UpweySaint

Couple of thoughts having read through some of the reaction. Downes did an interview after the Portsmouth game saying the players have spoken in the dressing room about not having hit their stride yet. I know it’s easily said but if we can do this well without hitting our stride it’s promising. If we can kick on then another good run could really start to eat away at the gap to the top. I tend to agree that Swansea may fall away based on squad depth but I remember being convinced we would catch Ipswich when they did the back to backs for exactly the same reason. They did okay with injuries and momentum seemed to carry them. Swansea are no mugs and they looked well coached so I guess they could continue to surprise a lot of people.

Some of the close control was good. He found nice pockets of space and turned defenders well a couple of times. He’s a very different player to Azaz but I could see him as a 10 in an open game. He’s not going to pick the sort of passes out that Azaz does but he has other attributes. Hopefully with more game time and confidence we’ll see the best of him.

Away win. Two scrappy, ground out wins on the bounce. Two clean sheets. It’s not pretty but I’ve seen us play some good stuff this season. Throw in the guile to grind it out in games like this where to opposition are niggly little fuckers we’re going to be in with a shout at the top end.

Maybe he’s come back knackered. I expect an intense start so no harm having quality to come on later. Still agree with the sentiment it’s odd to be making the change but hopefully it’s all part of Tonda’s master plan …

The snowmen round your way must be obscene

Technically true and it’s never going to happen but surely if you cheat financial rules in previous seasons you still benefit from it for a number of reasons for years to come? If City don’t win their appeal I’m curious to see just how hard they get hit.

Fair point. I would counter though that plenty of coaches get sacked but go on to do well elsewhere. Cooper has previous experience of the league and some proven credentials. I’m not lobbying for him in particular I just recall seeing he was available and he is someone we have been linked with in the past. I don’t recall him being wedded to a specific formation but I can’t guarantee the quality of my memory 😅 I expect unless it’s a massive ban it will be Garner and/or Lallana. If it’s a long ban much harder to say. I like Ralph and have very fond memories but he was a bit of an ideologue and I don’t see our squad being well suited to his preferred playing style.

I guess it depends a little on if they are a caretaker, almost ‘on trial’ or Tonda is completely out of the frame. Either way we’re a good candidate for promotion, somebody like Edwards could do with a bit of credit in the bank after an up and down few years. If Edwards (or another) was told you get until the end of the season and we have some money left to spend in January so you can supplement the squad. Maybe? If they take us up they’re possibly managing in the prem. if we don’t go up but go close they’re hardly likely to take too much flack in the context. You could frame it as a free-ish hit with plenty stacked in their favour. FWIW I don’t mind Edwards based on ability as a coach but I would be curious if he could adapt his playing style successfully or he would expect the team to mould to him. We haven’t been perfect this season but we play some good stuff and don’t look far off it. I would want anybody coming in to offer mostly continuity. If we’re throwing names out isn’t Steve Cooper out of work? He did a wonderful job after being parachuted in at Forest.

West Ham aside is there a championship side with better attacking options on the bench? Swansea arguably have more proven strikers in Idah (sort of) and Stewart (when he’s there). I haven’t paid much attention to Wolves. Boro have a decent squad but I don’t think their bench is any better than ours. Beyond that I would struggle. I would like to see somebody who convinces more than Edozie but otherwise I’m not sure we could have reasonably expected much else. Possibly a prem loan in January if someone needs minutes.

I wonder what THB and his agent were told when he signed? I know Emery likes to ease players in, maybe after time on the training pitch over the international break he’ll start making the match day squads.

He has a wife you know!

Will we have him over the international break or will he be away with the 21s? Hopefully we have him, I agree that three weeks on the training ground with Tonda and the coaches could really help.

My maths may be wrong but would we be top in a live table without the -4? It’s a good watch this evening and we’re playing some good stuff!

If we’re throwing random names out there, anybody for some nostalgic Ziyech Watch?! Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has parted ways with Wydad and the 33-year-old Moroccan has been linked with a move to Brazilian club Botafogo. (Goal)

Nope. I remember the whole stadium atmosphere changing when he came on and started running at players with electric pace. This may be wholly subjective but I remember being very excited about Theo early doors.

Very much a case of pot kettle twat.

Charlie Austin has been on a pod saying that the rest of the 24 man squad hated him. Hoedt said the squad was 25 - Charlie (his account so due scepticism) reminded him that he was the 25th man in the squad. Could all be bollocks but Wesley did always give off the billy big one’s attitude.

I think it’s consistency that has stopped him being a prem player yet. Boro fans suggested he could go missing in games and we had that in spells last season - there were extenuating circumstances. If he carries on this season the way he has started you have to think he’ll be in the prem next season with or without us.

I imagine a Benny Hill style pursuit ….

Ambitious! I guess he’s the Charles replacement

Assists and goals scored combined.

Agreed. He has had a poor start to the season and has his limitations as a player but some of the hyperbole is OTT in my opinion. It’s good to have a genuine alternative but I would have concerns about throwing in a new player to a CB pairing without at least giving him a bit of time to get up to speed with how we play.

Very much this. When you see the fees banded about now and combine that with knowing how much Villa have recouped in sales this summer the reported offer is derisory. I agree THB would probably be gutted not to make the move. It’s a fantastic step up for him and there is an opportunity to establish himself as a first choice centre back for a prem side playing champions league football under a top coach. Hopefully if Villa can’t make a sensible offer he’ll grumble but get on with the job at hand. I think he could be fairly confident that after next summer he will be in the prem either with us or somebody else as we won’t be able to let him leave on a free if we don’t go up (I think!)

I agree his value will drop next summer but I wonder how much by in the event we don’t go up? If Villa’s first offer was £18mil I could still see a prem side paying £15mil next season. My hope is THB respects that the club are holding a reasonable value and it’s up to Villa to meet it.

You are smashing it with posting the links this summer, thank you! It’s nice to see the rumours in one place without having to trawl social media. - Hopefully Yuki can get a decent move. It would be good to see a few of the fringe players moved on both for us and them.