Summer transfer joy and happiness

[Power n Glory]

:lol: What is wrong with you? Your response to any post of mine is so Pavlovian :console:

You said "Anyone that attempts to discredit [what Ronaldo has done]". I don't think anyone is doing that. There seems to be a feeling that people on here who think he's a cock are trying to discredit it him. They're not. They just think he's a cock :shrug:
I honestly find the Messi vs Ronaldo debate boring. As I've said before, too many people on both sides of it pretend that their favoured player is clearly the better one. Truth is there's nothing between them but I've already agreed that Ronaldo testing himself in different leagues is a decent argument for giving him more credit in certain ways.

I respond the way I do because you always jump in with an irrelevant point that has zero to do with the discussion.

[Letters]

I respond the way I do because you always jump in with an irrelevant point that has zero to do with the discussion.
I've edited your post. Don't speak to me like that.

You said something about people discrediting him. That has often been an accusation about people who think Ronaldo is a cock that they are somehow trying to discrediting him. They aren't.
It was a response to part of your post...

[Power n Glory]

I've edited your post. Don't speak to me like that.

You said something about people discrediting him. That has often been an accusation about people who think Ronaldo is a cock that they are somehow trying to discrediting him. They aren't.
It was a response to part of your post...

'You said something about....' I mean your not even reading the full discussion before jumping in and catching snippets of what's being said despite it being right in front of your face in written form. There is no accusation or even an assumption that this has anything to do with Ronaldo being a cock. If you can't follow the gist of a conversation, just stay out of it.

[SMatthews]

He's a footballer not a businessman, he has loads of money already, huge sponsorship deals and a huge salary at Real an increase will be a drop in the ocean for him.

Going to a new country is a big challenge, different country, different players, different style of play, different culture and lifestyle, he also has to move from somewhere he's been for 9 years and where he won't know anyone, it's a big change and a big challenge, especially when Juve want to win the CL.

Staying at Real would have been easy, he's already a legend, he's the main man in the team he's won leagues and CL's, he could just play out his last days there, instead he's chosen to make the move and take a chance, credit to him. Too many footballers stay in the comfort zone like Messi, never changing anything and never trying their luck in a different country, which is far easier.
By the sound of it he couldn't get the salary and contract he wanted at Real, which has prompted him to go elsewhere.

I'm not boiling it down to a single reason, I said him wanting a challenge is probably not his only motivation. Half-a-mill a week is enough to tempt anyone to a new club. £2 million a month is no drop in the ocean. If money wasn't important, he wouldn't push for a mega contract like that. Let's not kids ourselves here. No-one ever stops and says "that's it, I have all the money I need now." Definitely not in today's world anyway.

For a footballer of his experience and skill I'm not sure the whole moving country thing is as much of a big deal as it would have been when he was 24. It will play a part I'm sure, but not too much, because so much is taken care of off the field for him, and he has been around the block more than enough times to know how to adapt.

Taking Juve one or two steps further in the CL isn't such a huge challenge when they have the league and cup double usually under their belts, and a team good enough to usually get into the last 4 or 8 at minimum in recent years.

Ego and his situation with Perez probably played a bigger part in the move than anything else. Which is not to say he's alone in being controlled by his own ego - far from it - but going to a club guaranteed to win trophies every year without any nearby competition (at least Madrid had Barcelona to worry about) isn't that much of a challenge. Neymar done exactly the same and I rarely hear any voices suggesting he's gone there for the 'challenge' of winning the CL with PSG.

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah I don't think this is a huge challenge for a player like him, he's done it all so challenging himself doesn't really matter or come into it anymore.

It's just a smart move. Leave Real Madrid at the top before the inevitable implosion, carry on earning big bucks for another elite club and probably win another title or 2. Easy street.

Though for what it's worth, if he does win the CL with Juve that could possibly settle the GOAT debate.

[selassie]

I like Maguire but let's not go that overboard for him.

Honestly think Chambers & Holding can be just as decent with the right setup & coaching.

Yep, I think this too, especially Chambers who I believe has another level or two in him under the right coaching and guidance.

[KSE Comedy Club]

It's a common misconception that people who think that Ronaldo is a c*** also think he's no good at football. One can believe both that he's a c*** and an exceptional footballer. Those two things are not mutually exclusive, they're often complimentary.

I’m the same, he IS a cunt, but my god, he is a phenomenal footballer/athlete!!

[KSE Comedy Club]

This is the problem with getting our transfer business done early......

We start falling out about other clubs transfers :haha:

If only we had observed the waiting period.....:coffee:

[A Gunner]

The accepted wisdom was that Wenger wasn't a good coach, didn't get the best out of his players and didn't set us up tactically differently depending on the opposition.
That suggests that this squad is capable of better given the above things being addressed.
Ergo, I'd be reticent to write off our squad and claim it needs completely rebuilding right now.
I think the squad as is is capable of pushing for the top 4, with some additions it could be challenging.

I agree with you there!

[Özim]

By the sound of it he couldn't get the salary and contract he wanted at Real, which has prompted him to go elsewhere.

I'm not boiling it down to a single reason, I said him wanting a challenge is probably not his only motivation. Half-a-mill a week is enough to tempt anyone to a new club. £2 million a month is no drop in the ocean. If money wasn't important, he wouldn't push for a mega contract like that. Let's not kids ourselves here. No-one ever stops and says "that's it, I have all the money I need now." Definitely not in today's world anyway.

For a footballer of his experience and skill I'm not sure the whole moving country thing is as much of a big deal as it would have been when he was 24. It will play a part I'm sure, but not too much, because so much is taken care of off the field for him, and he has been around the block more than enough times to know how to adapt.

Taking Juve one or two steps further in the CL isn't such a huge challenge when they have the league and cup double usually under their belts, and a team good enough to usually get into the last 4 or 8 at minimum in recent years.

