1 minute ago, TRO said:

What is rarely discussed is the elements of the game that still remain the same and have done throught the time of football.

I've seen you fighting to shine the light for some time, and I agree that there are principles and aspects of play that will never become redundant and are fundamental to individual and team competitiveness. 

Just now, TRO said:

It baffles me how clubs have as many as 4 DM's as illustrated above and we struggle to find one.

Something, doesn't stack up to me.

We've not had any emphasis on that role since before October 2018.

Add to this we are discussing teams that have an almost exclusive choosing of talent as they can offer what other clubs, often can't.

It's rare to find a player who has the ambition to try and take a club to the next level when a ready made ticket is on offer from a club with more clout.

9 minutes ago, TRO said:

true.

Its very much a generalisation and many exceptions can be made....but I know for sure, I know more now, than I did, when I was a much younger fan.

Sure the game has changed, but many aspects, like desire, workrate, will to win, mentality, are still the same, but applied under different surroundings/backdrop.

and yes,your proviso applies.

 

Even when discussing where and how the game has changed, veteran observers are the ones who could testify to that.

13 minutes ago, Zatman said:

Why would that happen, what benefit would it for Tammy to join Villa. He is in a brilliant environment on and off the pitch

He listened last time we spoke about our plans for him.

You're probably right though Roma under Mourinho is an exciting prospect for any young and in form talent.

7 minutes ago, nick76 said:

Pape Matar Sarr is a Spurs player already, not sure how we would be after him.

Tchouameni is almost a done deal to Liverpool from what I understand.  Anyway it was Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid had put in serious discussions with his agent along with a few other elite clubs so I'm not convinced we have any chance there.  The figures quoted were between £40-60m anyway so I'm not sure we'd pocket any cash after your suggestion of McGinn going to Man Utd.

Spurs have at least four players capable  as DMs they've been happy giving minutes to. 

Sometimes transfers happen to capitalise on the availability of an asset for a certain price.

But you're most likely right.

I was unaware of the clubs in for Tchouameni  so forgive me on that one.

I've never really been Mr current affairs. 

4 minutes ago, TRO said:

well, if you don't, you've wasted a lot of money.

I think fans who have watched the game, most of their life, i.e 30/40 years......are under estimated in their opinions of the game, in some quarters....sure we can vary, as to what we focus on,

but by and large, discerning fans, know their onions.

Anything lost can be found again, except for time wasted. And so many don't really learn beyond what's easy. 

That said though I'm sure you mean those who do take an active interest over a number of decades would most definitely be privy to insight us younger supporters wouldn't have, provided the older folks have been paying attention  

30 minutes ago, TRO said:

powder puff.

but nothing would please me more than to see his bundesliga form.

Agreed. Guy was on a similar level to Sancho.

On 22/03/2022 at 22:44, The_Steve said:

When a journo writes about us and doesn’t know much so turns replies off

 

Ings purchase I wasn't keen on but Bailey and Buendia are going to be great, whether that's under Gerrard or someone else. 

If McGinn does replace Pogba then I'd move for Wijnaldum and Pape Matar Sarr or Aurélien Tchouameni and we'd probably pocket some too.

Also, how good would it be if Brighton do move for Ings and we go in for Tammy?!

24 minutes ago, Zero7 said:

It's to keep his numbers down, he's hardly going to sing his praises... However, I don't think Bissouma is all that 

Did you see Bissouma vs Everton in full?

Quote

Atletico Madrid ready to step up Matty Cash interest

https://www.football-espana.net/2022/03/18/atletico-madrid-matty-cash/amp

4 hours ago, sheepyvillian said:

The last real defensive midfielder we had was probably Nigel Reo Coker. 

Jean Makoun?

Wolves haven't looked like fading since promotion aside from one midtable finish last season. 75% strike rate isn't bad for now.

3 minutes ago, useless said:

We've taken more points than West Ham since Gerrard arrived, so them being ahead of us is down to the bad start we had before Gerrard was appointed.

As for Arsenal they're way ahead of us and always were, people talk about it taking Arteta this long to get it right, but they've been one of the better teams in the league for most of his time with them, it was only the start of last season when they were poor, this whole talk of us catching up with them and signing their best players was silly.

Our team isn't that great, we've only got four or three players good enough for top six, and one of those is on loan, it's by and large a midtable team made up of midtable players.

Or down to the fact we have a capable squad..

3 minutes ago, useless said:

We've taken more points than West Ham since Gerrard arrived, so them being ahead of us is down to the bad start we had before Gerrard was appointed.

As for Arsenal they're way ahead of us and always were, people talk about it taking Arteta this long to get it right, but they've been one of the better teams in the league for most of his time with them, it was only the start of last season when they were poor, this whole talk of us catching up with them and signing their best players was silly.

Our team isn't that great, we've only got four or three players good enough for top six, and one of those is on loan, it's by and large a midtable team made up of midtable players.

In regards Wes Edens you just meant he will invest in the quality required for success?

