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Igor has a similar problem to Baleba in that he is extremely one-footed. As well as this, his turning circle is, let’s just say, poor. He has not got the profile to step into a #6 role. Frankly, he should be on the bench if we want to get back in the top half or compete for Europe again.

Enjoy a pint of Hacker at The Swan.

Ignore - got confused with player in the thread title!

No, what I said about Baleba is not judging him prematurely; it’s judging him on what we’ve seen so far in relation to the specific role Hurzeler uses which you were speaking about. Baleba’s two main strengths are his ball-carrying and physical duels. Helpful in the role in that Hurzeler system...

At the moment Baleba is too one-footed for that role and doesn’t have the tactical nous. I don’t think any of our players are a natural fit in that role. It’s either a priority signing or someone is going to need a lot of work in training.

Reinforces what many have said about recruitment this summer. Need to bring in very high quality at both right back and in defensive midfield. Arguably a pacey centre back too.

Even though Dunk has often struggled against Mitrovic?

Further to the set piece talk… Although we were pretty poor attacking wise, I don’t recall us being too bad defensively. When the opposition got a corner, I didn’t get the fear like I had done with previous Albion sides.

Incredible from Robinson!

At that price and with a sell-on you could well be right but it would be a bit of a shame. I think the ideal scenario for the club is Rushworth does another year on loan, Bart has an outstanding season and gets sold for big money, then Rushworth returns the following year as new number 1.

Sorry, but it is. If Steele wants to leave, then we let him go and Rushworth is back. If Steele wants to stay but accept he’s back-up, then he’s an adequate number 2 who is an ultimate professional. In the meantime, Rushworth can go and get guaranteed minutes elsewhere and come back the...

Hmm it’s a tough call. Keep Rushworth and perhaps he gets limited game time competing for No.1/plays cup games. Or one more year developing on loan then reassess next summer? I guess it also depends on what Steele wants. For me he’s either here purely as back-up or let him leave if he has...

Pascal will also be on a pretty hefty wedge here I imagine. When he signed that contract, his stock was high and he could easily demand to be one of our top earners. It’s the sort of money that most German clubs might struggle to match.

Exciting. His tactical ideas seem impressive and in modern football that can go a long way in earning respect from players (especially if your previous two bosses have been Potter and RDZ). Hopefully he’s also got the inspirational/motivational traits required to lift players when they’re down...

Bairstow looked horrendous for pretty much every ball of that innings.

Has Bairstow ever looked ‘in-shape’ at professional athlete level? I think for some batters there’s an allowance of carrying a few pounds, particularly if their genetics lend to a naturally heavier physique which enables them to club it miles.

Vintage Pascal. Pure technique.

To an extent. The team last year didn’t look strong enough. To carry on your analogy, we’ve probably got a few more tickets in the lottery this year, no?

So have we got a team that can make the quarter finals this year?

Agreed. He appears more pragmatic than RDZ though, so hopefully he realises that if Mitoma’s fit, any formation we play has to maximise his talents, which is ultimately when we are set-up to have him getting into 1 on 1s out wide.