dlblue

Based on some of his performances it was easy to think that. I think Koeman has delibrately protected him because he actually looked fit in that game, like 1st season McCarthy again. If he can keep up those standards, he and Gana would be a force, with Besic to come, Barry if needed and any potential signings - I think we'd be set for midfield.

I hold out very little hope that Besic will ever come good. I think this will be Barry's last season too especially if the Schneiderlin reports are true.

played the whole summer at Euros almost every match of the tournament, barely got a rest and then was sent to a new team. honestly I just think he needs a little rest, a winter window break would do him a world of good, sadly that isn't this league.

 

hopefully Koeman rotates Holgate in there to get Ashley a break, because I think that's all he needs. That goal will give him the confidence back.

 

if anyone is shot, its jags not Williams.

Agreed, a rest may do him good.

I still think he has been an upgrade on Stones.

https://www.clubcall.com/stoke-city/potters-fail-with-striker-bid-1-1833999.html

The comments on the page are from months ago. looks like an old article re-posted.

Much Better last night, nearly cost us towards the end with some poor decision making and could have finished the game off twice but overall had a great game.

You'd think Koemans pressing style and McCarthy would be a match made in heaven. It worked last night. Lets hope he keeps it that way for the next match.

No room for Barry, we looked much better without him last night.

Interesting to note that De Boer and Unai Emery have both failed at their new roles and both were first choice with some fans. Mancini looks to be taking over at PSG and De Boer did a terrible job at Inter Milan.

Funny Old Game!

Stek

Coleman Williams Mori Baines

McCarthy

Lennon Gana Mirallas

Valencia
Lukaku

This would be my team for tonight.
No Barry as he's too slow especially against Arsenal. Lennon would be in for his workrate and defensive capabilities. I think with Geri we would be too exposed. Need to play 2 up top to give arsenal at least something to worry about.

This is why im hoping we sign Schneiderlin in Jan, he's strong and can play. Him and Gana would be great together imo. Shame we missed out on Sigurdsson too, again strong and can play plus scores a few goals.

I'd like a similar balance of players that we had under the peak era of Moyes, Some Stong and aggressive types and some flair players. I really think that is something we miss, back then we had Arteta, Pienaar and even Osman who could all keep the ball, create something from nothing and unlock a defense.

Watched him for the young lions and I admit I thought he looked a great prospect. Would like to see us in for him.

 

But I think this is another two and two together... Bolasie injured.....link us to everyone.

This and the fact that Walsh signed him at Leicester.

Right, cards on the table and my two pence worth.....

 

Our squad isn't good enough. Koeman has inherited a bunch of shite and Martinez mess. I don't want to keep blaming Martinez in all this but I think people are forgetting just how bad we were in the last months of his tenure. There was no discipline in the squad and everyone just seemed to do what they wanted. Koemans now had to come in and pick up this mess.

 

We missed out on every target we wanted all summer and ended up with 3rd or 4th choice players but what were we suppose to do, sign nobody? We went for (allegedly) Koulibally, Witsel, Mata, Perez, to name a few and ended up with Williams, Gana, Bolasies and Valencia on loan.

 

Our squad needs a massive overhaul not just a couple of additions our key players like Lukaku and Barkley Mirallas and Deulefeu have not performed great, players like Baines, Jagielka Barry are past their best and we're tying to implement a completely new style of play, new manager, coaching staff, boardroom set up the lot. It's not going to happen over night and certainly not in one transfer window!!!!

 

Weall need to cool our jets, if we're still in free fall this time next year after 3 transfer windows then I'll start questioning him but 15 games in is just utter madness.

This is exactly how i feel too.

Way too early to Judge. I cant believe people are saying we played good football under Martinez! We were a laughing stock, not much better now but its a knock on effect that's will take time to change. People need to remember this a complete teardown and not just a refurb job!

I agree with the comment regarding City and UTD too, we are very similar just on a different scale.

If we sign 4 of Koemans type of players in Jan I think it will make all the difference. Im hoping Van Dijk & Schneiderlin are 2 of those 4, they would certainly make a difference.

Conte inherited a top top team and still spent a fortune on players, completely different.

I agree 55m is too much....

 

But come on ...£50 is taking the mick a bit...Niasse is worth more than that!

Ha ha updated now. And i dont think he is ;-)

TBH I forget he's here sometimes.

That does worry me slightly, Matt mentioned in another thread something about £60m for both!

I'd be rat that price. I know prices are silly in football at the moment but they only paid £55m for both 2 seasons ago and neither are getting a game.

