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claretspice

Will that take him to the end of his contract with us? His first season with us was sensational and he was one of a clutch of outstanding, relatively low-value signings that propelled us back to the Premier League. However, his record since then should be a valuable lesson in the importance of being...

claretspice

Judge it properly in 2 months time. For now it looks like a reasonable effort albeit with gaps. The squad looks robust and we've certainly corrected from two summers ago by bringing in players exclusively with the physicality to cope with the Premier League. The central midfield pool looks very robu...

claretspice

Sonne, Tchouana, Edwards, Tresor, Benson, Bruun Larsen. Through the middle you could play Hannibal, Tchouana, Edwards, Laurent, Flemming or even Cullen if Luis and Ugochukwa are behind him. I'd say we're lighter on the left if anything? Banel, Hannibal, Anthony. I think JBL generally prefers the le...

claretspice

Against Spurs Sonne played alongside Walker in a back 5 and in the other two games he's come on to replace JBL not Walker. What the squad list suggests is that, if Ramsey departs on loan, we're a bit light on players who can play in attacking/creative midfield roles. We'd have one more space in the...

claretspice

I'm a bit surprised if Ramsey is departing given how he's been used in pre-season but if it gets him game time then so be it. I'd hope we're still looking to bring in someone else who can help us unlock a defence though. Whilst the central midfield certainly feels heavier on industry and defensive d...

claretspice

Foster's offside is extremely tight and you can debate how VAR assesses that, but it was given offside on the field, it's offside by the automated system now in use so thems the breaks. Given we equalised subsequently I'm not sure it's that material to the outcome (you can't say had Foster's goal st...

claretspice

Having seen it, I think its a penalty unfortunately. It's a very bad decision from Anthony to pull the shirt there. It may well be the case that it's unlikely to be a penalty at the other end but that's besides the point. It's a penalty. It's a promising performance but given how fragile United are ...

claretspice

I imagine it will be a flat midfield 3. With the two wide players taking more attacking positions. This would probably allow the likes of Larsen to be much more advanced It's also worth remembering that we need a squad. The game isn't just about having 11 players these days, and so we can't assume ...

claretspice

He cost us a goal with a woeful piece of anticipation and defending There were quite a few culpable for that goal. Humphreys got done far too easily in the first place. Sonne got dragged across into Worrall's space far too early and then tried to recover and got caught in no-mans land. Possibly exp...

claretspice

Agree on Ramsey, thought he did well, given he was playing in a midfield 2 as well. I wonder if he’ll be kept around and there’s a route to some game time? It’s a tough one as he probably needs regular minutes now, but seems a decent Hannibal alternative, though hasn’t played in the first two. Been...

claretspice

Then later he won a free-kick we hit the post from. Not saying Edwards pulled up any trees, but he certainly wasn’t as useless as some are making out. He’s just the latest target because, well, a section of our fans always have to have a target. He also produced the cross - an outstanding cross, on...

claretspice

I'm still a bit staggered by the idea that the Foster disallowed goal wasn't pretty routine and uncontroversial. The defender was between Foster and the ball, had the ball under control (I think he'd taken a touch, but in any event the ball was in a position where he could do what he wanted with it ...

claretspice

I thought the same thing. Larsen spent a lot of time in the first half at right back with Walker more central. We played 451 until Sonne replaced Larsen. Sure, the wingers were tracking back to allow the back 4 to narrow when we were out of possession (just as we always did under Dyche) but it was ...

claretspice

dougcollins wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 24, 2025 1:00 pm
Regarding the Foster 'foul', Salisbury claims he blew before the ball hit the net- I'm not convinced.

