tajjuk

Good post. Yeh it's all on paper at the moment, they all look like promising signings (Armstrong is probably the main worry as he seemed to not be a Celtic first teamer, in a very weak league but hopefully that was just injuries) but who knows if they'll work out. Hoedt and Lemina looked good signings, but struggled to adapt (though I think will be better this year). Elyounoussi seemed to play either side for Basel, and from what I have read he's quite stocky so should be ok on that front. But it does look like we have addressed some areas clearly in need of attention, i.e a goalscoring centre-mid, a new creative wide player and direct VVD replacement (at least physically). You'd think with Carrillo gone, Boufal due to go and likely Clasie going at the least, if not maybe Forster there would be funds/wages (and a need) for a few more to come in. Formation is an interesting one for this as it could dictate who we bring in. I think basically we have two options - 1. If we go for this 5-3-2 formation we could end up playing it more like Chelsea's version of it, rather than England's version of it, i.e with one central striker, two centre-mids and then like two floating wingers/inside forwards. Almost more like a 3-2-2-2-1. This would see Mo + another playing in behind say Austin or Gabbi for example. Or 2. We got for a more traditional interpretation of 5-3-2, with two strikers. In which case we might bring in another striker, say Alcacer or similar to come in to play in a more conventional front two with Austin, Long, Gabbi and 'another' competing for two spots. In this approach you have to question where Elyounoussi is going to play, as he is mainly a winger and we could be doing a Sterling trying to shoehorn a wide player into a central position he is not comfortable with. It could also mean that we are not going another wide player in to 'replace' Boufal. I'd presume Austin/Gallagher provide our target man type player and I definitely agree that we need more pace as well. 5 in, if it was Armstrong, Mo, Verstergaard, new striker/winger and a keeper. With outs of Tadic, Carrillo, Boufal, Forster and Clasie. I think would be a good window.

Pretty sure he his primarily right footed but is comfortably on either foot, he is listed as either footed on FM and this report - https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/jannik-vestergaard-ten-things-on-gladbach-s-great-dane-defender-467867.jsp Says he is comfortable passing with either foot, but in the youtube vids I have seen he seems to go into tackles with his right foot.

Charlie Austin is like a 1 in 2 man in the PL and would tear up the Championship, as would Long to be honest and hardly like Clasie is some terrible player. Plus loads of clubs get relegated and I'd imagine most would have had relegation wage drops. Carillo is a poor signing, every club has them but the rest you posted is just nonsense. Which is basically what this is, a crap signing, don't get the fuss people make when the club has had multiple successes unearthing talent there are always going to be some bad ones and this is one. Move on and forget it, hopefully he'll do all right and we'll be able to sell him next season and recoup some fee. No need to beat the club repeatedly with it.

Who aren't West Ham signing. Be interesting to see how Yarmalenko does, highly rated before his move the Dortmund but maybe he made the move out of Ukraine too late, could be another Payet sort of signing to inspire their season but could be signing a player in decline.

Good news if true, of the centre-backs we have been linked with he is the one that on paper looks like what we need. Seems well rated as well, hopefully he'll compliment Hoedt well and with a settled more confident keeper in McCarthy, and Bertrand/Cedric hopefully staying we'll have a very solid and well balanced back 4. Or back 5 with Yoshida/Bednerak in there.

Trippier has been the best right back in the tournament. I'd take Maguire over Lovren every day of the week, he has been better in the last two prem years than Lovren even not accounting for performing better in this tournament. And TWO of their midfield would walk into our team, don't think the rest would. The Croatian side is also on the older side and don't have as much pace England as have, they also struggled to overcome a poor Russian side and played 120 mins whilst England comfortably dealt with a Sweden team in extra-time and got to take a few players off early. Tough game but England should be favourites IMO, even if you just based it on they should be fresher.

That is what a back 3 is there for in a wing-back system, if one wing back is caught out up pitch in theory you should still have 3 centre-backs in place to cover, if not the other wing back as well meaning they can basically drop into a back 4.

I think JWP would make a good wing back, ok he's not rapid, but he has the work rate and stamina, plus crossing is one of his best attributes. Also his smaller stature and lack of strength is less of an issue, and defensively wing backs have less to do as they have a covering centre-back behind them.

We created more chances in open play in the last 15 minutes of extra time than Spain did in 120 against Russia, who are worse than Colombia. And overall have created more chances than I have seen Brazil create. You can only try and beat what is in front of you and if the opposition play the whole game basically trying to stop you playing by any means possible and show next to no intent to win the game themselves then you take what you can get whether it's a penalty or whatever. England's tempo and positive play at this World Cup has been the best I have seen from an England team since Euro 96.

