2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I watched Barcelona last night and the commentators seemed to think Ansu Fati would be available as they need the money. He did appear from the bench and looked lively, even though they were looking for a goal they were putting on kids rather than Ferran Torrres who remained unused. It wouldn’t surprise me if he joins us towards the end of the window either permanently or on loan.
Isn’t Langlet a left footed centre half, not sure how much he played on loan at Spurs last year and has had his own injury concerns recently.

[Dante Lavelli]

The spurs fans I know wanted him to sign permanently. Unsure whether that is a reflection of his performances or because of the alternatives.

[Smithy]

I baulked at the idea of Maguire at the start of the summer, and I still think he doesn't really suit a team that plays a high line as we do, but given the loss of Tyrone, I think a big, vocal centre-half might be just what we need on the pitch and in the dressing room.  Although we still have four centre-halves to choose from, I worry that Carlos is just returning from a long-term injury, and Torres might need time to adjust.  Only Konsa and Chambers have any real premier league experience.

If we can do a loan with an option to buy next summer, I'd take him right now - though I think Man Utd need the sale money for FFP. 

If Torres can step in and be up to speed immediately, that would be my first choice, obviously.

[Smithy]

Jack Harrison is a funny one.  He's always looked like one of their better players when I've seen them play, but he does feel like a poor man's Harvey Barnes.

One thing he DOES do is work incredibly hard.  He might not have the attacking output of the more gifted wide forwards, but he covers a lot of ground, which might be attractive if we're going to continue playing our slightly lop-sided attack structure.   He would balance a very attacking full-back quite well.

[pauliewalnuts]

Maguire is probably the last defender we should be looking at if we persist with playing a high line. He’d be a disaster.

[LeeB]

Maguire is probably the last defender we should be looking at if we persist with playing a high line. He’d be a disaster.

A hugely expensive one too.

[Dazvillain]

Maguire is probably the last defender we should be looking at if we persist with playing a high line. He’d be a disaster.

A hugely expensive one too.

On both accounts, agree ! We’ve spent much of pre season discussing additional to midfield and striker/winger rumours, I can’t even remember CB talk, when we would have been looking at Pau, can anyone start with a few suggestions ?
We need pace, on loan probably best option given our other CB’s so can be released after season assuming Ty makes good recovery

[PaulWinch again]

Yes and people get very agitated about the high line but it’s absolutely been the vehicle to our success last year. It enables us to turn over possession and launch pretty lethal attacks. We got it wrong from the front and midfield on Saturday and put no pressure on the ball, which absolutely killed us.

[Risso]

The trouble is Paul, that it seems to need Mings to organise it. And it cost us loads of goals conceded in pre-season, even when we were playing well. When we were buying Torres a couple of posts said he was quick, but he looked very slow indeed against Newcastle. The high line needs somebody with pace to get back in the times when it's not offside and teams have sprung the trap, and both Torres and Carlos look too slow to do that.

[AV82EC]

I think we just need to go with Pau and Carlos/Konsa and look for a back up left CB on loan. Whilst Pau maybe didn’t look great on Saturday it was against the backdrop of a poor team performance so let’s give him a chance to show why he gets in the Spanish squad. Maybe Carlos needs to come in as the shouty man instead of Konsa as well but I’m sure todays video session with Unai will be instructive for them all😜

[pauliewalnuts]

I agree, removing Mings from that organisation is going to be a nightmare. For a start, he allows Konsa to play, he's not just half of that partnership, he's more than that.

[ROBBO]

The trouble with a constant high line is that clubs find ways to play through the line. How many times did we get away with it by a very fine margin last season? Same with playing out from the back, the high press against the better sides gets us into trouble. Not saying give it away totally but surely mixing it up will give opposing coaches more headaches.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm not convinced pace in central defence is the be all and end all. Positioning is more important, and speed only becomes necessary if you've fucked up stage one.

If your line is disciplined rather than ragged, and provided the midfielders and forwards are pressing properly, you shouldn't need sprinters at the back.

Our biggest problem on Saturday was that the whole team wasn't pressing in coordinated fashion, something we did very well last season.

[Dazvillain]

Who knew we’d be so much of a 1 man team after those JG days ! My extreme motivation for this season was dented when EMI news broke last Thursday, but thought, well there another options and plenty of other potential purchases in that area of the pitch, but after Ty, I’m so gutted for him, everyone at AV, my motivation has dropped to a normal season levels !!

This is my cry for help rant . I’m back at AV low motivation already

[PaulWinch again]

The trouble with a constant high line is that clubs find ways to play through the line. How many times did we get away with it by a very fine margin last season? Same with playing out from the back, the high press against the better sides gets us into trouble. Not saying give it away totally but surely mixing it up will give opposing coaches more headaches.

It’s about playing it well though. Other teams aren’t constantly chopping and changing their styles. It’s just playing a high line and playing out of the back require high precision and if you get it wrong it looks horrendous. I don’t know who else we’ll add, but it’s going to take a lot of work to make sure it operates right. Pace in central defence isn’t a requirement for a high line, but it is if you’re getting it wrong. We need to get it right and I think it gives us many opportunities going forward - even when it went dreadfully on Saturday, we still created lots of chances against a side that is very strong defensively.