100% this. Every team needs a no nonsense midfielder and I see a big future for this player. Our only chance of getting him IMO is if we go after him early, otherwise his home club may well bring him back to play for them. I suppose if worse came to worse we could send Bats back next year and take him on a years loan ourselves.

Not sure why people seem to think it's somewhat impossible to actually have a go in the majority of games and actually try to win. Leeds manage it, with a lesser squad and have more points, this is purely down to management.

I dont think Roy has done a bad or good job but the last game I actually enjoyed was utd and that was the second game of the season ffs sick of all this talk about money and club infrastructure, the importance of remaining in the prem. First and foremost its a competitive sport and we should be competing to win, with maybe the exception of City and Liverpool away then you don't mind the manager looking for a draw.

Well done to Roy for our "resilient" performance against Brighton when in reality we defended for our lives for 90 minutes and was very fortunate our strikers were as clinical as they've been.

Plus like I've said regardless of if you support him or not, his age is a issue.

I don’t see it in terms of triumphalism either.
However, it almost appears that you are willing to suspend judgement on Hodgson because you continually assert that he has met the objectives of the owners as if this is the only criteria that matters.
At the same times as a fan you continually criticise performances, suggest we are strong candidates for relegation and bemoan our negativity in approach.
My point is that when I watch the performances and defeats v Chelsea, Burnley (twice), Newcastle, Villa, Wolves and Leeds I don’t think all is well merely because Hodgson may be meeting the owners’ objectives of keeping us up.
It’s not a criticism of you, it’s just an observation that I like to be reasonably entertained by my team and have no wish to suspend judgement as you are perhaps prepared to do owing to the fact that Hodgson has met the owners’ objectives.

Gallagher has promise, and a bit of fire in the belly it seems. In fact, he seemed to do something to invite the ire of our senior players when we won at West Brom this year judging by the unusually firm manner in which they put him back in his box. And back in his box he was very much placed, by the way.

More relevant is that he is young, talented, English, and from the academy of a big club. He will therefore cost at least double what an established top flight journeyman pro would cost, probably far more than he could sensibly be worth right now, and be a pretty big gamble therefore. Chelsea, Liverpool etc are all aware of the value of a player who has their 'brand name' attached, and charge accordingly.

These English kids from big clubs will only be allowed out to play if on loan, or if massive fees are paid. They never give them away cheap, even if they don't need them. See, Ibe, Solanke, Elliot, Loftus-Cheek, Abraham, Tomori etc.

We might get him on loan. We will need to use loans well this summer if we are in fact going to present the manager (whoever it may be) with a very new look squad next year.

I think Roy would like him actually...

I have to acknowledge defeat Willo.
It is impossible to penetrate your defence of Hodgson.
If only our defence was as resilient. Miserable and by your own admission awful performances are fully explained by the meagre resources supplied by the owners, the ageing defence,the pedestrian midfield, the injuries,the lack of pace in the team,the lack of reliable goalscorers.
The only person to escape criticism is Hodgson.
Quite remarkable!

I know someone who knows Ray Lewington and they discussed the defeat some while ago.
Ray said that the team was well prepared as ever and everyone was fully aware of their jobs but that they just 'Froze' on the night.Happens in football from time to time.