Dig Dig

What we're lacking first and foremost is more drive, pace and mobility through midfield, something we severely lack. Neither Clasie or Romeo provide this.

I'm ok thanks, I'll stick to understanding the modern execution of 433 as that's what is relevant today.

You're starting to sound a little like Andy Durman with his 1-4-4-2 formations Every 433 I've seen absolutely has three CM's and not one CM and two wide players.

The last time there was a clamour to replace Pelle with Long, Chelsea happened.

I'm not disappointed with a couple of 7th, 8th finishes but it's not bizarre to suggest that momentum shouldn't stop there considering the opportinuty presented to us. The league and cup are not completely unrelated. You generally need a very good team to be able to do well. If we suddenly end up in 13th or whatever because of our transfers then it's pretty poor tbf. That's not a tantrum, just an opinion.

He has a good interview on him.

What is up for debate though is whether we have taken full advantage of having, at one point, 5 England Internationals in our team/players now competing at the very top end of the table and over £120M in player sales coming through the books? None of the other clubs in our bracket have come close to be being in a position like that and I'm not sure we've really done enough to keep ourselves just ahead of the chasing pack in order to achieve success by our own defintion, either a cup/and or a couple of decent seasons in Europe. If it pans out that way, I think that's slightly disappointing.

Armstrongs hatchet job shoot blog from the summer Over this season and the next we'll see that we've not found some secret solution which all other clubs fail to emulate. We muddle through on occassion like everyone else and are in danger of becoming a club of contradictions.... We don't buy players unless they are better than what we have which must be why we went for quantity over quality this sunmer. Our transfer policy and recruitment strategy is seamless and not dependent on who the manager is which must be why the majority of our signings are from Holland or at least have a link to Koeman. We plan meticulously for any eventuality which must be why we end up playing a mediocre CB at RB when our 1st choice isn't deemed suitable for a particular game. We plan to have the team made up of 50% academy players and don't believe in sending them out on loan and we target young British players who have a high re-sale potential..... All things which have been lauded on here over the last couple of seasons whilst arrogantly scoffing at what anyone else is up to.

Scarily enough, I think you're right. It's up there with his claims that the serbian Tadic struggles to play in cold weather Dinosaur.

It would be terrible. Bolasie and Zaha would have a field day.

He was at least considered to be the main replacement for Morgan. We've clearly done well there. Fry can't handle any criticism of the club though, not now Cortese has gone.

Another poor result at home. Clearly we were the better side but Villa came to do a job and got what they wanted. No pace in the side leaves us ponderous and out of ideas in these types of games. 3 home wins out of 8 in the league now I think.

I'd play Messi just behind Pelle.

Pointless suggesting that Ramirez will be in the line up. We all know he won't be.

I suspect that we will play Yoshida at RB if Koeman is looking to get back to basics for this game. Not that I'd agree with that but it would mean that width wouldn't be coming from the full backs.

Really looking forward to seeing us get some good quality positive net spend with that.

I disagree, I don't think we are better off at the end of the day.

I'm not suggesting that we spend anywhere near what Man City do are have anywhere near the number of options but if there is a continued debate on here as to whether we have a better squad overall now compared to last season and the season before....the answer is no in the cold light of day. The main issue with the players we signed in the summer is that some of them don't look physically strong or fast enough for the league (even if they do have some good technical qualities) and some aren't good enough full stop. Sometimes it looks like we try and be a bit too clever with our targets and ignore some of the fundamental traits needed to be a success based on where we are now. The principle of a squad is to provide options and create competition for places which pushes everyone to perform to the highest level. It was all the rage on here to harp on about how we don't sign players for squad places/back-up yet a large percent of our business this summer was to do exactly that.

You seriously believe that a) we can't have players who can come in and make an impact and b) that those players you mention are showing form anywhere near being able to avoid significant drops in overall quality or our ability to play Koemans ideal system? JWP is the only one close to that. Rodriguez looks to have a big stuggle on his hands to get back to the required standard. Otherwise, we really do have little else.

Not IMO. We still need our first 11 out every week and we have little ability to change games from the bench. That's the reality at the end of the day.

3 PL wins from 7 at home so far this season. Koemans pragmatism is worth few points on the road but we're struggling against any team with a bit about themselves at home which isn't good enough. We really do need a win on Saturday, another loss at home against an awful Villa wouldn't bode well for the season ahead.

We've terrible at home this season on the whole. Hard to have a good season in the end when you consistently get turned over at home. 3 against Utd, 3 against Everton, 2 against Leicester and now 6 tonight

It's not really been consistently present for a good while longer than the last three games. We play in shape and compact.

Why? They just did them 4-1 as well.