Yet Trap is described as being able to drive forward from midfield.

I always thought deals could be finalised after the deadline as long as a fee was agreed before it? Have I been talking shite?

Interesting: "Wil Trapp was outstanding today. I know Higuaín usually gets all the [credit], and their striker Schoenfeld will get credit because he scored two goals. But Wil Trapp was the key…Wil Trapp does his job. He brings the ball out for them and it's difficult to stop...He has, hopefully for him, a good future. He's American, you guys should be happy, but today I thought he was the difference." —New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry after a Columbus victory in October 2014.

A narrow 4231 only works if the 2 can hassle, the full backs can support the attack, and the 3 can roam and change and move. I think Armstrong increases the possibility of a roaming 3.

Not a 'go' at you Tom, you're as neutral as they come. In a 'Sensible Switzerland' kind of way, rather than a 'Boring Beige' way I'll stick up for chaddy here. Perhaps he feels he has to tell a white lie because of the shit he gets any time he mentions Nixon. I mentioned yesterday that this place has 'gentleman' feel about it. However much chaddy may bring it on himself, other posters are complete dicks to him at time (I include myself in that).

He's fucking horrible. If you comment, it's like opening a door to a room where everyone tells you how shit you are.

I can tell you it's different. I started going all 'agenda' at one point and it went to shit. Ended up quitting because of the hassle it caused. This site relies a lot more on self-moderation than most, hence the 'gentleman' nature of this mb. I've not been on any mb as well nodded as this one.

I can assure you from my own year as mod that it was bloody hard work and most of the effort goes unseen. I'd guess that if you feel mods are targeting you, the mods aren't the issue but either the perceived intent of your posts, or the content.

At the moment, I'd play him in from the left like last season, swapping places with Dack through the game. If we somehow signed Maddison too, then from the right. Move him upfront when Graham tires out.

The link is annoying because it gets my hopes right up! Just imagine if we pulled off an Armstrong/McGinn/Maddison treble in one week.

The season has always started before the end of the window.

BS. He was a worse player under a crap manager even when he did play. Kean and Coyle are cut from the same cloth. Gallagher under Mowbray and played in his actual position would (I believe) be a better player than the left-winger he was under Coyle.

N'Zonzi helped us get relegated from the PL. He's just won a World Cup. Players are different beasts under different managers.

I think that'd be Rothwell tbh

I still feel like we're going to surprise everyone and sign Maddison this window.

Depends what you're into

Scaled down for sure, but I think the 'type' for each is the right analogy. I refer to Downing as Zurab because he's an all-rounder that is an adequate replacement for the other 3, but should never start ahead of them. He's a bit of everything and being a bit pedestrian comes with that kind of territory unfortunately. If I had my way, we'd have a 'Todd' in situ and one of our young cbs would be the Zurab. Probably Wharton or Platt.

I think we have our Nelsen (Mulgrew) and our Samba (Lenihan) and our Zurab (Downing) imo. We need our Todd to complete the set and then I'll feel our defence is reliable for this level.

Bunjaki: (Verb) - To squeeze Jackie's bottom.

Hope the words 'signingS' and 'busy week' imply more (possibly some permanent) business to be done.

Aren't we all sadists for supporting Rovers?

Freidel Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Gray Emerton, Reid, Savage, Pedersen Dickov, Bellamy I think that was our line-up for an away game at Sunderland once. Look at it! Only Pedersen who was a soft-arse.

Just goes to show we don't know until the 11th hour what deals Tony is after. After the meltdown for the last week, he's seemingly justifying keeping quiet on deals. I think the failure to sign wingers thus far points to 3 at the back, 2 wing backs, 3 in midfield, with Dack in the hole behind a lone striker. If Samuel adjusts his style to play like he did vs Everton, he could turn out superbly.

Why???

I think it shows the value of playing lower down and earning your way up when you look at the recent England squad. Entitlement is a cancer that will tear teams apart.