ts_1010

Ok so next time he falls over, can we all agree to sing a few lines of "Ruuds gonna get ya!"?

Left sided young CB? 6'4? This is far to sensible for us surely?

I think the only way this works is an Okoli swap, followed by a relegation sell clause at about 10m. Unless this is genuinely a loan, with obligation based on our survival. In which case it makes total sense.

A loan with option is a dead deal. Theres no benefit to us in a loan. We lack bite in midfield as it is without losing the best tackler in the club.

We have a lack of quality everywhere. We also had a summer transfer window where nobody wanted to come to us because we were looking likely to get a points deduction. This window, we look increasingly like we're relegated. Say what you like about Cooper but his ugly shithouse footy was at least more effective. I think the idea behind Cooper was to get us through the season whichever way possible. But, he lost the dressing room. RVD doesn't seem to have a plan we're more open but we score less. He praised Daka, then won't play him even when Vardy has to do 3 games in a week. We need a striker and a Winger. Doesn't matter if they are on loan or permanent signings. Doesn't really matter about the ages either as long as they make a big enough difference that we can put some points on the board. We have nothing on the bench. And Daka doesn't suit our style of play.

We need to decide on a direction and style of play as a club. The ethos dictates the type and attributes of player we buy. If we try to stick to the ethos of the past few years, high possession, high press etc. We will need to establish which fullback is moving up and where they go. Looking at our likely squad next year I'd assume that the RB will push up. If he does I'd want an RCB that is mobile enough to cover the space at RB that will be there on a counter attack. (What we failed to do under Cooper.) So. GK:Stoly LB/CB Nelson CB Soutar CB/RB New Defender RB/RW JJ/Woyo CDM Ndidi CDM Skipp CAM BEK LW Mavi RW Fatawu (hopefully too injured to sell.) ST Daka Reserves: New GK Vestegaard Thomas Either JJ/Woyo Choudhury Ayew Bobby I'm going to assume that Skipp is good enough in the Championship, and Ndidi doesn't get a better offer. Bilal might well push for a move though, but he's on a long contract so we will see. Based on that we need 1 x GK either cover or as the number one. 2 X CB 1 as cover. 1 for 1st team. 1 x CDM cover 2 x CAM/Winger 2 x Striker That's a minimum. No idea what the academy can produce for us. And if we get an Embargo we are shafted.

Just looking at this team sheet shows how poor our squad actually is. The only changes you could make is a striker out of form in Vardy(tired but better) for another out of form striker in Daka (fresher but worse). Or Ayew for Facundo, which means that we would have no danger on the bench for when legs get tired. I think we lose the midfield battle today, and we will have to hope for counter attacking.

This all comes from the drive for "premiership experience" which seemed to dominate our summer transfer plans once Cooper took charge. Prem experience is expensive in and of itself, and it doesn't guarantee anything. We now have Skipp BDCR and Ayew in the club on some decent wages without any real value in selling them. I would argue that our best signings have been been Bilal an Facundo who had very little Prem experience between them.

Any idea what his pressing is like? I could see Vardy liking a target man along side him, but the out of possession shape can be problematic with two up. (As we know). It also pushes us into a 442 shape. But if the boy has the potential to take over up front then by all means. I get the feeling that he's going to be a season or two away from leading the line though.

As much as I wasn't sold on his style of play and the seeming "step down" in coaching ability, why now? We've just had an international break and where the new coach could have bedded in and got some training sessions done. Why not get rid at the start of that?

I'd take him. But not as our last squad place. We have other needs. I'd take him if we could replace one of the other CBs with him. But we already have 4.

As Brazil grows economically, this sort of move will happen more and more. That left back from Newcastle Jamal Lewis has gone to the Brazilian league too I believe. Not world beaters, but 5 years ago that would never have happened. Sign of the times I guess.

I can't believe how passive he is. After what his coaches, other players and the fans must have been saying to him. "Just f**king run a bit more!" How does he go onto the pitch with only 10 minutes left and jog about like he's knackered? Surely he wants to show some energy and effort even if it's just to attract a new club? Yes there is a talent in there, but I just don't understand what is going on in his head.

You have to hope so, but honestly we are guessing now. I believe we've also done some advertising/sponsorship shenanigans to help fluff the numbers. Either way I think Mr Di Marco may have some work left to do, but honestly, if any deduction doesn't come till next season I'd settle for that.

The rules regarding our specific case, namely that the club was, outside of the jurisdiction of the PL so could not be punished according to the rules as they are written. In other words. A team that got relegated this year, like Sheff Utd cannot be punished for PSR breaches. Other teams like Everton, to whom this loop hole does not apply, still have to comply. In other words I'm agreeing with you mate. The rules are partially suspended effectively, provided that the circumstances match ours.

True, but they agree all the rules at the start of the season. So next year we might see that loophole closed. But we have properly set fire to the rule book here. If we pick up a couple of wins in the next few games, the whole clubs going to feel like a different place.

Interestingly, if we, or any other club are "down by Christmas" definitely relegated. They could spend effectively unlimited amounts of money on new players. Provided they still get relegated. As long as you are not a Prem club at the time you are found guilty, you cannot be punished. The rules are a joke.

There's some very big Golden Handshakes out there too. Free doesn't mean free in the world of football.

I feel like he is being asked to keep it simple in this current team. Much more long ball, giving Vardy a heading opportunity which isn't his strength. I'd like to see him chipping 30 40 yards out to beat the initial press, or at least mix it up a bit to keep the opponents guessing. I feel like he has the skills to do this.

Happy he got his goal, been one of the bright spots in our season so far. Went a bit shot crazy after the goal. But I'm sure someone will have a quiet word about that during the week.

Cooper has been a bit too defensive perhaps but we've been in every game. You can see what the plan is, hold things down and then attack more in the 2nd half. I'd like to home that against lesser teams we would be more attacking from the off, but that remains to be seen. I think playing 3 dms should allow us to play both Fatawu and Mavididi frankly, and once the new boys get more settled into the squad and the plan we may well do this. Ayew, Okoli and Skipp all played well today. And none of the players really disgraced themselves. No heads dropped after Villas 2nd. Not bad.

Does he have to extend his contract with Palace first? I've seen somewhere that he's out of contract at the end of this season. There's a lot to get done in only a few hours, and it's all dependant on Nketiah. Watch us miss the cut off again.

I called this one a couple of days ago. I think we have very few options left so this will have to do. I can see us setting up very much like early Klopp era Liverpool, with 3 hard working midfielders sat behind a counter attacking front 3. Except that they had Salah and Mane and we have BDCR and Ayew, which is basically the same thing.

I think Cooper looks for physical threats. Either pace or size and power from his forwards. If you look at what he had at florist, you could see why Cannon maybe has less appeal. Stoke is a good move for him. Closer to his home, a real chance to be the main striker and hone his skills. Surely this means we have a guy coming in though.

Even 2nd division in the Netherlands is better than nowt, but it's not very impressive. He needs to go there and catch fire big time. That would increase his reputation and value.