I think £50m for both is a fair price but its not my money so im not really arsed ha. Plus i think that would be a good price for both, Schneiderlin is class and i think with Depay he just signed for the wrong manager.

the only way I would sign him is if we sell McCarthy for a decent enough fee.

 

we have too many ball winning midfielders.

Not of the Quality of Schneiderlin, surely you wouldnt turn down the chance to sign a player of his calibre.

Mcarthy will be gone, as will Clevs.

Schneiderlin is a no brainer, he would improve our midfield no end. Him and Gana would be class. He has to be a priority in Jan, a solid Midfield would make such a difference.

Cant see this being true at all, he is surplus to requirements at UTD so im sure he will be linked with numerous clubs. Hull maybe? Phelan may look to UTD for a few outcasts to save them this season.

Another over the hill over 30 has been.

I'm losing heart with this manager, keep going like this and EFC will all be applying for their OAP free bus Passes.

Has Koeman come out and stated he is interested in him? Like he did with Depay who is 22?

Would be a good buy but not the first position we need players in but would be ok if we bring in multiple people.

 

Also don't forget Tom Davies.

Really? Id say this was a priority position

Argue as much as you like about missing Yannic, personally I don't think he will be missed, said in a previous post that they are all cut from the same cloth.

Draw them out of a bag and would still get the same poor team, there's no leaders, no stand out players, and worst of all there's no winners.

 

I see weve been linked this morning with another 32 year old Centre half,

I think we are not far off being the oldest team in the prem now, this manager is taking the piss.

Surely you cant blame the manager for who we are linked with in the Media? The majority of it is bullshit.

I'm gutted for Bolasie, im not a fan tbh and never have been but i hate to see any player injured. Hope he makes a good recovery.

Depay in Jan looks more likely now then.

Injuries forced the changes. I wonder who he would have brought off if Bolaie & Coleman didn't get injured.

Hopefully still Bolasie. He was terrible again yesterday, Im not sure who controls his legs but it isnt him.

I agree with Haf, i think Valencia changed the game yesterday. Work rate and desire was great, Lukaku always seems to work better next to another striker. Mirallas played better when Valencia came on too.

Geri seemed to look leaner yesterday, looked thinner in his face. Maybe Koeman has flagged up his fitness issues?

Clevs was terrible, Iv always thought he does a job but yesterday nothing went right for him at all.

The last 20 mins im hoping is the way Koeman wants us to play and once we have the players to fit his style then hopefully we will be fine.

Idrissa Gueye was the standout as usual, a Mid of Schneiderlin, Gueye and Sigurdsson would be great.

http://www.90min.com/posts/4206592-everton-and-west-brom-to-battle-it-out-for-manchester-united-outcast-morgan-schneiderlin?utm_source=RSS

Did he do a great job with Saints last year? IMO he should have got them higher in the league than he did. Plus that shite manager Martinez dicked him away and should have won at home.

 

I agree with Shukes in that under Martinez before the second half of last season, we did always create chances. We gave plenty away as well, but we did enough to win games but just didn't finish them off. We have still conceded plenty of good chances this season but we aren't creating anywhere near as many, especially not in the last half dozen or so games.

'One' of our good performances under Martinez. I think he did a great job at Saints considering the start he had with them.

We did create chances under martinez but we still never fully looked like winning as we were awful at the back and unfit. Dont get me wrong i dont want to see us play boring football either but its too early to judge.

My ultimate point is that Koeman deserves time, judging him after 13 games is unfair.

Time for him to move on - really?

 

Lets face the facts he is, a quality younger player still only 22, created the most assists for us last season, on his day is a very dangerous player. On top of that he loves the club and is one of us.

 

If we sell him how much will we have to spend to replace him, and what sort of message does that send out to the other academy players, that they will never get a chance even if they are as talented as Ross?

 

Ross is the type of player that makes a good team better, its not easy to make incisive passes or create chances if there is no movement ahead of you which there has not been as confidence has been low for the last month.

 

We need to see how Koeman develops his squad after another couple of transfer windows and see how Ross fits in then before we start calling for him to be sold.

'one of us' this is my argument, who cares? if he wasnt 'one of us' would you still be looking at it the same?

he's had numerous opportunities over the last few years, especialy under Martinez and he doesnt seem to be improving. He is talented on his day but he doesnt show it often enough. If there is a strong case for Lukaku to go then the case for Barkley to go must be just as strong.

Dont miss your window of opportunity, thats the message it gives to the younger players.