Rousseau

One thing I thought I picked up on in the interview what the 'alignment' of manager to the plan. I got the sense that Beale was sacked because he didn't align with the plan, rather than results per se. I think if Beale had got on board with the plan he would have been given more time. 

I might be wrong, but I got that impression.  

2 hours ago, DMAA said:

Reports that we are paying a few million have made me very lukewarm on this one. His stats are pretty run of the mill, and poor on a few key metrics (and inconsistent between seasons). On the other hand, he is rated by Twente fans, seems to have leadership qualities and has had a good record with Twente in terms of goal conceded so may have strengths in some of the intangibles like organisation. At the end of the day I’ll get on board because he likely improves us today (hopefully significantly). I’m just not seeing the justification for spending so much on someone this age, and another example of someone who has a personal relationship with our coaching staff is not helping my doubts about our scouting and recruitment. 

Which key metrics concern you? 

I've made a Gersnet PL Fantasy Football league again. 

Code: nhvz77

https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/nhvz77

It's a good bit a fun and makes the PL more interesting. 

Hopefully we get a few more players. 

5 minutes ago, Franc Ergs said:

You must've been inconsolable then when we signed the 37yo Davie Weir .

Weir was a freebie, so I was only slightly miffed. 

Propper is a little old, for me, but we need reinforcements at CB and he goes straight into the team so I'm content - defenders generally last longer anyway. 

His numbers look really good: high duel win %, high ball recoveries, good passer. He does get dribbled past, and is caught on the ball, but it's only slightly above average, and offset by the high number of times he touches the ball. 

His brother was a fine player. 

Hearts 2 - 3 Rangers

FGS Dessers

We're back!

Hearts vs Rangers

13 minutes ago, Frankie said:

It is a loan deal though.

He actually says to June '23, so I've got my years wrong. 

I was thinking Cortes would be included in that £11.5m figure, because it is an obligation to buy, IIRC.

23 minutes ago, CammyF said:

There is no denying that, but there is also no denying its been handled terribly.

 

We still don't know where our £1.5M striker is, or how close he is to featuring for either B or 1st team.

 

We await news on whether Cernys International clearance has arrived and if he will feature on Saturday. 

 

We still don't know if / where Connor Goldson is or if he's been sold / loaned to another club. (Ditto Cifuentes).

 

Our prime targets have been approached and appear to have rejected us.

 

We have an inferior and weaker squad than we did at the end of last season.

 

Any player we want to have play in CL qualifiers must be registered by Thursday. 

 

Has any or the managers transfer budget been removed to help pay for Hampden / work on Copland? 

 

Our Chairman is MIA. 

 

It's a complete clusterfcuk no matter how you try to paint it. 

How dare we not get answers before they happen!

I noted that Hannibal is with the Man Utd squad in USA - does that mean he's not in talks with us? Or is it irrelevant?

1 hour ago, Uilleam said:

(The usual rules re: guns and messenger apply)

 

'FC Porto turned down two offers of around €15M from Strasbourg and Rangers for Gonçalo Borges reveals @ojogo'

That's so ludicrous that the messenger at least deserves a quick cuff around the lug, surely?

43 minutes ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

No, think back to when our attacking fullbacks under Gerrard were at their best. When they went forward tav had jack to cover and Borna had Kamara. In recent seasons that cover hasn’t been there or has not worked.

 

The examples you cite may well have similar cover from midfield or wingers. I haven’t seen enough of them to comment. Although I’m sure city and leverkusen don’t play 4 at the back?

 

It’s about balance and I don’t think we have had it for a long time.

So it's the lack of cover and not that a FB gets '20 goals and assists'? 

You've changed your argument. 

I agree with this one. Most still moaned at having 3 DMs!

37 minutes ago, CammyF said:

Tav's average is 5 non-pen goals a season? Really? Is that league only? Seems really low. 

 

Anyway, why are we "talking down" Tavs goals and assist stats? Incredible numbers for a full-back no matter how one paints them. 

League only - easier to compare to others.

It has happened a few times for me over the past few days. 

There is an update coming soon, iirc. 

2 hours ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

Wonder if anyone has thought at any time having a team set out so that your right back can get 20 goals and assists a season might not be the right way to do it? 

That argument doesn't really hold up. 

If you think he's scoring too many goals for a FB - most of his goals are penalties. He scores 3 to 8 non-penalty goals per season (5 is the average), and that doesn't take into account free-kicks. 5 goals is not unusual for a FB in today's game. Frimpong hit 14 goals last season for Leverkusen (albeit at wingback)! TAA, Robertson, Estupinan, Gvardiol, Lewis, Alex Moreno all have higher goals per 90 than Tavernier. 

If you think he's assisting too much - Robertson and TAA have better assist numbers at Liverpool and that's from two FBs in the same side. There are 6 FBs that have a higher assist per 90 in the PL than Tavernier. 

I would assume those numbers are repeated throughout the top five leagues - are you suggesting the best teams and managers in the world are making a mistake? 

8 hours ago, RANGERRAB said:

Fleetwood got scudded by Fleetwood? 😳

He meant Hearts were beaten by Fleetwood. 

2 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

So have Rangers tbf!. Another poor performance which just increases my dread for the season ahead!.

I thought it was quite good - defense aside. 

Am I seeing things or has King been good at RB? 

I do like someone of Wright's profile as a #10: more of a forward that's tidy on the ball and can beat a man, rather than a pure creator; a second-striker. 

I've had a 'mare today:

Criticise Lawrence - Goal! 

Criticise Butland - bodied by @Frankie

Criticise Dessers - Goal! 

Just now, CammyF said:

Touch, touch, touch = goal 🙄😀

Well - my juju is up to speed for the upcoming season... 

That is such a Dessers goal.

King on for Tavernier. I don't mind a situational back-three - if that is what we're doing and it's not just King playing RB - if it allows us to get the LB high and wide.