Summer Transfer Window 2017

[Lanolin]

Have to say I'm not quite sure I understand the love for Pickford. He looks good, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure he's quite at the level some people are suggesting. I know a couple of Sunderland fans who find it a bit strange that so many drool over him, and think he's a bit of a 'match of the day' keeper where his highlights reel looks great but over 90 minutes he's a mixed bag. I think we saw a bit of that on Saturday.

I think some people may not realise his age either, particularly those who are saying sign him and then loan him out for a year. He's not a teenager, he's 23 next week and has over a 100 football league games under his belt. That's not that young for a keeper (somebody compared him to De Gea earlier, who was Atletico's first choice at 18 and United's at 20) and I think Butland looked a much better all round keeper last season at the same age. I think he'll be a very good keeper, but he still looks very raw to me and that's a slight concern at this stage.

Genuinely don't understand the shouts for Schmeichel at all, I don't think he's any better than Joel and he never has been.

 

[BlueToff]

I can't see Forster coming to us to be honest

His next move, if there is one, will be to a CL team either here or abroad

If Leicester go down and have a fire sale I could see Schmeichel possibly being available. If we got him at a discount then I wouldn't be too bothered, as he and Robles could compete for the #1 role. That would probably mean the end of Stekky though

Forster hasn't been good enough this season to get into a CL team mate, no chance.

It's why he's a realistic option for us at this stage...

 

[BlueToff]

Have to say I'm not quite sure I understand the love for Pickford. He looks good, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure he's quite at the level some people are suggesting. I know a couple of Sunderland fans who find it a bit strange that so many drool over him, and think he's a bit of a 'match of the day' keeper where his highlights reel looks great but over 90 minutes he's a mixed bag. I think we saw a bit of that on Saturday.

I think some people may not realise his age either, particularly those who are saying sign him and then loan him out for a year. He's not a teenager, he's 23 next week and has over a 100 football league games under his belt. That's not that young for a keeper (somebody compared him to De Gea earlier, who was Atletico's first choice at 18 and United's at 20) and I think Butland looked a much better all round keeper last season at the same age. I think he'll be a very good keeper, but he still looks very raw to me and that's a slight concern at this stage.

Genuinely don't understand the shouts for Schmeichel at all, I don't think he's any better than Joel and he never has been.

23 is certainly 'that' young for a keeper though.

Robles is 26 and is really only just showing that he can be trusted long-term IMO.

The ones who are good so young are the ones that are truly special talents (Buffon, De Gea, Donnarumma etc)

 

[Eggs]

...Pickford seems to lack physical stature to me. He is 6ft 1in but you look at the likes of de Gea who might be compared but is 6ft 4in. As I've said, Pickford is a shot stopper and they can flatter because they bring off unbelievable saves but they don't command their areas or come for crosses.

I'm not convinced with Schmeichel either. I agree with others who don't particularly see either as an improvement on Robles. The same applies to the lad at Burnley.

I'm all for getting somebody better in but I'm not seeing many in the Premiership.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Forster hasn't been good enough this season to get into a CL team mate, no chance.

It's why he's a realistic option for us at this stage...

I just can't see it

I'd be happy to have him here, but I'm just not sure it's on the cards

 

[Paul w]

...Pickford seems to lack physical stature to me. He is 6ft 1in but you look at the likes of de Gea who might be compared but is 6ft 4in. As I've said, Pickford is a shot stopper and they can flatter because they bring off unbelievable saves but they don't command their areas or come for crosses.

I'm not convinced with Schmeichel either. I agree with others who don't particularly see either as an improvement on Robles. The same applies to the lad at Burnley.

I'm all for getting somebody better in but I'm not seeing many in the Premiership.

He is playing in Italy mate.

