lluubbeenn

As for concrete targets by position: - CB - with Fofana and Badi we are ok, without them- not so much. It will be hard to buy someone outright as we already have 5-6 players here. If possible, recalling Chalobah seems the only logical solution for this window. I don't think Skriniar loan deal is possible. Big statement signing here is needed, but It will be better for both the player and the club for the said player to have a complete preseason first. - CM - Caicedo and Enzo are left all alone with about 30-40 games to go(depends how well the cups go). Lavia is a huge liability fitness wise. Rumours surrounding KDH, Carney and Casadei. Who will play? Again I cant see a permanent solution here as Santos will be in the squad next year. Ugo is a possibility. He should be ok for the Conference and has the characteristic of a great squad player, if he can improve and simplify his game. - ST - We absolutely NEED a backup striker. I hope to never see Nkunku in this position ever again. Theoretically Guiu can fill the role. We haven't seen enough of him in the pl to be sure if he can do at least a bit. Signing a big striker in January seems impossible. Players like Delap, Ferguson on loan or Cunha are probably not good enough and will more or less block the development of Guiu and the possibility of a top striker in the summer. If City really are after the Marmoush deal, we should do everything to hijack it. He looks like a player entering his prime and diverse enough to do well. He should fancy his chances against Jackson a lot more than against Haaland. The other problem except competing with the champions for him is that he is African and we will be without any strikers for a month or two next year...

Are you guys all ok with Delap. He has the City connection and looks to be comfortable battling for every ball, but I still have a lot of questions on his technical ability. There is a chance he flops making the jump to a top team this early and under a considerable amount of pressure (top 4 race). January is always a tricky period for transfers as everyone who is remotely available has some kind of a drawback. It seems it is the 10th window in a row we need to deal with many outgoings first... I believe we need a body in defence, midfield and attack. Do we recall someone from loan or loan someone or buy someone I am not so sure.

After an impressive run and questionable results from our rivals we found ourselves in a “title race”. This was the lowest points tally for a team in second place in 15 years on Christmas day. We need to keep calm and continue improving. Noni not being in the squad was a bit too harsh, but let’s see what happens from here on. The injuries are mounting and that makes some of our players complacent as they know they will start. It is what it is and Fulham deserved it as they played a great game. Guiu may not be ready for senior football, but I don’t understand how he doesn’t get a chance. He has a lions heart and you can’t coach that. We must stop the rot against Ipswich. COYB!

It is not so easy to lower the defensive line without a lot of training. Everton are probably the only specialists in that aspect in the prem at the moment. Weather conditions and the home fans helped them to succeed yesterday. It will not be easy to defend against our team for 90min, so I don't think they have showed THE way to others. Its just that Everton are really good at what they are doing.

Very hard game to watch. I think everyone played ok, but this has to be the last time Gusto plays at lb. He can’t use his left foot and makes all the attacks predictable. On the positive side we got a clean sheet against the shittiest attack in the league 😀 I think Guiu deserved 5-10 minutes at least. We are still in a good position. Let’s beat Fulham!!!

Very unpleasant team. Hope they finally go down, but the newcomers are not good enough again… I think we are doing good, just need that goal. Keep calm and it will come!

If you take us out of this competition it is pretty even. We are miles ahead of everyone. Shame if we don’t get the cup to complete the european set. KTBFFH!

Yikes. The 11 looks solid bar some questions mark in the middle on the counter, but so many missing all of a sudden. Let’s hope there are no serious injuries. Quite strange that there were no fitness questions at the press conference. COYB!

In the 3 seasons they have been a prem team we have 1 win, 2 draws and 3 losses in the league. Admittedly these have been a couple of hard seasons for us, but it is still unacceptable. We must do the double over them. COYB!

He is sadly not eligible for the B list of the ECL. Not HG and so he can't be registered freely between rounds.

Told you so on half time. GET IN! Brentford are tricky side to play. Don't have a great record against them. Time to change that and march on! COYB!

It’s getting late and a lot Coleder! 🥶🥶🥶 We are winning this one!

Everton - Liverpool called off. We can put the pressure on! Let’s get these 3 points tomorrow!

What a cb pairing…

Great win. Can’t remember the last time we controlled the game that well against a CL opponent. We need to go all out against Soton and continue the winning run as long as possible. Maresca comments remind me of Mourinho’s little horse in 2014. Liverpool are running away with it, but it is unlikely we manage to push for the league. Top 4 would be solid. I really enjoy watching Pep struggle. Hope it isn’t a blip and he goes mad and straight down as did Mou 6-7 years ago.

Very good first half performance. You can see Villa miss a bit of energy and self belief tbh. Watkins had the two best chances of the half and fluffed them both.

The B team is growing. Getting the result was the most important thing. Disasi is bad, but is playing out of position consistently. Colwill wasn't a great LB was he? Disasi is even slower on the turn so what do you expect from him. Veiga is constantly inverting for the first time in his career and has minimal playing experience. Casadei has played no more than 30 competitive matches in his career and is playing as a DM. NOT his preferred position. Tosin and KDH need to be better, but we can give them time to settle. We will se where they are come March/April. One win away from top 8 and mostly plain sailing. COYB!

This was a pen. Very clumsy from their defender. Soft, but a pen…

Very good performances overall. Badi and Felix did great considering that these were first prem starts. Sanchez didn't have a save to make until the penalty, which to be fair he almost got to. All the nervy moments came from fast breaks as Caicedo was left to cover half of the pitch and the man himself in goal. He really cant have a quiet game. 2-3 blunders every single fixture. Made some excellent saves, but erratic way too often. Hope Penders turns out to be brilliant. Don't believe in anyone else of the keepers currently contracted to us and we cant keep buying a GK every window, can we?

How is Felix ahead of Nkunku?

I misread the news. As I saw Lavia and hamstring in the same sentence I ruled him out for a month. Hope the lad is ready to go. Let’s get on a winning run starting Saturday and leapfrog man coty. COYB!

With Lavia out for about a month with hamstring Enzo is back in the starting 11. It’s up to him to make it work. If he doesn’t I will start doubting his long term future at the club.

Missing the experience and shithousery in this big games. I don’t know of the lads can learn or if we need to buy a leader, but we wont be winning against the big 3 like that 😕

This is the only game this season we have been good from attacking set pieces. We need to improve in this department the most.

It was a tough game. United cb were very deep and their full backs were very good. We did good not to lose after the pen. Caicedo is starting to give Kante vibes. Long may it continue! It is quite disappointing not to end the winless streak and get 3 points, but on the other hand we are back in the top 4 and got a point more compared to last season. COYB!