Problem is sorting that position out is gonna be costly & will wipe out most of our budget.Striker has to be in the priorities this summer
Not really for the head coach. He just needs to tell the DOF what kind of players he needs after assess the squad. The rest is up to the DOF. If DOF can't provide what is promised before the head coach is hired, he can do what Conte and Jose did in the press and moan about it, then either left on his own or ask to be sack and get the big package. The head coach is not doing the DOF role and job.The new manager is effectively having his hands tied behind his back before he's even stepped into the building.
not an obsession and i'm sure there are, but he's a big upgrade and he'd be pretty attainable.I don’t get the obsession with lamptey. He’s a rwb and there’s better around
I like Richarlison but worry he's another of those who plays when he feels like it. Calvert-Lewin is another but we need someone to provide him with deliveryProblem is sorting that position out is gonna be costly & will wipe out most of our budget.
Also, it doesn't solve RR's main assessment of our team i.e. lack of aggression
Plus, there's not much to choose from too at the moment in the striker department
Who's your pick anyways for striker?
Man'o man has he been a breath of fresh air. Put him in charge upstairs and let him rebuild this sinking ship before it's too late.
That's a good looking list. Not so sure about Neves mind.The more I think about it the happier I’d be with something like:
DM - Kamara/Tchouameni
CM - Neves
RW - Antony/Bowen
ST - David/Nkunku/Gakpo
I don’t think any of them would command ridiculous fees striker is harder to decide on but I think Gakpo could be a wildcard here they all strike me as players suited to higher intensity football regardless.
And he's injury proneI don’t get the obsession with lamptey. He’s a rwb and there’s better around
Yeah I don’t get it, he has a few flashy games where he attacks well a season ago and everyone wants himAnd he's injury prone
Would be disappointed with Abraham and not sure we'd need Eriksen if we're also getting Laimer and Kamara. I'd swap both for Nkunku in that list.Anthony
Timber
Laimer
Kamara
Eriksen
Abraham
would you be happy with that group coming in or disappointed?
Saw a link to Eriksen today, presumably he’d fill the Mata role if he were to come inWould be disappointed with Abraham and not sure we'd need Eriksen if we're also getting Laimer and Kamara. I'd swap both for Nkunku in that list.
Sometimes, I definitely forget Mata is still here. He would certainly be an upgrade for that squad role.Saw a link to Eriksen today, presumably he’d fill the Mata role if he were to come in
Abraham would be a gamble but I’d say he’s a 20 goal a season guy if we need a traditional type
That's six players who at some point could challenge our starting 11 and it would be something. If they were all manager's preferable choice, that's definitely helping in achieving his vision and way of playing.Anthony
Timber
Laimer
Kamara
Eriksen
Abraham
would you be happy with that group coming in or disappointed?
I see at least 2 there who will either give them the ball with sloppy passes or not be arsed to chase loose passesthe ideal and realistic 433 solutions. Not from top clubs:
Raphinha - Eriksen - Locatelli - Bruno - Sancho + Rashford/Ronaldo .
Those 6 together. Are matching City and Liverpool 6. Bring them on.
If you can take the ball from Raphinha, Eriksen, Locatelli, Bruno, Sancho and Rashford. I can say. You get to be really good. Those 6 will get you chase a lot.
Sorry for the late response mate, I didn't receive a notification for this post.Btw I haven’t been keeping an eye on him since he went to Milan but is Tonali worth a shout? How’s his development going? @Adnan
Yeah I had a feeling it would be positive. There’s a lot of people opting for Locatelli but I would have thought that Tonali would be better in the PL.Sorry for the late response mate, I didn't receive a notification for this post.
Tonali is a interesting player and after a bit of a bedding in period at Milan he is currently their most important player imo.
He's still 21 years of age but the potential/maturity he's showing for a midfielder so young is quite impressive. He can be utilised in multiple roles in midfield and has that craft and guile to thread lines/play-make to a very good level, whilst exhibiting excellent composure.
But what has really impressed me about him is that he's developing into a complete midfielder and as well as being good on the ball he's very good off the ball. He's quick, tenacious and has real bite about him in defensive transitions, which is something that I think is very important in the EPL right now. But I can't see him moving from Serie A anytime soon due to what i've read about him. He's also a boyhood Milan fan.
But having said that, Tonali is the correct profile of player that we require if we're to go on 'profile of player' criteria (play making CM with industry) next to a more defensive midfielder, especially if we appoint ten Hag. Because as mentioned above, his ability on the ball in conjunction with his defensive ability off the ball would make him the correct profile of player to play next to a Rice or Tchouameni with a attacking midfielder just in-front of them.
DM-Rice/Tchouameni
CM-Tonali/Bellingham/Garner
AM-Hannibal/Bruno/Nkunku
Hannibal could also be utilised in CM.
Is Darwin Nunez a good footballer though?If the Ten Hag news is true, then I'd be very confident that we'll get Antony in at least. Clear talent, clear hole in our squad, and loads of rumors already and Ten Hag likes him.
Past that? Hard to say of course. Ten Hag will like ball players as you'd expect, but also will need dynamic players. We of course have a whole list of players who will likely leave. No idea how much budget we'll have, but a window like this would be a very smart summer:
I'm sure we'll be looking at our fullbacks too, but unlikely this summer. Timber can slot in at RB or CB anyway. Goalkeeper as well, unlikely this summer but next summer can see us addressing both fullbacks and the goalkeeper to get more technical players.
