The Rebuild

[AjaxAndy]

This is a recipe for relegation.

I wouldn’t mind longstaff singing but only as a 4th choice behind Gana (if he signs) a creative midfield and garner (rubbish)

It’s the number one priority. It’s where most our money needs to go.

It's not though, we didn't get relegated with a midfield of Gana and Garner so to state swapping Garner for Longstaff means we get relegated is pure hyperbole.

It's not a great midfield but it'd do for a year.

We aren't probably in a position to spend £30m each on an ST, RW and CM, so one of those positions will need to be a sensible low cost signing. Personally given we coped fine with Garner in there last season I'd rather we spent on an RW.

Gana
Garner
Longstaff

That's 3 for 2 positions.

Then Armstrong playing 10+ games.

We do need another, I don't rate Tim at all so realistically there's a loan added to that which would give us 4 for 2 positions + Armstrong getting enough game time to develop at this level.

[Cozzie]

Merlin Rohl loosely linked again.

Doubt we'd stop at Longstaff.

[Gary1878]

I am just focussing on Gana signing. If for whatever reason that doesn’t happen then we have a much larger job on our hands.

If he does sign, then Gana/Garner is a fine base to work from, provided that reinforcements arrive, which they will.

[TheRam]

It's not though, we didn't get relegated with a midfield of Gana and Garner so to state swapping Garner for Longstaff means we get relegated is pure hyperbole.

It's not a great midfield but it'd do for a year.

We aren't probably in a position to spend £30m each on an ST, RW and CM, so one of those positions will need to be a sensible low cost signing. Personally given we coped fine with Garner in there last season I'd rather we spent on an RW.

Gana
Garner
Longstaff

That's 3 for 2 positions.

Then Armstrong playing 10+ games.

We do need another, I don't rate Tim at all so realistically there's a loan added to that which would give us 4 for 2 positions + Armstrong getting enough game time to develop at this level.

So, you’re relying on a 36 year old, and two lower half of the table quality players and a 19 year old?

Yeah, it’s not hyperbole to say that’s a recipe for relegation as I’m expecting Leeds and sunderland to be competitive next season.

Who’s creating chances out of those players? Who’s protecting the back four?

Minus Doucoure and managla that’s the worst midfield we’ve had since moyes took over the first time. Needs a lot of work.

[MayorFarnham]

God our midfield is going to be so shite next year.

Considering every striker we've been linked with is about six five I don't think the midfield will be over used.

[AjaxAndy]

So, you’re relying on a 36 year old, and two lower half of the table quality players and a 19 year old?

Yeah, it’s not hyperbole to say that’s a recipe for relegation as I’m expecting Leeds and sunderland to be competitive next season.

Who’s creating chances out of those players? Who’s protecting the back four?

Minus Doucoure and managla that’s the worst midfield we’ve had since moyes took over the first time. Needs a lot of work.

We relied on Garner and Gana for pretty much half a season and finished something like 6th over that period, so why do you think that suddenly changes?

Longstaff and Gana is far from my ideal midfield, but it's better than Gana / Garner and that worked fine. It's not very exciting and it could be MUCH MUCH better, it's not a standard we should be happy with, but it's also not going to suddenly be so bad it gets us relegated when it's been fine for top half form over an extended period with Garner who is an inferior player as part of that two.

Also every God damn year it's 'such and such will be competitive' next season when talking about promoted teams who absolutely suck and get hardly any points. Leeds under Farke will go straight back down, he's already shown he can't keep a team up, twice, and it's so expected they'll be relegated they looked at sacking him after he achieved promotion.

The fact is, which for whatever reason you don't want to acknowledge, Gana and Garner was a top 6-8 form team after Moyes took over. So apart from a glaring lack of depth midfield isn't the car crash you want to make out. Adding in Longstaff and a loan would do for a year.

If we have £30m to spend on a CM as well as the same again for an RW obviously don't sign Longstaff.

[Gary1878]

We know we need reinforcements in midfield, but we also shouldn’t forget that we have Alcaraz who will likely take up various spots throughout the season, including central midfield.

I don’t think that’s his best position but that doesn’t mean he can’t cover in the middle.

As for Longstaff and that calibre of player, it’s not ideal, and it’s not a longer term signing, but ultimately it is how they all fit together as a team that counts. If that means that we get some players that aren’t exciting, but can do a good job in a certain role, then we shouldn’t discount that if it makes the team/squad better.

[Birko Blue]

Denzel Dumfries has a release clause of £25m.

Wasn’t that long ago we were linked with him, however true/close it was.

[AjaxAndy]

We know we need reinforcements in midfield, but we also shouldn’t forget that we have Alcaraz who will likely take up various spots throughout the season, including central midfield.

I don’t think that’s his best position but that doesn’t mean he can’t cover in the middle.

As for Longstaff and that calibre of player, it’s not ideal, and it’s not a longer term signing, but ultimately it is how they all fit together as a team that counts. If that means that we get some players that aren’t exciting, but can do a good job in a certain role, then we shouldn’t discount that if it makes the team/squad better.

Yeah I'd rather Longstaff in midfield and a good pacey RW than a better CM and a Longstaff standard RW.

Functional midfielders whilst it's not inspiring are better than someone like Harrison in RW where attacks constantly break down and a lack of pace hinders our ability to hit teams on the break.

[Gary1878]

Yeah I'd rather Longstaff in midfield and a good pacey RW than a better CM and a Longstaff standard RW.

Functional midfielders whilst it's not inspiring are better than someone like Harrison in RW where attacks constantly break down and a lack of pace hinders our ability to hit teams on the break.

We really need a RW. That has to be a top priority for us

[sam of the south]

Imagine if it’s Longstaff and Harrison back in on loan, and then “Hwheeeel goooo with hwat we’ve gooooot!”

[Jimmywhack]

I'm still certain we sign Harrison
That's depressing

I wonder if longstaff could be like a Gibson for us

It's hardly exciting reading this

[Kerryblueboy]

It would be madness to think gana can reproduce the same numbers again considering his age and hope he stays fit also there is afcon this year we need legs and creativity in midfield

[StirlingBlue]

Considering every striker we've been linked with is about six five I don't think the midfield will be over used.

Moyes doesn’t play long ball football, he never has and it’s a lazy stereotype.

We’ll get plenty of crosses into the box but most of the play will be though the wingers and the ST/CAM.

What we need from a midfield is a stable base, able to cover ground in the press and able to progress the ball to the more creative players.

I do think we’ll sign somebody better but the idea that we’ll get relegated with a midfield of Gana/Garner/Iroegbunam/Longstaff like some are claiming is nonsense

[TheRam]

It’s a recipe for relegation.

Doesn’t mean I think we will be relegated but we’d be playing a full premier league camping with a relegation standard midfield, which isn’t ideal, is it.

Personally don’t think we should be putting so much reliance on Gana, who will be 36 next season.

We need to have someone in place to come in for him should his performance level drop.

And that’s without adding creativity and someone to sit infront of the defence.