DownUnderToff

Think we should be able to get on top in the midfield for this one, looks like they might have to run with Winks and Sissoko. Assuming Gueye is injured, I'd be happy to go more attacking with Davies instead of Schneiderlin. Keep Calvert-Lewin up top, Richarlison on the left and Lookman on the right.

Fair enough. Might only be 5 - 10m (maybe more in these crazy markets), but every bit is important in the long run. Our Billionaire owner is not just going to keep pumping in 5-10% of his net worth year on year. See SPL as more of a career killer. Doesn't seem like many come out and kick on, Van Dijk recently... anyone else?

Still a reason to target a better loan, put him in a bigger shop window and hopefully improve the return. Still think he's got enough ability, just needs to apply it. Lower Prem or Germany for mine.

He did well enough, first go round, in the championship, he's better than rangers/spl. Time to really challenge him. Lower prem and Huddersfield I reckon, let him fight off relegation. They're down their creative mid, in Mooy until at least the end of Jan, and short in that area regardless. Wagner likes possession based football as well.

I understand what you're saying @wolf8312, but saying (in hindsight) the tactics didn't work doesn't have to be a manager Witch Hunt. Just that something was tried, didn't work, and you move on. Silva is still a young (for a coach) and learning, he'll make some mistakes and that's ok. We're playing so much better, and more attractive, than last year, having been far more organised at the back as well. Kudos Silva and Brands. Against Man City, 5 at the back and conceding the midfield clearly didn't work. We had one (clear-cut and fluffed) opportunity in the first half, that's just flat out not creating enough and a big part of that has to be down to the structure. They had far too much time on the ball, able to shift the play and pick passes at will. Getting some balance back in the midfield allowed us to at least get forward a bit more...so we could fluff more chances.

We're a long way off it today, right across the park.

Aside from locking up Gomes and Zouma... I'd love a, slightly more, unrealistic Striker target like Mauro Icardi or Ciro Immobile (maybe??). From the more possible scenarios; an Andrea Belotti or, riskier, Andre Silva seem well suited to our current style. Both are strong and fast. Otherwise...Sebastien Haller looks to be in top form, don't think he's too quick though.

Apologies, selective reading/quoting

Don't agree with that. He would have mostly sat on the bench or played occasionally out wide, never getting a real chance to press his case. Vlasic is showing the benefit of regular, competitive, first team football. We need to get as many of the, non playing, kids out on loan as possible.

Rubbish from us today, we snuck away with a point and should be greatful. Walcott has no right to start for mine. Lookman wasn't great when he came on, but we were down at that point and pretty well just playing long balls into the box. Definitely need a striker, can't persist with Richarlison in the middle. Agree we need an RB and Gueye upgrade.

Thought Mina got that ball, but going to have to take him off just in case. Reckon Walcott has been rubbish. Lost it every time down the right.

Walcott has been poor so far

Could say the same thing about some that are back in

Exactly what I was getting at.

No thanks, no dickhead policy.

Went Gomes, but even he was a bit off (for him). Thought Lookman did well (stays starting for mine), Gylfi (apart from crap crosses and corners), Tosun, and Richarlison all ok. Digne had a mare, so many wasted balls in.

Thought Tosun was much better centrally than Richarlison has been. Richie was clearly annoyed, when Tosun was removed, at having to move back there as well.

52 crosses and 14 corners, lack of a top quality striker wasn't what killed us today.

The balls in to the box have been horrible today.

That's what I just haven't seen, although admittedly missed a couple of games. A fair point. Although it also coincides with the additions of Gomes and Digne (+ Bernard), as well as a tightening of the backline and general gelling of the team. I feel like the greatest improvement has come from defense and midfield so far. Happens to you as well?

(Depending on ins and perm outs) Hoping that we loan out a few for playing time, targeting the lower prem and Bundesliga. Huddersfield and Southampton (with Hasenhuttl going there) are 2 that come to mind with (or soon to) the right style. Dowell and Beni (injured?) need to be playing. I'd also consider Davies, if McCarthy is fit and we don't sell any other CM's, and DCL, if Charlie stays up top and both Cenk & Niasse remain. Maybe even Holgate, if we think we've got enough cover.

No idea why "isn'tt" always comes out with 2 t's....

Playing as a hold up Centre Forward, allowing the team an outlet through the middle, with their back to goal. Winning headers against a CB. No doubt Richarlison is the better player overall, just think he's at hid best running at the defense, getting down the line, and coming in off the left. Trying to hold off 1/2 CB's and play in the wingers/Gylfi isn'tt a strength of his. He was called on to do it a number of times in the Derby, pretty sure he lost out every time except for a couple of frees.

Depends on structure, but wouldn't mind seeing a bit more variation. Current 4-2-1-3 Coleman Keane Zouma Digne Gueye. Gomes Siggurdson Lookman Tosun Richarlison Think that plays Richarlison to his strength and gives us an outlet through the middle. Probably toss a coin/rotate who starts between Lookman/Bernard and Tosun/DCL. Wouldn't mind seeing Silva try an attacking 4-3-3 or a straight 4-4-2 against suitable opposition. Would bring Bernard on for Gueye in both those formations, play Richarlison alongside Tosun/DCL in a front 2.

Don't agree (so far). Think he's been the 3rd best we have at that role, but he's the best we have on the left.