Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd

12th to 18th.

And here lies the problem. I don't think anybody knows our strongest starting 11 because we have too many average and inconsistent players in some positions. Back 4 pretty much picks itself. Other than Romeu, the rest is just guess work.

Clasie, I'd completely forgotten about him. The thing for me is that we have some players who are straight on the team sheet. The back four pretty much picks itself, assuming VVD gets his act together. The issue is that the midfield doesn't. With the exception of Romeu, who do you play? Ask anybody on here who they'd play in the midfield and up front and you'll get hundreds of different answers. Why? because we don't have enough quality. We could get rid of 4 midfielders and be no worse off as a squad. We're carrying too many average players. What we need are 2 really special signings.

Really? We don't seem to know our strongest 11 and largely because of a bunch of average midfielders like, Boufal, Tadic, Long, Davis, Redmond, JWP, Targett and Gallagher. There isn't an outstanding player amongst them. They all put in a good show every once in a while but none of them are consistent. This just leads to the manager chopping and changing every week. If we're going to play 1 up front then these players need to score goals and none of them look great in that department. I'd get rid of Boufal, Tadic and Long and replace them with a proper No. 10. Targett, JWP and Redmond can fill the gaps as I think they're just as capable of doing what Boufal, Tadic and Long do.

Just watched him win £30k for charity on a repeat of Mr & Mrs.

I hope you're right, but you can't argue with Defoe's track record. He's a proven goal scorer at this level. As I said, if he gets 15-20 goals a season he's done a great job for them. For what it's worth, I'm sure Gabbi & Austin will have a positive effect on our younger players in the same way Defoe will for Bournemouth. I think he's a good signing for them. I wouldn't have been disappointed if he'd come to us, but I don't think we need him. All I'm saying is that I think they've made 2 good signings that are certainly better than the ones we've made... so far.

Oh give it a rest you ****ing tit. It's a forum for people to express their views and opinions. Just because you don't agree with them it doesn't make somebody a ****ing idiot. I don't agree with some of your posts but that doesn't make you a ****ing idiot.

They've signed Ake and Begovic, both good signings. On top of that they've signed a proven striker who's performed at every club he's been at. Who cares about his age? If you get 2 seasons out of him and he gets 15 - 20 goals each season then that's great business. Add in the effect that a player like Defoe will have on the young strikers at the club and it's hard to see any issue with his signing.

They've signed Ake and Begovic, both good signings. On top of that they've signed a proven striker who's performed at every club he's been at. Who cares about his age? If you get 2 seasons out of him and he gets 15 - 20 goals each season then that's great business. Add in the effect that a player like Defoe will have on the young strikers at the club and it's hard to see any issue with his signing.

Yep. I look at some of our recent 'one for the future' purchases and all I can think is. One for the future where? In the Championship? As others have said, it's all very well buying for the future but that's not much use to you now. Particularly when we have so many average players.

Exactly.

I totally agree. Our business model is not going to turn us into a Top 4 club - All that talk is just spin from Les. The annual sale of our best players has become boring and we're just seen as a feeder club these days. Our signings feel like downgrades on the players they're replacing. Even the way we replaced Puel was comical and feels like we settled for second best. How anybody can see this as progress is completely beyond me. Clubs like Bournemouth look to be showing more ambition than we do and that's very disappointing.

If only she adopted the same approach with some of our players. ;-)

Typical ****ing greedy footballer. He's the one who signed a 6 year contract. ****!

Here's a bet for you... J-Rod to score more than any of our strikers this coming season.

Dare I say it, but I'd get rid of Tadic & Boufal and replace with one player. Don't ask me who, I just feel that there must be somebody out there who is more consistent than these two. Sure, on their day they're good players but that doesn't happen enough from either of them.

Not really. I think we have two average players for certain positions instead of 1 great player and a back up option or understudy. I'm basically saying that if we had to consolidate in some areas, where would it be.

You have to let 4 of the current squad go to bring in 2 quality additions. Who do you release???

I'm inclined to agree. The papers will run with anything at this time of year. I don't understand players who strike to try and force a move. They signed a contract and should be made to honour it. Otherwise, what's the point?

I was in Holland last week and a couple of papers were saying he's refusing to play in an attempt to force a move to Liverpool. The report said that Liverpool made an illegal approach and had been warned by the FA. They then issued a statement to say they were no longer interested but it's too late as the player's head has been turned and he is saying the only club he wants to play for is Liverpool. It goes on to say that it's a difficult situation because if he does go to Liverpool the FA will probably get involved and Liverpool may be charged.

Virgil's replacement is only going to cost £3m apparently. Zou Feddal.

I think we need a couple of special players. It feels like we've got 4 or 5 who don't really perform and just look average.

Ok, here's one for you. Would you swap him for Sturridge & Sakho?

Just back from Holland. There's reports there that VVD is refusing to play for us in an attempt to force a move to Liverpool.

Ronnie Ekelund