summer '22 transfer craziness and stupidity

[selassie]

Zinchenko's a terrific signing - if only Spuds weren't also signing a lot of players this would be looking like a perfect summer - oh and provided we offload Xhaka of course...

Our handicap right now is Arteta TBH. If we are honest, City and Liverpool are absolutely guaranteed to finish above us, I would also put money on both Spurs and Chelsea finishing above us too for the simple reason they have better managers and in Chelsea's case a better squad, Spurs give or take probably marginally have a better squad than us.

Our target is top 6 this season. Despite the fact we have improved our squad / team to a lesser extent, we are up against 2 sides outside of the big 2 who we will need to perform at a high level all season to finish above them.

[selassie]

Forget about spurs - we both have very different projects on the go with very different timelines.

Their two best players will be in their 30s this year and they have a manager who very rarely stays anywhere longer than 2 years (8.5 months down already) - whatever they’re doing, it needs to happen immediately! Will they finish above us this year? Maybe. Will they win the league? No. So who gives a fuck?

Ultimately our rivalry with them is just a side-show - the real challenges is making up the 20-point, 30-goal deficit on City and Liverpool. Kane and Son are already performing at their maximum - there’s not too much more to be wrung out of those two, and they’re unlikely to ever go through another season completely injury-free at their ages (and especially in a year with a ridiculous mid-season WC in the middle of the desert). We, on the other hand, played most of last season with a striker who couldn’t even get in the box, bracketed by a collection of 20 year olds. Just my opinion, but considering there was only 2 points and 8 goals scored between us, I think our potential to make up that deficit is higher than theirs, and I think we have a lot more time on our side and growth in the group.

I agree with this up to a point. Whether we like it or not they (Scum) have a world class manager we don't. They have significantly improved their squad we haven't.

At what point do we move forward and say right top 4 finish is now a priority, we will do all we can to ensure it happens by recruiting quality in the right areas.

We have Jesus and Nketiah as our forwards. We have Xhaka still likely starting in Midfield. We have Cedric still likely starting a large number of games at right back. We have some American Rookie to challenge a worryingly off form Ramsdale.

Yes we need to bridge the gap between us and the top 2 but I think our target this season is to keep pace with the likes of Chelsea, Spurs and potentially Man United.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I can't stand Xhaka.

We just need to upgrade on him and move him on.

He isn't good enough, and all the hype he gets is when the competition around him is weaker

I don’t actually think he’s a terrible player

And I say this despite 100% agreeing with you that a) he’s not good enough for us and b) we desperately need an upgrade on him

I think he is exceptional at picking out players with long passes, but needs time and space which you just don’t get in the premier league. He’d actually do ok for a mid table side in the Bundesliga or a top six Series A side

[Chippy]

Forget about spurs - we both have very different projects on the go with very different timelines.

Their two best players will be in their 30s this year and they have a manager who very rarely stays anywhere longer than 2 years (8.5 months down already) - whatever they’re doing, it needs to happen immediately! Will they finish above us this year? Maybe. Will they win the league? No. So who gives a fuck?

Ultimately our rivalry with them is just a side-show - the real challenges is making up the 20-point, 30-goal deficit on City and Liverpool. Kane and Son are already performing at their maximum - there’s not too much more to be wrung out of those two, and they’re unlikely to ever go through another season completely injury-free at their ages (and especially in a year with a ridiculous mid-season WC in the middle of the desert). We, on the other hand, played most of last season with a striker who couldn’t even get in the box, bracketed by a collection of 20 year olds. Just my opinion, but considering there was only 2 points and 8 goals scored between us, I think our potential to make up that deficit is higher than theirs, and I think we have a lot more time on our side and growth in the group.

I will be mocked for saying this but the Spuds have the right mix to go and win something big next season. Dare I say the Champions League? The opposition are not as scary as when we were in it. They are all beatable.

[I am invisible]

I don’t actually think he’s a terrible player

And I say this despite 100% agreeing with you that a) he’s not good enough for us and b) we desperately need an upgrade on him

I think he is exceptional at picking out players with long passes, but needs time and space which you just don’t get in the premier league. He’d actually do ok for a mid table side in the Bundesliga or a top six Series A side

Yeah, this is about where I am - I don’t hate him, and I think we can avoid a lot of his self-destruct moments by pushing him further away from the back line, but he just doesn’t excel in any of the midfield roles that we’re moving towards.

As you say his one super-power is his long passing, but we’ve spent the last year or so moving that skill into our defenders - we don’t really need it in our CMs any more.

[Mac76]

I can't stand Xhaka.

We just need to upgrade on him and move him on.

He isn't good enough, and all the hype he gets is when the competition around him is weaker

[mandela8]

The problem with moving Xhaka further forward is that he offers absolutely fuck all in an attacking sense. In fact, he's seriously detrimental to it with his complete inability to move the ball quickly and decisively. He slows everything down to fuck.

[mandela8]

Definitely need a WR too.

Unless Vieira is earmarked for a wider role. I think we were still in for Raphinha after we signed Vieira though, so that kinda hints that a WR is still required. Need more goals/creativity from those areas.

[I am invisible]

The problem with moving Xhaka further forward is that he offers absolutely fuck all in an attacking sense. In fact, he's seriously detrimental to it with his complete inability to move the ball quickly and decisively. He slows everything down to fuck.

Exactly! We might be able to mitigate risk, but that doesn’t mean you’re adding anything to t to be role. The fact is he’s become a little obsolete in this system - his output and creativity isn’t high enough to be the left-8, and he doesn’t have the agility to evade pressure and take the ball for a walk as the 6. He’s only really at home as the deep distributor in a double-pivot (I’m getting all the wanky terms out here because I know you love them, m8), but tbh our defenders do that job now - it’s not really needed in our midfielders.

[I am invisible]

Definitely need a WR too.

Unless Vieira is earmarked for a wider role. I think we were still in for Raphinha after we signed Vieira though, so that kinda hints that a WR is still required. Need more goals/creativity from those areas.

Vieira isn’t the player we’re looking for on RW, imo. He can definitely play there, but he’s more of a creative - I think we’re after someone with more devastation. A duel-monster who measures himself on goals.

That being said, I do think the fanbase are sleeping on this kid - he sounds a real talent and most of the writers and analysts who I actually respect are very excited about him.