dmayne7

For once there's actually a lot of decent younger managers we could nab and some good experience available. Russell Martin it is

Problem is that we desperately need the continuity at the moment and we all know that our once great contingency planning is non existent now. Plus, as has been mentioned, the players enjoy playing for him and that's added team spirit is going be essential this season. Would be a bad move for him most likely but not an opportunity he could turn down

Well, Kompany in the frame for Bayern so guess Enzo can't harm his standing if it goes pear shaped next year, so that's surely incentive for him to not jump ship

I think the complete opposite. For £7-8m, getting a player who can cover several different positions is a great deal, in this day and age. Would feel completely different if I actually trusted out recruitment to find some bargains again. But, I totally understand why they haven't made either permanent if he's going to be ok the periphery again. Weird one; both a sensible decision and a not very logical one at the same time

Yep. Unless it's an actual genuine outpouring of emotion mixed with a brilliant achievement for that club. They're all so predetermined now. Fair enough if we'd had one for winning the PL but if people had done that this year I'd be embarrassed (if the circumstances allowed!).

If we're going to sign him we better do it ASAP. He's already aged a year during the writing of that article. Could be about 22 now

Don't know about that and I'm saying that as somebody who really rates JS. Hermansen has yet to be properly tested so we'll how that pans out next year. If JS was better with his feet (because let's be honest, he makes several poor giveaways a game) then there would be no issue at all

Thing with a goalkeeper is that it's probably a much more thought out signing in that you'll have identified whether they are clearly coming in as back up or to be first choice, which often means lining up a sale for your current keeper. Whereas if an outfield player is on your shortlist and available at a cheaper rate, you'd probably go for it and then work out the jigsaw as the window progresses. Basically everything has to line up with a keeper whereas signing a centre mid doesn't necessarily mean a certain CM has to leave in their place; you can change tactics, shift some players into other positions or even getting rid of players of loan more easily etc. since they're just another option in the squad.

I'll never be able to watch Ricardo without a bit of sadness/regret. I think people forget just now ridiculously good he was. Closest thing to Cafu I've seen as crazy as that sounds. Had absolutely everything. Would have moved to any big club he wanted if he'd not got injured. And seems a great guy too. Still a fantastic player and maybe with his loss of pace, this inverted role is the best use of him

60 seconds for a corner?! Or do you just mean in general. In which case I agree. Slow mo's should be banned and replaying the incident over and over should be too, since it's clearly not an error. As for a panel, that gets more complicated as then you need consensus surely, rather a majority rules situation. Makes sense of face value but no chance it works smoothly in football.

Not always. There'd be instances where it's a double deflection, both players hitting the ball at the same time etc. And imagine pausing the game for 5/10 seconds every time to make that decision, on all decisions. What's the point in having a referee? The game would be so sterile and we'd lose even more time

Something that also doesn't get factored in with VAR is how it influences on-field decision making. Been plenty of instances where a decision has been given or not given because VAR can bail the official out. There's plenty of offsides where they're not given on field but they definitely would have been in the past. These are then in the figures as instances of VAR correcting an error, when that error would potentially not have been made if VAR wasn't there. As my post above, it was brought it for clear and obvious errors and has stayed so far from that remit. If they keep it, they really have to start from scratch in what decisions they look at. Personally, I want it gone. It's absolutely killed the enjoyment of a goal and it hasn't created so much more controversy now. Whereas there might have been 1 big incident or game that has the lens on it a weekend, it's now 3/4 at a minimum if not all of them. Mistakes will happen and if they're not catastrophic mistakes, then that's just something you accept and move on from.

Surely a joke? It was brought in for clear and obvious errors and ignoring the fact it can't get those right, it's drifted so far from its remit

The irony

I'll be the first to get my pitchfork out anything Rodgers related but not picking Vestergaard was one of the few things he got right. He was absolutely dreadful when he did play. A mate who doesn't support us came with me to the game Palace away game in JV's first season and he was just laughing at how god awful he was in that game. And he looked out of his depth playing against a then bottom of the football league Gillingham last season. The fact their fans were saying how bad he was probably gives you a good idea. Can you imagine him playing in defence with Danny Ward behind him last season?! Would have been relegated even sooner. Now, a much more confident version of him can only be a good thing so let's see how he gets on.

So Patson's signing your mate's son? Or just your mate? Got it

Even first game or 2 this season he was good awful. Had a really good season but people have overblown it and let's not pretend his role is so easy a lot of time when teams just let him sit on the ball. As I said though, I think it kind of makes sense in our situation and maybe some confidence will make a big difference? Might be ok with a decent partner. Though, as you rightly point out, the pace is scary. The goal Jackson scored against us in the FA Cup was probably the most laughably bad goal I've seen from a 1 on 1. Genuinely pissing myself as it was like watching an adult go and play in a kids game. It will happen again but hopefully he's protected from it happening often

Makes sense from a continuity point of view and because of the finances I guess. But seriously hope there's at least a couple of centre backs coming in and Faes going then (doubt it). Think Maresca should be brave with Nelson and try and play him more. Hopefully Coady forces his way in over pre season.

Counter point; because they're not run by morons they realise they have to wait until the first part of the transaction can be in next year's accounts in order to remain financially compliant?

Note the bit I said about starting in the next FY. I'm aware of the manoeuvring and we're likely talking sub £10m for the buying club on their accounts year 1, but it's still possible for some of them that it could be a tipping point. Unlikely but still a possibility

So we need to sell ASAP so it's in this year's accounts right? Anybody realised that the other clubs mooted might not be able to sign him because they want the transfer to start in next year's accounts? So add that to the possibility that he doesn't want to leave and it's not quite the slam dunk some people are making out

Jesus, an actual piece of decent football journalism. Whatever next

Definitely the physical side that's killed him. Actually think it's fair to see why he was so highly regarded as with an extra yard of pace and a bit of bulk, he could have been a top class full back. The caveat to that is it also relied on him continuing to show the defensive nous and attacking threat that he first showed when coming through, which sadly slowly disappeared.

Definitely better but Rutter being picked as the striker is ridiculous with his massive tally of 6 league goals in 45 league games

Isn't that what you get when you've been sat down too long?