages for what he produces.

League has to be priority however the kids showed us against chelsea we can rely on them. I’d keep Pickford in however. Probably a good chance to give the new signings a run… Pickford Patterson Holgate Brainthwaite Myk. Gbamin Gomes Onyango Gordon Simms Dobbin Cant see Rafa starting Simms over Rondon unfortunately. Lacking depth on the wings and don’t want to over use gray. I hope Brianthwaite is fit/recovered.

I like Digne, we signed a player that stepped into the role that Baines mastered and it was seamless. However, he has definitely declined after a stellar first season - various reasons why, we all know there’s a star player in there. What I don’t quite get and apologies if it’s mentioned is - I assume we are skint still with FFP but if we had the room for the money we have spent now on the 2 young fullbacks ( seeing as we have bought before we have sold ). Chelsea are looking to loan Digne to cover Chilwell, could we potentially loan him for 6 months for a stupid loan fee say 8 million and then sell him for 30 million, he will undoubtedly look a much better player in their team. It’s a risk but it could really pay off.

Agree - Romagnoli aswell from Ac Milan. Regards we need a calm presence in the back which I don’t think Keane, Mina, Godfrey or Holgate are. Branthwaite from the glimpse’s we have seen has that potential perhaps. Also if we go big for a centre half they need to be English speaking otherwise there’s no point as our defenders needs a bit of guidance.

Anyone think this one will be done before the next game? Only so we can play 3 right backs in the starting team as 2 just didn’t cut it last time out

I agree with a lot of what you are saying here. I guess for me I’m at a point where I’d rather we move both Mina and Keane on and try find another solution that we can move forward with.

Seen something that he has arrived for a medical - happy to see us targeting younger players, just hope they can manage the environment they are coming in to.

Well they have to be Southampton this year and Leicester the other year when he made his shit touch and vardy went in on goal. Problem is I can remember walking away from many, many games since he’s been here thinking he’s at fault for goals.

I think they only label and error leading to a goal as a very very clear cut error - ie Southampton this year. He makes so many though and just doesn’t deal with strikers well enough. Neil Maupay - who nearly every one turned their nose up at when we were linked with him gave him an absolute run around. Headed clearances - one thing to win them but please try and watch how many uncontested headers he “wins” but just lobs 15 yards forward to their players instead of trying to find a man (like good center halves do in this league) As for free pass mentioned earlier, people still clearly think he is an acceptable defender for us which clearly I just cannot understand. Secondly he gets a ride because his confidence must be low ( happens each season ). We need centre halves who dig in when things get tough, find that extra level and pull us through for results - he simply falls apart.