The Fish

The fuck did I do to you? I don't come on here to have my wildly popular podcast besmirched by some cueball bonced bastard!

You didn't like. I had my own advent calendar, and he had his. Get your judgement on a bus to FuckOffVille

What if he comes up against players whose day job isn't ploughing the fields?

Who does that remind you of?

Not sure we could have predicted that we'd be down over 10 senior players for great swathes of the season. On paper signing a CL level CM, an attacking goal threat and two promising young players on the fringe of the team is good business. We lost the first to a lengthy ban, the second to a lengthy injury, neither of which could have been foreseen. One of the promising players has earned a starting position on the left, at least. The other can't seem to get any minutes at all, for whatever reason. Had Tonali been fit we could have better covered the loss of Pope by providing better protection for Dubravka. Had Barnes been fit we could have lessened the load of Wilson and Isak and so on. And the above doesn't include domestic or European cup competitions and the added pressures they bring.

Kind of, I'm suggesting we've needed a DM for fucking ages. A DM that would, with a full strength squad, allow us to play Bruno further forward without risking the defence being overrun. Right now, we're too easy to play through, and with Dubravka being incapable of playing that sweeper keeper role that Pope did, we are forced to abandon our high line. Our midfield and defence don't have the legs to provide that defensive protection that they did last season. So our keeper needs more protection, our defence needs more protection and the load on our midfield needs to be lessened. Phillips and Bruno as a solid 2 man platform to build from is right, for the here and now. Moving forward we could absolutely revert to a similar style with Phillips playing in the same position that Bruno was. I've not changed my mind at all on the longer term needs, I just recognise that, right now, we need to be more solid which is why I would go for the dreaded and derided double pivot.

I honestly haven't changed my opinion on what this squad needs for years; a true blue DM. What is it that you think I've said, then flip-flopped to? I'm genuinely confused.

He's shown the most ability to play the unexpected pass from our midfielders. You could even play two wingers and Wilson and Isak in the middle and go for an old school 4-4-2. But I wouldn't recommend it against anyone outside the bottom 3 or 4 clubs.

Yeah, definitely crossed wires here. Bruno is best further forward and a proper number 6 would free him up. But given our injuries, given how we're struggling recently, it makes sense to provide more protection to a lesser 'keeper like Dubravka. I'm not sure what semantic hill you're trying to die on, but I'm staying my hand.

Yeah, set up with either; Trippier Schar Botman Livramento Bruno Phillips Miley Almiron Wilson Gordon Trippier Schar Botman Burn Phillips Bruno Joelinton Almiron Isak Gordon Or some variation

And he can, but signing someone like Phillips would free him up if we wanted to. Bruno could play as half of the double pivot, or we could play Phillips as a single pivot with Bruno further forward as an 8.

Coaches' Voice | Kalvin Phillips: Premier League Player Watch (coachesvoice.com)

May be some miscommunication? Phillips would definitely free up Bruno.

He has the physicality to break forward, but he's way more defensively aware and capable than Longstaff. He can break the press well either with a quick pass or through that strength on the ball. I think he was used by Leeds to support the attacks (and depending on the opponent he could get that license here too), but he's chiefly there to break up play and be that pivot at the base of a midfield three/diamond. He's definitely got the right profile for what we need. If we don't get him on loan, then we should 100% have other options lined up.

Man Utd are terrible, but they have players with sufficient quality to dig them out of whatever hole Ten Haag digs for them.

As an aside, and I might be way off, but my AbsoluteFilth-RADAR is pinging whenever she does a line direct to camera.

In so much as they're 3pts off the top spot with half the season gone, I think they have to be consider contenders, but I don't think they'll end up top two. Top 4 is surely a lock for them now, right?

Honestly think Tonali was bought to play further up the pitch, I'm sure he can play ok as half of a double pivot, but his most valuable area of the pitch is surely 30-40yd away from their goal. Him and Bruno up there, and a DM behind them. sticking with the 4-1-2-3/4-1-4-1. I suppose ideally the aim would be to have a versatile squad. Bruno, Joelinton, Longstaff, Miley, Tonali, Willock are all able to play in midfield, but each offer a different threat. Powerful running from Joelinton and Willock, passing from Miley and Tonali, tenacity and discipline from Longstaff and Tonali, and of course Bruno is the most complete of them all. Willock and Joelinton could play as 8s who burst forward and wide, Miley and Tonali could play more intricate passing moves, and you could mix and match a runner, a passer and so on. What we don't have is a disciplined, defensive midfielder. Someone who can retrieve or receive the ball around our box and progress the ball to the attackers. Bruno isn't a DM, he wants to attack, he wants to get up the pitch.

Only 12 minutes in and there's already loads of shit I had no idea about.

Dunno about Villa. They've an apparently suicidal high line, but Martinez is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world so it's not so much of a weakness. Watkins is prolific and the way Emery has them drilled they're really dangerous, regardless of the opponent. They've the ability to hit you on the break, or play through a solid defence. They're definitely up there on merit. Spurs may well fall away though.

I can't think of a worse way to spend my evening, to be honest.

Latter option works when Trippier returns to form and fitness. Signing a DM would protect Trippier (and Tino), so if we could get Phillips or whomever they'd have more time to recover and be under less pressure during games.

What's it on? I'm 'at work' and the little lad has a mate round, so downstairs is like a mini Mad Max hellscape.