Douglas Luiz - back home on loan

[KevinGage]

I'm a big fan and want to see him stay.

But to contradict that somewhat: If Emery sees him as a bit part/ first drop sort of option now, I'm not sure without CL football we can justify the outlay re the wages he'll inevitably require.   PSR (and the European variant) seems to only banjax us, weirdly.

We might be better of with a younger project midfielder; someone who can grow with us the way Doug did 2019-2022.

Think we need to target younger players regardless now anyway - and not just the sort of flotsam we punt out on loan to the Olbiyun and Sheff Utd etc.

Players who can actually come into the first team and give us legs in midfield and up top.

A fair chunk of our better players are near 30 or over. We need to get the average age of the side down.

[tomd2103]

You don’t need “great” across the squad. You need players of Doug’s quality to have a strong squad, we should absolutely have him as a medium term replacement for Barkley.

Is he going to be happy with that though Paul?  He looked a shadow of himself when he came on for Forest against us earlier in the season.

[AV82EC]

You don’t need “great” across the squad. You need players of Doug’s quality to have a strong squad, we should absolutely have him as a medium term replacement for Barkley.

Is he going to be happy with that though Paul?  He looked a shadow of himself when he came on for Forest against us earlier in the season.

He was playing in a Sean Dyche team for Gods Sake. That’s enough to put anyone off their caipirinhas.

[Ian.]

You don’t need “great” across the squad. You need players of Doug’s quality to have a strong squad, we should absolutely have him as a medium term replacement for Barkley.

Is he going to be happy with that though Paul?  He looked a shadow of himself when he came on for Forest against us earlier in the season.

He fits us far better than any other team. He’s going to be good signing if we keep him. Ideally I’d like him a bit further forward so he’s a better threat. Squad player or not though, I don’t think he’d struggle like he did at Forest.

[Mister E]

Bergvall world be a great acquisition but I doubt think we'll be able to get him; there'll be other teams competing for him.
So, who is out there - the new Wharton or Bergvall - that we can get?

[PaulWinch again]

You don’t need “great” across the squad. You need players of Doug’s quality to have a strong squad, we should absolutely have him as a medium term replacement for Barkley.

Is he going to be happy with that though Paul?  He looked a shadow of himself when he came on for Forest against us earlier in the season.

He fits us far better than any other team. He’s going to be good signing if we keep him. Ideally I’d like him a bit further forward so he’s a better threat. Squad player or not though, I don’t think he’d struggle like he did at Forest.

Exactly and he’d get more than enough game time. He does offer something slightly different with his runs into the box.

[eamonn]

Dougie's goal against Chelsea was pure filth. Onana would have tripped over his feet if he had the quick-thinking to even attempt it.

[PaulWinch again]

We should 100% sign him given the agreed price. He’s comfortably worth that to strengthen the squad.

[Dante Lavelli]

I dont. Yuri is world class, Dougie is nowhere near his level.

I dont think there’s much in it, at least with Doug mk1.  Doug is better at pressing and the defensive stuff whereas Tielemans is better at passing.

[PaulWinch again]

I love Doug, but Youri has kicked on at the same time as Doug regressed. So I think Youri is one of the best around now - but I think Doug is still very good, particularly if his upward curve continues. I think longer-term he’d add goals from midfield and give us more variety so I’d definitely keep him.