Transfer Rumours Summer 2020 Transfer Rumours

Don’t forget the supposed curse.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jul/11/newsstory.sport4

 

I'm not a superstitous person and don't think we have been particularly unlucky playing at home, we just need to find a way of penetrating teams that sit deeper. We don't try to work the ball to the byline enough for me and the tempo of our play is too slow most of the time.

 

To be fair, it was the hottest day of the year when we played Arsenal. ****ed if I could have been tempted to run a yard all day (although no one has been tempted to describe me as an athlete for over 30 years).

 

I agree about the Arsenal game but our slow tempo has been a recurring theme at SMS for quite a while now. I rate JWP but his instinct is usually to turn back or sideways when he recieves the ball.

 

Stuff and ****ing nonsense. Just remember that when one of our players runs down the wings he is trampling all over a Skate shirt.

 

Nowhere near as much as PEH does. It’s absolutely the problem with our home play. When we sped up and made some quick passes against Arsenal, we suddenly caused them problems. Both the goals conceded came initially from negative, fearful play from midfield.

 

And when there was too big a gap between the midfield and defence.

 

Do you remember you and I sat watching one of his early games? Everything he did was on the half turn and always looking forward for a runner. Strange to see the change in him.

 

Indeed. And I thought it was most obvious whenever PEH was stood over a FK (eg around the half line). He was constantly standing with his back to Arsenal's goal - not even a thought of whether a quick forward pass might be on.

 

Ultimately I think both the midfield and defence are pretty average. And I don't think we'll improve until we get some real quality in each position. Gonna be hard to do that this summer though.

 

Bertie apart, I don’t think any of those positions would improve another Premier League side really.

 

Was the thing that most excited me. The effect on the rest of the team was palpable, either looking for the quick pass forward or running with the ball. Can remember him driving from midfield to the edge of an opponent's area and thinking it was precisely what we'd been missing. What happened to that guy?

And yeah, while our midfield isn't bad, I agree that improving our midfield would likely have the greatest impact in terms of getting the team to play to Ralph's preferences. One of the best ways we can relieve the pressure on our oft-shaky defense is if we have the opposition on their heels, and for that to happen we need to be more aggressive.

 

Armstrong maybe.

 

Yes, maybe.

 

Anyone think Todd Cantwell will be worth a punt if/when Norwich go down?

 

Good player, but I think there will be a queue.

 

Yes - I think he’ll go for more than we can afford. I quite like the look of their right back though
To be honest I’d love Norwich to keep their best players and do the biz in the championship. Always seems so unfair that the top Premier Clubs can cherry pick from the relegated teams.

 

If PEH keeps up his current form he will play himself out of a transfer this summer. Which I think is a shame as I think we can improve on him if we were to get circa £20-25m.

 

Or his current form could be because he has already agreed a move

 

Thinking the same.