 

[bluestevon]

I just can't see it

I'd be happy to have him here, but I'm just not sure it's on the cards

You overate Forster mate, he is a mile away from the real quality keepers in the league (Courtoius, De Gea and Lloris)

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

You overate Forster mate, he is a mile away from the real quality keepers in the league (Courtoius, De Gea and Lloris)

He's always got a Vs Barca performance in him

He may not be any of those three, but he's the next tier down IMO, so if you combine him with a good defence you have a strong back line

Look at yesterday, would that have happened with Virgil playing and supporting him? I personally think not

 

[Lanolin]

23 is certainly 'that' young for a keeper though.

Robles is 26 and is really only just showing that he can be trusted long-term IMO.

The ones who are good so young are the ones that are truly special talents (Buffon, De Gea, Donnarumma etc)

Is it though? Or are you just repeating one of those football factoids that you hear a lot? I know people always said that about keepers, but look at the modern game and you might be surprised. De Gea, Courtois, Hart, Lloris, Oblak, Neuer, Ter Stegen, Casillas and Cech were all starring at the very top level at that age, and in my opinion Pickford looks a fair way short of that yet. If we want to be the best then we need to be looking at 'truly special talents'.

 

[bluestevon]

He's always got a Vs Barca performance in him

He may not be any of those three, but he's the next tier down IMO, so if you combine him with a good defence you have a strong back line

Look at yesterday, would that have happened with Virgil playing and supporting him? I personally think not

Maybe not mate, then again where would we be right now with forster instea dof Robles - i'd suggest no better off, compared to where we'd be with say VVD instead of Mori and Robles in gal - i'd suggest a lot better off.

 

[Toffee-nerd]

Don't really see the need to upgrade on Robles to be honest. He's been sound since he came in and has stats up with the best keepers in the league for this season. He's doing pretty much all he can to stake his claim for the role long term and TBH I think we could spend the money better elsewhere in the squad.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Maybe not mate, then again where would we be right now with forster instea dof Robles - i'd suggest no better off, compared to where we'd be with say VVD instead of Mori and Robles in gal - i'd suggest a lot better off.

I'm not calling for Forster over Robles tbf

Robles should start next season with a better defence in front of him IMO, but if Forster did come in I wouldn't be too upset, as competition for places isn't a bad thing

 

[bluestevon]

I'm not calling for Forster over Robles tbf

Robles should start next season with a better defence in front of him IMO, but if Forster did come in I wouldn't be too upset, as competition for places isn't a bad thing

No arguments there mate, a top notch centre back or two and a bit of cover for Baines and think the keeper we have is fine for the job

 

[The binman chronicles]

So given our upturn in form what do people now think we need to challenge the top 4?

If we say we are keeping the Gueye and Morgs DM partnership and Davies keeps improving and Barkley becomes more consistent, then our midfield is already complete.

So do we get another CB to partner Williams and Holgate as part of a back 5 or do we buy 2 new CB's that can play as part of a 4. In which case do we need more defensive full backs? And obviously if we lose the width the can we count on just Bolasie to provide the width?

I would be happy to start next season with something like this:

New GK
Coleman Holgate Williams New CB Baines
Gueye Morgs
Davies
Barkley
Lukaku

Hopefully that team is strong enough to match the best, we'll soon see in the run of games we have coming up though.

I guess at some point to really kick on we will have to decide between Schneiderlin and Gueye and also between Barkley and Davies.

 

[The binman chronicles]

So given our upturn in form what do people now think we need to challenge the top 4?

If we say we are keeping the Gueye and Morgs DM partnership and Davies keeps improving and Barkley becomes more consistent, then our midfield is already complete.

So do we get another CB to partner Williams and Holgate as part of a back 5 or do we buy 2 new CB's that can play as part of a 4. In which case do we need more defensive full backs? And obviously if we lose the width the can we count on just Bolasie to provide the width?

I would be happy to start next season with something like this:

New GK
Coleman Holgate Williams New CB Baines
Gueye Morgs
Davies
Barkley
Lukaku

Hopefully that team is strong enough to match the best, we'll soon see in the run of games we have coming up though.

I guess at some point to really kick on we will have to decide between Schneiderlin and Gueye and also between Barkley and Davies.