Summer transfer, gossip and speculation thread

[achilles]

I would like a centre back, creative player and a goalie. It looks Bruce is going to play 3-5-2 so we could assume something like:

Steer
Hutton - Elphick - Chester
Elmo ------------------------ Taylor
Jedinak
Hourihane - Lansbury
Adomah - Kodjia

Is our current team

Thats got to be the slowest team in the league

No change from last season then!

[OCD]

Steer
Hutton - Chester - Clark
Elmo ------------------------ Green
Thor
Hourihane - Grealish
Hogan - Kodjia

Could also be our team with players like Doyle-Hayes also coming through.

I think Hogan could look like a completely different player with another striker alongside him.

[Mister E]

I would like a centre back, creative player and a goalie. It looks Bruce is going to play 3-5-2 so we could assume something like:

Steer
Hutton - Elphick - Chester
Elmo ------------------------ Taylor
Jedinak
Hourihane - Lansbury
Adomah - Kodjia

Is our current team

Please, not Lansbury... his is the perfect position to blood one of the youngsters.

[footyskillz]

Steer
Hutton - Chester - Clark
Elmo ------------------------ Green
Thor
Hourihane - Grealish
Hogan - Kodjia

Could also be our team with players like Doyle-Hayes also coming through.

I think Hogan could look like a completely different player with another striker alongside him.

Hogan likely to be inspired if king Henry comes .

[paul_e]

                      Steer
       Hutton - Chester - RDL
Adomah - Jedinak - New signing or Green
     Hourihane - Lyden/Doyle-Hayes/Clarke
                    Grealish
           Kodjia

By going with more attacking players as wing backs it should counter them drawing too deep. RDL and Hutton are in there because they will naturally go a little wider. Jedinak is there for his heading as much as anything but can also step back to make a 4 if needed.

Midfield is where I think we need to see some of the kids. Given we have 3 who all look like they could do a decent job I'd just rotate between them for now. I've put Grealish further forward so he can wander round the pitch a little and get himself involved but he could easily drop back for the kids and we could bring in Hogan.

The main thing is that I want to get more mobility into the team.

[tomd2103]

                      Steer
       Hutton - Chester - RDL
Adomah - Jedinak - New signing or Green
     Hourihane - Lyden/Doyle-Hayes/Clarke
                    Grealish
           Kodjia

By going with more attacking players as wing backs it should counter them drawing too deep. RDL and Hutton are in there because they will naturally go a little wider. Jedinak is there for his heading as much as anything but can also step back to make a 4 if needed.

Midfield is where I think we need to see some of the kids. Given we have 3 who all look like they could do a decent job I'd just rotate between them for now. I've put Grealish further forward so he can wander round the pitch a little and get himself involved but he could easily drop back for the kids and we could bring in Hogan.

The main thing is that I want to get more mobility into the team.

Would not be surprised to see Jedinak play as one of the back three if we are going to go with that formation this season.  In terms of the midfield in the team above, I think Lyden and Doyle-Hayes are more defensive midfielders and I think Grealish would be better used as part of a midfield three.  I know he is injured at the moment, but from what I have seen of him, O'Hare would be suited to playing in that more advanced role just behind Kodjia. 

[sirlordbaltimore]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

[paul_e]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

In a 3 he'd be fine I think.  That said I'd prefer if we'd just let him leave.

[Hookeysmith]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

https://twitter.com/i/status/989610443370057730

Cant for the life of me think why you would say that

[VILLA MOLE]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

https://twitter.com/i/status/989610443370057730

Cant for the life of me think why you would say that

there is some brilliant ones on there

[in exile]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

I agree.
I would rather see Hutton and DeLaet swap places

[sirlordbaltimore]

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

I agree.
I would rather see Hutton and DeLaet swap places

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a wing back is equally chilling

[mr underhill]

Alan's most effective when he doesn't think about shit at all.

[RussellC]

At a (significantly) lower level obviously, Hutton’s actually a pretty similar player to Kyle Walker, who made a similar transition this summer. His one-on-one defending is actually very good – see both legs of the playoff semi-final for reference- and he has great recovery pace.  I’ve always thought that he’s had a tendency to defend ‘too narrow’ as a full-back so playing on the right hand side of a back 3 should actually suit him.

Contrary to popular belief, I also think he’s pretty decent at carrying the ball out of defence. Granted, he’s useless once he’s past the halfway line, but in this position that’s as far as he should need to go on a regular basis!

I wouldn’t be too keen on having both him and RDL in a back 3 though. Would prefer Chester to play on the other-side and to bring in someone like Huth to play centrally. If Bruce stays, I reckon Tuanzebe will return. Form RDL’s pre-season performances so far, he could actually make an effective right wing-back.



the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

In a 3 he'd be fine I think.  That said I'd prefer if we'd just let him leave.

At a (significantly) lower level obviously, Hutton’s actually a pretty similar player to Kyle Walker, who made a similar transition this summer. His one-on-one defending is actually very good – see both legs of the playoff semi-final for reference- and he has great recovery pace.  I’ve always thought that he’s had a tendency to defend ‘too narrow’ as a full-back so playing on the right hand side of a back 3 should actually suit him.

Contrary to popular belief, I also think he’s pretty decent at carrying the ball out of defence. Granted, he’s useless once he’s past the halfway line, but in this position that’s as far as he should need to go on a regular basis!

I wouldn’t be too keen on having both him and RDL in a back 3 though. Would prefer Chester to play on the other-side and to bring in someone like Huth to play centrally. If Bruce stays, I reckon Tuanzebe will return. Form RDL’s pre-season performances so far, he could actually make an effective right wing-back.

the thought of Alan Hutton trying to play as a CB is truly chilling

In a 3 he'd be fine I think.  That said I'd prefer if we'd just let him leave.

[PeterWithesShin]

Hutton would be great as a CB, last ditch saving tackles like this guaranteed.

https://twitter.com/DrunkFootbaIIer/status/989829364622811138