The Rebuild

[Free Agent]

Hjulmand was decent in the Euro’s last summer

[StirlingBlue]

Garner has to start at CM pretty much every game until we sign an actual holding midfielder. None of our other CM options stay in midfield they’re all pressing machines.

O’Brien has to start RB every game until we sign a RB, none of our other options can be trusted there.

That’s our two priority areas and where we should be spending the majority of our money. Grealish, Ndiaye, McNeil and Alcaraz are all better RW options than Garner/O’Brien are in their positions

[Matt1878]

Garner has to start at CM pretty much every game until we sign an actual holding midfielder. None of our other CM options stay in midfield they’re all pressing machines.

O’Brien has to start RB every game until we sign a RB, none of our other options can be trusted there.

That’s our two priority areas and where we should be spending the majority of our money. Grealish, Ndiaye, McNeil and Alcaraz are all better RW options than Garner/O’Brien are in their positions

I'm actually up for a but more of a pressing game and more possession, once we win it. I know the tendancy has been to have 2 perma-sitting CMs but it depends on our ability to control possession and the discipline of the LBs to tuck in to space. Squad-wise, yes another purely defenisve midfielder as cover for Gana is vital, but formation wise, I'm hoping we can evolve a bit this year.

[bigmanbob]

I think we can make do in both those positions - but have feck all RM thats the priority for me

[StirlingBlue]

I think we can make do in both those positions - but have feck all RM thats the priority for me

Ndiaye is a better RW than O’Brien is right back or Garner is CM for me

[TheRam]

Do not want to see ndiaye on the right.

Rather we just put Alcaraz there while we wait for a right winger to come if that will ever happen.

[StirlingBlue]

I'm actually up for a but more of a pressing game and more possession, once we win it. I know the tendancy has been to have 2 perma-sitting CMs but it depends on our ability to control possession and the discipline of the LBs to tuck in to space. Squad-wise, yes another purely defenisve midfielder as cover for Gana is vital, but formation wise, I'm hoping we can evolve a bit this year.

You need at least one of your two CMs to hold position whilst the other presses or your fucked if the press gets played through.

Same in a three man midfield, you need somebody to play as the six and fill that space in front of the CBs.

Gana is a defensive monster in terms of tackles and interceptions but to do that he chases the ball, you need somebody next to him happy to sit and screen and there’s only currently Garner in their squad who can do that - maybe it’s where Harrison eventually ends up but for now he’s more of an eight or a ten.

[Matt1878]

And you can have that with KDH, Gana just needs to hold when we lose possession and allow KDH to drop back in, or the FB to tuck in. Gana's experienced enough to know he can't go off chasing the ball if he is the only one sat in front of the back line.

Just having a defensive midfielder who's role it is to fill up space on the pitch so that Gana can run around trying to win it back doesnt feel the most progressive approach, or not one I want to see next season, personally.

Really trying to avoid use of hipster words like transition and pivot there.

[kramer]

You're mad if you think a captain of one of a leagues top teams, 26 year old (which is not old.....) would be 10mil or less.

Absolutely madness shout.

Exactly why it won’t happen.

Don’t think he’s done enough to justify what they’ll be looking for.

[AjaxAndy]

If we signed a proper DM then we'll have something like this:


-------------------------New DM

-----------------Gana-----------KDH

Ndaiye----------------Barry----------Grealish


Then some raw winger who can play both sides hopefully to come of for the last 20.

A bench of:
Garner
New young winger
McNeil
Keane
Travers
Beto
Aznou

That would be a very weirdly competent squad... Just need a new RB in there and we'd be in absolute dream land!

[TheRam]

Apparently West Ham are looking to get rid of Edson Alvarez.

If that’s true I’d be all over that on loan or for a reasonable fee.

He’s exactly what we need.

[PoD1878]

I know they wont be, but it always seems like we only work on one deal at a time.

If Grealish is done, great lets move to the next two now.

[Cozzie]

Apparently West Ham are looking to get rid of Edson Alvarez.

If that’s true I’d be all over that on loan or for a reasonable fee.

He’s exactly what we need.

Apparently really fond of David Moyes too.



Wouldn't surprise me if this happened nearer the deadline

[Brownie]

Would be happy with Alvarez

[superpull]

Would they see us as direct competition for league placing next year though?

Might make it harder to do a deal.

West Hams owners don't have a clue though. So maybe it won't matter