What do we need to compete? Do we have a centre half partner for Esteve? Are the wide players good enough?

NEW
Walker NEW Esteve Hartman
NEW Cullen NEW
Tchouana Broja NEW

I’d be all over Sterling if possible.
Diouf would suit the system well.
Bijlow, Pope or Livakovic for the goalkeeper spot.

I don't disagree with any of what you suggest we need as new.... possibly might be ok at centre half as I've not really seen Tuenzebe and I like Ekdal who I also think is a very good defender. Maybe when Roberts is fit we'll play a back 5....

We certainly need BIG upgrades in central midfield. And more than one.

I doubt any team has ever survived after being promoted to the PL with so many changes from the previous season.

Would Tuanzebe not be a good partner for Esteve? Of the front three I think Anthony will get the nod, I’ve not seen Tchouana play so no idea if he’s at the required level. Any opportunities to add pace and creativity to the side should be explored. We have a huge squad but we still need to add quality and get rid of as much of the ‘padding’ as possible.

Bit of a waste of money (a big waste - 15 million euros??) if Tchouana isn't good enough.

Loads of players to get rid of out of the squad still....

It just feels a bit like we haven't really brought any players in this summer who are a level above anything else in the squad.

Squad is looking okay, couple of additions needed for the starting 11:

we showed zero urgency today imho, it wont be like that once they start. They'll sort it or we go back to the best league in the world.

I’d hope that Tchouana is good enough to at least make an impact from the bench because we’ve spent quite a large fee on him relative to our net spend.

Agree fully that we need a first choice GK and CM as a minimum after Broja. A perfect world would see us get a CB and a more attacking CM but that’s probably a bit greedy.

NEW
Tuanzebe NEW Esteve
Walker Hartmann
Cullen NEW
Edwards Hannibal
Broja (assuming he signs)

Dare I say it, but the above is similar to the way Amorim plays at United with two 10’s although I do appreciate this probably isn’t Edwards best position and we do have other options for this area of the pitch.

I personally think we need to go with a back 5 this season or risk getting seriously overrun as per previous seasons. I just can’t see how we will cope with a back 4 with the players we currently have at our disposal.

Assuming Broja signs, we are then going to need 3 maybe 4 key signings with GK and centre mid being key areas to strengthen. Quite honestly, we are shockingly short in CM just now and I think we will need two new signings in this position and these need to happen ASAP!

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 5:49 pm

What do we need to compete? Do we have a centre half partner for Esteve? Are the wide players good enough?

NEW
Walker NEW Esteve Hartman
NEW Cullen NEW
Tchouana Broja NEW

I’d be all over Sterling if possible.
Diouf would suit the system well.
Bijlow, Pope or Livakovic for the goalkeeper spot.

Sterling as in Raheem Sterling ? Sterling who is on £325,000 per WEEK wages ??

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 6:12 pm

Squad is looking okay, couple of additions needed for the starting 11:

The thing that concerns me, is Cullen seems a dead cert starter for us.

I really rate him but at this level I don’t think he should be a certain starter.

I would like to think we sign 2 CMs with Cullen fighting for a spot

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:00 pm

The thing that concerns me, is Cullen seems a dead cert starter for us.

I really rate him but at this level I don’t think he should be a certain starter.

I would like to think we sign 2 CMs with Cullen fighting for a spot

If we are playing the 3-4-3 formation, I don’t think Cullen is strong enough physically wise to play in a 2. In the 4-3-3 that we played last season then Cullen can absolutely start

...............................................Pope..............................................

............Tuanzebe..................Walker...............Esteve........,........

Roberts........Hanibal.............Cullen.........JBL..........Hartman....

..............................Edwards.......................................................

.......................................................Broja....................................

It's not perfect but this team could compete I reckon.

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:00 pm

The thing that concerns me, is Cullen seems a dead cert starter for us.

I really rate him but at this level I don’t think he should be a certain starter.

I would like to think we sign 2 CMs with Cullen fighting for a spot

Yeah, agree to an extent, though I think he could work with the correct partner. He played in a 2 for the second half of the last Prem season with Berge mainly.

