Ric Flair

I don't see where he fits in here this season and not when you think whatever budget we have for January is better used on defenders, wingers and possibly another striker if Edouard goes back.

Debut in the FA Cup at the very least surely.

I'd have said unquestionably so but time will tell.

As it stands I think McAteer is integral to the way Ruud sets us up. He needs a right winger who operates a bit of a wing back role and isn't purely attack minded. That's because he currently pushes Kristiansen high and Justin tucks in to form a back three with El Khannouss coming inside. We could flip it around with Justin going high, Kristiansen dropping in and Mavididi giving us the width off the left. Lends itself better to Bounanotte being the RW that tucks in next to El Khannouss as the 10.

It's been reported in the press that Top had doubts about Cooper's appointment and he took action to axe him early, so reading between the lines the appointment of Cooper was influenced by those around Top and the removal of him driven largely by Top. Not sure who deserves what credit there 😂

I'm in grave danger of being a huge Soumare fan you know. The lads still got the potential to be a monster of a player. I see fee weaknesses bar having to micro manage his tracking of the opposition runners past him. He has improved recently on that, whether it's a motivation thing and it's short term I don't know. Someone mentioned that Pogba had to be constantly instructed through a game to do certain things and maybe that's what Bouba needs. Is that feasible? If it is then do it already as the rest of him is very good.

Weren't we offered what we paid for him in the summer but he didn't want a permanent move (likely die to the wages he's on here post promotion). His stock is rising. An ambitious PL team pays £10m or more for him comfortably.

Oh I love it

That's a great shout

This week is going to be difficult to get an episode done I'm afraid.

Has Golding got the natural game to play in the double pivot ala Soumare/Winks/Ndidi? I suppose he's a bit more of a deep lying midfielder than say Alves is but if we are needing a defensive midfielder this Saturday I'd have thought Cartwright gets strongly considered.

I suspect you're right as I currently do zero strength training. I know I need to and that's my target for 2025 as I maintain my running.

Love how he paces about the technical area, watch his reaction to the equaliser. You can see the energy of our players from the way he is. Massively impressed already.

I went right off him a few years ago but he's reinvented his game last season and could see him fitting in under Ruud.

Yeah he's a superstar in the making.

I think Calvin Stengs ends up here in January on loan with an obligation to buy if we stay up.

Haha you'd be surprised how much you can improve mate. I never thought I could do the above but that changed by routine, determination and then the knowledge it can be done so to keep pushing. I have now hit a barrier though for improvements which I welcome the challenge but also annoying.

Henry Cartwright debut anyone?

Just done a 10km race, really struggled to find any pace and came in at 50 mins on the nose. I am hungover and a little bit ill so I reckon that did for at least a minute or so in these conditions.

Cartwright needs a loan move in January.

Oh yes

Yeah i think at the very least we get a short term upturn from Patson.

Loan with option to buy

100%

Let's see what Ruud makes of him.