Ego and his situation with Perez probably played a bigger part in the move than anything else. Which is not to say he's alone in being controlled by his own ego - far from it - but going to a club guaranteed to win trophies every year without any nearby competition (at least Madrid had Barcelona to worry about) isn't that much of a challenge. Neymar done exactly the same and I rarely hear any voices suggesting he's gone there for the 'challenge' of winning the CL with PSG.

I think it's a combination of factors, but I don't think it was really about money as I said he has that coming out of his ears, the agents are the ones pushing the money more than the players.

I disagree, moving country for anyone is hard, you leave your family/friends behind and everything thats familiar to you, that's tough in itself never mind the change of environment/culture etc, you can't understate that, plenty of players have move countries and struggled to settle.

Credit to him for doing that, the easier option would have been to stay in Real because he knows everything there and has proved himself, the pressure at Juve will be huge because he'll be expected to deliver, possibly the CL.

He's a great player, one that has never been scared to move to another country/club and you have to respect him for that, not many players choose to leave Real Madrid arguably the biggest club in the world.

Good for Italy, good money for Real though they'll have a job replacing him and good for Ronaldo.

[Letters]

not many players choose to leave Real Madrid arguably the biggest club in the world.
Ozil :bow:

[Özim]

Ozil :bow:

:lol: I'm not sure he chose to leave, more that they decided he was surplus to requirements!

[Marc Overmars]

He was flogged to raise money for the Bale signing.

[Letters]

He was pretty much first choice though, played 32 league games in his last full season with them. But they did "upgrade", admittedly.

[Goonermerree]

Ozil was flogged against is will, the fans weren't too happy about it at the time as I remember.

[Letters]

At the time he said that a call with Wenger impressed him. And yes I heard the crowd weren't happy with him being sold.
He was very much first choice when he was at Real.

[Power n Glory]

:lol: I'm not sure he chose to leave, more that they decided he was surplus to requirements!

New manager arrived in Madrid and told him he wasn't first choice and guaranteed to start each game. He'd never have left if not for Ancelotti putting his nose out of joint.

[Özim]

Whether he was first choice or not doesn't matter an awful lot, Real wanted to sell him and they did, doubt he would have moved if Real had told him they wanted to keep him.

[Goonermerree]

Anyway, all history now. I'm looking forward to seeing how Emery plays him, he should be well rested now.

[Letters]

Whether he was first choice or not doesn't matter an awful lot
Well, it does. He was first choice for one of the best club sides in the world. He wasn't some bit-part player.
But I largely agree that if Real were that bothered about keeping him then they wouldn't have sold him.

[Ralpheroo72]

That bloke we were meant to have been linked with, Seri, has signed fir Fulham! This the same guy who was almost signing for Barcelona last year!?

[Power n Glory]

I think it's a combination of factors, but I don't think it was really about money as I said he has that coming out of his ears, the agents are the ones pushing the money more than the players.

I disagree, moving country for anyone is hard, you leave your family/friends behind and everything thats familiar to you, that's tough in itself never mind the change of environment/culture etc, you can't understate that, plenty of players have move countries and struggled to settle.

Credit to him for doing that, the easier option would have been to stay in Real because he knows everything there and has proved himself, the pressure at Juve will be huge because he'll be expected to deliver, possibly the CL.

He's a great player, one that has never been scared to move to another country/club and you have to respect him for that, not many players choose to leave Real Madrid arguably the biggest club in the world.

Good for Italy, good money for Real though they'll have a job replacing him and good for Ronaldo.

If he's able to deliver the CL for Juve, that will be a big thing for them. They've only ever won in Europe twice. Last time they won it was over 20 years ago. That's why they want Ronaldo. They're European record isn't great considering how long they been a dominant force in Serie A.

I highly doubt Ronaldo has gone for money and to retire. He'd have gone to America, China or the Middle East if he wanted more money and to go into semi retirement.

[Power n Glory]

That bloke we were meant to have been linked with, Seri, has signed fir Fulham! This the same guy who was almost signing for Barcelona last year!?

Baffled by that as well. Never seen him play but maybe it was all media hype.

[I am invisible]

I guess if Shahid Kahn is chucking around bids to take Wembley of the FA's hands then he must have some kind of ambitious footballing plans too, right? Maybe he's managed to turn Seri's head with a lot of big talk (as well as the standard sack-with-the-dollar-sign-on-it full of cash, of course)? Wouldn't be the first time it's happened.

Plus it's not a bad part of town to live in either, I guess.

Also, maybe no one else actually bid for him.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool signing Shaqiri.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11435642/xherdan-shaqiri-arrives-at-liverpool-for-medical-ahead-of-stoke-move

Bit of a comedown from the Fekir hype. :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Don't know what to make of Shaqiri. Clearly a player with a lot of ability but he still hasn't really exploded.

[GP]

His shirt nearly exploded.

Fat fuck

[Özim]

Don't know what to make of Shaqiri. Clearly a player with a lot of ability but he still hasn't really exploded.

Thought he was very good in the World Cup, really the only player to stand out for Switzerland, the rest were rubbish! Very talented and capable of scoring spectacular goals, will do well in this Liverpool team and at that price it's a no brainer!

[Özim]

Liverpool signing Shaqiri.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11435642/xherdan-shaqiri-arrives-at-liverpool-for-medical-ahead-of-stoke-move

Bit of a comedown from the Fekir hype. :lol:

To be fair, Fekir hasn't impressed when he's come on, whereas Shaquiri has looked decent.

Fekir might be a decent player but didn't show it in his sub appearances really.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

£70m on a keeper is too much and especially for a club in our position. That's a world record fee on a keeper and more than double on the current record.

Not trying to devalue the role of a keeper but for me, this isn't the area where I'd want us to spend the bulk of our transfer money. Not for a new manager joining a club and trying to forge a new identity on our style of play. Nobody starts off by building around the keeper.

