comment by BillNick (U23088)
posted 41 minutes ago
At the start of the season everyone was convinced that
a) the manager was great
b) most of the players, and in particular those bought over the last couple of years, are great

then we turn a bit carp on the pitch, and we decide that.......actually the players are useless.

Doesn't make sense to me!
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I don't think anyone was convinced the squad was great, not surprising that the wheels fell off as the season went along when that's the case

we had poor ends to the season under poch too, a small squad playing high intensity football. I remember people wondering if poch had inherited the infamous bielsa burnout stuff

I'm pretty happy with the bulk of our starting XI, problem is there is only about 14 players you're happy to see start.

Had a long drive last night so listened to a few pods.

Extra inch, TFC and LWOS and was surprised how much sense they spoke. Pretty much all are inline with my views

#thfc will look to move on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Bryan Gil this summer.

@TimesSport

Ange Postecoglou wants #thfc to sign a new striker, midfielder and centre-back this summer. | @TimesSport

I had a long walk last night so listened to the Off Menu podcast with Ed Gamble and James Ancaster. The Killer Mike episode is proper entertaining.

comment by Luka Brasi (U22178)
posted 4 minutes ago
#thfc will look to move on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Bryan Gil this summer.

@TimesSport

Ange Postecoglou wants #thfc to sign a new striker, midfielder and centre-back this summer. | @TimesSport
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comment by Luka Brasi (U22178)
posted 6 minutes ago
#thfc will look to move on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Bryan Gil this summer.

@TimesSport

Ange Postecoglou wants #thfc to sign a new striker, midfielder and centre-back this summer. | @TimesSport
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hopefully he wants more than that

Yep, two fullbacks and back up keeper as well as one more attacker at least.

I would be too sad to see Kulu or Biss sold this summer.

Bissouma yeah I feel pretty ambivalent on

I still like deki, he offers something different out wide and I think he can be a good player centrally too

I like Deki too, at least he can make the ball stick unlike Son and BJ. Still want him to be tried up top in the 9 but I doubt Ange sees him that way. 3 goals and 6 assists this season is meh.

He is still young but in Ange's system I dunno where he fits in. I don't think he is that good in the 8 role either.

Vicario
GK

Porro Romero VDV Udogie
RB Dragusin CB LB

Sarr Bissouma Maddison
Bentancur DM 10
Bergvall

RW Richy Son
Deki CF Brennan

problem with this is 2 of those new blank spots would have to be filled with homegrown players and 2 with club trainer players, so chances are there's gonna be one or two positions that we're unhappy with our depth in

Deki is great, I think Bissouma is pretty good too.

He's incredibly press resistent and has just taken a knock in confidence/form. Also people forget that he had fecking MALARIA less than 4 months ago.

I was buzzing when we signed Bissouma. Still think we should keep him

Bissouma just has so many games where he doesn't do anything

it's frustrating that given how press resistant he is he's so happy to just pass back to the CBs whenever a team man marks him

Is malaria actually that bad these days? He still played for Mali with it right? I like Bissouma, he's fine. But IMO we need better if we're going to progress

Its more the point that if it even affected him 5% thats enough to make a difference

Oh yeah fair enough. It was a genuine question - I don't know anything about malaria and a quick Google was inconclusive

When I think of the best defensive mids they're popping up everywhere making key tackles and interceptions. I don't see that enough from Bissouma. Maybe it is that 5% stopping him getting there

Thing is, hes 8th in the league for tackles p90 + 17th for interceptions p90. With Paulinha being the only player ahead of him in both categories.

I think hes more a victim of the demands of the position.

yeah I think the only way you get more out of the position defensively is with someone like Onana who is just a physical freak

Just think that Luton game killed him. Think he got a bit full of himself and the red card just made him go into himself.

Though he was better and more progressive at the weekend

hate to go all arm chair psychologist but it does feel like his head is one of the quickest to drop, could just be his more languid style but it feels like he wilts a bit

Oh I'd definitely take Palhinha. And also make the case that our system would lead to anyone in his role putting up decent stats. But it's more the ones that he doesn't make. Are those tackles and interceptions in their half or is he covering the fullbacks/tracking his runner and intercepting a final pass?

Like I say, I like him. But we need someone really great in that position, as good as good is. We've seen what Rice has added to Arsenal even though they had decent players there.

even arsenal have had to play rice as the 8 with Jorginho as the DM because rice wasn't offering enough on the ball. Rodri is basically the only player in the world who can be great on and off the ball in the position

it's why I'm inclined to cut Bissouma some slack, and yet also I am consistently underwhelmed by his performances