January transfer window

[AjaxAndy]

Longstaff is one of those massively underrated players that people outside of the team they play for think they're shit when in fact they're really pretty decent at what they do.

He would literally walk in to our midfield and would be the perfect foil for Gana. He's intelligent, has great positioning and screens the back 4 really well. He's just not flashy or fancy so people totally miss what he does and make an assumption he's crap even though he's not.

He's not a long racking passer of the ball, and he's not going to lash then in from 30 yards, but he'd give you a solid performance week in week out, and for the reported £12m and not huge wages it'd be a deal I'd definitely look at if I were Moyes.

Next season our midfield selection will be as it stands:
Garner
Timmy

Even if we renew Gana it leaves us with 3 CMs so we're going to have to pick up someone who's reliable and fits in without risk, then maybe another one or two who can be young raw high potential to bed in over time.

Longstaff isn't an exciting fancy name but he's a very solid premier league standard CM potentially available at a really low price. People might not like it but I think they're under estimating him and also over looking the numbers we need to purchase with tight finances.

[Silas]

Longstaff would be fine and I get with Mangalas injury he's a paper over the cracks signing but it's uninspired and a bit lazy.

[Evertonian in NC]

It's not a "really low price" when you factor in wages. That's how you end up with players you can't shift.

[TheRam]

£12m down the drain for a player who wouldn’t improve us and we wouldn’t get our money back on.

We’re close to being able to make better moves in the market. If the best we can get is longstaff for £12m then roll the dice until the summer.

If we can get him on loan, or a free transfer then go ed, but let’s not spend any money on him. It sends out all the wrong vibes.

[AjaxAndy]

It's not a "really low price" when you factor in wages. That's how you end up with players you can't shift.

He's on a reported £50k a week at Newcastle, we're paying Doucoure £100k a week... I think Longstaff on £50k a week would be pretty reasonable, pretty sure it's what we're paying Beto for contributing nothing but some mental first touches that travel 40 yards.

[AjaxAndy]

..and less than were paying bloody Holgate for contributing even less.

[Silas]

£12m down the drain for a player who wouldn’t improve us and we wouldn’t get our money back on.

We’re close to being able to make better moves in the market. If the best we can get is longstaff for £12m then roll the dice until the summer.

If we can get him on loan, or a free transfer then go ed, but let’s not spend any money on him. It sends out all the wrong vibes.

Loan with an option I would be happy with

[TheRam]

https://fbref.com/en/players/a2b105e0/Sean-Longstaff

We’ve spent the last five years wasting money on midfielders like this.

[Brownie]

The epitome of 'a one season wonder'.

I remember him banging on the goals that season - and he was there for two more seasons after that

[AjaxAndy]

Tackles, blocks, progressive passes all rank well though. He's basically a water carrier which is what we need, it's basically what Mangala is and it's meant we can finally use Gana effectively... Or at least could for a short while.

He wouldn't be someone I'd desire after as a player but fuck me we don't have any midfielders and he's more than good enough to play in this team. You don't get much for £12m, I think we need to accept we aren't buying the Sandro Tonali's of this world with our limited finances and need for 8-10 players in the summer... We have to shop for the kind of players who were performing in a top half team prior to being replaced by a Tonali.

Again though we also have to buy youth with high potential and high sell on, but you can't just flood a midfield with loads of raw kids. We need a player or two in there with the ability to slot in and perform straight away. £12m and £50k a week is a deal that's worth doing.

[Gash]

I remember him banging on the goals that season - and he was there for two more seasons after that

Yeah, he struggled after that one season though. He got hit in the eye with a squash ball which damaged his retina then he had some more injuries, I think in the end they loaned him out somewhere. Went from hero to zero in no time, mad season though, think he had about 10 in his first 5 or 6 games.

[StirlingBlue]

I see the argument on Longstaff being a steady presence, but you’d also hope he’s not starting for us in a year and then we’re probably left with him for another + years

[AjaxAndy]

I see the argument on Longstaff being a steady presence, but you’d also hope he’s not starting for us in a year and then we’re probably left with him for another + years

We probably only have Gana for another year if we even renew him (nothing has been said about us doing so). 12 months down the line we'll still need reliable experienced players in there... We just don't have the money to assemble a whole new midfield of quality players.

Whoever we do buy we're going to be seeing them starting for a while as we hopefully add some quality young players in around them. Even if it's not Longstaff we still need at least one 'Premier League ready' signing in midfield in the summer, ideally now.

[The Doc]

Longstaff definitely does improve us. We have Gana, Garner and Armstrong as our centre mids. Gana almost a pensioner, so you never know when father time is going to tap his shoulder.

Again, only if its a good price.

My first choice of player type would be a deep lying, anchor, playmaker midfielder, but we also need more than one centre mid to come in between now and the start of next season.

[The Doc]

Igamane starts. NSNO scouts assemble.