I've always thought transfer windows should be looked at in pairs if the genuine need to spend more than is desirable is there. Allocate 50 million per window (for instance)which is more than achievable for a sell run club with a sustainable business model. You pledge not to spend a positive net in January then make this windows signings.

You then bring in Stephen L at right back (if you want...but he isn't my cup of tea), Torreira and Oblak who in my view is in the top 3 goalkeepers in the world and only mid 20's so would retain a resale value and perhaps (and I hate to say it).... Johnny Evans.....a cheap reliable player to steady the back line.

The fact there is any debate anywhere that Leno will start and that it might be Cech starting speaks volumes. If you ignore the fees then it's spending a record Arsenal fee on a goalkeeper on a player you are unsure of but hope will step up......vs signing a world class keeper at a great age who will retain his value. Only reason why you would choose Leno is money...and given how big an issue the positiOn has become through years of neglect and a shoddy defence I would opt to add 1 world class player to the back line.

We would be talking a lot of money for Oblak but I don't think we could name many players the world over we could pay that amount for who would virtually guarantee that level of quality in any position. Maybe Aubameyang before we signed him......and we were particularly fortuitous on that one.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

He's a footballer not a businessman, he has loads of money already, huge sponsorship deals and a huge salary at Real an increase will be a drop in the ocean for him.

Going to a new country is a big challenge, different country, different players, different style of play, different culture and lifestyle, he also has to move from somewhere he's been for 9 years and where he won't know anyone, it's a big change and a big challenge, especially when Juve want to win the CL.

Staying at Real would have been easy, he's already a legend, he's the main man in the team he's won leagues and CL's, he could just play out his last days there, instead he's chosen to make the move and take a chance, credit to him. Too many footballers stay in the comfort zone like Messi, never changing anything and never trying their luck in a different country, which is far easier.
Not that Juventus have made an offer for Messi...but Why should Messi join an inferior team in a place he may well not want to live in? So he can prove himself to you? and what would he be proving exactly? Lol

Whatever he does he will not escape the monotony of people suggesting he's inferior to Ronaldo because he didn't CHelsea his way to an international triumph so again why should he move?

[Özim]

Have to say a top keeper makes such a difference, seen it in the World Cup, they win you games, even in the game against us Oblak made some amazing saves.

I'd personally pay the 70 million and be done with it, you've got a keeper for years.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Nobody is laughing at Liverpool for spending on Van Dyk anymore.....?

And Oblak is better in his respective position.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

If any of us could buy one of the best cars in the world, top of the range, had e money to do so (more or less) and we knew that in a few years that car's value would be the same and quite posssibly even more.....we'd all go out and buy it tomorrow!

[Power n Glory]

I've always thought transfer windows should be looked at in pairs if the genuine need to spend more than is desirable is there. Allocate 50 million per window (for instance)which is more than achievable for a sell run club with a sustainable business model. You pledge not to spend a positive net in January then make this windows signings.

You then bring in Stephen L at right back (if you want...but he isn't my cup of tea), Torreira and Oblak who in my view is in the top 3 goalkeepers in the world and only mid 20's so would retain a resale value and perhaps (and I hate to say it).... Johnny Evans.....a cheap reliable player to steady the back line.

The fact there is any debate anywhere that Leno will start and that it might be Cech starting speaks volumes. If you ignore the fees then it's spending a record Arsenal fee on a goalkeeper on a player you are unsure of but hope will step up......vs signing a world class keeper at a great age who will retain his value. Only reason why you would choose Leno is money...and given how big an issue the positiOn has become through years of neglect and a shoddy defence I would opt to add 1 world class player to the back line.

We would be talking a lot of money for Oblak but I don't think we could name many players the world over we could pay that amount for who would virtually guarantee that level of quality in any position. Maybe Aubameyang before we signed him......and we were particularly fortuitous on that one.

This is a problem we’ve had for years under Wenger. It’s just like the problem we have with our defence on a whole. At the moment, we don’t know how big a problem this is considering the amount of sweeping changes we’ve made. £70m on a goalkeeper should be the last resort and only in a case where it’s clear that this is the one position that’s holding us back from titles. That’s not the case at the moment.

Sir Ches would and should have been our number one but Wenger and the staff messed up his development. Our keeper problem maybe something we can fix with patience and training. I’d rather see if Sven, Raul and Unai can find and develop talent in areas where you can often find and develop talent. It’s not as difficult to find a World Class keeper as it is to find a World Class striker. I’d rather we reserve our money for the once in a lifetime player like Mbappe. Players that have the sort of skillset that’s almost impossible to find these days.

[Power n Glory]

If any of us could buy one of the best cars in the world, top of the range, had e money to do so (more or less) and we knew that in a few years that car's value would be the same and quite posssibly even more.....we'd all go out and buy it tomorrow!

If we’re talking cars, I look at it this way. We’ve put together a new team that’s trying to build a competitive racer. You can buy the best tyres money can buy but it won’t make a difference if you have an unreliable engine, shit brakes and have no clue quickly you’re driver burns through new tyres under certain conditions. You certainly don’t blow the majority of the budget on these tyres if you haven’t worked all that out yet.

[Özim]

Not that Juventus have made an offer for Messi...but Why should Messi join an inferior team in a place he may well not want to live in? So he can prove himself to you? and what would he be proving exactly? Lol

Whatever he does he will not escape the monotony of people suggesting he's inferior to Ronaldo because he didn't CHelsea his way to an international triumph so again why should he move?

Wanting a change, being in the same place, with the same players and same people probably gets a bit repetitive, change often injects new energy into someone, I just think playing for aruably the best club in Spain/Europe for so long takes a bit away from his achievements, he's never done it for a smaller club where everyone isn't passing to him or focussed on him, that's far easier than going somewhere new where you have something tp prove.

