Toon Saint

FFS Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Prowsey in the hole of Puel's diamond Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a terrible result all things considering. Don't know what happened to Cuco who had a shocker. Long and Targett didn't have great games either and I'm still not sure what the point in Clasie is - one of the least imaginative midfielders I have seen play for us for some time. JWP looked bright at least and we regained a bit of control when Tadic came on for Hesketh, who looked completely lost bless him. Still, a hard place to go and hopefully a valuable point. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Given the absentees and likely starting line-up I'm guessing the bench is going to be something like: McCarthy, Stephens, Reed, Hojberg, Olomola, Hesketh, McQueen. Decent chance for some of the youngsters to impress if we take an early lead.

Sale; Pied's boots; never worn Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good OP, agree with most of this. * While I'm excited about the signings of Boufal, Hojberg, and to a lesser extent, Redmond, I'm in the strange position of feeling underwhelmed by our overall transfer activity, and failure to capitalise on the (relatively) coveted position of offering European football. Given that we were able to attract the likes of Boufal and Hojberg, feel we could have done a lot more to improve the overall quality of squad. * Thought that Puel was a sensible if uninspiring appointment at the time. Has a great reputation for developing players, but also has a poor track record in his first season with clubs. Given the cut-throat nature of the PL not sure how much time he will given to get things right. He is utterly devoid of charisma. * I had to miss the Watford game so have only seen us against Sunderland live, but despite a decent first 15 mins, I was a bit concerned about the fitness levels of our squad. We seemed to lack intensity and only really reacted when we went behind. Austin, especially, looked overweight. Pressing seems to have gone, but we aren't dominant enough across midfield to assert any real control over the game. * On that subject, where does Charlie Austin fit in? If we stick with a diamond and he is playing this split forward role, it just doesn't suit him drifting out to the wings or making runs 20 yards outside the penalty box. He is a penalty box player, basically, and that's where we need him. If we revert back to a 4-2-3-1 after diamond experiment fails then his hold up play just isn't good enough to play the lone striker. * Concerned about the lack of natural partnership's we seem to have up-front. Granted, Boufal might add a lot more guile to our forward line, but given the combinations of strikers we have (Long, Redmond, J-Rod, Austin) then none of them particularly strike me as forwards that could easily play in tandem with one another. * Not convinced that we can rely upon Romeu, and especially Clasie, to perform the role of sole midfield pivot. Vic and Morgan could've managed this on their own but Romeu lacks the awareness, and Clasie, the dynamism, to play this role on their own. * RB is still a problem area and Cedric needs to up his game considerably. The club have tried to rectify this but we've had bad luck with Pied. * Finally we have a back-up GK that seems to be decent. At least Fat Sam appears to think so... * Pleased we have tied down a number of key players in VvD, Tadic, Davis, and Long. Not sure Cedric or JWP particularly deserved new and improved contracts, however. * Given these extensions, feel that we are in a particularly strong position regarding keeping players at the club and we won't be forced into selling next summer. The caveat, of course, that if we don't build on the momentum of reaching Europe two years running, then our star players like VvD, Hojberg, Boufal might start to agitate. Regardless, we are in a position of power with the length of all of their contracts.

Get the feeling Les probably spends most of the day scoffing into his cup of the tea at the 'madness' of it all. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But are you performing player analysis with your son by using FIFA 16 to scout players? Maybe something you should think about adding to you repertoire. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can't legislate for an act injury. Bad luck Pied Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can't legislate for an act injury. Bad luck Pied Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good riddance. He's ruined us. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Can he play up front? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Anyone think the players looked lethargic after 20 mins? Kind of worrying this early in the season. Austin especially looked like he was carrying some extra timbre. Waddled around like he needed a sh!t. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well that was dire. Formation just doesn't suit the players we have. First fifteen minutes was decent with some cute build up play but no cutting edge. We really needed to score during that period of pressure. Austin was terrible. Looks overweight and completely knackered after our bright opening spell. Offside about 5 times clearly because he doesn't trust himself to beat the defender one on one. Not sure why Puel took so long to haul him off. Lack of width is worrying and needs rectifying. We also need a forward who can hold the ball up and stretch the defensive line with a bit of pace. Hopefully Boufal when fit can provide a bit of invention. Pluses were Hojberg who looks a class above and the lack of queue for beers at half time. Puel needs to learn quickly about this league as its been a poor start. Diamond needs to go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

New formation looks best suited to J-Rod. If he can't get a game then that's pretty damning in terms of his recovery from injury. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pathetic. Should get longer than a 2 match ban. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't really get what is it in for us with a loan deal. J-Rod obviously needs game time as he looked like he was running through treacle at the back end of last season and didn't look much better during the pre-season just gone. Surely our European games would be a great way to give him the game time and confidence he is in desperate need of, as well as allowing us to rotate the squad. Loan him to West Brom and if he does well he will come back to us with 2 years left on his contract and no doubt with the vultures circling. We can dress it up as being in the long term interests of the club and player but if he goes out on loan then he's probably played his last game for us. Which would be a real shame IMO. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

9-3, all things considered. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Boufal I reckon. Joined Lille 18 months ago so may have set the black box off on one then. We know there has been concrete interest from Prem clubs (Watford). Seems to have been a bit of back-and-forth in media reports linking him to us as well. Maybe links to bigger clubs has (Chelsea, Arsenal) has gone to his head. Seems to fit the profile we look for better than most of the other targets we've actually been linked with (can see someone like Praet being back-up choice, for instance, as hasn't done quite as much in an inferior league). Probably wrong.

Wasn't that a reference to Pierre? Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Fonte quotes are a bit alarming, admittedly, but Bertrand just signed a new five year deal a few weeks ago. Would be utter madness if we were to sell him. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Safe from the Everton war chest then. Good news. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Crook recycling some obscure link on twitter as firm interest. The guy is feeding on scraps. If we are looking for a back-up RB to Cedric, can't imagine why Trippier would be interested in leaving Spurs for us to perform essentialy the same role. The only way I can see this having any legs is if we want Trippier to be first choice...which would probably mean moving Cedric on and still having Cuco as back-up. It's a position that needs strengthening given that Cuco is a limited player, but I just can't see us having two players of that quality fighting for the one role until we are competing in the CL. Best scenario we'll have is like with Chambers/Clyne, Targett/Bertrand, having an established first-choice and a promising young player.

Is he not behind Matt Targett in that photo by the plane? Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Boro are looking to sign Januzaj according to the Mirror. Would be a good option for us IMO. A player who has massive potential but his progress has stalled a bit due to lack of game time. Also could play in any of the AM roles.