According to PGMOL Salisbury's decision to give a foul was checked by VAR so that cannot be correct.

claretspice

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 24, 2025 11:28 am
When i find myself in times of trouble Scotty Parker comes to me, whispers words of wisdom
Anthony...
Anthony, Anthony, Anthony, Anthony
He will will be the answer
Anthony

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CGj85pVzR ... aXQgYmU%3D

Quite like that

claretspice

Apart from turning down the PA a fraction I thought yesterday was fine. Most people on here need to understand they're not the core market for this sort of thing and if it helps attract the next generation - and the reason all clubs now do the things we're doing is that the evidence suggests it does...

claretspice

Assuming Tuanzebe is fit - --------------------Weiss Sonne Tuanzebe Worrall Pires ----------Ramsey Laurent Edwards Tchaouna Larsen --------------Flemmimg Think Larsen looked like he needed game time yesterday and this is an ideal opportunity. I can't see Parker going with Flemming at 10 given he did...

claretspice

Flemming will get he's chance due to injuries, up to him to take it, but I agree probably doesn't have the pace that either Broja or foster have, but as lot's have said before, he's more of a 10 than a 9. Bit of a myth this for me now. Flemming may well have arrived as a 10, and I initially thought...

claretspice

It was the penalty for Leeds last week that Brooks was on VAR for - the “handball” against Tarky Yes (sorry, i meant on monday, not yesterday) and as the commentary since that game demonstrates, he was correct not to intervene because it wasn't a clear and obvious error. The fact the pundits and re...

claretspice

The only thing I'd say having watched the highlights is that had Sunderland scored their second big chance after Walker's heavy touch, there'd be fingers pointing at Cullen's failure to track the runner. But other than that he was superb.

claretspice

They might turn it down a touch (not sure how young kids might find music that loud) but I thought the choice of music was quite effective and the tannoy is clearly in much better shape than last season

claretspice

Got just about everything right, including disallowed Foster's goal on field after it hit the net so VAR could double check.

Thought the way he dealt with Hannibal and Adingra in the first half when both were getting a bit overwrought was exemplary.

claretspice

Indicative of a shift towards signing more physically robust players this summer, which is welcome. I thought he looked promising- good touch, quick, able to handle himself buy above all positive. The second goal owed a lot to his willingness to be direct and move the ball yesterday, and that simila...

claretspice

The Foster decision was given on the pitch, just late to enable VAR to check it just in case. It was a fair enough decision and you'd want a foul at the other end. Certainly it was quite right that VAR didn't get involved to overturn a reasonable on field call. VAR operated fine yesterday. The check...

claretspice

Watch the goal again. If anything Hannibals run nearly causes the shot to be blocked. He basically runs into the path of the shot bringing the defender with him. Not a criticism though, his pressing is vital for us. Also think his first touch could help create us some chances this season I'm transi...

claretspice

Hard to believe someone has given Foster a 5. Mad. Mind you I think Hannibal's contribution today is being a bit underplayed. He may sometimes lack a touch of composure but he was absolutely everywhere and his tenacity, intensity and running was the bedrock of that performance. Apart from anything ...

claretspice

As I said last season, there's a player there and too many who should know better wrote him off primarily i think because he was percieved as Kompany’s last signing. Just needs games at a good level and pleasingly he's getting just that. Hopefully the goals continue.

claretspice

Maybe having a solid presence like Big Les alongside him frees him up a bit more? Outstanding today. I thought the balance was good with Ugochukwu, not necessarily because he gave us a physicality defensively, but because Ugochukwu used his body very well to hold the ball and retain possession, whi...

claretspice

In the end a richly deserved victory that was grounded in a lot of hard graft and tenacity and a little bit of quality when it mattered. Dubravka - 7 - I thought he was a little slow off his line for the second first half chance Sunderland had, but he'd already made one very good save by then and ap...

claretspice

In the spirit of getting our best available players on the pitch I'd expect a back four this weekend. The highlights don't suggest Sonne did too much wrong (and two of the goals came down our left, and none down the right) but I'm not sure he's close to our best XI players and for that reason alone ...

claretspice

We've signed two wingers this summer. Calling them attacking midfielders is just trying to obscure that. That they like to cut inside is just what modern wingers do, that doesn't make them a 10. A simple look at the heat map for Anthony last season shows he is more of an out and out winger than Kol...

claretspice

So you've answered none of the questions there, just posted a bunch of platitudes which basically amount to "we've done what we've done, we're doing what we're doing and you shouldn't question it". I'll number the questions for you this time, see if you can actually respond. 1)Are you saying the sq...

claretspice

CoolClaret wrote: ↑
Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:47 pm
No idea how that's a penalty.