Maybe he doesn't have the desire to push himself, we've seen that at international level he doesn't really cut it, weighed down by expectation, something that just isn't there at Barcelona where he's the golden boy as he's proven himself and noone questions him.

He's a great player, but having been at Barcelona for his entire football life has certainly helped his cause, it's easier when you have nothing but great players around and you dictate the direction of the team.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Liverpool signing Shaqiri.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11435642/xherdan-shaqiri-arrives-at-liverpool-for-medical-ahead-of-stoke-move

Bit of a comedown from the Fekir hype. :lol:Supposedly he's separate to any Fekir deal, which may well be back on after the World Cup.

With Shaqiri though I'm fairly happy. He's cheap, if he's happy to be a backup/rotation option then perfect, as we currently have no one who can take pressure off Mane or Salah. And if he's shit then we'll make our money back anyway to West Ham or someone.

I'm infinitely more bothered that it doesn't look like we'll be getting a keeper in. Fair enough if we don't want to spend �60m on Allison, but surely there's somebody out there who is enough of an improvement on what we've got now.

[Özim]

I think the Fekir deal won't happen now, Liverpool won't sign him and Shaquiri.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Wanting a change, being in the same place, with the same players and same people probably gets a bit repetitive, change often injects new energy into someone, I just think playing for aruably the best club in Spain/Europe for so long takes a bit away from his achievements, he's never done it for a smaller club where everyone isn't passing to him or focussed on him, that's far easier than going somewhere new where you have something tp prove.

Maybe he doesn't have the desire to push himself, we've seen that at international level he doesn't really cut it, weighed down by expectation, something that just isn't there at Barcelona where he's the golden boy as he's proven himself and noone questions him.

He's a great player, but having been at Barcelona for his entire football life has certainly helped his cause, it's easier when you have nothing but great players around and you dictate the direction of the team.
It's not like Ronaldo is moving to the Renford rejects though is it......

[GP]

It's not like Ronaldo is moving to the Renford rejects though is it......

Nah Spurs couldn't afford him.

[Letters]

Nah Spurs couldn't afford him.

:rimshot:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Nobody is laughing at Liverpool for spending on Van Dyk anymore.....?

And Oblak is better in his respective position.

Liverpool had the resources having just received around 140 million from Barca for Countiho.

As PnG implies we don't have that so we have to be conservative with our resources and until we can start rebuilding some value with this squad ....... we're hampered by years of decadence and wastefulness. Letting players value run down by letting their contracts run down, not selling at the right time and simply just letting players rot away through bad management decisions.

For all we laugh at Spurs for having all their players still at the world cup I'll tell you one thing, it's probably increased all their value and if need be, Levy can get even bigger money for the likes of Kane, Trippier etc.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

At any rate I'm not sure why Oblak would want to come from a club with CL football to a club without it. I think some of you guys are underestimating just how much our stature has taken a hit the past few years, hence why regaining CL is an absolute must this season.

[Penguin]

Wanting a change, being in the same place, with the same players and same people probably gets a bit repetitive, change often injects new energy into someone, I just think playing for aruably the best club in Spain/Europe for so long takes a bit away from his achievements, he's never done it for a smaller club where everyone isn't passing to him or focussed on him, that's far easier than going somewhere new where you have something tp prove.

Maybe he doesn't have the desire to push himself, we've seen that at international level he doesn't really cut it, weighed down by expectation, something that just isn't there at Barcelona where he's the golden boy as he's proven himself and noone questions him.

He's a great player, but having been at Barcelona for his entire football life has certainly helped his cause, it's easier when you have nothing but great players around and you dictate the direction of the team.

I wouldn't be surprised if Real Madrid gave Ronaldo a gentle nudge out the door. If they waited another year or two his value would plummet. It makes sense for them to take the £100m and use it to invest in Mbappe, Neymar or whoever.

That's how we got Ozil.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I wouldn't be surprised if Real Madrid gave Ronaldo a gentle nudge out the door. If they wait another year or two his value will plummet. It makes sense for them to take the £100m and use it to invest in Mbappe, Neymar or whoever.

That's how we got Ozil.

Ermmm dude, not sure you've been reading news but Ronaldo's already moved to Juventus confirmed. :unsure:

[Penguin]

Ermmm dude, not sure you've been reading news but Ronaldo's already moved to Juventus confirmed. :unsure:

I know? :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I know? :lol:

You said,

"If they wait another year or two his value will plummet." ....... which implied that they were still considering the offer. I'm guessing you just messed up the tense.

[Penguin]

Oh right, I'll change it :good:

[Özim]

I wouldn't be surprised if Real Madrid gave Ronaldo a gentle nudge out the door. If they waited another year or two his value would plummet. It makes sense for them to take the £100m and use it to invest in Mbappe, Neymar or whoever.

That's how we got Ozil.

Not too sure, trouble is he's irreplaceable, they'll find it tough next season without his goals, neither Neymar nor Mbappe will score as many, Mbappe only got 21 for PSG this season, he's a decent talent but a long way from being anywhere near as good as the top guys, he hasn't got many goals at the World Cup either.

Neymar would be a better bet but he's going to cost them double what Ronaldo was sold for, that's if they can get him from PSG who have money coming out of their ears. They're in a tough position now, because every club knows they need to replace Ronaldo.

They should have signed someone before selling him tbh.

[Power n Glory]

Liverpool had the resources having just received around 140 million from Barca for Countiho.

As PnG implies we don't have that so we have to be conservative with our resources and until we can start rebuilding some value with this squad ....... we're hampered by years of decadence and wastefulness. Letting players value run down by letting their contracts run down, not selling at the right time and simply just letting players rot away through bad management decisions.

For all we laugh at Spurs for having all their players still at the world cup I'll tell you one thing, it's probably increased all their value and if need be, Levy can get even bigger money for the likes of Kane, Trippier etc.

