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On topic, with Sterling I think it's more the hype - Chelsea fans (probably most of whom have never seen him play) raving about him and how he should be in the first team. Given the build up it's quite a disappointment. Without that you'd probably just say he's settling in and hopefully after a...

I agree entirely. I think rich clubs hoarding lots of young talent (in many cases not because they think they're going to be good enough just that they don't want anyone else to benefit) is detrimental to the game overall and the international team. For me, I'd bring in a maximum squad, say 40...

I've been wondering how to best utilise Andreu and Bayliss and wonder if we could get away with two 'No. 10's' behind Biamou in a Xmas tree? That is of course until Jones comes back. ____________Burge Grimmer Davies Willis Brown ___Kelly____Ogogo__Shipley ______Andreu___Bayliss...

On the whole I think you can get a decent idea of a player from fan's opinions but you also have to consider how many of the fans have actually watched this kid play - he's only got 2 first team appearances. Are a lot of these opinions based on what they've actually seen or anecdotal based on...

Isn't that Shipley's number?

But if that were the case he'd be playing two up front rather than Biamou on his own. Biamou will fight for the ball but then he needs someone to lay it off to or make the run in behind. Even the most blinkered Biamou fan must admit he's not prolific enough to be by himself and needs a striker...

I've also got an issue with strikers playing those wide roles, which we've done since the days of Andy Morrell and not once has it worked. Strikers don't drop back or tend to have the defensive mindset to cover the full back, leaving them exposed. Attacking wise they're often not great crossers...

Undoubtedly we'll end up with people on the bench who'd expect to play. Up front I think we're likely to end up with some not even on the bench. I think Biamou, Hiwula, Bakayoko and JCH would all be wanting to play and Ponti would expect to be on the bench but you can't fit that many into the...

Yes it does. It kind of relies on us controlling the game and creating chances from the extra attacking threat and thus hopefully reducing the need for cover a bit as they attack less. It'd be a risky strategy but at least it'd be exciting. Maybe a strategy just for home games? I was just...

As a diamond you could go: _____Ogogo Bayliss____Andreu _____Jones Biamou____Hiw/Bak If MR sticks to 4-2-3-1 ____Ogogo_____Kelly Jones____Andreu_____Bayliss _________Biamou but with that even though we'd create I'm still not convinced we'd convert many

The start of this season is very like the start of last season - we looked poor with this exact 4-2-3-1 system and I'm amazed MR has gone back to it. One thing I admired about MR last season was that he had the nerve to admit it wasn't working and ditch the system (admittedly only due to...