The Fish

Nice to be reminded of how bad CT is at picking a young player out. In this thread alone he thought Jonas should be replaced by Kazenga LuaLua, and that Haris Vuckic should get more game time. Add Shane Ferguson to the list and it paints a pretty accurate picture of his scouting skills.

Is there any argument to be made for trickledown economics? I've a fairly basic understanding of people and even less on money, but one thing I'm clear on; just because Tarquin Trustfund gets a £1m bonus at the end of the year, doesn't mean he'll put even half of that back into the UK economy, let alone his local one. More likely he'll dump it somewhere offshore to avoid tax, or into a trust fund for little Arabella and Gregory. Rich people are rich because they don't spend, not because they do... right? Round here people have a nice house, or a nice car, maybe they spend £4k a term on private education for their kids, but they'll use any extra cash to pay down their mortgage, save for their early retirement, or spend it on a nice holiday (benefiting someone else's economy). Surely this pandering to the bankers is to encourage them to stay in the UK after Brexit made us less appealing?

I'd be fine with setting up as we are, with inverted wingers, but, if it's not working, just swap their flanks. With two inverted wingers swapping sides, if nothing else it will unsettle the opposition. The opposition will have been training to expect both wingers to turn back and either play it off to the fullback, or take the shot. Swapping them means they've something else to think about. I'd also be ok with dropping one of them for Murphy who isn't as good technically as either of them, is willing to put a cross in on his stronger foot. He's also somehow able to get breakaways more than the other two. When ASM returns, I'd honestly keep him on the left and have Joelinton operate on that side of a midfield 4. That gives the flank height, bite and... I dunno, 'might'? Play Isak on the right of a forward pair. So it's kind of a mix between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. Joelinton's job is to break up play and link with the other midifeld, if he can carry the ball forward and under/overlap ASM, great, if not provide that cover. Bruno and Willock still have some defensive responsibilities, but more license to attack. Bruno should have more freedom to find runners and thread those through-balls, especially the balls behind when we get an overload on the flanks. Isak and ASM will come deeper to pick up the ball and run with it, or link with overlapping fullbacks, Bruno or Willock. Wilson will stay up top, stretching the gap between the lines and forcing the CB/FB to choose between staying closer to him, or pushing out to close down ASM/Isak Obviously when Maddison joins he'd take Willock's place.

I'm not sure it is harsh. Gerrard played more than double the amount of league games to get the same number assists. In that time (1998-2015), Liverpool finished between 2nd (three times) and 8th (once). Average position was 4th. They scored 1074 goals, averaging 63 goals a season. Including 1 season where they scored 101. He played behind Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Andy fucking Carroll. Yes, De Bruyne has played at one of the best club sides, but I'm not sure that accounts for him getting the same amount of assists as a Premier League Legend (tm) in half the number of games.

Yeah same is true with Scamacca, Cornet, maybe their new defenders too. They've had a tough old run of fixtures too; Man City, Tottenham, Chelsea, plus Forest's first home game back in the top flight, Brighton who're never a pushover now. It's only really Villa and Everton that you'd expect to see them pick up wins.

Maddison wasn't agitating for a move as much as he's likely to, come January. Leicester are on a downward spiral, we, on the other hand, are upwardly mobile. You're not wrong, he could get a move come the end of the season, but that's 6 months at a failing club. 6 months where he could be the difference between Europe and not. The bed wetting pessimist in me agrees with you, he's not going to sign for us and when the end of the season rolls by he'll fuck off to Manchester United, or wherever. But that little coward can fuck off.

Absolutely, that is a fundamental right. You can indeed change your opinion. But not secretly, not when they've been so loud in opposition. Oh no, no. Then they have to apologise, and self flagellate until we're satisfied.

I think you can if you play a combative midfielder on that side. Trippier is intelligent enough to play a more restrained role as and when is required, and if you shunt Joelinton or A.N.Other defensive minded midfielder on that side you've plenty of cover.

Don't think you can ramble on about some sub-par podcast and blow past the fact you, of all people, want ASM back in the side!

Maddison will be more unsettled. I didn't ay it would be easy, just easier to get him in January than it was in the Summer. In the summer window Leicester could well have gone on to have a good start, although it didn't look good from the outside, perhaps there was a hope that he was clinging to that it wouldn't be that bad.

It wasn't the passing that was the problem, it was our inability to play through the low block. And when we did break through their lines, Almiron and fraser were failing to put decent crosses/final balls in. Agains that kind of set up we need someone like ASM to do the unexpected, or for Bruno to be at full match sharpness to thread balls through. Botman's ability to get the ball quickly to Willock, Bruno or Joelinton isn't going to break an embedded defensive unit.

Getting Maddison should be easier in January than it was in the Summer. Maddison will have 1 1/2 yrs left on his contract (Tielemans 6 months). Rodgers is already talking like he's expecting the sweet sweet pay off. The unrest in their squad is only getting worse. They're getting pumped by the better teams, fine, that can happen. But they've not kept a clean sheet, they've not won, their only point came at home to Brentford on the first day of the season and they were 2-0 up with half an hour to go.

Where abouts? Don't suppose you fancy doing some roofing at mates rates? Sister-in-Law is buying a house here and the survey said the roof will need doing soon, the boiler need replacing and there's no electrical certificate. I've told her this is likely just the surveyor covering their arse, but... y'know.... wimmin BAck to politics, Bramhall has gone Lib Dem for the first time in fucking ages, so if even Cheshire are turning against the Tories, who knows?

It's madness, at the same time that was available for 3/4 of a million pounds sterling, you could buy a 5 bed detached house on the same road for about £100k less. It's not even like that apartment is in a high rise with great views, I think it's a 4 storey building. No property information here but; Property valuation for Apartment 9, The Sortings, 16, Maple Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Greater Manchester, SK7 2DJ | The Move Market

Hey! Fuck off. It was 17.

Yeah, loads of older people but plenty of younger folk circling like vultures for property. Long standing rumour that if Stockport gets the Tram, it'll go past Bramhall to Wilmslow. If true, house prices will go crazy(er). There's a house across the way from us, massive thing. Bloke lives alone, must be in his 70s. The wifey that runs the coffeeshop says they've had a few people in there asking about it already. Fucking ghouls. A top floor 2 bed apartment was on the market for £750k(!), so God only knows what that place will go for. Probably knock it down and build 4-5 'detached' houses on the same plot. I'm going to get the Mrs to make friends with the old fella so we can get it at a knockdown price...

Bramhall now mate, needed more space.

It's what she would have wanted.

I know, couldn't find chickpea flour anywhere.

Thanks

Two words; Smart. Bulb.

Club stats. International stats are for nerds.

Don't guess Craig, find out.