Exactly. We need to find our way back to being in a position where we can generate that sort of revenue from a player before we start throwing around crazy money. If the new manager has no clue how to defend and we leak a shit load of goals, Oblak's valuation will plummet and it won't be so easy to ask a club to spend £70m.

[I am invisible]

I think it would always gall me, having to spend that kind of money on a player, especially if I knew we could have got him for a fraction of the price a few years earlier with smarter scouting. Build out Sven’s team with the best in the business, I say, and make it a continuous process...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Liverpool had the resources having just received around 140 million from Barca for Countiho.

As PnG implies we don't have that so we have to be conservative with our resources and until we can start rebuilding some value with this squad ....... we're hampered by years of decadence and wastefulness. Letting players value run down by letting their contracts run down, not selling at the right time and simply just letting players rot away through bad management decisions.

For all we laugh at Spurs for having all their players still at the world cup I'll tell you one thing, it's probably increased all their value and if need be, Levy can get even bigger money for the likes of Kane, Trippier etc.
Yes we do. Our transfer budget is the amount we have self delegated to our own budget. It may be or many not be warranted but I don't buy that we can't afford to buy an asset who's value will increase not diminish.

If we don't go after players on the basis of 'why do they want to join our muggy flea bitten little lowly club' how will we ever move forward? Fulham are about to sign Seri!! Fortune favours the ones who just shut up and put they're money where their mouth is at times.

[LDG]

I think we’re doing fine this window. Deals all done, squad in training.

We’ve got Ozil, Miki, Auba, Bellerin, Rambo...all very good players.

We’ve got a new manager, who seems to be kicking the fuck out of our players in pre-season.

The business we’ve done is exactly what we needed. It’s not the price tag, it’s the player.

[mkkreuk]

Yes we do. Our transfer budget is the amount we have self delegated to our own budget. It may be or many not be warranted but I don't buy that we can't afford to buy an asset who's value will increase not diminish.

If we don't go after players on the basis of 'why do they want to join our muggy flea bitten little lowly club' how will we ever move forward? Fulham are about to sign Seri!! Fortune favours the ones who just shut up and put they're money where their mouth is at times.

You say that like its a god given fact. Really don't think we're in a position to spunk away 70m (plus his associated wages) on a goalkeeper, even one as good as Oblak. He wont turn us into a force either, we had a lot of holes in the team that needed patching first. We need a few years of rebuilding first.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Sure....if by spunk away you mean slightly stretch our resources on clearly one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the ideal age with no discernible reason why his value should drop over the next few years then yes, spunk is an ideal word.

We shouldn't be expecting any one player to turn us into 'a force' that in itself is not the way to build a team...and I haven't advocated that he is the only player we should sign.

Thinking we will be able to sign him in a few years is a bit like Wenger being at Mbappe's house a few summers ago and thinking....ahh I won't try too hard....I'll just sign him in a few years.

Let me tell you Mbappe will never sign for Arsenal now. Fortunately, we have a world forward now (better late than never) with Aubameyang.... but we signed him knowing he is a world class player, not hoping he'd become one amidst conflicting reports.

[mkkreuk]

70m (plus associated wages) would not “slightly stretch” resources though, in my
Opinion. Personally I think, It would mean no meaningful other transfers could
Be made, unless we made some big sales.

You’re saying that there’s no reason he will lose value, implies that his market value by all would be considered the 70m. It would double the transfer record for a keeper. I still think it’s too much for a keeper. Besides I think it’s a moot point as I don’t think he would join us.

And that isn’t the point I was trying to make. I’m
Not saying we can go back in a couple of years for him. I’m saying we have to face the fact that we’re not a top tier team anymore, we need to build up a base before we can compete for marquee talent. Both in terms of resources and actually being attractive to top talent. That has to be done through shrewd signings and then actually training players up effectively. Do I wish we could just splash the cash and spend 100s of millions (which we would have to if we dropped 70m on a keeper). Sure. But this is not a reality I see.

[Mac76]

70m (plus associated wages) would not “slightly stretch” resources though, in my
Opinion. Personally I think, It would mean no meaningful other transfers could
Be made, unless we made some big sales.

You’re saying that there’s no reason he will lose value, implies that his market value by all would be considered the 70m. It would double the transfer record for a keeper. I still think it’s too much for a keeper.

Yes, way too much

[GP]

Agreed. There are aeras of the squad that needed addressing, we 100% shouldn't be spending that kind of money on a goalkeeper.

[Özim]

I think it would always gall me, having to spend that kind of money on a player, especially if I knew we could have got him for a fraction of the price a few years earlier with smarter scouting. Build out Sven’s team with the best in the business, I say, and make it a continuous process...

Remains to be seen if we can ever get these top notch players from young, we've not managed it all all in years, new setup now but there's a lot of clubs vying for the top young players who probably have as good if not better scouting systems than us.

[Özim]

There's certain irony in this, we built the stadium to make us compete with the giants of the football world, now it's built and largely paid off, we don't have the money to compete or even spend big.

Sad really because even clubs like Liverpool/Juve and to some extent West Ham are willing to spend big.

[mkkreuk]

I guess that's because ticket income is increasingly a smaller fraction of a club's revenue. TV money and outside investment drives most of it these days. Also its not like we haven't spent quite a lot on Aubameyang and Lacazette. I think if Unai has a good season or 2 and we can stabilise as a top 2-3 team, we'll be spending more but we'll always be in the shadows of the Manchester clubs

[Özim]

I guess that's because ticket income is increasingly a smaller fraction of a club's revenue. TV money and outside investment drives most of it these days. Also its not like we haven't spent quite a lot on Aubameyang and Lacazette. I think if Unai has a good season or 2 and we can stabilise as a top 2-3 team, we'll be spending more but we'll always be in the shadows of the Manchester clubs

Most of the money from Lacazette and Aubameyang came from player sales, yes they cost a lot but we sold a fair few, we were something like 40 million up from the summer and also reduced the wage bill significantly, people seem to overlook this.