There are at least 5 things that are more of a concern to me about our current squad competing and surviving in the premier league than Cullen starting.

Foshiznik wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:15 pm

There are at least 5 things that are more of a concern to me about our current squad competing and surviving in the premier league than Cullen starting.

Go on then....

I think we need to go with our current centre halves. There's bigger priorities elsewhere.

Central midfield is absolutely key. Jury's out at this level for Cullen, we desperately need someone who can sit alongside him or even take his place if necessary. On top of that we need a box to boxer and someone with a bit of creativity ideally.

All of that on top of a keeper which is probably number 1 priority.

Whatever anybody says, we aren't in an ideal position. I thought we'd be closer to being ready by this point.

For most if not all of those line-ups, where are the goals coming from? Anthony deserves to start the season and he will track back as well. Ditto JBL.

NEW
Walker Tuanzebe/Humphries Esteve Hartmann
Hannibal NEW Cullen
Tchouana/Edwards Broja Anthony

So if we sign Broja that's only two signings away from a starting eleven I'd be happy with.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:11 pm

Yeah, agree to an extent, though I think he could work with the correct partner. He played in a 2 for the second half of the last Prem season with Berge mainly.

Unfortunately I think Laurent is the 2nd cm

Parker should be sacked immediately and a shortlist of replacement candidates drawn up from our UpTheClarets Armchair Experts.

Does anyone else find it annoying when Anthony finds it funny whenever he does something sh!t?

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 5:54 pm

Would Tuanzebe not be a good partner for Esteve? Of the front three I think Anthony will get the nod, I’ve not seen Tchouana play so no idea if he’s at the required level. Any opportunities to add pace and creativity to the side should be explored. We have a huge squad but we still need to add quality and get rid of as much of the ‘padding’ as possible.

When was the last time Tuanzebe played centre half though? I thought he was predominantly used at right back for Ipswich.

Aclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 6:58 pm

Sterling as in Raheem Sterling ? Sterling who is on £325,000 per WEEK wages ??

Yes that Raheem Sterling, the one Chelsea are desperate to get rid of. There’s always a work around with wages, Chelsea can pay a %, we can give him a lump sum signing on fee to negate the weekly wage drop.

Arsenal paid just 30% of his wages to loan him last season.

brexit wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:25 pm

Unfortunately I think Laurent is the 2nd cm

You also thought our transfer business was done a few days ago……

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:36 pm

Yes that Raheem Sterling, the one Chelsea are desperate to get rid of. There’s always a work around with wages, Chelsea can pay a %, we can give him a lump sum signing on fee to negate the weekly wage drop.

Arsenal paid just 30% of his wages to loan him last season.

Would be a ridiculous signing for us if we managed it!

Rumpelstiltskin wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:26 pm

Parker should be sacked immediately and a shortlist of replacement candidates drawn up from our UpTheClarets Armchair Experts.

Which poster in your 'cyber opinion' has the comfiest Armchair from which they cast their views from?

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:34 pm

When was the last time Tuanzebe played centre half though? I thought he was predominantly used at right back for Ipswich.

I had it in my mind he played CB for Ipswich last season but I stand corrected if not.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 5:54 pm

I doubt any team has ever survived after being promoted to the PL with so many changes from the previous season.

Err, Forest with their 100 players?

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:36 pm

Yes that Raheem Sterling, the one Chelsea are desperate to get rid of. There’s always a work around with wages, Chelsea can pay a %, we can give him a lump sum signing on fee to negate the weekly wage drop.

Arsenal paid just 30% of his wages to loan him last season.

Are we really trying to get him, or is it just wishful thinking?

Rileybobs wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:41 pm

I had it in my mind he played CB for Ipswich last season but I stand corrected if not.

22 PL appearances for Ipswich last season, 21 of those at right back.

Spijed wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:47 pm

Are we really trying to get him, or is it just wishful thinking?

I have absolutely no idea who we’re trying to sign.

We are going to have to :'bully' 'get in their faces' 'ruff 'em up'

...to stand any chance.

Not sure it's allowed anymore but we certainly haven't got the boys to do that, unfortunately.

equinox wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:54 pm

We are going to have to :'bully' 'get in their faces' 'ruff 'em up'

...to stand any chance.