- Darwin Nunez
- Antony
- Timber
- Kamara
- Johnstone
DarwinBasically can see these 2 being our main 11 and backup 11. And then the following year, signing a starting goalkeeper to replace De Gea, signing 2 new fullbacks, and then likely some midfield depth.
Sancho Bruno Antony
Fred Kamara
Shaw Varane Maguire Dalot
De Gea
Martial
Rashford Donny Elanga
Matic McTominay
Telles Lindelof Timber Wan Bissaka
Johnstone
Tbh he actually looked quite good against Liverpool imo. He's not a Lewandowski or Benzema, but right now, we don't have too many options and still need a striker. Darwin is fast and strong, aggressive, a good goalscorer and from the little I've seen, good enough with his all round play to be a good signing. I'd say he also looks much better analytically than on tape anyway. There is no clear choice, but it's clear we need a striker, and I think he'd be available. And we tend to do well with signings from that league.Is Darwin Nunez a good footballer though?
I’m not too happy about Neves but I think he’s cheap and would provide the playmaking we’d want. I can’t find many realistic alternatives that slot right in.Man'o man has he been a breath of fresh air. Put him in charge upstairs and let him rebuild this sinking ship before it's too late.
That's a good looking list. Not so sure about Neves mind.
I don’t think Abraham would come but he’s a good option. I just think his price would be huge and I can’t see him wanting to move from Serie A right now.Anthony
Timber
Laimer
Kamara
Eriksen
Abraham
would you be happy with that group coming in or disappointed?
Tonsil has developed really well this season but as Adnan said he won’t leave Milan. I don’t see him ever in the PL if I’m honest so he’s a non option.Btw I haven’t been keeping an eye on him since he went to Milan but is Tonali worth a shout? How’s his development going? @Adnan
Actually I always forget about him but Gerard Moreno is who we should go for. Turning 30 but is class and would be class for a couple of years with the way he plays, and suit playing with guys like Bruno/Sancho/Rashford when on etc.Is Darwin Nunez a good footballer though?
Ten Hag cannot possibly have AWB as his RB.I'm concerned there is no talk of full backs, especially for the right back position.
Maybe he's thinking of bringing Laird backTen Hag cannot possibly have AWB as his RB.
So looking very much like the order is
Right sided forward position must surely be a priority? Unless they have designs for Greenwood somehow coming back into the fold, I don't see how we can move forward positively with our current options. Are Diallo, Pellistri, and Elanga really sufficient? I know Sancho is more than capable of performing there, but he is fulfilling a role on the left.
Probably due to the scale of work we have to do. Dalot is a decent right back, very good with his passing though his end product sucks. Hopefully he can be improved with some coaching. Wan Bissaka is essentially the backup RB right now ... It's still a decent duo to have and there are bigger problems. Needs upgrading of course. Timber who has been mentioned can go RB or CB, so maybe he'd be a squad option for both?I'm concerned there is no talk of full backs, especially for the right back position.
We have Fred to be the 2nd, and I have no doubt that Ten Hag will really like him. He's been class as an 8 for Ralf. Definitely need the 6 though, and then depending on what happens in the summer, depth? But 1 DM is honestly fine for this summer. Bruno, Fred and the new DM to start, while McTominay, Matic and Van de Beek are the depth guys. Uninspiring but Ten Hag knows VdB well so you assume he would get a tune out of him (still don't rate him much mind you), while Matic can still do a job as depth. Mctominay as a backup for Fred is fine too, Fred's got a pretty good fitness record.You need 2 new central midfielders. One brutal shithouse to protect the back four and one dynamic all-rounder. to run all day.
Only with that foundation can you work out how to prioritize upgrading the rest of the team. (Eg perhaps Maguire can be salvaged, - or at least protected properly he can be pig-lipsticked up for sale to Newcastle.)
James Ducker is basically saying that a striker and two high energy midfielders are a priority. And then further signings are likely to be dependent on sales.Right sided forward position must surely be a priority? Unless they have designs for Greenwood somehow coming back into the fold, I don't see how we can move forward positively with our current options. Are Diallo, Pellistri, and Elanga really sufficient? I know Sancho is more than capable of performing there, but he is fulfilling a role on the left.
Unless all charges are dropped it’s gonna take a while for greenwood’s case to go through due process. Forget about counting himRight sided forward position must surely be a priority? Unless they have designs for Greenwood somehow coming back into the fold, I don't see how we can move forward positively with our current options. Are Diallo, Pellistri, and Elanga really sufficient? I know Sancho is more than capable of performing there, but he is fulfilling a role on the left.
Most of the players leaving this summer will leave on a free. Donny might be one of a few players who might generate some cash if we sell him. Garner and Hannibal can add depth. At least ten Hag is in a great position to decide to cash in on Donny or not.We have Fred to be the 2nd, and I have no doubt that Ten Hag will really like him. He's been class as an 8 for Ralf. Definitely need the 6 though, and then depending on what happens in the summer, depth? But 1 DM is honestly fine for this summer. Bruno, Fred and the new DM to start, while McTominay, Matic and Van de Beek are the depth guys. Uninspiring but Ten Hag knows VdB well so you assume he would get a tune out of him (still don't rate him much mind you), while Matic can still do a job as depth. Mctominay as a backup for Fred is fine too, Fred's got a pretty good fitness record.