7 minutes ago, useless said:

No manager would the get the current squad where we want to go, we need big changes and genuine best in class Wes Edens approved quality whoever is in charge.

Can you elaborate or say again, please?

I'd like to better understand where you are coming from and the points you are making. 

On the initial point you make, I see your stance, though I don't share it.

West Ham and even Arsenal aren't so far ahead of us personnel-wise. They just have complementary pieces and as a whole are reaping the rewards of good planning and the commitment to deliver each week. Good planning breed's confidence because you can envision the success before you have it, and so the incentive is to go forth and take it.

Edit: I'm all about Wes Edens. I think highly of him as a person as much as an asset to our club. Don't know what you brought him into the discussion to say though, apologies. 

1 hour ago, jacketspuds said:

Didn’t Gerrard say that the reason the likes of Bailey and Sanson weren’t starting was because other players are showing more in training? If that’s actually true, those players turning up for training, but not in matches, are pointless for the squad if we actually want to get anywhere.

There are very few players that I would give a shit about us replacing in the summer.

For all we know, our current starters, are placed on the same team, each and every scrimmage and drill at training. From my experience in professional team sport this is usually how it goes, but that's me and may well not be the case under SG.

If this is the case, and Sanson and Bailey are partnered with others more on the fringes of the squad, you can understand why certain players look better than others at delivering the tactics and approach as the coach desires.

I am not suggesting anything here is to be taken as how it is, just food for thought. 

We lack cohesion, chemistry and ideas of mutual understanding between team members who could be, but aren't so much, on the same wavelength. 

I feel like this is largely to do with turnover in personnel, and that's understandable, albeit it will cost us points and time in getting to where we want to be. 

Mostly though it's to do with coaching and instruction from SG, and that's not necessarily a shot at him, again it takes time for implementation and development of ideas to be realised as intended, or adapted to deal with their liabilities and shortcomings if and when those occur during the process of trial and error.

We have the makings of a team that can challenge European placing already. 

Bring in quality that will add to the squads capabilities and more importantly, talent that SG sees as being able and necessary to contribute in our attempts to ascend up the table.

I think we already have an abundance of talent that could, and some have, played in teams that compete in European competitions. Getting them on the same page and working together to benefit the club is imperative. 

I certainly don't align with the idea that we have inadequate ability in the squad.

We knocked off Liverpool 7-2 with a lesser squad. The season following their title triumph and another for them at the top of world football. Our squad is so much deeper and filled with quality in comparison to then. Even the starting XI now, I'd take Buendia and Coutinho as similar in calibre to Grealish and Barkley.

The difference?

Chemistry and game plans.

23 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Seems properly pissed off in that interview 

Anyway, I think one thing we need to realise is that, we will never 100 percent agree with ANY manager, whether it be in systems, approach, attitude, substitutions etc.

It's even more difficult when they are " learning on the job " in a sense.

The one thing which will universally turn people, is if the Manager is too stubborn, doesn't show flexibility and seems arrogant.

I don't think we are anywhere near that point with SG yet . I don't think he is that type either.

I do have a minor gripe with him with regards to Sanson, some subs, and systems though.

Unfortunately, no manager will ever get it all right, or be liked by everyone.

I reckon they at least deserve support up until reasonable points though.

We've got work to do.

In my opinion, or until we at least get better players for certain positions, we need to work on the 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 we has served us reasonably well.

Sorry just to nitpick, I never took issue with Smith throughout his reign, and it took me until November, the month following his appointment in October, to be of the mind he was a very astute and capable man. From him proving my thoughts founded, for the reasons I'd identified, I was very keen and eager to see where we went under him.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the hierarchy canned him based on being able to bring in someone they deemed to have a higher ceiling than DS, because the five consecutive losses we had were all against top half teams and 4 of which are challenging European placing.

I'm not sure and my opinion isn't too strong as I lack the real insight on the ins and outs and goings on at our club, but recruitment aside, I think DS could very well be a better tactician and coach than SG. Success comes in many ways, shapes and forms. 

Held high hopes for him here, even before Ramsey broke into the team, I thought that spot was going to be Sanson's.

Well rounded and intelligent player.

I'd still like to see him start a match even though the players who are already established in our midfield three have all done enough at one point or another to earn that role.

I honestly see Sanson having the potential to better what's there already.

Didn't like how deep we started and invited Arsenal to come up with something. They did, albeit a fairly scrappy strike, it was on target and enough to catch us off.

As soon as we went to pressing higher and playing with some offensive intent, we came into the game and arsenal's hold diminished into nothingness. 

We severely lack quality and identity in the final third, personally I feel that's on SG and not the players.

Poor game from both teams.

On to the next one.

Can't wait for tonight. Both teams have attacking quality that can punish mistakes and even create openings without defensive errors.

I fear for us should we go down first but I'm optimistic we will get something from this, a point at the very least.

UTV!

Excited to start my day with this one.

Can see us continuing the run of momentum and if we can convert that into goals we will get up I think.

Not to underestimate Leeds though.