Ultimatt

We'd need to sell most of our squad as they've all gotten new big contracts recently that we just couldn't afford. So it would all come down to recruitment. I'm sure Reed can find some real gem out of favour players at top of the table Ligue 2/Serie B/Segunda Division teams to rebuild with.

Disagree. Our defence is not organised at all. So many times the opposition gets players free and free headers. Stephens has a habit of pressing out which leaves gaps in behind. We're weak all over and defence is no exception.

10/10

I wonder if the board are included in potential layoffs from relegation? They're the ones that have got us into this mess so quickly. Looking at that team sheet tonight it was telling how poor we're been in the transfer market the last 18 months. So many good players gone and the ones we've brought in have all failed to lock down a place, spending more time benched than playing.

Fonte was being a **** and either got dropped or sat out of all 6 Europa games. Redmond is toxic on the field, maybe he's toxic off it too.

How much of that is Puel's fault? Genuine question. Whether they didn't buy in to his tactics is one thing but there's 2 important factors that were completely out of his control: He had Fonte being a complete **** post-euros; our captain, the rolemodel; and whatever happened there it meant Fonte was benched/sat out all 6 Europa games. We heard stories on here about Fonte, Redmond and some others making jokes about Puel at the awards night. Not Puel's fault. He had our massively bloated squad with a whole bunch of players demanding game time. Again not his fault.

Huge expectations on him with that price tag. If he doesn't stand out then people will start getting on his back.

Am I the only one dreaming of a front 3 of Redmond-Balotelli-Tadic? The amount of finger pointing and yelling at each other would give the fans the entertainment they've been looking for.

*Les explains the Sell-o-meter to Ralph* Les: All our players are green when they sign and if they play well they turn Red" (Liverpool)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMa9Vb6FX50 - 1st 3rd and 5th Monaco goals. A toe-poke down the middle and 2 headers from 2 feet out.

It's not about writing players off before they get here. If we sign him i hope he succeeds like i want all our players too. It's about spending the VVD money on players that will genuinely impact the first team and be clear #1's. I struggle to believe this guy is the absolute best striker within our price range Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Good shout. Signed for only £6m in the summer. Bednarek money.

This. IMO we only have 3 decent attackers in Austin, Boufal & Tadic. Even if all 3 are fit we still have that 4th attacking spot filled with an ageing Davis or JWP. With Austin injured it just compounds the problem.

If there's something untoward between Les/Midas then i'd assume a paper will dig up the story. Until then it's just speculation. Even if there is a link, it may be nothing sinister. For example i'd imagine a preference for Wolves to do deals with Jorge Mendes' agency.

85 league goals in 158(82) league games. Carillo is 43 league goals in 95(90) league games.

A 26yo with only 43 career league goals? Please no..

How about some investment in the first team Ralph? You know, that thing that's way more important than anything else you could possibly do. We're in a relegation scrap and he decides to come out and talk about anything but. I know that's his job but seriously, now is not the time. At least we'll have that record £6m/year Virgin Media shirt sponsorship you're so proud of when we lose the £60m/year premier league money, right Ralph? The clubs priorities have become maximising profit over winning football matches. Lunacy.

It all rests on this window for me. If they sit on their hands then even if we survive relegation they're totally unfit for the job.

If I didn't think I could fix the sinking ship I'd asset strip. £70m from VVD + £20m Bertrand + only need £10m each for Tadic/Forster/Gabbi/Cedric/Redmond/JWP/Boufal/Austin/Lemina/Hoedt/Romeu/Hojbjerg/Stephens = £220m. Use the parachute payments + bloated squad to build a team that would survive the championship. I hope they invest where we need it. Sell some of our squad bloat to reduce wages and start properly strengthening our 1st XI. Start with a strong #10, a dominant CB, a better GK & a proper striker to partner Austin. The spine of a team.

Agreed. They've become far too corporate, giving themselves pats on the back and bonuses for our improving financial position; record sponsorships, positive transfer net spend, record player assets; meanwhile our U23's got relegated last season and our 1st team might be next.

Still defending the quality of the squad?

Austin our only decent striker and he's injured. Boufal and Tadic our only decent attacking mids. Even when all 3 are fit we still have 1 weak attacker whether that be Davis or JWP. Playing most games with what was our 3rd/4th choice CB's at the start of last season. Giving a contract extension to Forster when he still had 4 years left and he's finally been dropped. CM's our only decent position and even then Romeu falls short of Wanyama. This team can't hold a candle to our Pochettino or Koeman teams.

This squad is so poor. Only 1 striker that knows how to score and he's injured. Only 2 good attacking mids. Our 3rd/4th choice CB's from the start of last season.

Austin buries that 9 times out of 10.