12 Nov 2026 10:48:54
I have made my position very clear, I think we need to sign a world class centre back and then I see the latest headline suggesting Alonso wants to sign his fellow spaniard Martin Zubimendi.
ED01, do you think Zubimendi is a better player than Caicedo or Lavia who currently form our 2 man midfield pivot?
{Ed001's Note - not even close to as good as either. A big upgrade on Barco from what I have seen of him though. I don't rate Zubimendi at all.
12 Nov 2026 14:13:29
Thanks ED01, I really hope common sense prevails and the club, sporting directors and Alonso steer clear of signing another midfielder which is just not needed. Let Lavia and Caicedo build on their partnership and we will flourish in that area of the pitch.
{Ed001's Note - you just have to hope Lavia stays fit as he is a top class midfielder.}
12 Nov 2026 15:24:25
I think we will sign a midfielder and I'm hoping for Sadiki or Camara but it could well be Scott.
12 Nov 2026 16:16:23
Tom, I'm a great believer in "fillers", players who can come in at a good level and fill gaps when the main starters are out through injury or suspension. Fillers are often players who are young and coming out of the academy, think Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli or slightly past their best, think Henderson. We have 2 brilliant midfielders in Caicedo and Lavia and they must be left alone to form what could become a formidable midfield partnership.
Buying the players you wish for will only disrupt that as not one of those 3 will be happy on the bench and if we drop Lavia he will likely look to move on and that will be another top player lost. Surely it is time to consolidate on we have got and not keep dropping another £100million again.
The forward line is the same, so are the 2 keepers, fullbacks as well.
The only real weakness is at centrehalf in my opinion.
12 Nov 2026 16:37:41
Apparently Villa are after Lavia who let's be honest is injury prone albeit when fit is an excellent MF.
Zubinmendi can't get a game for Arsenal so not sure why Alonso thinks he would be good enough for us.
I think that both Scott and Camara are Liverpool bound.
12 Nov 2026 17:09:04
JT, unlike some I have never lost faith in Lavia and I believe if he stays fit he will be our POS. Also Caicedo has carried this team for the last two seasons.
I do not see the signing of another midfielder as a "filler, " I cannot see Henderson playing many games this season and he certainly isn't a long term solution. Like others, I am not convinced about Barco but I live in hope.
I want us to play with three top midfielders. We have Lavia and Caicedo and I believe one of the three I have mentioned would do nicely. Just one small note, if I believed James could stay fit, I would have him sitting in between the two CH's instead of Lavia. I think if you give Lavia freedom to go box to box if would be a game changer.
13 Nov 2026 09:17:32
Tom
Labia won't stay fit i'm afraid and unfortunately, where Caicedo has had to carry us for a couple if seasons, he is now getting injured, probably due to the extra work load.
13 Nov 2026 09:33:27
The problem with our squad for some time is that though our first team when all fit (and all on form - esp Cole Palmer who has far too often been below his best recently) may be very competitive (though really great commanding upgrade still needed at CB) too many of the back up players have been considerably below standard required.
13 Nov 2026 09:35:32
Would have hope we had signed Camara but perhaps Sadiki or Scott better than Barco though am one of the few who have thought he has done ok for us when given game time.
13 Nov 2026 11:41:03
Bill, how do you know Lavia won't stay fit?
13 Nov 2026 13:43:23
JT
I hope he does but history tells us he won't.
Let me throw the question back to you JT, what makes you think he will stay fit?
13 Nov 2026 13:58:38
Bill, I seem to remember Alonso intimated it was a "mental barrier" Lavia had to break through regarding his fitness and he appears to have done that.