Saint Garrett

His strongest attribute is his distribution, but that's been pretty dour all season. Unfortunately, he doesn't encourage calmness in the side, and he doesnt save shots, he doesn't command his box and come out enough either for me. Confidence is massive for a keeper, and he's just not ready yet.

It's an absolute shambles that the answer is Bednarek. Good lord. The bloke who sad it was important for his career to move to a bigger club... https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/20891790.bednarek-stresses-importance-moving-bigger-club-aston-villa/ If we go to a back 5, Jones can just fuck off.

I'm hoping he's coming back because he's due to be sold and bring in a bit of money. could see him backup at West Ham now they've lost Dawson. He was linked with them in the summer

You have to make the 5 subs in 3 stoppages, you can't make 5 separate subs. FWIW, I actually have no problem making 3 changes at once, and sticking some more legs on the pitch. We actually had a really good 5 minutes after those changes were made, and we scored (VARsicle). Heads went down when they scored the free kick.

Yup - agreed. The key things for me are: Not signing a solid GK (there were enough out there) Not signing a goalscorer Buying cheap options like Aribo who offers bugger all Bringing in AMN to replace Romeu, despite him not being able to play in that DM role. I actually don't think this squad is a million miles away from being half decent like they've proved over the last 4 years under Ralph, but we now have a worse manager, and we are missing that key goalscorer. Also, Redmond offered us far more than Aribo. Should have just kept him.

Another Monday, still no striker…2 cup semi finals and nope, still got Adams Armstrong and Mara…so disappointing

And we wonder why our defence then doesn’t look overly confident when you’ve got a flappy teenager behind them. I’d have rather had Forster playing this season with Bazunu coming in for cups etc. but like you say above, there were so many keepers on the move in the summer, and to not improve our keeping position from last season is nothing short of a disgrace really.

We used to hold a way higher line under Ralph. We’re so deep on free kicks under Jones.

We’ve needed a striker since Ings left. We bought Adam Armstrong to do that job. He’s been largely shit. We got lucky with the Broja loan cos he was class. We’ve somehow gone into this season with Che Adams and a kid from France as strikers because of fucking up the summer transfer window. They then had months to make sure there was one joining on Jan 1st for our big run of games (Forest, Everton, Villa, Brentford, Wolves) and so far we have failed miserably. It’s costing us points every minute of each game as we go forward. We buy players, and then don’t play them (Orsic), we fuck about with playing 5 at the back which this team has proven it cannot play. We have a keeper that doesn’t save anything. It’s just an absolute clusterfuck of a mess which will no doubt end up in relegation.

He’s obsessed with 5 at the back, and we are appalling every time we play it. The fact he keeps trying it given it doesn’t work is enough to sack him for me.

He is nowhere near the level of a premier league keeper unfortunately and costs us points. You compare it with Pope saving Newcastle a point today… Bazunu is a liability.

He wasn’t.

Bonkers. Have spent about £900m since they came out of their transfer ban. It’s an utter disgrace. Interesting they now seem to be shopping in a different market though. There is no way Madueke is a top champions league player yet.

If we can somehow go up there with a lead, like Liverpool last time, it might encourage a few more to go. Being one of those who went to Liverpool, that night is why I sit through all the shit games, it was incredible. I’d encourage anyone that can make the trip to do so!

Based on what? I'm almost certain he was brought in with next season in mind over this one. He was the replacement for Shane Long, i.e. 4th choice striker behind a new forward, Adams, and AArmstrong. Unfortunately, that striker (Broja/Gakpo) didn't arrive.

Yup - and adding a bit to Gakpo might have just got that one over the line. Of course we don't know whether it would have or not, but there is a chance...

Ings is signing for West Ham. Would forget about that one.

Antonio now linked with Everton. Can see that one happening, cheap for Everton. Chelsea have had a £55m bid rejected for Moises Caicedo. What is going on at Chelsea?! Absolute mess of a club right now. Can imagine a bunch of their 16-20 year olds will be having interesting conversations with their agents atm.

£21m with £5m of add ons. Basically went on strike at Brighton so that price was not a surprise. Chelsea supposedly bid £12m a few days ago. It’s a steal when you have half decent players going for £70-80m

https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Jan/19/james-ward-prowse-if-i-could-interview-20230119 Nice interview with our skipper.

I'd be shocked if they could afford him. Can't see him going there on a perm. I only really see them making loan signings.

So probably €15m + addons probably gets it done if we're that bothered. Are we really going to sign this guy for ca £15m, Jackson for £18m and a striker for £20m odd? can't see it...

It does seem rather odd, that we're signing another left winger. Assuming we are going to stick with this 4-2-3-1 then maybe Adams is seen as the 1, and then we are going to get players in and around him, making runs past him. But we've already got Djenepo, Elyounoussi, Edozie, AArmstrong who would probably "choose" to play left of a front 3, and we've just signed Orsic and thats his position. Add into that Jackson, and I'm a bit confused to where he fits in tbh. Edozie, Elyounoussi and Djenepo go to an option off the bench, I'd be surprised if Orsic hasn't been brought in as a starter.

Yeah. 18 Months £15m transfer fee loss £10m+ in wages... Ouch.

TBF, thats normally been their strategy...lob money at it and hope for the best. They've done it for the last 15 years.