Adam P

Id think LW is more pressing an issue than RW as the squad stands, we are in a bit of a tricky position because of Whittaker and Azaz IMO. If Azaz is sold and Edwards does want to play wingbacks, I think we'll end up going 3-4-3. Gives you Forss and Whittaker as actual RW options, Burgzorg back up LW and we'd need a qualty first choice LW. If we play 3-5-2 / 3-4-2-1 then Whittaker is pretty redundant IMO, 6 months after signing. He's not a 10 and certainly not a wingback. Leave him high and wide and get overlapping players to give him space and he'll get goals. Not sure where that leaves Mcgree either unless they think he can play anywhere down the left or even in midfield so worth keeping around. You could argue Azaz LW is an option, but the way Edwards talks about reaction and press and winning ball back, you need the front line to be front foot and aggressive, neither of which Azaz is. Whittaker isnt either tbh but Forss is. Interesting either way.

I'll be honest I'd be gutted if we started the season and that was the team. The centre of it is weak as ***, if you're playing 3-5-2/5-3-2 then the middle of the pitch needs to be solid and able to cover gaps when the wingbacks go forward, we can't have 2 players who can't tackle a Toby carvery in there. Id say the one formation we absolutely can't play with the current squad is wingbacks, as we don't have any. Bangura at a push if he can ever get fit, Ayling cannot play wingback going up and down, he hasn't got the legs for it. The way the squad sits currently we are pretty pigeon holed into a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, and thats a stretch in itself as the central options arent there. If Edwards wants to play wingbacks we have to buy for both flanks, then the formation has to be 3-4-3 for me, otherwise Whittaker is completely redundant 6 months after signing him. Rav - Fry - Lenihan ?? - Morris - Hackney - Bangura Whittaker - Conway - Azaz On the current squad that's about as good as its going to get for me atm playing wingbacks, and thats pretty uninspiring for me. Distinct lack of pace and presence across the pitch.

Gilchrist is definitely more of an actual RB than a RWB. He can get forward and he scored for Chelsea for example, but I think he is more of a defensive minded fullback. Kesler-Hayden is more attack minded for sure, and its worth mentioning as its probably went under the radar, KKH was the right back for half a season at Plymouth when Whittaker was performing well and scoring lots of goals. He got recalled in the January and Whittakers output dropped a bit. 13 goals 5 assists before Jan, 6 goals 2 assists after, it might be completely coincidental obviously, but then again it might not. We all seen Whittaker needs a fullback supporting him and making outside runs to make space for him to cut inside.

If we do go with Edwards surely Alfie Doughty will be fairly high up the list of full backs we look at. 26 goal involvements in 105 games from LB/LWB including a season in the prem where he got 10. Struggled with fitness a bit last season but he is a good option regardless of who the manager is, good age and can actually take a set piece. I still think Hesler-Hayden for the other side too, mentioned him a while ago, must be a deal to be had with Villa, waive an add-on or 2 from Rogers to keep the purchase of KHH low. Them 2 at full-back would make the positions look considerably stronger straight away, both Championship ready and proven. Wouldn't cost all that much either I wouldn't think.

Rightly so tbh, crazy when you think its just one bad decision, but that decision could comfortably cost them tens of millions of pounds as a business. Be forced to sell players they don't want to and subsequently damage further seasons ambitions. Absolute madness. Its certaintly not the first and won't be the last, but when the technology is there and its down to bare human error, tough pill to swallow for them.

We need to be in communication with Brighton, they have an absolute ton of players coming back from loans that will probably be available. Loads of wingers and attacking midfielders. Abdallah Sima has had a couple of decent loans in Ligue 1, LW. Think they're looking to sell him. Somebody has already mentioned Sarmiento. Enciso and Buonanotte both returning from relagated clubs, Enciso especially isn't fancied by Hurzeler. Malick Yalcouye had a good season in Austrian Bundesliga - CM with bags of energy. Ibrahim Osmen - LW - had an okay first season at Feyenoord, loan to Championship might be appealing. Some of these might be a bit ambitious but you only need 2 or 3 real quality players in this league to get you right at the top end. Somebody like Enciso who has lost his way a bit but has obvious quality, Ramirez-esque, hopefully without the bad bits ha.

Its embarassing tbh, there is 3 or 4 players in the Sunderland squad who are just horrible niggly cheats. O'Nien right at the top of the list.

Think Leeds are after him, I think Farke signed him for Norwich but could be wrong on that. I think if we don't go abroad we should look at Ivanovic from Millwall tbh, he's been playing behind Coburn and has scored pretty regular since he's been first choice, only 20 aswell.

Id be almost shocked at this point if our main RB next season isnt Kaine Kesler-Hayden. He's not going to make it at Villa, and is working his way up Championship clubs. Plymouth - Preston - Boro ??. We are basically Villa's feeder club at this point, though I do think a permanent is more likely than a loan, probably with a buyback option.

Conway needs to stop running away from the ball and start start showing for it. Twice in 2 minutes there he should have went short but just ran away.

Its bizarre with the front 4 atm, 3 of the 4 are playing in the wrong positions for me. Whittaker has played majority on RW, Burgzorg LW and Azaz 10. Why we are persisting with Burg on the right and putting Azaz left just doesn't make sense to me. To me Burg needs to play LW or not play.

I know what you're saying mate but that goal isn't on Morris' positioning IMO. Burgzorg and Iheahancho got their positioning completely wrong, the player who plays the initial through ball is Firpo, the LB. Burgzorg got sucked too high up and Iheanacho was just doing nothing. If you freeze the image as Firpo plays the pass, Burgzorg, Iheanacho and Conway are all stood marking the 2 centre backs, Hackney is then furthest forward and Morris Azaz left in the midfield 2, the press, if you can call it that, was completely bypassed, Burg and Iheanacho were actually arguing after it as obviously one of them wasn't doing their job. From my seat Burgzorg's press was bizarre all night and the clip over him to Firpo seemed on all first half. With regards to just Morris, I think he is too eager to jump out at times, thats what he really needs to work on, he jumps out and gets taken out the game if he doesn't make contact. But tbf to him, I don't think he is a defensive midfielder as such, he just plays deeper than Hackney, in that Joe Allen/Leon Britton role you mentioned. The recycler. I think Hackney needs to work on his off the ball stuff aswell tbh as he goes wandering too often and ends up stranded up the pitch and leaves Morris exposed with too much ground to cover. That's a system error aswell tbh, im sure Carrick is wanting Hackney to push on as he is better going forward than back, the transition turnover has been a massive problem all season because of it. Id like to see us sign a proper out and out defensive midfielder in summer, somebody with a bit of presence and power. Tom Dele Bashiru from Watford for example.

Interesting how others view the games and how players perform. I thought Morris was excellent last night, barely lost the ball all game, constantly showed for it and broke the press with a nice turn or a little burst past his marker. His passing through the lines was excellent aswell. It was a toss up between him and SJJ as our MOTM for me.

We need to get Whittaker or Forss on and get Iheanacho off, I've defended him at times but he has been horrendous here. Get Burg back on the left, Azaz central and one of the aforementioned on the right. We have absolutely zero threat at all. Whittaker has looked decent last couple of cameos and he is our player, he needs to get on the pitch and show why we shelled out for him.

Spoke too soon...