Lucas Digne

[Holy Trinity]

If he signs and I'll believe it when I see it. Expecting a last min change of heart not quite unwin esq but you never know.
But if he signs he will be one of the signings of the season and would strengthen us no end. If he signs and coutinho hits the ground running and signs permanently in the summer then we are 1 dm, 1cb and 1 right back away from having the  omplete squad I think. We have 2 strikers who are top class, the best keeper in the league or in the top 2 at least. 2 very decent center backs but would like to have another on board and we are stacked in midfield except for the dm position. 

Would any of us have dared to dream of being in this position the day rat boy left?

I'm not convinced we do have 2 strikers who are top class. We have one who is a bit hit and miss, and one who does a lot of running, and gets into good positions, but almost  invariably takes one touch too many.

Well I do think they are top class. Not world class/superstars but name a team in the prem with a stronger 2 strikers for 1 position? Watkins does take to many touches but I think he won't need to with better balls coming in. Ings will thrive if we get the real coutinho and may end up as first choice poacher rather than ollie trying to do it all himself.

If we make the 3 singing mentioned in my post above next summer we will only be buying players to go straight into the first team and would be the first time in a very long time I had no idea how to easily upgrade the squad and a very nice position to be in

[mallo]

If he signs, then that's the left hand side sorted - Digne and Coutinho - wowzers. Didn't realise he'd won titles with PSG and Barcelona as well.

[ozzjim]

Cash is one you think you could teach to cross a ball better, even if that is simply to pick out a hard low ball across rather than a floaty cross. Targett is just too slow for Gerrard. You look at the volume of goals scored or created by full backs at Rangers, it is a key position for him.

[Lastfootstamper]

Targett became a perfect foil for Grealish, they had a tremendous understanding. He looks a bit lost these days when he gets forward.

[Clark W Griswold]

I think it boils down to the fact that Targett has been mediocre or worse for 18 months of his 2 and a half years and Cash for 6 months of his 18. Both were very good last season.
I also think that Cash is quicker and more athletic so Gerrard probably thinks he’s got more to work with and more chance of turning him into the player he requires.

[Smithy]

Targett became a perfect foil for Grealish, they had a tremendous understanding. He looks a bit lost these days when he gets forward.

I feel a bit sorry for Targett.  His first year with us he clearly struggled (as many did), but he grew into his role much better after lockdown #1 and into last season.  However, the role he learned so well was the "full-back playing behind Jack Grealish" role, and that's not what's needed any more.

Considering how well he 'learned' his last role and improved so much, I believe he has the footballing intelligence to 'learn' how the role should be played under Gerrard - the difficulty is, I think he's lacking a couple of physical attributes to be really good in Gerrard's system. You can't learn to be 'quicker' or more agile.  But I'm perfectly happy to have him compete with a new left-back as Gerrard's team continues to take shape. He's got enough credit in the bank with me for that.

[rougegorge]

If he signs and I'll believe it when I see it. Expecting a last min change of heart not quite unwin esq but you never know.

I don't remember us signing Stanley Unwin  , but he was a deep thinker when it came to football matters...

"This is a very good question and topicold. I would say that if the forward line have a symmetrical teamworkers and that they can from the first passit of the ball… take in mind the measured beat of a one, two, throo or fido… so that the ball can falollop out to the wingers and a very fine trittly how in a run and kick and carry one and shooting in the goal if they can get by without an offsiger which is known on the ref and don't throw the bottload because he's only doing his best."

[Holy Trinity]

If he signs and I'll believe it when I see it. Expecting a last min change of heart not quite unwin esq but you never know.

I don't remember us signing Stanley Unwin  , but he was a deep thinker when it came to football matters...

"This is a very good question and topicold. I would say that if the forward line have a symmetrical teamworkers and that they can from the first passit of the ball… take in mind the measured beat of a one, two, throo or fido… so that the ball can falollop out to the wingers and a very fine trittly how in a run and kick and carry one and shooting in the goal if they can get by without an offsiger which is known on the ref and don't throw the bottload because he's only doing his best."

This has to be the best response to a spelling error ever and such a uniquely h&v response hahaha

I was referring to Unsworth for those younger one who were thinking I was crackers haha

[olaftab]

Whilst all those attacking stats are good Digne is currently ranked 46th in the most important stat for a defender of intervention/tackles won.

Where we’re going we won’t need defensive stats.

I hope so. Those stats are usually higher for defenders playing in struggling teams just like goalkeepers with their saves from bottom 3.

[Clive W]

If he signs and I'll believe it when I see it. Expecting a last min change of heart not quite unwin esq but you never know.

I don't remember us signing Stanley Unwin  , but he was a deep thinker when it came to football matters...

"This is a very good question and topicold. I would say that if the forward line have a symmetrical teamworkers and that they can from the first passit of the ball… take in mind the measured beat of a one, two, throo or fido… so that the ball can falollop out to the wingers and a very fine trittly how in a run and kick and carry one and shooting in the goal if they can get by without an offsiger which is known on the ref and don't throw the bottload because he's only doing his best."

Deep joy

[itmustbe_it is!]

If he signs and I'll believe it when I see it. Expecting a last min change of heart not quite unwin esq but you never know.

properly excellent


I don't remember us signing Stanley Unwin  , but he was a deep thinker when it came to football matters...

"This is a very good question and topicold. I would say that if the forward line have a symmetrical teamworkers and that they can from the first passit of the ball… take in mind the measured beat of a one, two, throo or fido… so that the ball can falollop out to the wingers and a very fine trittly how in a run and kick and carry one and shooting in the goal if they can get by without an offsiger which is known on the ref and don't throw the bottload because he's only doing his best."

[ozzjim]

People seems to be rowing backwards quite swiftly on this one today. Maybe the early thread was the curse of H&V

[Clark W Griswold]

Whilst all those attacking stats are good Digne is currently ranked 46th in the most important stat for a defender of intervention/tackles won.

Where we’re going we won’t need defensive stats.

I hope so. Those stats are usually higher for defenders playing in struggling teams just like goalkeepers with their saves from bottom 3.

He was 20th for tackles and 40th odd for regaining possession. The attacking stats were excellent though, keep Targett for those times we need to sit back a bit.

[PaulWinch again]

People seems to be rowing backwards quite swiftly on this one today. Maybe the early thread was the curse of H&V

Need to think about punishments if it doesn’t come off. Revoking golden muppet status and a ban from starting new topics for 6 months?! 😉

[CT Villan]

A nod to a classic Eric and Ernie sketch and Sir Stanley Unwin in a thread about a French left back...it can only be H&V.

Excellent work !