Yeh watched it again and nope can't blame him for that, it had dip, swerve and lots of speed, just a very good shot, doesn't need to be right in the corner when it has all those characteristics. He does step slightly to his right initially, so you could possibly fault him there but there are also defender in the line of the ball so he is likely unsighted as well, one of whom turns his back on it yet no one seems to have questioned that. Just as a comparison, Januzaj's shot against Engalnd was a much more savable shot IMO and people seemed to give Pickford the benefit of the doubt. People's Forster bias are clearly showing, McCarthy IMO would have got beaten by that shot and he wouldn't have got any stick for it. And the first one, anyone criticising him for that is retarded and knows nothing about football.

Yeh not sure you can blame the keeper for that, it was a stunning strike.

Based on what we have seen in the World Cup I think it will have more impact in other leagues rather the PL, especially for the decisions in the box. I don't seem to remember seeing some of the frankly absurd grappling and holding that has been going on in the World Cup in the PL, a bit of it goes on but not at that level.

Also Kjaer and Jorgensen are both in their late 20s, they are established and at their peak for centre-backs, Verstergaard is 25 and only real established himself as first teamer for his clubs a few years ago. It says in the articles about him that he was a midfielder and that he converted to a centre-back whilst at Werder Bremen who he credits for turning around his career I believe. So he's only really had 3 seasons of regular first team football as a centre-back so no surprise he would necessarily walk into the national team for a World Cup. Kjaer has like over 80 caps, then the other 3 are on 15, 16 and 20 caps so really Kjaer is the first choice and the other 3 have clearly been battling it out for the other spot. So 'not being first choice for Denmark' also applies to Christensen and I'd imagine many people here would be happy we were signing him. And as others have mentioned VVD wasn't even in the reckoning for Holland, who haven't even managed to qualify and he has turned out all right. To me he looks like a player on the up, is a good age, playing well in a good league and has physical characteristics our other defenders lack. He was also playing Champions League football last year. Getting him for £20 million when the other options look like some reserve team player for Barcelona who was rejected by a French club and Gibson, seems a no brainer to me. Getting on the up, younger players from other leagues has worked well in the past, especially ones who have champs league experience as well. Also hardly like the Bundesliga is a poor league.

He has mainly been behind Kjaer and Christensen, who are two very good centre-backs.

What like Redknapp? Brum had 3 managers last year, not exactly a good environment for a young player trying to establish himself and despite that he was still their top goalscorer in the league even if was a lowly 6 goals. I mean he's gone on loan to one club that got relegated from the Championship and another that nearly got relegated and has had 5 managers in just 15 months, hardly a stable environment. I'd just like to see him being given a chance in a more favourable environment not a crap teams that were likely on the back foot most of the time and were in turmoil. I am not saying he should be our starting striker but I can't see how he'll do much worse than Long or Carrillo.

Actually the reports I have read said that he agreed the pay cut but wanted more assurances about game time and the new manager basically said he wasn't in his plans, which suggests he is more looking for regular game time than a huge wage.

From what I have read about Vestergard, he can play, seen several reports about his range of passing, and is decently quick as well despite his size. So seems the much better all round option.

I think he's got a fair point about Trippier, he has been class, can you name a better right back at the tournament? Or anyone who's delivery/crossing has been as good? Compare his performances to the massive hype surrounding Kimmich and how poor he was. ---------------------- We should go for Yerry Mina

He can't do much worse than Carrillo or Long. Personally I'd have him as third choice behind Austin and Gabii, as our plan B option. At least give him a chance in to show what he can do I reckon. People need to remember he had loan spells at two clubs that were crap and not very settled. Did not both Blackburn and Brum change their managers whilst he was there? and I think he was not always played up front or always started.

To be honest he should be at the World Cup, 2nd half again England were crying out for someone in centre-mid you can travel with the ball and create. But I'd have him at Saints, a quality player despite the injuries. By all accounts was Arsenal's best player last year. Don't think it will happen though, wages are probably an issue.

Nice message, good luck to him, seems like this has been on the cards for a while and the club have accommodated him. -------------------- Got to laugh at the Willian comparisons, Willian is world class and like two levels above Tadic.

Yeh it is a bit worrying, still hope the Danish guy rumours are true and that is who we get in as he seems to have the physical presence our other CBs don't have. This guy has never played for Barca either, just their B team.

Bertrand on the left side of back 3 with Targett as wing back could be an option.

Hopefully a good signing, these sort of players are always a gamble but he has proven himself against good opposition in the Champs league.

5' 11" centre-back that was linked to West Ham and they were worried about his physique and coping with the PL.