woodsaint1

Need to build on yesterdays very positive result by not being complacent in the last week or so of the transfer window. A few more needed. Heres hoping for - In - Goncalo Ramos, James Garner, Willi Orban (Leipzig having their struggles so lets test it) Out - Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ibrahima Diallo, Theo Walcott, Alex McCarthy and Mo Elyounoussi

100%. Fergie always had assistants who played a big role, both on the training pitch and on the touchline (and some who went on to have decent managerial spells themselves). Mike Phelan, Steve McClaren, Carlos Queiroz and Rene Meulensteen all come to mind. Wenger had Pat Rice and going back further, Cloughie had Peter Taylor.

How composed did Mara look with the goal that was ruled out. After the assist and testing Meslier with a great shot last week, you can tell the kid has really got something about him

Lets see how they fare against the better sides first. City and Liverpool still head and shoulders above the rest imo. Arsenal might be the best of the rest though

Exactly. Why do people make it that Ralph has an issue with every player that doesnt play. He could have brought Ori on but Ralph/management team chose to bring another CB on instead. Hardly means hes frozen out, he played 75 mins in the Spurs game

And a CB. With Stephens and Bednarek likely on the move, we definitely need another. Salisu and ABK were excellent today but we need a more experienced CB for them to compete with. Lyanco is squad quality at best

Fans always know best, especially those on a forum

How much added time?

But sure Adams offers nothing and we should sell ASAP 😂😂

Sturm Graz played RB Salzburg a few weeks ago and this kid stole the show with two goals in a 2-1 win. Included this lovely goal

Hopefully. Then Ralph can go with Salisu and ABK as it should be

Best Polish player of his generation. Be a terrible shame to lose him

The way we defend crosses and set pieces, hes guaranteed at least a brace

Bazunu KWP ABK Salisu Perraud Lavia JWP S Armstrong Aribo A Armstrong Adams Cant see Ralph picking anything remotely close to this, but one can always hope. Leicester looked very shakey at the back in their first two so we need to get at them

Been a very long time since we won a competitive game so I think we're all a bit unclear on what it takes

Was very good at the start of last season before injury. Remember the United game with the great moment of him giving Fernandes a bollicking. I do think its time for him to move on though, particularly if he wants to be a starter. Still think hes a better option than Lyanco, which was a bizarre signing. Expressing his appreciation of the club/fans in person or on social media doesnt win us football games the last I checked.

If Chelsea give them Broja or CHO plus £ for Anthony Gordon, they've lost the plot. They've already got Sterling, Mount, Pulisic and Ziyech, all comfortably better than Gordon. Bizarre link

Moyes will be furious. Dont know how West Ham didnt get anything. Disallowed goal, missed pen, hit the bar and line twice and Soucek missed a sitter lol

Exactly, play to your strengths. We are very familiar with the 4222 now (and the new players should be nearly up to speed) and its also easier to press from. I appreciate that 3 CBs works in games where we'll have very little ball and need to sit deeper (City, Liverpool being the only two worthy of that respect), but against every other team in the league just go with the 4222 or variations of it

The problem with playing three CBs is that you often find at least one, maybe even two of them arent marking anybody for periods. Teams very rarely these days play two strikers right up on top of the CBs. They're dropping into midfield or pulling wide to try and move the CBs about. With these players dropping into the gaps it puts more pressure on our midfield and wing backs as CBs are reluctant to be pulled way out of position, even in a three. It also doesnt help our press when you're sacrificing a midfielder/attacker who is needed to initiate the press, for the sake of another CB. With the midfield getting overun we find ourselves sitting deeper with the three CBs which doesnt play to our strengths or counter our weaknesses. I could understand if our CBs lacked the pace or physicality to go man for man at the back, but Salisu and ABK are both quick and very physical to deal with most threats. With Lavia offering protection that could be a very useful trio in a 4222. As has already been pointed out, we shouldnt be adapting the system to suit the new players, it should be the other way round. The new players in the squad would probably be more comfortable with the 4222 as opposed to a 532. Regardless of formation, we need to get much better at the basics for dealing with crosses and set pieces. The first Leeds goal was as easy as they come. Rodrigo makes the run across the front, and although there seemed to be communication from Salisu to Bednarek (perhaps too late) to pass him on, Bednarek doesnt react and its an easy goal.

Hence my use of the word "suggested"

How do we know that Selles was behind the formation change as suggested on here? Do we have lip readers and body lanaguage experts in our SWF midst

Kouyate. Some good signings in there, but they will struggle to build cohesion and continuity with such wholesale changes. Im sure some of the players who helped get them promoted and who now find themselves on the bench will be a bit pissed too. They'll not be as bad as Fulham that season, but I think they will still be in the relegation picture come March/April next year

Think its becoming apparent from these first two games what our current best line up and formation is. Hopefully Ralph is starting to wise up to it as well. It definitely doesnt involve a five at the back. Great credit to the team. Could have packed it in after going 2-0 down, but they showed great resilience, coupled with the correct change in formation and substitutions. Aribo, Mara and AA all had great impact. Lavia looked very good again, KWP is looking like our best player. ABK is still very raw but has many great attributes. Plenty of endeavour from Che, never stopped competing for balls and creating space for others. Not bad for a player who is on the move and not interested 🤔. Big few weeks in the window however. We desperately need more if we dont want to be in a relegation fight all season. Ideally two strikers (Delap and Kaladjzic would be my preference), no.10 and another CB (although this is dependent on Bednarek and Stephens moving on which I dont think is likely).

Hope not. Despised the prick since his 99th minute goal and celebration against us