verlaine1979

Bonus streams not available if you're logged in to the NOW TV site? Can't download the app because my phone/tablet are set to US app stores and that doesn't change with VPN.

Yeah, by evade I didn't necessarily mean actually take on and beat (though in that Brighton example, their left back does skip around his man with ease). It's as much about having the mobility, speed of thought and passing accuracy to anticipate where the opening will be and put the ball there, rather than standing still and becoming an obvious target for the press. THB might well be capable of it, and I suppose Stephens is a reasonable passer of the ball. But I have no belief in Bednarek's ability to be part of a back line that moves the ball progressively, swiftly and with accuracy. He has to wind up a big swing just to play a 5 yard pass.

Drawing the press means having a back five who are all comfortable enough on the ball that they can evade the opposition as well as a midfield nimble enough to join in and create additional avenues of escape. When, honestly, was the last time we had that kind of technical quality in our backline? Puel, pre-VVD departure?

If you're looking at it as a neutral, he looks like a player completely rejuvenated by moving to a better side. Seems to have at least and assist or a goal per game at the moment? He never got anything like that attacking consistency for us.

I think that had more to do with the fact that they got caught at least 3 times in the first 18 minutes turning over the ball within 25 yards of goal, and were lucky Leicester only converted two of those chances. Not that surprising that Bazunu decided it was probably safer going long for the rest of the match.

Watched City this morning (California time) and noted that their playing out from the back almost never involves passing to a marked fullback with only an inch or two of space inside the touchline. Seems that makes quite a big difference. Who'd have thought?

Got absolutely battered on the counter without ever really being able to do the same back, despite Leicester being open and error prone themselves. We still seem to have no clue how to actually build an attack. A Armstrong and Edozie our only ball carriers, everyone else always looking for the square pass, even if it's to a marked player. Just tedious rinse and repeat possession that eventually gets funneled into a yard of space inside the touchline where we're forced to hand it back. Fucking abysmal.

What do we think we're doing playing it out from the back into an area where the receiving players are completely matched up, and there are two Leicester attackers on their toes ready to counter only 35 yards from goal? I hate to break it to Martin, but that's not how Pep does it.

This would, frankly, be insane. RM's system does not have enough of a track record of overwhelming success that we can sacrifice our most talented players in order to maintain its purity. Get our technically strongest players in each position on the field and figure out the best way to make them play well together. Let's not be fucking about with starting a wheezing Stuart Armstrong every game just because he "fits the system".

I think our issue has long been that we're utterly shit on the counter attack, both through a lack of pace throughout the side, and a lack of clinical decision-making and finishing. Even the most possession-hungry teams don't spurn the opportunity to pour forward when the ball is won back in position promising for a break, but we're just terrible at it. So all we get is the slow build up from positions when the ball finds its way back to our keeper/CBs, with none of the dash and drive that marks out the teams that are actually successful at playing this way.

Possession football works when you have players willing and capable of taking the ball around their opposing number, or at least carrying it forward far enough to compress space and create options. It doesn't work when all you're doing is standing still trying to pass safely to players who aren't under pressure. Watching Brighton this weekend, Gilmour has stepped seamlessly into MacAllister's role, picking up the ball from the defense and carrying it forward quickly. They don't have Dunk and Webster twatting about waiting for space to magically open up.

Ah, that popped up out of nowhere. Wouldn't be surprised to see the same happen for Sulemana before the end of the evening.

Bednarek is one of those we already know isn't good enough for the prem. Don't need him for us to succeed at this level, and don't want him if we reach the level above. Would love to see the back of him.

One of McCartney's best non-Beatles songs. Are we signing Martin Luther or Auntie Gin?

Cannon looks a better finisher than Stewart based on that admittedly small sample (I see he was only at Preston for half a season).

Stewart scores goals with both feet, which would be an immediate upgrade on Che. Based on that video, he's not that great one-on-one, as he hit the keeper on both occasions.

Surprised Burnley didn't have a look at Che.

I was saying he's already far too good for the championship. Edit: And a few hours later he's linked with a 45m move to Chelsea, proving my point...

Unfortunately, it's completely misleading, as anyone who has watched Bednarek during our seasons in the PL knows he's dire under the ball as soon as he's put under any sort of pressure. Just shows the utter gulf between the two leagues.

Replacing Sulemana is definitely less pressing - much less likely to be make or break for promotion than either CB or striker. But saying that, with Tella gone it would leave us with Fraser as the only wide attacking option that isn't a kid or Djenepo, so pretty light in a position that appears to be more effective in the championship than in the PL.

New CB and new striker (if Che goes) both need to be in the 10m bracket, considering the money we've brought in and our stated aim of being serious promotion contenders. Likewise, if Sulemana leaves I'd expect us to be spending at least 10m on his replacement. Not unreasonable to bank half, spend half on these key like-for-like replacements now.

Wonder if the club are thinking of Tella as a winger or a striker when it comes to replacing him?

Palmer?? Do you want to try and get Foden too?

Tella money hopefully pays for the Swansea CB and one of those Aberdeen strikers. Can then use the Che money for a gamble from the European leagues on the wing. Then SR get to keep all the other money to plug the hole in our finances made by last season's shitty transfers.

We'll be competitive I'm sure, but the team that starts tomorrow isn't so overwhelmingly good that we can assume promotion. We could win the league, we could finish 7th. I wouldn't say either was more likely on the basis of how we've defended so far.