29 Jul 2019 15:33:56
So what do we think of Arthur's new 5 year contract or possibly 7 years if the 2 year extension is taken

Personally I think he is an average player who has good feet going forward but let's face it his defending can be disaserous still in MP we trust!

1.) 29 Jul 2019
29 Jul 2019 16:10:18
mercerl, rather have him than not, got pace, can cross a ball, most players should be reasonably versatile not just Masuaku, I thought we bought Fredericks as a full back although knew he loved to get forward, we have Cresswell and Johnson but My knowledge of positional play in the current way the game is played is not so good🤣 Hope we hang onto Antonio with rumours again about Hodgson being a long term admirer of Ant🤭🤭.

2.) 29 Jul 2019
29 Jul 2019 16:32:22
I would guess that MPH put feelers out to see if there was any interest in him, failing which we don’t have the funds and, of course, we have Cresswell and Johnson at LB. I think Arthur will find himself as cover for much of the time. With our wealth of attacking midfielders on both sides, how will he get a game other than as emergency full back?

I am, however surprised by the length of the contract. Maybe he shows more in training than he does in matches and MP thinks there is something worth persevering with.

3.) 29 Jul 2019
29 Jul 2019 16:37:32
i will never forget when we signed him and in his first interview he was asked what do you think you can improve on and he replied he needs to get better at defending haha.

4.) 29 Jul 2019
29 Jul 2019 18:29:43
hardcore, at least he was being truthful🤣😂 if you’re pacey, can cross a ball like he can, why would you want to get stuck at the back, simples👍
How about Billing for £15m, think he’s a great buy, Howe’s a very shrewd Manager on a shoestring budget compared to ours, could we not have been in with an offer, plenty of comments how we need to bolster our defence? Think we concentrate with overseas players too much?

5.) 29 Jul 2019
29 Jul 2019 18:41:48
I would agree that some of his defending and positional awareness has been shambolic. But I think he definitely improved towards the end of the season. But like Chelmsford says he is great and really talented going forward.
I’m wondering if MP is going to use him tactically. Maybe not against the good sides as a defender. And use him as a defender against lesser sides as we have a much more offensive side it could be a case of you score 4 we will score 5.
Just a thought and I am a dreamer 😄.

6.) 29 Jul 2019
29 jul 2019 20:45:23
masuaku is not a defender and if mp and his staff cannot see this then they shouldn't be in football simple as that his position is left mid everyone can see this why can't they but thing is cresswell isn't much better so i truly believe we need a l/ b that can defend. coyi.

7.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 07:26:33
Whorya, send MP a few emails with your suggestions then, are there really any true lb or rb defenders left in the game that are available and would want to join us? They are all attacking full backs as I know it, in most cases as always we have to make do, until we start winning against teams like Wimbledon and not getting humiliated as a Premiership club! Winning Trophies is a priority or achieving Euro football in order to start attracting better players in certain positions, there are too many options available to the top players that aren’t going to touch us with a barge pole! That’s reality⚒⚒sorry mate COYI.

8.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 10:58:00
Too gloomy for me, Chelms. The only way to move forward is to improve the team and MPH are definitely doing that.

Chin up! We’re going to be both entertaining and successful this season.

9.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 13:35:35
Markro, 🤣😂🤣😂gloomy but true Mark I think? More to the point I was trying to make is, are there any true lb or rb playing that do that job specifically now, I knew them as full backs, hence the name “full” they are all attacking backs that try to defend occasionally! They don’t have John Bond and Noel Cantwell’s any more🤣😂If you don’t remember them, that’s how far I can go back and watched both play😲😦COYI⚒⚒⚒⚒.

10.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 15:46:17
I remember John Bond, but I concede that Cantwell’s two years with us were before I took an interest!

Agreed that there are no wide defenders who stay in their own half any more, but you’re harking back to the days of:

Keeper

Right Back
Left Back

Right Half
Centre Half
Left Half

Right Wing
Inside Right
Centre Forward
Inside Left
Left Wing

Consecutively numbered 1 to 11.

I wonder how many on this site are familiar with those positions!

11.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 16:13:12
Markro, that’s exactly the formation mate as I knew and played in plus a leather ball with Dubbin on it just to laden it down more in the wet weather& dare I say it “Jumpers for Goalposts” OMG i’ll get blackballed off this site for being a Geriatric🤣😂 which actually i’m not, but you might not believe that🤣😂 Great comments Markro and lovely to have some light hearted banter with you, i’m Actually quite an optimistic person on life, less so with our beloved ⚒⚒as we are so unpredictable and frustrating at times! COYI⚒⚒.

12.) 30 Jul 2019
30 Jul 2019 16:43:46
👍 Let’s hope our comments can remain light-hearted throughout the season! 👍.

13.) 31 Jul 2019
31 Jul 2019 00:45:08
Markro I played in that formation as coaches when I was a kid had played the junior football that way and knew no different.

14.) 31 Jul 2019
31 Jul 2019 13:16:40
I think we needed to give Arthur the contract for a few reasons:

1. We have let a LOT of players go for less than we bought them for recently, either because they are getting older (Perez, Arnie, Carroll etc), or because they have not been great (All the above plus Hugill) . Chica is one we (and the board) all know will go for a loss soon as well, either this summer or more likely at the end of the season for £0
2. Cresswell is getting older and has just 2 years left on his contract. Not much value (if any) in him anymore, likely to see them out (was given the armband against Fulham)
3. Arthur is of a good age, and with his contract running down would have joined the list of players going for a loss. He has ALL the physical and attacking attributes to be a good LB, and (despite my harsh criticisms of his defending last year) showed signs of defensive improvement in the second half under MP.
3. We are IMPROVING our team, and do not have the funds for a new TOP CLASS left back while other positions are more vital. Funds available ATM would just get us another old or average player in this position. Leaving us no better off, barring a significant MP and MH masterstroke like Balbuena.
4. In MP we trust, if he thinks Arthur can be good enough, then i will be cheering his name! COYI.

15.) 31 Jul 2019
31 Jul 2019 15:32:28
Sdl, too many folk on here owning up to no longer being spring chickens!