[I am invisible]

Remains to be seen if we can ever get these top notch players from young, we've not managed it all all in years, new setup now but there's a lot of clubs vying for the top young players who probably have as good if not better scouting systems than us.

Sure - the point is that, regardless of how good our new setup is, this still has to be attempted. Looking at the standard of the clubs that are winning the CL on a regular basis then, really, we're gonna need most of our players to be up to the same (or similar) standards to the Oblaks of this world. But there's no way we can go out and pay £70m or more per player for established names, so that leaves good scouting and/or development? Ideally we need our scouts to be getting in there before these players move to the likes of Benfica. And the more of these moves we get right, then the more right we earn to go out and spank £100m or more on 1/2/ maybe 3 players if and when we need to.

[I am invisible]

Most of the money from Lacazette and Aubameyang came from player sales, yes they cost a lot but we sold a fair few, we were something like 40 million up from the summer and also reduced the wage bill significantly, people seem to overlook this.

So did Liverpool's recent purchases though.

You pretty much have to balance your books now under the new rules, so everyone's in the same boat (unless you're Man City, of course, and can just invent a bunch of new sponsorship deals to increase your turnover because you're basically owned by a country).

[selassie]

Slightly off topic, but still related. What is the latest on Ramsey's new contract? It seems we have offered him an increased wage but have not heard anything back yet.

Him and his agent seem to be playing some kind of game. We need to set him a deadline, he needs to either sign now or we should get rid ASAP.

[Marc Overmars]

From his point of view, he’s the longest serving player, scored goals to win us trophies and often one of the first names on the team sheet. I think he’s looking for a massive contract, one that would put him up there with Auba, Laca and Ozil as our top earners. He probably heard Emery rates him and reportedly wants to build a team around him, so he’s using that to his advantage.

[Power n Glory]

There's certain irony in this, we built the stadium to make us compete with the giants of the football world, now it's built and largely paid off, we don't have the money to compete or even spend big.

Sad really because even clubs like Liverpool/Juve and to some extent West Ham are willing to spend big.

I object to spending £70m on a goalkeeper on principle. I believe we have the money for it, I just think we'd be inflating the market and flexing our muscle in the wrong area. It's a position where you can always find talent if you're prepared to scout around. Heck, if we had developed Sir Ches probably, we'd have had a top keeper with us already.

Blink's Mbappe comparison isn't quite the same. A striker with that sort of pace, size, technique, skill and intelligence doesn't come along often. Hence why the huge price tag is justified and why he reminds people of Ronaldo and Henry. It's like finding a unicorn.

Also, you don't need the very best keeper to stand a chance of winning titles. We went undefeated with Lehman in goal! He could be error prone at times but it didn't stop us from winning the league and he wasn't the best out there. Also, Hugo Lloris hasn't won a damn thing for Tottenham despite being a top class keeper. Why is that?

If we're going to be break any records, I'd rather we'd spend it on a CM or an attacking player.

[selassie]

From his point of view, he’s the longest serving player, scored goals to win us trophies and often one of the first names on the team sheet. I think he’s looking for a massive contract, one that would put him up there with Auba, Laca and Ozil as our top earners. He probably heard Emery rates him and reportedly wants to build a team around him, so he’s using that to his advantage.

Aye, he has us by the balls if he really wants to stay. I also get the feeling that whilst he is rated, a lot of clubs he would want to leave us for would rather get him on a freebie.

[Power n Glory]

Unai has told the Board not sell him from what I heard. Will he interesting to see how he is used and whether he can live up to the expectations set by Unai.

[Penguin]

Slightly off topic, but still related. What is the latest on Ramsey's new contract? It seems we have offered him an increased wage but have not heard anything back yet.

Him and his agent seem to be playing some kind of game. We need to set him a deadline, he needs to either sign now or we should get rid ASAP.

He might just be waiting to see where he stands in Emery's plans. It wouldn't be great for him if he signs a new deal but doesn't get enough games, or if he gets played out of position.

But the cynic in me does think he's trying to squeeze more money out of the club.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I object to spending £70m on a goalkeeper on principle. I believe we have the money for it, I just think we'd be inflating the market and flexing our muscle in the wrong area. It's a position where you can always find talent if you're prepared to scout around. Heck, if we had developed Sir Ches probably, we'd have had a top keeper with us already.

Blink's Mbappe comparison isn't quite the same. A striker with that sort of pace, size, technique, skill and intelligence doesn't come along often. Hence why the huge price tag is justified and why he reminds people of Ronaldo and Henry. It's like finding a unicorn.

Also, you don't need the very best keeper to stand a chance of winning titles. We went undefeated with Lehman in goal! He could be error prone at times but it didn't stop us from winning the league and he wasn't the best out there. Also, Hugo Lloris hasn't won a damn thing for Tottenham despite being a top class keeper. Why is that?

If we're going to be break any records, I'd rather we'd spend it on a CM or an attacking player.
I get your point of view on principle and normally I wouldn't advocate spending such sums on a single player myself. As you suggest, we can afford to, but not within the current strategy. If Wenger was willing to spend 100 mill on Mbappe (which I am increasingly hearing was true) then I see no reason why we can't take a hit now. People just blindly choose to believe it isn't possible because that is what they would have the club do themselves.

I think we've wasted vast sums of money of players we didn't need to buying players we weren't fully convinced about or buying cheap...so buying twice rather than just going for the right quality in the first place. I understand there is a need from a lot of people to suddenly see everything the current regime is doing as studiously wise and canny but I really question the Leno purchase which itself was no small fee considering we don't even expect him beyond doubt to be first team. I am certain that had we actually signed Oblak instead of Leno most people would have made their peace with it, be justifying it and praising it in equal measure!