Not sure it's allowed anymore but we certainly haven't got the boys to do that, unfortunately.

It doesn’t help we’re completely useless at attacking set pieces. Something Dyche did well. I can’t remember us scoring from a corner kick last season (apart from the Dara header at Luton opening night).

A big dominant centre half would at least help with that.

Need a real midfield enforcer imo as I can’t see Hannibal being quite good enough as a regular starter . And presume some kind of back up for injury ravaged Broja . That aside we seem fairly solid at the back and good mix of wingers . Though midfield is gonna be incredibly important if we’re to negotiate the 1st 6-8 weeks as a credible unit .

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 8:08 pm

Need a real midfield enforcer imo as I can’t see Hannibal being quite good enough as a regular starter . And presume some kind of back up for injury ravaged Broja . That aside we seem fairly solid at the back and good mix of wingers . Though midfield is gonna be incredibly important if we’re to negotiate the 1st 6-8 weeks as a credible unit .

It would be a brave call from us to put responsibility on Hannibal but in the same breath it might be the responsibility he needs. Hannibal seemed a different player in the last couple of months of the season when it really mattered.

2 new CM is an absolute must or we are going to get run all over. We won’t get 2 though not a chance. 1 GK 1 CM and 1 ST and we will be done.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 8:03 pm

It doesn’t help we’re completely useless at attacking set pieces. Something Dyche did well. I can’t remember us scoring from a corner kick last season (apart from the Dara header at Luton opening night).

A big dominant centre half would at least help with that.

Or someone who can put a corner under the crossbar with pace on it (Westwood).

God we were spoiled weren't we?

equinox wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 8:17 pm

Or someone who can put a corner under the crossbar with pace on it (Westwood).

God we were spoiled weren't we?

Yes and far too many didn't realise it.

I think the OP is correct. After today I think it’s quite clear we have some pretty large gaps.

Predominantly Gk, CM and The forward line.

I really wanted to see Tresor and Tchouna today to see if either of them looked like making the grade or not.

I do tend to agree with KRBFC about JBL. Just seemed an all round crazy signing and totally unnecessary. Would have much preferred to use that fee and wages towards someone else.

Is this the new transfer thread?

Oh, and incidentally, I wouldn’t touch Sterling with a barge pole.

Hannibal is an interesting one , he’s pretty good on the ball and rarely gives it away. If he can play a deeper role, which I think he can, then that’s obviously another option. One of the plus points of today’s game was actually a few of his passes that put Edwards in behind down the right hand side .

Having said that I do think he will be used to press the opposition further up the pitch more often than not.

An upgrade on Laurent is definitely required and possibly a midfielder to replace Brownhill too. To give us options .

Steve-Harpers-perm wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:37 pm

You also thought our transfer business was done a few days ago……

Still believe has been

equinox wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 7:40 pm

Which poster in your 'cyber opinion' has the comfiest Armchair from which they cast their views from?

Me

dermotdermot wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 9:41 pm

Is this the new transfer thread?

No it's the we are not going to sign anybody else who do we start thread

dermotdermot wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 02, 2025 9:41 pm

Is this the new transfer thread?

No but interestingly sports witness is linking us to Michael Adopo again

Today was half a squad / team in a friendly with a shocking referee who essentially ruined the game so I'm not going to have an overrraction about what was effectively a run around for fitness.

Plenty of time and we have loans avaialble which usually don't get freed up until toward the end of the window.

That being said IMO we still need 3 players plus Broja.

1. Goalkeeper with previous Premier League is absolutely essential. (Dubravka / Pope ??)

2. 6 foot plus defensive midfielder again ideally with PL experience. (Billing / Cajuste ??)

3. Attacking midfielder with PL experience. (Mount / Sterling ??)

-------------------------Dubravka

Walker ------ Tuanzebe ---- Esteve ----- Hartmann

-------------- Billing ------------Cullen ---------------

Edwards --------------- Mount ---------------- Anthony

------------------------- Broja

This thread is really sad. The level of expectancy in respect of who's good enough for Burnley is borderline ridiculous.