Exiled_Rover

If we were a well run club, our offer to Kipre would be guaranteed first team football in the North West (which he appears to enjoy) on more money than he's currently getting paid (although he might currently being paid £0). We wouldn't sit on the offer though - we don't have the luxury. Make the offer, let him know that he's our #1 target, but only until Friday. After that, the deal may still be on the table, but we're also looking elsewhere. We're desperate for a CB. It's then his decision to hurry Leeds / WBA along if he's desperate for a move to the Prem, or accept our offer. Although I'm sure he's not short of suitors.

I don't consider him worthy of his salary, so he'd be paying us back.

As I said earlier, it's absolutely a holding bid while they pursuit other interests. They probably think he would be a decent squad player for them (with perhaps the potential to be something more) - and at that price if he's not then it's no skin off their nose.

That's us fucked then.

Smart man.

I'm sure it's very difficult to say no to the lifestyle.

The money in football is mental anyway. If someone offered me double but said I'd play cup games only and be cover I'd say thanks but no thanks.

Honestly they'll just be testing the water while looking for better players.

Has Mowbray really said that about Williams? What if no deal happens before the window closes? Then everyone knows you're carrying a player you don't want / doesn't want to be here. He's a shocking man manager.

Sorry, just had to make that minor edit. Carry on.

I can't say I've noticed how good Kipre is, but people are definitely overblowing the importance of Tosin as a defender. Fantastic on the ball, especially at this level, but defensively he left a lot to be desired.

So the problem remains. You could have Van Dijk at CB with Lenihan. You'd still ship a ton of goals down that left hand side.

Who's playing LB then?

It depends who they've got lined up to replace him. Yes, a competent manager could almost certainly find a better player on a free right now - but we've got Mowbray at the helm. Sometimes it's better the devil you know.

If I was in charge, and on an extremely tight budget, I'd be looking at getting a quality starting LB in as a bare minimum. I'd love a new CB and a new CM, but the black hole at LB is the cause of a lot of our defensive problems. I think you'll also find that if we improve our LB and the middle of our midfield (i.e. stop teams just walking through us), you can lower your standards at CB. At the moment our back 4 are badly exposed. Up front I wouldn't do anything - inexperienced, maybe, but I'd throw down the gauntlet to JRC, Dolan, Chapman and Brennan and say there's a place in the starting XI and a place on the bench for two of you. Sort it out among yourselves. That allows you to rotate Dack / Armstrong / Gallagher / Brereton (and sadly Rothwell, even though I think he's a CM) in the other two positions upfront (assuming we're playing a 4-3-3).

I was going to say, I bet it's close.

Nah I'm thinking of the midfielder who's turned out for them occasionally. Was listed with Folden as an example of their Academy doing it's job.

I've managed a sizable social media account before. I never posted awful things like this. Probably why I don't still manage a social media account!

Wasn't Garcia at the front of the 'look, Man City's Academy is producing players for the first team' line? Didn't realise he'd been released.

We have a black hole at LB.

That's a good problem to have.

If it's tight the priority should be GK and LB, in that order.

At this level, asking your GK to play like Edison is mental. Schmeichel's distribution from hand was fine - why do they have to pretend they're good with their feet?

Preston have clearly dropped a bollock here.

Is anyone having a problem mirroring this broadcast from an iPad? Suspect it's on their end, rather than mine as I've restarted everything and this is the only thing that won't mirror.