I would love us to sign a world class midfielder but we're not going to sign one for 70 million.....it would cost probably in excess of 100 mil....see Milinkovic-savic. Besides, we've already done smart business on Torreira....so the key position their is addressed unless Ramsey gives us another headache by leave, which he may still do.

We should always be looking to improve wherever the position....we could win the league with an inferior keeper to Oblak, but the rest of the team needs so much work we would have even more work to do in the other positions. We've made our decision on the goalkeeper already so yeah I'm debating for the sake of debating (which some on here oddly seem to be failing to understand despite being enlisted on a chat forum).

[Power n Glory]

I get your point of view on principle and normally I wouldn't advocate spending such sums on a single player myself. As you suggest, we can afford to, but not within the current strategy. If Wenger was willing to spend 100 mill on Mbappe (which I am increasingly hearing was true) then I see no reason why we can't take a hit now. People just blindly choose to believe it isn't possible because that is what they would have the club do themselves.

I think we've wasted vast sums of money of players we didn't need to buying players we weren't fully convinced about or buying cheap...so buying twice rather than just going for the right quality in the first place. I understand there is a need from a lot of people to suddenly see everything the current regime is doing as studiously wise and canny but I really question the Leno purchase which itself was no small fee considering we don't even expect him beyond doubt to be first team. I am certain that had we actually signed Oblak instead of Leno most people would have made their peace with it, be justifying it and praising it in equal measure!

I would love us to sign a world class midfielder but we're not going to sign one for 70 million.....it would cost probably in excess of 100 mil....see Milinkovic-savic. Besides, we've already done smart business on Torreira....so the key position their is addressed unless Ramsey gives us another headache by leave, which he may still do.

We should always be looking to improve wherever the position....we could win the league with an inferior keeper to Oblak, but the rest of the team needs so much work we would have even more work to do in the other positions. We've made our decision on the goalkeeper already so yeah I'm debating for the sake of debating (which some on here oddly seem to be failing to understand despite being enlisted on a chat forum).

Yes, if Ramsey decides to go, we'll need a CM. If Xhaka can't improve his game, we'll need a CM. If Ozil can't adjust to playing on the wing, we'll need a replacement for him as well. Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan are close to hitting 30 as well. If it cost £100m for a superstar player, it is what it is. Supply and demand. All the more reason why I'm against spending close to that amount on a position that isn't high demand / short supply. Nome of our rivals have spent anything close to that amount on a goalkeeper, even the super clubs. Where is the evidence that £70m is the new standard for a goalkeeper?

[I am invisible]

Aye, he has us by the balls if he really wants to stay. I also get the feeling that whilst he is rated, a lot of clubs he would want to leave us for would rather get him on a freebie.
No idea! It’s all gone very quiet.

I really hope he stays - his engine will be a real asset if we’re going for an intense, high press, and his ability to effectively double-up as either a third midfielder or a second striker will certainly be useful for those overloads that everyone keeps going on about.

Having said that, I also hope we have a deadline and a backup plan and in mind, if it comes to it.

One positive is that I haven’t heard shit from the player or his agent, agitating for a move away, and there’s been no leaked stories of interest or cryptic farewell tweets.

[selassie]

Unai has told the Board not sell him from what I heard. Will he interesting to see how he is used and whether he can live up to the expectations set by Unai.

I like Ramsey, I think he has a level or two still in him, I also think that under a structured team, which I assume Emery is building...he will thrive.

He is a perfect player for the pressing game too, the guy can run all day long.

[Power n Glory]

I like Ramsey, I think he has a level or two still in him, I also think that under a structured team, which I assume Emery is building...he will thrive.

He is a perfect player for the pressing game too, the guy can run all day long.

I worry about his fitness. I don't know if he'll be able to stay injury free.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yes, if Ramsey decides to go, we'll need a CM. If Xhaka can't improve his game, we'll need a CM. If Ozil can't adjust to playing on the wing, we'll need a replacement for him as well. Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan are close to hitting 30 as well. If it cost £100m for a superstar player, it is what it is. Supply and demand. All the more reason why I'm against spending close to that amount on a position that isn't high demand / short supply. Nome of our rivals have spent anything close to that amount on a goalkeeper, even the super clubs. Where is the evidence that £70m is the new standard for a goalkeeper?

It isn't anything like a new standard. I just think given the profile of the player he is worth it....and from a purely business asset point of view (not my personal inclination....just playing devil's advocate) it is certainly a reasonable investment.

Like I said, I get why others don't but I really believe he is. Like I also said, this is partly motivated by my being plagued with doubts about how good Leno is.... but when he finally plays for us, if he proves to be a worldie, I will rightfully congratulate the current regime on an excellent choice. It is about time we had a world class goalkeeper just as I thought after we finally signed Aubameyang it is about bloody time we had a world class forward.

[Özim]

I object to spending £70m on a goalkeeper on principle. I believe we have the money for it, I just think we'd be inflating the market and flexing our muscle in the wrong area. It's a position where you can always find talent if you're prepared to scout around. Heck, if we had developed Sir Ches probably, we'd have had a top keeper with us already.

Blink's Mbappe comparison isn't quite the same. A striker with that sort of pace, size, technique, skill and intelligence doesn't come along often. Hence why the huge price tag is justified and why he reminds people of Ronaldo and Henry. It's like finding a unicorn.

Also, you don't need the very best keeper to stand a chance of winning titles. We went undefeated with Lehman in goal! He could be error prone at times but it didn't stop us from winning the league and he wasn't the best out there. Also, Hugo Lloris hasn't won a damn thing for Tottenham despite being a top class keeper. Why is that?

If we're going to be break any records, I'd rather we'd spend it on a CM or an attacking player.

I don't see a problem personally, though I agree about inflating the market, you say we can find talent but in 22 years we haven't found once top class keeper, if it was that easy most top clubs would find one and not bother buying one in. Chesney isn't top class IMO, good keeper and all that but not top class.

