Harry_SFC

Agree about Rodgers. Think we could get him but maybe not until the end of the season?

I think he's out of his depth if I'm being honest. A similar negative style to Puel. Les Reed should be partly responsible for this. Firing one guy and getting someone else in who plays exactly the same style!?

Pellegrino is taking us nowhere. Another massively conservative manager. Happy to keep the ball and doesn't want to see us taking any risks what so ever. Another boring season in store I'm afraid.

Tadic slows us down far too much. He just hasn't offered enough for over a year now.

This could be a massive blow

True about the tactics. I would like us to mix it up a bit now and again, I like the fact Pellegrino wants us to pass the ball about but there are times you need to go a bit more direct and turn teams around, especially away from home. By direct I don't mean 'hoofing it', I mean playing the ball into the channels for one of the strikers (as both have decent movement). As you say though it does depends on the oppositions tactics (high line etc)

Same team as Saturday except Boufal in for Tadic. Long to keep his place upfront purely because it's away from home where we may need to get in behind their back 4 a bit.

He clearly has confidence in his own ability, yes sometimes he does a little too much but I certainly wouldn't say he doesn't play for the team. He tracks back a lot more than Tadic and must be better for team morale than having Redmond in the side who moans at his teammates 24/7.

If you call letting in pretty much every other shot on target into the net then yes just the occasional mistake.

Everton played 5 at the back against United yesterday and in large it worked well for the majority of the game (we have better defensive players than them too) I'd like us to try it out away against the bigger sides, looks a bit defensive to be playing it regularly though.

I'd go with this. Would like to see Gabbiadini on the right cutting onto his left foot. Apparently he was used in that position for Napoli a fair bit.

I feel for Bertrand to be honest. The amount of times he sprints to get in support of Redmond who in turn either loses the ball or cuts inside and ignores the run is ridiculous. RB is a much better crosser of the ball, sadly Redmond rarely uses him.

Basically this. Their defence was terribly exposed for the majority of the second half and most of the team were poor. As has been said already, there aren't any strikers in the premier league as good as Mbappe.

We really do require a creative player to link up with Gabbi, fingers crossed the club have something lined up.

He would definitely struggle to get into the team, our forward players are in such great form at the moment.. assists and goals all over the place. Who would he replace!?

Our attacking options are pretty dire really and as others have mentioned, this is what's holding the team back. Tadic has done next to nothing since Pelle left and his workrate is pretty poor. Don't get me started on his finishing.. Redmond is too busy moaning at others and just doesn't contribute enough in the final third. Boufal is trying his best to live up to his price tag but nothing is coming off for him. When he does release the ball he tends to give it away a lot. Possibly give him more of a chance though at the expense of Tadic as clearly we can't play both at the same time.

Wrong formation. Wrong team selection. Players didn't seem to give a toss. Bednarek, Forster and Tadic particularly bad. Could be a long season..

I think every team needs a player who is a little more expressive on the ball. Someone who is willing to take a risk now and again. Okay maybe this is a bit too often with Boufal but we wouldn't be very entertained if we had 11 Steven Davis's on the pitch would we? At least when he is selfish he's not like Redmond (loses the ball and blames everyone but himself)

He's probably lower half premier league level. It's definitely a position that can be improved upon however I can't see that happening any time soon.

Forster Cedric Stephens Yoshida Bertrand Romeu Lemina Boufal Davis Tadic Gabbiadini

Forster Cedric Stephens Yoshida Bertrand Romeu Lemina Redmond Davis/JWP Tadic Gabbiadini Subs: Taylor, Bednarek, Pied, Davis/JWP, Boufal, Long, Austin.

It's not the fact that Yoshida or Stephens would be first choice that would concern me, more so that Bednarek or Gardos would be their replacements if they happened to get injured or suspended..

How many have seen Gibson on a regular basis? Middlesbrough had a pretty decent defensive record for a relegated side last season and their fans rate him very highly. His stats are very good too. We wouldn't spend that much on a centre back but I expect he's better than what we have (Vvd excluded).

Due to be announced tomorrow according to Di Marzio

Disagree that Bertrand wouldn't need replacing. Targett is just not good enough and whilst McQueen has potential he's not up to the standards of a premier league left back just yet. Van Dijk would be harder to replace though I agree. We cannot afford to have a window like last season when players weren't adequately replaced.