Neef

I can't see this move happening. He's arguably one more good season away from a move to a Top 6/8 club.

With these additional CB rumours, there's a part of me that thinks maybe Salisu is off. 2 years left on his contract, and seemingly no rumours about an extension either.

It was a big chance tbh, clean through on goal and only a few yards out.

Think there's been a bit of revisionism around him. He was clearly brought in as the main striker to replace Ings, then got that goal on his debt, which seemed promising. He started around 12 games at the start of the season and only got 1 goal after that vs Villa (great finish). There were some big chances he missed in that run too - United at home springs to mind, and then Broja rightfully came into the team. It's difficult for AA because outside of poaching he doesn't seem to bring much to the team. Compare that with Adams, whose finishing is very frustrating, but at the same has other attributes which add to our overall game. There are plenty of games where Adams has not scored, but still played very well. With Armstrong, if he's not scoring, he's not effective, and I'm not sure that's enough in the PL these days (unless you're Ronaldo).

Because of the stakes, Yoshida + Stephens vs United at Wembley still irks me. Neither knew how to mark or defend a cross, and it cost us with that Zalatan goal in the last few minutes.

tbh I think Pope not signing is about more than just the money (though a high fee is part of it I'm sure). Clearly a brillaint shot stopper, but not comfortable in possession at all really. A big part of the issues we've had with Forster & McCarthy has come from that. People may baulk at that, but it's needed in this day and age, and the profile of 1st team GKs you find in the Premier League today reflect that. It'll be interesting to see where Pope goes, as I don't think a top 10 team can facilitate for that weaker part of his game (as a 1st choice GK).

If we sign Bazunu, we need to strengthen at CB. We don't want another Gunn situation where any sense of potential is shot to pieces because he's left horribly exposed. Gunn of course was not perfect, but I always feel for him a little when you realise how he was dropped into an already struggling team. If we are signing a 20 year old to challenge for number 1, then we need somebody who can help lead and command the entire backline. KWP, Tino & Salisu are great, but for all their talent, don't have the imposing personality that a Fonte, VVD, even a Bertrand did. We can't play with young players across the entire backline.

Realistically we're not going to tear the whole squad up in one summer. So odeally two of Theo, Redmond, Djenepo & Moi would leave, then we sign two first XI quality No.10s alongside the one we already have (Stu). Think Theo and Djenepo should go. Redmond & Moi aren't incredible, but have proved suitable as depth options. I've actually quite liked Moi this season to be honest.

Agree with the alot of above. Think it's also been difficult for him to find any rhythm with the inconsistent game time. I don't think he started more than 3 games in a row. He drops in for a few games when someone is injured. Or he comes on as a sub (often out of position). That's not particularly anybody's fault. As mentioned, he's more of a JWP replacement, just unfrtunate for him that JWP is incredibly durable and has missed only 2 PL games in the two seasons Diallo has been here.

Genuine question. Why would Rose (or a manager of similar calibre) come here after leaving Dortmund? Unless significant investment is being promised, what's the attraction over other options you'd assume he'd have?

He seems to be a poacher, which means that when he's not scoring he's not contributing much to the overall team. We've seen with Adams that when he wasn't scoring he was effective in different parts of the game - holding the ball up, physicality in the press (two of AA's goals have come as a result of this), running the channels. Almost playing as a 2nd striker. Ings - not much needs to be said. Was technically very gifted. Broja - As frustrating as he is, you can see he has other gifts to play off. That combination of physical presence and pace is rare. With AA it's tough as the main, and maybe only real attribute he brings is goalscoring. And when that seemingly isn't working out at this level so far, it's worrying. But hopefully he'll adapt. Premier League is a massive step up, and as mentioned he hasn't been playing in a great side.

He should go. The reality is we need a new No.1 GK who is better than both. Alex has signed a new contract, so it wouldn't make sense to keep Forster as well.

All of our really good PL sides in recent times have had a really strong spine. Quite mad that for a few years we had a variation of (Fonte & Lovren / Toby / VVD - Wanyama & Morgan - Lambert / Pelle) We need a GK, CB & a Striker of quality if we are to imrpove. In his most recent piece Dan Sheldon said: "Southampton maybe have two players — James Ward-Prowse and Kyle Walker-Peters — who could immediately play at a higher level and push for a starting spot at a top side." That hit home, becuase at our strongest under Poch/Koeman we've arguably had around 4/5 players of that quality.

