brady1993

Tbh Roberts feels a little like the odd one out to me. With Koiki being more aligned to what I thought we'd be going for. 
Looks a little like Rosenior's plan is to have an experienced player in a position and a young player to grow into the role. More or less.

Thats the thing I've always thought under Rooney. He just seemed to get far far shorter rope than pretty much any other player in the squad. I can remember extended stretches of other players having bad form and being played through it. But if Sibley was even slightly off for a half he'd be banished.
I just don't think Rooney truly ever had confidence in him like he did with the rest of the squad. He's got flaws in his game for sure but it's not hard to fault a lot of players for this or that. 

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

Leaving aside Hourihane as the staggering marquee signing, I'm most excited by Barkhuizen & Mendez-Laing. Two big, quick & direct wingers who I suspect will grab plenty of goals & assists between them this term. Will be invaluable when trying to break down massed defences (particularly at home) & on the counter attack away from home. The timing of both signings was great too - really set the tone for what has been a really impressive few days of signings.
As a general point, whilst we obviously needed experience in the squad, the physicality & character of the new men suggests we're not going to be a pushover - essential to allow our more technical players to shine against the more 'agricultural' opponents & also to secure those hard fought results we're going to need away from home. 

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

Hourihane feels the most surprising. 
But the cheesy answer is that first raft of signings and new contracts a couple days after Clowes took over were critical. It sent out the message that we'd stabilised, that players are safe to come to us and that the players we have here aren't for sale for peanuts.

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Of all the players I'd fight to keep it would be Bird. If not only because he's but because he's way better than we are currently paying and I've a feeling his transfer value has a decent room to grow especially if he plays in a functional team/club.

Collins I think will prove a decent signing at this level and i think leaves in a good position up front.
Just need to sort out fullbacks, another gk and another winger and we will be set.

Collins I think will prove a decent signing at this level and i think leaves in a good position up front.
Just need to sort out fullbacks, another gk and another winger and we will be set.

442 is fine if you don't care about actually having the ball that much. Leicester, Burnley, Iceland all played 442, but all set up with the expectation of having significantly less possession than the other team, and then either went very direct, or played on the counter to compensate for that
You will struggle to play anything possession-centric in a 442 nowadays, because the vast majority of other teams play with 3 in the middle so you're outnumbered in there.  And the teams that are playing 2 in the middle (like the 3 above) are all setting up specifically to try and exploit the weaknesses of teams keeping possession, so by matching up, you're exposing those weaknesses all the more.
Even if Knight and Bielik were to leave, I still think we have pretty much the best technical midfield in the league - Bird, Hourihane, Thompson etc are all very good on the ball.  So why play 442 and give up one of the advantages we have?  Get the ball, keep it, and make the other team run around all afternoon chasing us.

You mean last year when he was starting to break through before getting injured ?
Because if so I think we can perhaps cut him a bit of slack before completely writing him off.

That's reassuring. Like I said it's reasonable if we feel like he will make a decent LB.

This seems a ridiculously disingenuous take about a 20 year old whose got 7 caps, had to deal with a few knocks and was emerging in the midst of two relegation battles.

You mean last year when he was starting to break through before getting injured ?
Because if so I think we can perhaps cut him a bit of slack before completely writing him off.

Started LB today

This seems a ridiculously disingenuous take about a 20 year old whose got 7 caps, had to deal with a few knocks and was emerging in the midst of two relegation battles.

This seems a ridiculously disingenuous take about a 20 year old whose got 7 caps, had to deal with a few knocks and was emerging in the midst of two relegation battles.

A striker who knows where to be and is great in the air. The perfect striker for Byrne's crosses.

I'm struggling to see Bielik stay with us due to international aspirations. The others aren't under that pressure. 
CM: Bird, Hourihane, LThompson
W/AM: Barkhuizen, Knight, Mendez-Laing, Sibley
Potentially 1 CM and 2 W/AMs needed.