SKD

Seems like you haven't watched a game in a year either. 1. We don't play a diamond and haven't done since the first couple of games this season. We play 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 2. Generally not many teams play with wingers these days, but lack of crosses isn't our issue (didn't we score from one yesterday?), it's midfield runners getting on the end of them (and sometimes the appalling crosses we've put in). 3. Generally we have plenty of chances, its just putting them in the back of the net. We desperately need a creative cm and hopefully Claude & les can see that. I agree that Claude's style is negative, boring and uninspiring at times, but give home time! Like everyone my patience is wearing thin, but not right for him to leave, just yet anyway. Give him the January & possibly next transfer window to get players to suit his style.

Have a feeling we may get a result here and all the happy clappers will make it all is fine. All a win will really do is paper of the cracks, imo

I think he's sh*t and always have done. Totally unsuited to the PL, too slow and not strong enough (it's no surprise his best performances come in EL or for u21's where the game is played at a slower pace). If he wasn't a local lad everyone would have been on at him ages ago. Time for a loan for him to prove himself, if he doesn't do that, than time to move on. My guess is that after us he'll end up in the championship team and do a decent job. If he was any good, the top teams would have had him as well.

May as well hand in his resignation now then, cos they will not be getting VVD. In January anyway....

Perfect for us then...

Developing Kat's back pocket (in repaying the clubs debts to her) which is fair enough given what they have given to the club, however if this is really the case (as I suspect a few think it is), then it is time for her to sell / seek further investment, IMO of course.

Yep, agree. It's a long way to go, midweek, if we are already 2 or 3 goals behind.

We had a 15 minute spell on Wednesday (and against Everton at home) where we were. The crowd really reacted and it felt like 'the old days'. Appreciate you can't press for 90 minutes but after that 15 minute spell we sat on the edge of our box and let them control the game. Surely if we can only press / apply pressure for 15 minutes (in 2 games this season), you need to look at the fitness coaching staff? You can tell from the feel around the stadium (quietest I've known it for a long time at St Mary's) that the football this year, in general, is pretty sh!te.

I think until Kat decides she wants to sell, or further investors are introduced, we need to accept that this is the case. However, given the income and profits we have made on transfers and TV deals of the last 3 years, I don't think it's unreasonable for the fans to want us to push on. It's a shame because these last 3 or 4 years have been the best opportunity we will ever have to break into the top 4, or to add something to that empty trophy cabinet (last year especially, as Leicester showed how weak the PL was). As for Jan, I'd hope we get a VVD replacement (for when he leaves in the summer) and Fonte replacement (should he leave), a CF to replace Pelle and increased in priority following Austins injury (the club have said this was Austin, however lets be honest, we needed Austin when we had Pelle anyway) and a creative central midfielder. My guess is that we'll get a CB and a cheap or loan CF. Over to you Les and Ross

Would say more like Swansea than Newcastle. My concern is we are 1 bad season away from relegation (i guess that could always be said) but our recruitment is generally getting worse, IMO.

Is this the 'diamond crap' that we haven't played since the first 2 or 3 games of the season

Disagree, I actually think Poch gets the best out of the players he has (similar to Klopp at Liverpool).

Even if that is subject to us not getting a player in a position where we are weaker?

We have the second or 3rd best defensive record in the league.. would suggest those currently doing that role aren't doing too bad. 5 goals (the same as Steven Davis last year), in a very good season for him, is not the creative midfielder we are after.

So what you're saying is, if it's a choice between getting a player in a position we need (AM/creative CM) and Morgan, you'd still sign Morgan? Strange. I think everyone would have him back, but in reality, we won't get 2 cm's in January. Personally, I'd rather strengthen in a position that needs strengthening.

But the thing is, it wouldn't. We have the second best defensive record in the league. We need a creative CM, not another defensive one. Agree that MS is, or was, better than what we currently have, but (unless we get two CM's in January, which won't happen) he is not the sort of player we currently need.

Absolutely! and the £50 million they got for Luiz from PSG. Unfortunately we just don't hold the power to command them sort of fee's (before anyone mentions VVD, if he goes for £50 million, that's the same price as stones who's half the player).

Really? so you don't think that Mane for £36 million (given the other transfers that have taken place this window) was a steal? Do you think that Oscar is worth £16 million more than Mane? is Mane only worth £4 million more than Benteke

Forget Morgan, If this is accurate, he is exactly what we need!

:lol:

With the new TV deal, yes (obviously this would make him one of highest paid players). Scoring goals & breaking down defense is our issue, so unless Morgan is going to chip in with 5-10 goals a season, the the 20 mil + wages would be better spent. IMO we would be weakening our squad if we weren't to strengthen in a place where we need strengthening. Of course if money wasn't an issue, then I'd have him back. But there is absolutely no chance we would spend 20 mil on a CM and then sign another one in the same season / window. Player for player (biased on form 2 or 3 years ago) he is better than anyone in our midfield but if we were to bring anyone back id say Vic would be better suited to compete with Romeu (where we need cover). PEH isn't the finished article yet but has shown signs of being as classy as Morgan (hopefully that will come) & Clasie has really stepped up and show he has the ability to be a PL player this season, especially the last couple of games IMO.

You must be watching different games to me then. Never makes a forward pass and always takes the 'safe' sideways or backwards pass (I actually think he slows the play down, which for someone with his pace, he shouldn't be doing). As for trickery I reckon I could count on one hand the amount of times he's beaten a defender (which Tadic does time and time again and has half the pace of Redmond). Overall I'd say he's pretty easy to defend against and brings nothing to the team (yet). Hopefully it's just a confidence issue as the lad clearly has potential, he just needs to express himself a little more.

Why not? if they want the player they'll have to pay the money. If they don't then Everton will as I can't imagine he'll be too inclined to take a pay cut. Really don't understand the obsession of wanting Morgan back. He made his bed, let him lie in it. Also, We have more than enough CM's with a defensive mentality, he's just not what we need.

Should he really be banned for having a different opinion to you/others? To an extent I agree with him. It drives me mad knowing after 1 or 2 good seasons they'll be sold. I understand this is our business plan, but doesn't mean I don't get frustrated with it.

Tadic is far more creative and dangerous than Redmond.