Need to offload Forshaw and bring in a reliable, solid central midfielder who's fit most weeks and able to play a squad role. I like Forshaw but he's a total passenger for us and we can't afford that in our current staye. Hopefully we can find someone in the summer for a reasonable fee like Wober and Gnonto.

Think we need an older more experienced midfielder in the team. We miss Pablo big time. Id have liked to us have signed Mata

As I said yesterday, Archie has played next to no competetive minutes since he returned from injury, he played the second half of the Derby game but, unless there have been behind closed doors games, hasn't featured at all.
I am pretty sure that his involvement in the squad yesterday was partly in recognition of him having signed his pro-deal and partly to get him used to being around the first team.
Not sure what happened with Sam yesterday, is he injured or is he likely to feature alongside Darko in today's vital U21 fixture. He isn't a defensive midfielder anyway.
Probably, prior to going off to join the England squad, Gyabi will start for against Sunderland this afternoon.
My feeling about what might have happened, should a change in midfiled have been required is:
Bring on RK, move Ayling to RB, Wober stay where he is, Firpo stay where he is and move Koch into midfield, to replace either McKennie or Roca,

After they scored their second, I turned the match off, it was making me too anxious.
With the viking and Bill on the pitch, did the line-up switch to a back three of Ayling, Koch and Wober?

comment by Outwood White (U9610)
posted 21 minutes ago
Think we need an older more experienced midfielder in the team. We miss Pablo big time. Id have liked to us have signed Mata
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Not sure what difference having someone like Pablo would have made, we need a good quality defensive midfielder to sure up the middle of the park. Gyabi will be that player in a couple of years time but McKennie and Roca struggled yesterday.
Pablo at his peak instead of the woeful Aaronson I agree but we would probably have had the same problems in front of defence.

We still look a few pieces away from being a really
good squad. Key pieces at that. Goal scoring striker.
Number 10 creative type. Glue type midfielder who
isn't made of glass. Right and Left back.

comment by Elsbels - El Jugador (U21658)
posted 2 hours, 39 minutes ago
After they scored their second, I turned the match off, it was making me too anxious.
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I know what you mean - I was pacing up and down like a pensioner on heat (deep heat).

Need players that can receive the ball under pressure. Forshaw easily the best at it in the squad but never fit.

Pablo would look awful in this side.

We just don’t have the players in the middle capable of retaining possession and control.

Midfield been poor most of the season.

Roca simply is not a player that will ever take us to the next level.

Adams has some great attributes but limited passing means he really needs to play next to someone who can ping balls around.

McKennie not convinced he is worth anywhere near the 35m or so quoted. Personally would not sign him.

Forshaw finished at this level. Released end of season.

Greenwood hopefully will concentrate on playing in a more attacking role.

Gyabi lacks mobility from my observation so far. The lad can pass and shoot.

Gray looks an exceptional talent beyond is years but has just missed almost the entire season.

Bate coming back soon. Never impressed me enough to think he would make it at first team level.

We could do with Klich for a few games!! Cheers Jesse

archie is our new pablo

yup we are crying out for klich, immense

agree about muckennie, i was wrong, he looked good for the 1st few games but has not pushed on....more time maybe to adjust the the pl, it aint for most, too hard too fast? as he does have a bit of nonchalance

As much as a hate the little fcuker…… a John McGinn type maybe needed?

comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 42 minutes ago
As much as a hate the little fcuker…… a John McGinn type maybe needed?
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yup we need a warrior billy / batty

myself like i like mctominay

Archie our new Pablo? Nothing like putting pressure on the lad. That's what i meant Els. Aronsson runs around a lot but a number 10s role is to create chances out of nothing. An older head would also give you a bit of calm. Something i think our squad lacks.

Darko had another good game today apparently. Not sure about his mobility Kebab but as well as his passing and shooting he is a bit of a beast. He is 19 so I am hoping to see him develop.

Don't rate McKennie at all. Missed the very begining of the game yesterday and it was several minutes before I reaslised he was even on the pitch. Got to be better out there for £35m.
If it wasn't for Marsch would we even had looked twice at him.

If Foreshaw is anywhere close or near to being fit again to play for us this season then needs must and he would definitely give us more bite in the middle than what we have but I've no idea if there is any sign or hope he will be ready to help us in the remaining games, if not then maybe Dallas will beat him to it off the treatment table.

Is Dallas expected fit this season?

comment by kammys left foot / mbe (U21862)
posted 8 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by salonika73 (U4688)
posted 42 minutes ago
As much as a hate the little fcuker…… a John McGinn type maybe needed?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
yup we need a warrior billy / batty

myself like i like mctominay
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Agree McTominay for £25m, I believe that’s what they want for him…it’s the wages that may be an issue.

Mckinney is still adapting to the Premier League and to a new style of play. It's too early to call time on him. I agree that our midfield looks disorganised, but Gracia now has a couple of weeks to work on that.
He's done an amazing job on our defence, and we now look like we have a style of play.
I am beginning to see how much damage Marsh has done to us. The new players are all geared towards Red Bull football. They are now having to relearn the game. Bill's recent excellent interview revealed a lot about Gracia's approach; Gracia encourages the players to be creative, but it's within a clear, balanced system of play.
It's still early days, but the scattergun chaos of Marsch has been replaced by a more recognisable and playable approach. It is still a work in progress, but how many posters are beginning to feel he might just get out of this mess?

Such a shame Forshaw is so injury prone. There's a really useful player there, if he could only stay fit.

I like Weston, but like others don't see him anywhere near that value (£35m). The US player I do like the look of each time I see if the LB playing for Fulham, Robinson.

How much adjustment time does McKennie need?

He's played nearly 50 matches for Juventus in Series A.

He's played over 40 times for his country.

He's 24 and fully fit.

I wouldn't expect a player with these stats and 35mill price tag to need much adjustment time.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 4 minutes ago
How much adjustment time does McKennie need?

He's played nearly 50 matches for Juventus in Series A.

He's played over 40 times for his country.

He's 24 and fully fit.

I wouldn't expect a player with these stats and 35mill price tag to need much adjustment time.
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Got to agree. Up to now I cannot see what exactly his USP is. He looks slow (maybe carrying too timber?). There are no defence splitting passes a la Pablo, no great goal threat from him either. If he is supposed to be a holding midfielder he is not as good as Adams in that role.

Going by what we have seen so far, I hope we are not obligated to buy him due to the deal Orta has agreed. Of course he could come good and start to impress as he gets more game time let's hope so.

McKennie is a £15-18m player…not knocking him in any way.

Not really sure what his best position is or if we have utilised him correctly.