Scotch

So, if I picked it up properly, this would be a rough idea as to how we want to set up.... Looking at our squad as it stands, I think it suits certain players, doesn't suit others and shows where we would need to address in terms of additions coming in, but looking at each position individually... #1- we are fine with Mads, Stolarcyk, Iversen #4/5- we have plenty of players there, Coady, Vesty, Okoli, Souttar, Nelson, Faes. It's just a question of some of their quality. One or two would probably need to go. #3- Ricardo is an obvious first choice. After that... Maybe BDR or JJ but not sure. Also not convinced Ricardo's body would hold up to that position so a natural back up would make sense. #2- We have no-one that fits here. Maybe JJ as backup, but as a first choice LB/LCB hybrid? We need someone here. #6- Ndidi as first choice CDM. Currently have Hamza as back up but would like a better option. #8- Winks in the DLP role with possibly Soumare or Braybrooke backing him. #7- There is no-one for this role. Fatawu maybe shoe-horned in here but it doesn't fit. We would need 2 players for here. #10- Suits Mavididi with Alves as backup. #11- suits Mcateer and BDR but neither are starter here, need someone here with Mcateer maybe going out. #9- Vardy/Daka/Cannon have this covered but I'd maybe loan Cannon and get another striker in to maybe be starter.

I'm obviously trying not to read to much into our second pre-season game of the season but the more worrying part was after the game when Cooper was being interviewed and very much (to me anyway) implied that the system was here to stay, the only change being new signings coming in. For me, that's worrying because even if we do get players in that fit this tactic, it still leaves the likes of Fatawu, not really having a natural place in it.

Even at that though, I've saw enough of VK to be convinced he's not a LWB. I mean he is operational there but doesn't really offer an flair or attacking intent.

I was very vocal about trying Fatawu at LWB. I would like to retract that.

I don't even think it's necessarily "caveman football" although he offers that option. I would argue that Weghorst in our side last year would have been more effective than any of our current options. None of Vardy/Daka/Cannon suited how Enzo wanted us to play. The coming deep and bringing other players into the game, as well as the increased number of crosses we put into the box. Jaimie done well but it didn't suit him. It WOULD have suited Wout though so for me it shows that you don't have to resort to hit and hope tactics with a player like him. He might not have scored a ton but I think others around him would have gotten more.

To be fair, there is an entire thread on this forum about girls from television posters like touching themselves to yet THIS is what you take issue with? Yes, it may be pointless but if you start pulling at that thread, there isn't going to be much left.

Cool, so we lose him in his prime then? I'm not saying I think it'll happen but when you look at some of the players we've had and not been able to make a profit on over the last few years, this is an example of why.

I don't disagree but the flip side to that is him deciding to run down his contract and we lose him for nothing or not making the step up to PL level and we will all be saying we should have taken the money (if a big offer did come in). It's easy to sit here and say the club needs to get back to the model of bringing in players, developing them and selling for profit but it's harder when we get attached to players who perform well to see go. However, the only way we should ever knock back a £30/£40m offer is if we are certain we can get more at some point.

Maybe... but we could very well be IN the championship next year. If we loan him out to a team already there, has a good season with lots of gametime... he could be a good asset to have if we DO go down.

Inspired by SFE's tweet and an eagerness to fit in, I thought I'd give this "cryptic hint at being ITK but basing it on absolutely nothing" thing a bash. So, I think I'll put on my blue suede shoes and board a plane.

Thankfully he looks to be headed to Torino.

I agree. Not convinced he is or ever will be PL quality so would sell but he's a good lad who loves the club, works hard and is worth more than what Birmingham would be able to afford. Loan him out to a level that he would thrive in and see where it all sits next season.

April FC because March is over.

I could be wrong but I was under the impression Skipp was more like Wilf than Winks? Surely he would rotate with Ndidi and Winks would rotate with Soumare or Braybrooke?

Fair play, I misquoted but the point remains the same. We are clearly actively pursuing this transfer and Roma have to match our bids to compete. That's very different from Roma fans saying our name is being used by Juventus to push Roma's price up. It's not nearly the same thing.

Say what you want about Percy, he is NOT going to post something like "Leicester expect the deal to be done next week" based purely on propaganda pushed by the Italian media. Whether we get him or not, it's safe to day we are actively pushing for this deal.

I think there is definately a market for it for a midlands based journo. For me, Percy is so reliable because of his clear connections with the club who feed him information in exchange for pushing certain narratives. So maybe not so much telling the fans what they want to hear but to a degree telling us what the club want us to hear. I don't think Percy has been quite a prolific this past year and I don't think it's a coincidence that, that happened after he had a bit of a go at the club following relegation with them likely seeing him not upholding his part of their arrangement. You could very well be right with regards to the Italian press playing to their audience but I also think that Percy not mentioning his preference to Rome could just as likely be him/the club not wanting to sour the fanbases opinion of the player if he does sign.

I'm not saying you're wrong, you could very well be right but I must ask, who are the credible journalists that aren't saying he would rather go to Roma? The british ones who you just admitted tell us what we want to hear?

I imagine it'll be someone who can come deep and hold the ball up and bring others into play. Our 3 options as is are all similair players, having a plan B makes sense.

All this "he doesn't want to be here" is nonsense. Cambiasso didn't really fancy us, to the point we were a baw hair away from signing James McCarthur in his place. Yet, he came and he was great and when he left, Kante wasn't 100% sold on us either but he came and he was great too. If you believe than 90% of player come here because they really want to and not because of the piles of money we shovel into their pockets and a crafty agent in their ear, you're niave.

There definately was a lot of talk about them wanting him to go out on loan to a PL club.

Now THAT'S some stats!

Or we are raising the price that Roma have to pay so when we lowball them for one of their players, their need to sell is greater. Ofcourse we aren't that smart but it's fun to speculate.

€15m in £ is about £12m and even that is with clauses and bonuses attached but even if it wasn't... paid over a 5 year period is little over £2m a year or something.

He's either Chè Adams or Steve Clarke!