The Rebuild

[Toddacelli]

Why are we strictly after third man run making box crashing goal scoring guys who aren't really midfielders?

Because we can’t afford a striker?

[StirlingBlue]

Why are we strictly after third man run making box crashing goal scoring guys who aren't really midfielders?

I wonder if it’s more about finances and who is available.

Based on the Paqueta deal it seems West Ham don’t need the PSR headroom and are happy to do loan to buy, same with Gallagher.

Whereas the likes of actual midfielders we’ve been linked with (Hayden Hackney) will cost money now.

That’s my hopeful read, the less optimistic read is that Moyes doesn’t actually want us to control a game and instead wants us to score from turnovers high up the pitch. Although some of our football was great in the final third yesterday, the majority of the good moments were actually kickstarted by winning the ball and pouncing directly

[Brownie]

Coventry RB
Ivanovic from Millwall
And a loan with OTB for a DM and that would be me very happy

[AjaxAndy]

He'd play and we'd probably like him a lot as he's a frantic ankle biter who gets on the end of stuff, but again he's not a MIDFIELD player.

I'm very confused by how a central midfielder isn't a midfield player?

He's not a DM, he's a box to box midfielder.

[brap2]

I'm very confused by how a central midfielder isn't a midfield player?

He's not a DM, he's a box to box midfielder.

Does he touch the ball, pass the ball, carry the ball, in the middle of the pitch - no

Does he switch the play, does he play forward, does he break lines, does he partake in build up at all? - no

Does he do lots of good work on the edge of the box and get super super involved with attacks and pressure people like a forward - yes

[AjaxAndy]

Carries the ball reasonably well,.passes completed in the mid 80% range, tackles / blocks / intercepts well, expected assists very well.

Gets involved all over the pitch.

He's a box to box midfielder, up and down, involved in most aspects to a decent level.

[Kerryblueboy]

Not a clue what you want in a midfielder Gallagher would be great alongside gana you are looking for a player who does everything from tackling to scoring we just need another footballer in there

[AjaxAndy]

Main issue with Gallagher is that he seems to pull his socks up fully, so would depend on if he's willing to join the Everton Low Socks club or not.

[AjaxAndy]

Btw the irony of me going full stats bomb these days when a couple years ago I'd often argue against such things is not lost on me

[The Doc]

I'm very confused by how a central midfielder isn't a midfield player?

He's not a DM, he's a box to box midfielder.

I'm with brappo on this one, he's not the possession-based midfielder we need, we already have a lot of ground-covering midfielders.

[brap2]

Carries the ball reasonably well,.passes completed in the mid 80% range, tackles / blocks / intercepts well, expected assists very well.

Gets involved all over the pitch.

He's a box to box midfielder, up and down, involved in most aspects to a decent level.

Look at the rest of his profile, and also watch him!

Have a look at the metrics that correspond to my comments on how he plays. For a player who has played for CL clubs (and been the main man at a mid table club in palace). How does he look? Does the ball go through him?

Or is he a pressing ankle biting shin pad snapping final third involvement machine?

Cracking player but it's a question of profiles...and maybe you don't see profiles the way I do is all.

[superpull]

Myko -> Aznou
Keane -> Branthwaite
Tarks -> O'Brien
O'Brien -> New RB

That's how we should be finishing this season.
A guy in front that knows his job (and Pickford behind them) and I think that could be a solid base.

[The Doc]

Don't think O'Brien should replace Tarkowski this season, unless we see him smash it for a prolonged run.

[sam of the south]

Don't think O'Brien should replace Tarkowski this season, unless we see him smash it for a prolonged run.

I guess superpull is talking in hope rather than total expectation, same with Aznou (fwiw my hot take is I can’t see Moyes playing Aznou as a lb in a back 4)

[Bluedylan1]

The way Tark is playing, Keane will be replacing him at this rate.