Verbal Kint

I agree

The Mane replacement isn't here yet. We will bring in one more attacking player. Are we writing off Rodriguez completely despite not really seeing him play? Jeremy Wilson wrote an article for the Telegraph when Pelle left stating Austin was his replacement. Considering he clearly gets information leaked to him directly from the club I think it's fair to say that's very likely to be the case

They haven't thought have they? They brought Austin in to replace Pelle, as well as Rodriguez being back fit again. There will be one more attacking signing, in addition to Redmond, to replace Mane. Hojbjerg is an upgrade on Wanyama as well. If we had a manager playing a system and style to suit the players we have, people wouldn't be complaining about the transfer business. We have a squad set up to play 433 and should be playing that way

Ditch the diamond or he'll end up getting sacked. We have probably only one natural goal scorer in the squad and he's sat on the bench because he doesn't suit the formation. You build a formation around your important players, not the other way round

I agree. There are encouraging signs, but our full backs are vital in this formation and Targett in particular is so poor. It's difficult to see us scoring a lot of goals

He'll never be good enough but will be given far longer than he should because he's come through the academy. A championship player and no more. We've passed it nicely but we really are going to struggle to score goals playing in this way

Most teams aim to have 2 players for every position. We currently have 5 senior players for the 3 attacking positions in Puel's system. That's why most people think it's obvious we will bring in one more

They don't do 7 first team players in one summer

We have given out 6 or 7 new deals as well, with the pay rises that go with it, and if we didn't bring a couple more in then that would go against the norm, as every summer for the last 7 years we end up with a better squad than the one we started it with. They have a proven track record of bringing in very good players (and have continued that with they have done this window so far) but yet some people think they will let us drift for the next two weeks with what we have, when it is very clear to everyone where we are short

Why do people think we won't be bringing in further players? 2 weeks left in the window, I fully expect a couple more in (maybe 3 if Fonte goes) and we'll probably break our transfer record. Every summer we have re-invested the money in the squad so why will it be different this time?

Why didn't he start? He's clearly our best midfielder, he should be starting every game when fit. I don't have any doubts about our transfer business, the signings we've made have been good and there will be a couple more to come I'm sure. But I'm more concerned about Puel. It doesn't strike me as good management to make a pre-determined decision to change the formation of a successful team, playing players out of position and a formation that doesn't fit our key playersl. A good manager should be picking formations and tactics to suit the players, not stubbornly bringing a formation with him and refusing to deviate from it even if it's ineffective. I hope the signings we make fit the diamond, because I don't see him changing it

I'd be surprised if we didn't play the diamond frankly. If you have a manager arrogant enough to come to a new league and change a successful team as much as he has, purely for his own ego rather than because it suits the players he has, then I don't see why he wouldn't go with it away at United.

I don't think they have a better team, but the better team doesn't always win. I just don't think they'll be set up as badly we will be. Hope I'm wrong on that one. On top of that we are without Bertrand, with Fonte and Cedric have played only 45 mins each of pre-season, I get the feeling the season is coming too soon for us and a few other clubs who had players going deep in the euros.

Think we'll either draw 0-0 or lose 1-0. The manager has already made a big error IMO in choosing a formation that doesn't suit the important players in the team and I think we'll struggle to score goals or even create chances. The back 8 looks fairly solid when all are fit so i expect a fairly dull season as it stands with a lot of low scoring games

I agree and it's why I think Romeu might be better for one of these positions rather than at the base (which would surely suit Clasie/Hojbjerg more) as he always seems to bring energy

I think Puel is committed to the formation he's played in pre-season, with Austin, Long, Jay and Redmond competing for the 2 striker positions and Tadic +1 other to come in for the role behind them.

Which is exactly why the club will bring in at least one more attacking player. Don't know why people doubt this

I hope so, think he needs a year in the Championship playing every week as he isn't going to improve further playing U21 football. The same could be said for Reed

It is good business if they spend the money wisely and recuit well

Mane will be replaced. And not many other clubs have signed up 6 first team players (7 including JWP) to long term contracts. I don't think that can be ignored

We bought him in January

I heard from someone who spoke Les Reed at the awards dinner and told him that Chamberlain was out of our reach financially. Not sure whether I believe Les was being completely honest there but who knows

Clever stuff this. Someone let Les Reed know

There are 1 or 2 clubs i can think of that could pay his wages and I'd bet he ends up at one of them rather than us if he was to leave. Everton... He has spent his career trying to get his big move, now that he's had it I'm not sure you'll see the same level of performance from him that we saw when he was here, and I don't think he's worked that hard for that contract to then take a pay cut 12 months later. And his ego would not let him come back

I don't know why people think we can get Morgan back. He left for a huge wage and he won't be giving that up to come back. We can't afford him