The reality is you look at how much we've spent in comparison to those we are competing with - Palace, Villa, Newcastle, even Leeds, where we are kind of makes sense. We've been tredding water for the last 3/4 years. Ralph is of course not perfect, but he's been operating on a shoe string, and that reflects in the quality of the squad. Every half decent team has a great spine - and yet for us, we have a major lack of quality in key positions: GK, CB, and upfront. If we're to push to another level, we need the funds to address the core issues in the squad. Palace are a great example for me. They were able to sign a very good young CB in Guehi last summer for a price just above our transfer limit at the time. That is the type of young but quality players we need to really strengthen and push on. We instead signed Lyanco - who althought I like, is not showing that he is in that bracket. The budget has really affected us in attack too. We've been able to kind of get by with bargains in other areas of the pitch - KWP, Tino, Diallo, Perraud etc, as your money tends to go further in those positions. But great #10s and strikers will always come at a premium, and for a few years we haven't been able to afford that premium. It means we don't have a player with the attacking quality to regularly change a game or be decisive in the fine margins matches are often settled on - 'X Factor' players like a Zaha, Coutinho, Saint Maxim, Richarlison etc. We had Ings, but of course had to let him go, and clearly haven't had the money to go and find another player of that ilk. Broja has looked like he could be that at times - but the fact we had to bring in a 20-year old loan from Chelsea, who had never played in the PL says alot about where we were at. Think the only team really outperforming us when you bring money spent into perspective is Brighton - and even they've gone to £20M for players a handful of times in the past few years. Next season is the big one for Ralph, as it finally looks like he'll get the backing we need. That's when I'll really be making judgements about whether he is the right man to take us forward.

Think Vestergaard scored all our headed indirect set pieces last year bar one? I don't think JWP is the problem - more that we have quite a small team. Bednarek, Salisu, Jan & Stephens aren't exactly renowned for their aerial dominance. Outside of them our only tall(ish) player who starts regularly is Broja? JWP's delivery from corners has generally been pretty good - but we don't have the physical presence to benefit from them like we did last year. On a smaller note, I'd like to see us bring back some of the inventive corner/free kick routines (Like Ings vs Liverpool last season). Think we tried a few at the start of the season which almsot paid off - then we just stopped.

"And though that might be offset by the impending 120 million euro departure of Jack Grealish to Manchester City, Villa would still be in the top three for net spend over the past three seasons with that money banked. Look back even further to the last five seasons and Villa are in the top five for net spend even then, despite spending two of those campaigns in the Championship."

Villa have a better squad and 1st XI than us. They've spent almost £300M in three years. Perspective is needed for where we are at, and where they are at. "Villa have - somewhat incredibly and despite spending 330 million euros in the last three seasons -only brought in 11 million euros worth of sales in the same period." https://www.marca.com/en/football/premier-league/2021/08/05/610bc633e2704e14338b45d3.html

The £15M transfer limit is hurting us most with the attackers. With decent scouting you can find quality or potential in about every other position - and we've been able to do so with Tino, KWP, Salisu, Diallo etc. But with attackers there is almost no way to get around it. Guranteed PL quality #10s & Strikers are a premium in that £15-20M bracket (at least). Maybe we can get somebody on loan like Newcastle did with Willock last year.

The reality is that with the current ownership situation, the goal that has been set for Ralph is survival. He's said it. The board have said it. Of course as fans we want the most, espeically when the success of the Koeman/Poch years are stll fresh in memory. But the circusmtances Ralph is working under are vastly different. You only have to compare the strongest Koeman XI to our strongest XI now. They are far far apart. Yes, the manager could improve, and there's definitely an arguemnt that if he doesn't have the players to fit the system, then the system has to change. But ultimately I don't think much changes for the better if he leaves. Any new manager will still be working with a relatively weak team and have very little money to spend to drastically improve said team. The goal set for any new manager would be Premier Leageu surivival - the same goal it has been for Ralph. It's frustrating for everyone. It's probably frustrating for Ralph. But until the ownership situation is resolved, we are stuck in this limbo.

Howe did well - but you have to put it in context for what we would need from a manager right now. His rise through the leagues was/is amazing, but not exactly relevant for what we would need at this point in time. It's quite simialr to the Adkins discussion in certain respects.

I wouldn't have him back. He's more of a manager than he is a coach - which was largely fine when we had a team of VVD, Fonte, Toby, Clyne, Morgan, Wanyama, Tadic, Pelle, Mane, Bertrand. The squad is significantly weaker now. It wouldn't be a match for a manager of his kind.

I've always liked the Delany links - but thinking about it, would he swap the bench at Dortmund for the bench here? I imagine any versatle CB/CM will likely be in the Theo mould - happy to accept their place as a rotation player while passing on experience to Diallo, Salisu etc. I'm not sure who that would be though.

The Nat Phillips rumours make a lot of sense now.

I think Buy Back clauses usually have a certain period within which they can be exercised. For example, Man City's buy back clause for Douglas Luiz at Villa expired in June (it was two years long). You'd hope we have something similar. North of £25M sounds decent tbf.

For the amount Villa would have to pay for JWP (£40-50M), they could buy a better CM from elsewhere. And the funniest thing is McGinn doesn't walk straight into their best side either. None of that takes away from how good I think JWP is.