Rousseau

It's the way the game is going. Gary Mac has coached before, but it was mainly when he was starting out as a manager, probably with the intention of being one (Managed Coventry early on, and took over as caretaker for a short spell when Houllier was ill), but most of his experience since then is as a number two. I would go so far as to say it is very rare for an 'Assistant manager' to become a manager in their own right. Unless they are youngsters starting out. The latter applies to Walter Smith, who was also more of a coach IMO, despite being called Assistant. If you look at the Assistant managers in the EPL, very few will go on to be managers in their own right, and very few are actually coaches. Again, Arteta is perhaps the only one, but he's a youngster learning his trade, with the intention of going into management himself. The rest follow their managers around. I can't comment too much on Del Bosque, because I don't know much about Madrid, but wasn't he the youth coach before getting the main job?

To help SG with his duties; provide a bit of experience and knowledge. He's also a conduit between the players and manager, providing an ear for the players and little bits of advice here and there.

I'm pretty certain Gar Mac will not be on a list of potential candidates. (Walter Smith was a coach; it's a different set of circumstances.) He's just there to provide experience for SG; he's not a coach. If SG leaves, then it'll be Michael Beale who would take over, for a short period. Even then, I would expect a list of candidates, who fit the desired profile (Gary Mac is NOT it), to be in place now, before that happens, so any replacement is appointed swiftly.

Absolutely not. Gary Mac is there to assist SG. I would expect the DoF to have a list of suitable replacements lined-up and monitored regularly.

He was playing with Queens Park a couple of years before that too!

I wonder if Rudden could play a part for us this season? Still too young, maybe?

VAR will be good for the game. It delivers the correct decisions. The only errors are human; mainly interpretation. If the Ref/Panel are unsure it should just revert to the original decision. Timing will improve through practice and experience. I think there should be challenges, though; like Cricket and Tennis. Instead of reviewing every little decision, let the Captain have 3 or 5 challenges per match; if they win, they keep their reviews, but lose them if they lose the decision.

I think he's more offensive than Jack, but I agree; I see his place as one of the wide central midfield positions (i.e. Jack or Kamara).

@ian1964 posted it in the transfer thread earlier:

I love a signing.

Thinking about Stevie's cryptic post like...

That's how it should be, I think. Last season we were hampered with very few options. We look to have rectified that for this coming season, even if there is still a question mark over their overall quality. I actually think I prefer the idea of signing a few creative options, rather than one top-class player. I still want that signing, though!

I don't think Middleton is creative and skilful, but that's an aside. I think that's valid, but Middleton won't be here in years to come if he doesn't get games now. He won't get that here, this season. He's not good enough yet. Ojo can play a part now, presumably, gives us something different, and we don't have to worry about developing him per se. I don't see the issue -- although, I appreciate the sentiment. To be honest, I don't think the transfers are related at all. We're not replacing one with the other. Middleton should go out on loan--should have last season, IMO--and we needed to bring in another creative option, although I would still hope to see a quality #10 signed.

Haven't we already installed a hybrid pitch? I'm pretty sure I read it recently.

Middleton needs games. He's not going to get that here. Ojo gives us something different; he's a skilful, creative player that can play a part in the first-team. Seems logical, to me.

Arfield plays further forward, so you've got 3 players for 5 positions. It'll be: Morelos Jones (?) - Arfield Kamara - Davis - Jack Aribo could replace, or at least provide competition for, Jones, Arfield, Kamara and/or Jack. He could play anywhere. We've got decent cover now. Striker: Morelos / Defoe / Hardie / Rudden LAM: Jones / Murphy / Grezda / Hastie RAM: Arfield / Stewart / Candeias LCM: Kamara / Aribo (?) CM / DM: Davis / McCrorie RCM: Jack / Docherty

I do think the doubts around this signing have some validity (him being primarily a counter-attacking player), but I think that's mainly down to the way Killie played and therefore used him. However, I do think Jones has more about him than O'Halloran.

Sarri has now been appointed Juventus manager.