Bluearmyfox28

He isn’t suited for playing as a pivot as far as I’m concerned, he would more of a box to box midfielder… having said that I don’t know what role he is suited too. I’ve had a lot of people say we don’t need two, I would be surprised if we aren’t targeting 2 centre mids this off season and that’s not including replacing Bilal if he leaves. We need competition and we don’t have the midfielders currently that suit Marti’s style.

We need someone else who can compete with Winks in the pivot role.

Would much rather keep Faes over Vesty everyday of the week.

The thing is, if it is a 50/50 decision for players and the money being offered is similar, a player will often then look at things such as facilities which we are head and shoulders above anyone else in this division.

3 more signings needed prior to replacing the likes of BEK if he leaves. Defensive Midfielder - Marcelino Nunez - £7.5m (12 months left on contract) Box to box midfielder - Josh Brownhillp Striker - Richard Kone - £5m

Brownhill is a tricky one overall. He obviously improves us and personally I wouldn’t see him as a replacement for BEK and more as a box to box player who can arrive late into the box. The tricky side is the finances. I would argue he’s going to want around £60k a week on a 3 year contract, which totals around £9.3m. A player from abroad who could offer similar output to Brownhill is going to cost a minimum of £6m and around £35k a week, across 3 years that costs £11.4m minimum but you run the risk of them not being proven in England. Offering Brownhill a 3 year, 60k contract would work out around £2m cheaper at a minimum. The question is do you want to be stuck with that contract if it doesn’t work out?

Having watched this he gives me Ivan Toney vibes to be fair.

I’m sure everyone’s been banging on about us getting Brownhill, we get linked then there’s nothing but negativity

Can he hold up the ball and link up play? I think this is going to be one of the biggest assets Marti is going to look for as an outlet to go long if we struggle with the oppositions initial press.

Would love Brownhill but I’m sure I’ve seen that he wants an absolute huge signing on fee and wages of £60k+ hence why he refused Burnley’s offer.

So that tackle to you looks knee high?

It’s the option price which I think will be very telling as I think other clubs will use that as a negotiating tool against us if it’s below £25m.

Potentially, I think someone like Boro would really struggle to turn down a fee of around £15m despite the sale of Hackney.

Ramsdale potentially leaving for Newcastle with give us our benchmark with regards to what type of fee we will receive for Mads in my opinion.

May be a stupid question I know, but my season ticket in my phone wallet has automatically updated and is showing the next game to be Sheff Wed, I presume I don’t have to do anything else for it to work on matchday?

By midfielders I was classing the two deeper roles of the box to box and pivot. Personally I see the No.10 as more of an attacking role than midfield role. Personally I don’t believe Ricardo can play that role not based on ability but his body can’t hack it. The fact Hamza has played all pre-season at right back tells me Cifuentes doesn’t see him as midfielder. JJ I believe will be our starting left back with VK getting froze out or moved on. Personally I feel Soumare is still around because they are trying to move him on permanently and not on loan. I feel he will secure a loan move away with a few weeks of the window left. Wilf I would genuinely be shocked if he’s still with us based on the price of his release clause, that’s a bargain price in today’s market. For Cifuentes style to work I think we are desperate for a box to box midfielder who is comfortable receiving the ball deep and offer creativity moving forward, we have no one that can offer that. Then with regards to the pivot, Winks knows he’s guaranteed that role which I think plays a part in his complacency we’ve been crying out for competition in that role since the Enzo season. So yeah I think we need 2x midfielders. It’s the fullbacks that are bloated as far as I’m concerned. Ricky, Hamza, JJ, Thomas, Aluko, VK and Woyo. That’s 7 fullbacks, 2 of them need to leave and the first 5 would be the ones I keep.

He’s spot on. Like I say it’s different to an out and out midfielder though as he’s drifting into space to be the free man and create an overload. That comes with the benefits of not being man marked and not being hit as soon as you receive the ball as well as having less ground to cover. My point is even though he’s drifting into midfield, that role compared to play an out and out midfielder are two completely different things.

Should be announced today surely?

I love the excitement we all have for our academy at the minute but I do think people need to chill a bit on where they are at with their development. Out of the current batch of academy lads we have coming through I would say Monga, Nelson and Alves are the ones ready for regular first team football. Aluko and Page are very close to being in that group but currently I feel should be used as good depth pieces with opportunities to play throughout the season. The rest of the lads either need more time with the 21’s or loan moves away.

He’s right footed no? ignore me just seen responses further up

I agree but for different reasons, I think the reason Ricky benefited from the inverted wing back role and staying fit was because it allowed him time in open space as he was hard to mark and didn’t have to cover as much space. Often by the time Ricky received the ball he played a 1-2 with winks and didn’t get hit from the player closing down. Where as if he played in the winks role he would be getting hit a lot more and would have to cover more space to create the space to be able to play. Ricky would not have the time or space that he benefitted from in the inverted role when playing in the pivot. I think Ricky is perfect for Cifuentes but I do fear his body will struggle to hack that demand.

I can see this from both sides. Players can have bad games, there is fans that slaughter players for one bad game. However, the one thing that cant stand is people like Soumare just not appearing arsed to turn up or any other player in that instance.

Probably confirms without promotion he won’t be looking at contract extension.

I would be happy with £30m for BEK personally, Finn Azaz should be a player we look at to replace him.

Ricardo is a right back for me, his body wouldn’t be able to hack the demand of playing in the middle. Choudhury again is being used as a right back, nor do I think he can play the pivot role or has the creativity to be box to box. Page is a good depth option at this point of his development. Soumare needs to go at all costs. Wilf will be gone with that release clause. Alves and Monga I don’t understand your argument for if I’m being honest. Golding and Braybrooke aren’t ready. Yes we need to offload Soumare but that leaves Skipp, Winks and Page. Ultimately we need two players in each role that fits Marti’s system. We are going to play close to 60 games this year we can’t depend on players like Page. He’ll get several opportunities throughout the year and that’s a success.