Midfield

[Norbs]

Kessie is another maybe? Who else can we go for that's robust. What about the Danish lad that plays for Spurs, Højbjerg?

Didn't he leave Spurs?

Edit. Scrub that, I'm thinking about someone else

[Slinky Skills]

Didn't he leave Spurs?



Edit. Scrub that, I'm thinking about someone else

Haha! No mate, he's definitely still there lol

[Big-Red-Ed]

Like everyone else I think Elliot is a cracking young player. Oozes skill and tenacity but I'm not sure what position he will ultimately make his own. Carvalho is the same but I see him as a Bobby replacement who could earn a place in a front 3. In the next window or 2 we need 2 absolute proper mature world class midfielders. Our current crop are either not good enough to start or are done. Apart from Thiago and he is not reliable.

YNWA

[Doc_Piptorious]

Kessie is another maybe? Who else can we go for that's robust. What about the Danish lad that plays for Spurs, Højbjerg?

He joined Barca on a free a few months ago.

[wiw]

I think there's certainly a world where Rice is worth the money if he's say £60m (though not £100m obviously )

If we want a replacement for Henderson in terms of leadership, effort and being English etc then I'd be in for Rice, but only if we can't get Bellingham

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think there's certainly a world where Rice is worth the money if he's say £60m (though not £100m obviously )

If we want a replacement for Henderson in terms of leadership, effort and being English etc then I'd be in for Rice, but only if we can't get Bellingham

Rice if he was French or German would be a 50m player.

See him as being a lesser player to the likes of Tchouameni but he would probably cost 20m or 30m more that what train set went for and command a bigger wage.

Not sure Rice would be a Henderson (peak Henderson as in a RCM ) replacement. Would see Rice as being more a Fabinho replacement in terms of positioning and role.

Thing is though if one looks at Rice and looks at someone like Laimer that can play in a similar role (as well as in two or three other positions) and is easily as mobile and probably a bit quicker. How does one justify a difference of maybe 80 m in terms of price tag (if Laimer is sold for a fee in January).

[Bender]

Rice if he was French or German would be a 5m player.

See him as being a lesser player to the likes of Tchouameni but he would probably cost 20m or 30m more that what train set went for and command a bigger wage.

Not sure Rice would be a Henderson (peak Henderson as in a RCM ) replacement. Would see Rice as being more a Fabinho replacement in terms of positioning and role.

Thing is though if one looks at Rice and looks at someone like Laimer that can play in a similar role (as well as in two or three other positions) and is easily as mobile and probably a bit quicker. How does one justify a difference of maybe 80 m in terms of price tag (if Laimer is sold for a fee in January).

One of thee most hyped English players ever...such an inconsistent player.

[Angryred]

One of thee mos hyped English players ever...such an inconsistent player.

He was Irish first!

[Bender]

He was Irish first!

Just like the Tories

[Angryred]

Just like the Tories

[Doc_Piptorious]

He was Irish first!

Can't blame him for declaring for England.


Poor sod had to play under Noel King for the under age team and then saw Stephen Kenny coming in to coach the U 21s and eventually the senior team.

Southgate would appear a tactically astute manager who favours
adventurous footy compared to the utter muck Kenny serves up.

[Angryred]

Can't blame him for declaring for England.


Poor sod had to play under Noel King for the under age team and then saw Stephen Kenny coming in to coach the U 21s and eventually the senior team.

Southgate would appear a tactically astute manager who favours
adventurous footy compared to the utter muck Kenny serves up.

Ah yeah, & with Grealish also!...ah well, Patrick Bamford almost declared for us too...wouldn't have seen him either with the amount of time he's been out injured!

[wiw]

Rice if he was French or German would be a 50m player.

See him as being a lesser player to the likes of Tchouameni but he would probably cost 20m or 30m more that what train set went for and command a bigger wage.

Not sure Rice would be a Henderson (peak Henderson as in a RCM ) replacement. Would see Rice as being more a Fabinho replacement in terms of positioning and role.

Thing is though if one looks at Rice and looks at someone like Laimer that can play in a similar role (as well as in two or three other positions) and is easily as mobile and probably a bit quicker. How does one justify a difference of maybe 80 m in terms of price tag (if Laimer is sold for a fee in January).

Yeah that's why I didn't mention position in my post

Agree with the rest. That's why there's an English premium thought isn't there...you ideally want your leaders to be English

[Doc_Piptorious]

Yeah that's why I didn't mention position in my post

Agree with the rest. That's why there's an English premium thought isn't there...you ideally want your leaders to be English

Nah you want your leaders to be leaders. Nationality does not come into it for me.

Speaking English yes.

[wiw]

Nah you want your leaders to be leaders. Nationality does not come into it for me.

Speaking English yes.

They don't have to be English obviously - we had Virg as captain the other day which was great

Obviously what matters is whether they're the natural leader of the group, but I'd say it's preferable but not essential