Saint Garrett

Small tight squad, but 5 international centre backs...bonkers.

Bazunu; Lyanco Bednarek DCC Salisu KWP Lavia Diallo JWP AMN Perraud We still won't score but we might keep a clean sheet.

There is no doubt that Reed is good enough, but at the time we got a decent wedge for him, and he wasn't ready. Plus we had a bunch of better players in the squad. I think they also had to make a decision because we were never going to play JWP and Reed in the middle of midfield cos they're too small. I remember at the time, thinking we didnt need to bring in Clasie and should have just kept Reed, but when we got a decent offer, the club desperately needed the money, it wasn't a stupid offer to accept at the time. It's not like he was 18 when he left, wasn't he about 23?

The only explanation is that ABK is out for a while, or he doesnt trust Salisu. Looks like he will pick Lyanco regardless, and despite his lack of footballing ability, I can see why. The bigger worry is if he actually thinks that 5 at the back will work for this team, given the fact that whenever we play it we are absolutely appalling. And adding Bednarek to the mix, just adds another defender than doesnt mark players, and watches the ball go over his head.

I think if they were preparing for the Championship, they wouldn't have hired Jones. Were not going to be a long ball underdog in the Championship next season. I think there is a bit of protecting the assets, by not signing 32 year olds on expensive contracts, but if they were serious of staying up, they'd have had a few players ready to join at the start of the window in prep for this big run of games, (Forest, Everton, Villa, Wolves, Brentford, Leeds, Leicester). We should have been looking at at least 5 points from Forest, Everton and Villa, and we have 3. Maybe we would have got 5 or 6 if we had a striker in on Jan 1st. The owners have massively gambled on our safety, and at the moment, the cash out offer is incredibly low!

It’s not uncommon for clubs to release false names to the media. I’ve got no idea how much we wanted him, maybe he’s our top target. But wouldn’t be the first time we’ve stuck a name out there and gone for someone else…

Sure I saw something suggesting a premier league club has bid for Sheraldo Becker from Union Berlin. No idea if it’s us or if he’s any good, but has scored 7 in 16 league games this season. Seems to play as a second striker off someone else, probably similar to Adams tbh. One to keep an eye on maybe…

I can’t see him taking the Everton job. If he does want to manage again or at the elite level in Germany, he needs to be successful in his next job. Going to Everton which is a basket case top to bottom would be a huge gamble in my book. I thought Bielsa was going there anyway?

€25m….really? Seems like we’re overpaying by about double for a player we don’t really need who doesn’t score goals. Go figure,

Not sure but I'm in J.

I just tried and could get on. Not huge amounts left, but a bunch in the corner.

His strongest attribute is his distribution, but that's been pretty dour all season. Unfortunately, he doesn't encourage calmness in the side, and he doesnt save shots, he doesn't command his box and come out enough either for me. Confidence is massive for a keeper, and he's just not ready yet.

It's an absolute shambles that the answer is Bednarek. Good lord. The bloke who sad it was important for his career to move to a bigger club... https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/20891790.bednarek-stresses-importance-moving-bigger-club-aston-villa/ If we go to a back 5, Jones can just fuck off.

I'm hoping he's coming back because he's due to be sold and bring in a bit of money. could see him backup at West Ham now they've lost Dawson. He was linked with them in the summer

You have to make the 5 subs in 3 stoppages, you can't make 5 separate subs. FWIW, I actually have no problem making 3 changes at once, and sticking some more legs on the pitch. We actually had a really good 5 minutes after those changes were made, and we scored (VARsicle). Heads went down when they scored the free kick.

Yup - agreed. The key things for me are: Not signing a solid GK (there were enough out there) Not signing a goalscorer Buying cheap options like Aribo who offers bugger all Bringing in AMN to replace Romeu, despite him not being able to play in that DM role. I actually don't think this squad is a million miles away from being half decent like they've proved over the last 4 years under Ralph, but we now have a worse manager, and we are missing that key goalscorer. Also, Redmond offered us far more than Aribo. Should have just kept him.

Another Monday, still no striker…2 cup semi finals and nope, still got Adams Armstrong and Mara…so disappointing

And we wonder why our defence then doesn’t look overly confident when you’ve got a flappy teenager behind them. I’d have rather had Forster playing this season with Bazunu coming in for cups etc. but like you say above, there were so many keepers on the move in the summer, and to not improve our keeping position from last season is nothing short of a disgrace really.

We used to hold a way higher line under Ralph. We’re so deep on free kicks under Jones.

We’ve needed a striker since Ings left. We bought Adam Armstrong to do that job. He’s been largely shit. We got lucky with the Broja loan cos he was class. We’ve somehow gone into this season with Che Adams and a kid from France as strikers because of fucking up the summer transfer window. They then had months to make sure there was one joining on Jan 1st for our big run of games (Forest, Everton, Villa, Brentford, Wolves) and so far we have failed miserably. It’s costing us points every minute of each game as we go forward. We buy players, and then don’t play them (Orsic), we fuck about with playing 5 at the back which this team has proven it cannot play. We have a keeper that doesn’t save anything. It’s just an absolute clusterfuck of a mess which will no doubt end up in relegation.

He’s obsessed with 5 at the back, and we are appalling every time we play it. The fact he keeps trying it given it doesn’t work is enough to sack him for me.

He is nowhere near the level of a premier league keeper unfortunately and costs us points. You compare it with Pope saving Newcastle a point today… Bazunu is a liability.

He wasn’t.

Bonkers. Have spent about £900m since they came out of their transfer ban. It’s an utter disgrace. Interesting they now seem to be shopping in a different market though. There is no way Madueke is a top champions league player yet.

If we can somehow go up there with a lead, like Liverpool last time, it might encourage a few more to go. Being one of those who went to Liverpool, that night is why I sit through all the shit games, it was incredible. I’d encourage anyone that can make the trip to do so!