There's nowhere else for him to put his arm.

Well, if he doesn't lean towards the ball to block it, it doesn't hit his arm. So in that sense his arm could be somewhere else. This isn't a case of the ball hitting a player who can't get out of the way.

claretspice

For me, the priorities should be an athletic, forward thinking right wing back, a dominant centre half who is a threat in both boxes, and an additional central midfielder who offers quality in possession to rival Cullen as the "prompter". I like Roberts and if we were aiming to play a back 4 as stan...

claretspice

jdrobbo wrote: ↑
Sun Aug 17, 2025 1:48 pm
In this respect, it’s perhaps a shame that for whatever reason, we didn’t get Dan Ballard over the line.

Perhaps although there's been plenty of water under the bridge since then and I think it will be interesting to see how he goes for pace at this rarified level.

claretspice

There's not enough in it to get that excited about it as a penalty appeal.

claretspice

At present the personnel suits a back 4 with a reasonably robust, diligent player sat in front of Walker on the right, three in midfield and one up top with someone from the left joining the front man when possible. But whatever formation we play, we're crying out for athleticism on the right side a...

claretspice

I think Koleosho is the one who would be perfect for that role in time. He's not productive enough to be a winger at this level and not good enough defensively to be a full back but I think wing back would suit him down to the ground. I think Luton did similar with Ogbene a few years ago and obviou...

claretspice

Bit unconvincing for the third goal but otherwise fine.

claretspice

Seems to me that to play this back 3 system effectively at this level, we need a far more athletic wing back outside Walker - someone who'd be comfortable playing as a right winger as much as as a full back. Vitinho had his limitations but he's the mould we need. We also need a dominant centre half ...

claretspice

I can see the argument that Dubravka might have done better for the third goal but I think it's a stretch to say he might have saved either or the first two. In fact given the quality of the strike i think he deserves credit for getting as close to the the second as he did. Walker and Ekdal question...

claretspice

What are the eligibility rules of this competition and is it possible we'll see some of the senior players who need game time getting a run out?

claretspice

Can someone tell me which of Edwards, Larsen and Tchaouna you’d ship out, for Tella? Assuming we’d sign him, his position is inside right wing / forward like those above, and you’d think he’d have to play… so who goes? Obviously having 4 players for 1 position would be very silly, like it was last ...

claretspice

Ramsey's senior football has mostly been played out wide. The majority of his youth football, and his best performances in it, has been at 10. In a Parker side he doesn't have the physicality to play as an 8 or a 6. Especially coming off the back of such a long injury. Do you seriously think he can...

claretspice

Hannibal starts in a midfield 3 for me. Ramsey is a 10 (which we don't really use) or wide player, he's not going to be coming in for a suspended/injured Cullen/Ugochukwu/Laurent and play as an 8 or a 6. Whilst I advocated for him and Bauress to be involved last season I think the PL is a bit too m...

claretspice

I think just another physical 6 / 8 is needed. We're an injury or suspension away from starting Laurent and having no sub CM on the bench. Other than that the depth and quality is fine across the squad. Whilst I can see an argument for another central midfielder to arrive, that statement is only tr...

claretspice

A blow for us and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. His best position in the Premier League, and one I don't think we've ever seen him play enough, is as third central midfielder liberated to get into the box and make attacking runs and lead the press. It would have been interesting to...

claretspice

"Parker has a more pragmatic approach to getting the right balance" and suggesting you only get one shot at spending like Kompany did is what I was disagreeing with. We can't say the the balance is right until we see how the season pans out and I think spending this way is potentially a more one sh...

claretspice

You just answered your own question. Ortega played much more than Johnstone for a much better team. It may be that that supports the idea that Ortega is a better keeper than Johnstone, certainly in a team like Manchester City, but it doesn't automatically follow that he's better suited to what we w...

claretspice

You have absolutely no idea if that's true. They will currently be on similar packages I imagine as Ramsdales will probably have cut massively on relegation. Ramsdale would probably want about 70k, he won't get as much as he got moving from Arsenal, his reputation has dropped. For a goalkeeper at h...

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