EFC-Paul

Sane and Bernardo (very underrated) could be the difference bar those two I don't see a million miles between us tbh, that's probably one of the best sides they could put out on our part tbh 

2-2

                           Pickford

Coleman.     Keane.   Mina.     Digne. 

                            Gana.  

Lookman.         Gomes.      Richarlison.

                    Bernard. 

                                     DCL.   

I agree with Aaron our best chance is on the counter and I think Sigurdsson has been slightly off the boil lately and although no slouch he can slow play down at times so I'd move Bernard behind DCL in his natural position to thread balls through etc 

Either way you put it on paper it's hard to say how it will pan out, if City turn up we've fucked it  

He won't be short of suitors put it that way, let's just hope the blue magic has taken effect and he can see the direction we are hopefully heading in 

9 hours ago, DownUnderToff said:

Apologies, selective reading/quoting

Ha no worries I'm glad he went out and is doing well I genuinely rate him I just hope he gets a chance here 

25 minutes ago, DownUnderToff said:

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.

Read above that..... it's a double edged sword situation 

Good for his development potentially bad for us 

1 hour ago, markjazzbassist said:

I was gonna ask if he’s playing the middle or wing for them.  Good to see it’s the middle.  

He does mate plays centrally and most of his goals build up play and assists come from those area's

If he came back he'd be wasted on the wing cutting in occasionally or not he's far more suited through the middle 

The loan will do him the world of good but going off his recent interview he seems to want to stay there which if he comes back isn'tt always a healthy thing, he needed the move but it could backfire down the line 

Shame he went out as he'd have been good competition for Sigurdsson ATM and would give us a different option

3 hours ago, Haiku said:

Bring him back. I would have him over Walcott any day recently.

He's been playing in his natural position for them through the middle as an attacking mid, we have and still shoehorn players into the wrong positions 

I'd have him back but he'd be vying with Sigurdsson for me 

I said awhile back that the problem for him here is positional and being given a run through the middle where he should be playing not out wide 

It would be a case of dropping Sigurdsson for him which wasn't likely to happen at the beginning of the season 

I'd definitely keep hold of him if possible 

5 hours ago, aaron said:

after last night 10000000000000000000000000000% a right back needs to be bought. Straight in for that lad from Palace.

Apparently after Bissaka Dacoure and NDombele and a striker in the summer, pinch of salt but I'd be made up with all three and a proper top level striker 

Andy Serkis gives his take on Brexit and May, brilliant

https://youtu.be/HDukkCR4KP8

2 hours ago, Bailey said:

Its these type of games that sort the elite from the also rans. Top teams find a way to win most of these games and also rans drop too many silly points against them. 

As frustrating as it is, we are only 6 months into Silva and hopefully that ruthlessness will develop.

Yeah I agree it was one of those games you pull your hair out to knowing you can and should win, as you said it's only six months in and the difference is already unreal in comparison to last season

After the summer window I genuinely think we'll have a brilliant competitive side 

We had the chances we didn't bury them and lost two points to a side we should be putting away but fair play to Newcastle the had a game plan and it worked 

These kind of games could come back and bite us in the arse, we need to be more clinical, hopefully we are against Watford!

I'm just happy we did very well out of the deal for him 

He'll end up in Italy at Juve do well something will turn sour then he'll be onto the next club, rinse and repeat until he's playing in China 

1 hour ago, c1982 said:

Top, top player. A young Anelka in this team would be perfect.

To be honest he'd be perfect shame his mentality and ego got the better of him which is what I think will happen with Lukaku

He'll score goals where ever he goes but his attitude and laziness will tarnish his career

Or did you think I was referring to Richarlison to be honest it sort of works for both players the good bits and the bad 

The next Anelka 

1 hour ago, nyblue23 said:

I still think Onyekuru will be class if he's ever allowed to play for us. Not to say it wouldn't be nice to have another striker, but if he gets his work permit, but I think we'll find ourselves in a pretty good position next season if we're able to retain Gomes and sign a replacement for Coleman.

Slipped my mind tbh he does look a talented lad 

The manager and having backroom staff in the likes of Dunc along with the first team players we have who have plenty of experience in this league will more than cover what desires and ethos we want and need

Baines has already stated he doesn't have a passion for the game albeit he will for the club but apparently doesn't want to hang around, Jags is surplus but I would like to see him move into the coaching in some respect Coleman has another year in him imo before he becomes completely surplus 

There's very little point handing players multimillion pound contracts just for off the park experience, I can't think of many successful sides that tend to do it with said players never playing that's coaching not being a player  

2 hours ago, sibdane said:

Only problem with Mertens is he'll be 32 in May. I'm not one to normally worry about age, but that's big risk. His output has dropped slightly since 2016-17 season.

I had to check I didn't realise he's that old he only looks young scrap that one then 

Immobile or Icardi would be what I'd love to say but I know we've zero chance of either 

Werner or Lozano for me or like Bailey said take a punt on a player not quite firing for another side but has the ability and may do well elsewhere

Dries Mertens would be a massive coup contract runs out in 2020 I wouldn't be surprised if the big guns come calling in the summer though 

1 hour ago, markjazzbassist said:

agreed.  i want want someone better than werner.  

Not many better that are feasible imo he's also very highly regarded 

I get what you and Steve mean though I just can't think of many 

16 hours ago, StevO said:

We need a striker. If Moshiri is serious I think the summer we will need our Robinho. Not so much an expensive flop, but a player to make the world take notice. That player needs to be a striker though. We need to have someone taking chances on a very regular basis. 

After that it’s just looking for the next player to replace with more quality. 

Timo Werner would be the kind of signing that I think would do that, I said in the January thread he's the type we should be aiming for in summer 

I can't see us doing much business in January maybe the odd outgoing player but I think Marco and Brands will wait for the summer window 

First priority for me is start negotiating with Barca for Gomes we simply can't let the lad slip through our fingers 

RB - Wan Bissaka would be my first choice of players I've actually seen, young English pacey and causes loads of problems offensively. He will definitely have a big future down the line and won't be at Palace long 

Moussa Wague another Barca player but for their B team, young quick and very good with the ball at his feet reminds me of Digne in some of ways could have a very bright future

Striker - Timo Werner, He won't be cheap but the lad has the lot definitely the type of next tier striker we should be aiming for 

Batshuayi I still rate him and think he'd be a great signing, pretty sure his contract runs out next season as well 

Although not an out and out striker I really rate and think Lozano would fit the type of system and style Marco wants us to play, another that won't be cheap but would be worth it imo

On 02/12/2018 at 22:02, Makis said:

I don't think this position is one we need to spend heavily on right now. 

He's predominantly playing at RB so I'd say it's definitely a position we should be looking at 

I agree with Bailey tbh 

Although I'd like to see him back on the wing where he is better imo I just don't see Cenk suiting the style that Marco wants and DCL just isn'tt at that standard we need ATM 

It's that interchangeable front three he's going for or at least seems to be, a player like Lozano would be absolutely ideal for that role 

2 minutes ago, Bailey said:

I think the weekends game would have taken a lot out of them psychologically. I would definitely consider a couple of changes, not sure who though other than Lookman/Walcott. 

I'm hoping the opposite, I sort of think the game could spear us on massively

They played brilliantly against an apparent "juggernaut" and matched them kick for kick so hopefully they'll know now how well they can play and we aren't far away from what we all want 

You never know though but I'd love to give them a pasting