The reality is finding any top class player is hard, regardless of position, Spurs found Kane (we had him in fact but didn't rate him oddly) and didn't need to spend megabucks, Liverpool have found several top strikers at decent money as well.

Maybe not, but every club that has won the titlein England in recent times has had a top keeper I think, but it can make the difference between winning it and not winning it, in big games where chances are few and far between a keeper can be the difference between winning and losing

[GP]

Gazidis is going to AC Milan.

Weird.

[Marc Overmars]

That would be utterly bizarre.

Milan might want him but I really doubt he’s going to leave during the most important period of his time with us.

[Özim]

Would be no great loss, been here for 9 years and we've not improved at all, sure there's been changes recently but the guy was considering Arteta, enough to make me think he doesn't know what he's doing.

Commercially we're not even all that when compared with other big clubs, Milan are welcome to him.

[selassie]

It isn't anything like a new standard. I just think given the profile of the player he is worth it....and from a purely business asset point of view (not my personal inclination....just playing devil's advocate) it is certainly a reasonable investment.

Like I said, I get why others don't but I really believe he is. Like I also said, this is partly motivated by my being plagued with doubts about how good Leno is.... but when he finally plays for us, if he proves to be a worldie, I will rightfully congratulate the current regime on an excellent choice. It is about time we had a world class goalkeeper just as I thought after we finally signed Aubameyang it is about bloody time we had a world class forward.

I have doubts about Leno too...feels very opportunist to me. So does Sokratis to a lesser extent...but that's for another thread.

I get both sides of the argument, spending 70million on a world class keeper sounds steep and blows our budget apart, but if we get 10 years decent service out of that investment then it's money well spent.

There is a risk to any signing regardless of the amount, you can spend 35million on someone (ahem mustafi and xhaka) and if they flop...which they have done...then they are very difficult to shift...especially at anywhere near the price we originally paid for them.

[SMatthews]

Makes sense. Pay these guys enough money and of course they’ll jump ship. This recent change at Arsenal has no impact on him. If he goes he’d just be replaced by some other faceless corporate twat.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Gazidis is going to AC Milan.

Weird.

Hoping it's just him angling for a raise.

I mean he's won the years long power struggle and was finally able to bring on the power structure he wanted with Sven, Raul, Huss etc ..... to leave now after all that would be very strange. Especially to Milan who are a hot mess with no European football and new owners after the previous ones wern't able to pay their loans back.

Would be very worried if he left tbh. For all the shit he gets he does seem to at least know to say the right things and display some ambition. Worried that Kroenke would just bring a complete suit who won't even do that and instead be solely focused on profits.

[GP]

Hoping it's just him angling for a raise.

I mean he's won the years long power struggle and was finally able to bring on the power structure he wanted with Sven, Raul, Huss etc ..... to leave now after all that would be very strange. Especially to Milan who are a hot mess with no European football and new owners after the previous ones wern't able to pay their loans back.

Would be very worried if he left tbh. For all the shit he gets he does seem to at least know to say the right things and display some ambition. Worried that Kroenke would just bring a complete suit who won't even do that and instead be solely focused on profits.

I've a feeling that Josh Kroenke would be the replacement.

[SMatthews]

Hoping it's just him angling for a raise.

I mean he's won the years long power struggle and was finally able to bring on the power structure he wanted with Sven, Raul, Huss etc ..... to leave now after all that would be very strange. Especially to Milan who are a hot mess with no European football and new owners after the previous ones wern't able to pay their loans back.

Would be very worried if he left tbh. For all the shit he gets he does seem to at least know to say the right things and display some ambition. Worried that Kroenke would just bring a complete suit who won't even do that and instead be solely focused on profits.
That’s the story that’s been painted but we’ve no way of knowing whether it was Kroenke who wanted this structure, or if Josh has been sticking his oar in more.

Kroenke has said plenty of good things because he knows how to play the CEO role to a tee. But he’s delivered nothing. Whether that’s out of his hands or not, who knows. But we sure as hell aren’t challenging with Bayern as he said 5 years ago. We’ll hardly notice he’s gone if he walks.

[Özim]

Talking about keepers and Oblak Liverpool have bid £62 million for Alisson, they clearly think a decent keeper is worth big money.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44864358

[Globalgunner]

I keep hearing about this great engine that Ramsey has...Do people always go for repeating what other people tell them or believe the evidence of their own eyes. This myth of Ramsey's supposed great engine was first dropped by Cesc on his way out. Its BS. If Ramsey has an engine it is a diesel engine, minus the turbos. He cant even run very fast. Slow as fk and he is always injured. A slow unreliable diesel engine that is always in the workshop on repair.

Ramsey and his agent should scour the market and see who else needs a Transit van that thinks its a Ferrari. Good luck with that. None of the top 5 teams has a vacancy for him. Not 1.

[Penguin]

I keep hearing about this great engine that Ramsey has...Do people always go for repeating what other people tell them or believe the evidence of their own eyes. This myth of Ramsey's supposed great engine was first dropped by Cesc on his way out. Its BS. If Ramsey has an engine it is a diesel engine, minus the turbos. He cant even run very fast. Slow as fk and he is always injured. A slow unreliable diesel engine that is always in the workshop on repair.

Ramsey and his agent should scour the market and see who else needs a Transit van that thinks its a Ferrari. Good luck with that. None of the top 5 teams has a vacancy for him. Not 1.

Nope, It's a fact that he has a good engine. Take a look at the distance covered stats and there's your proof. He spends the whole match running around the pitch like a headless chicken and he still has enough reserves in his tank to make those sprints into the box in the last 15 minutes when most of the other players are tired.

If only he had a brain to go with that engine...

[Power n Glory]

I don't see a problem personally, though I agree about inflating the market, you say we can find talent but in 22 years we haven't found once top class keeper, if it was that easy most top clubs would find one and not bother buying one in. Chesney isn't top class IMO, good keeper and all that but not top class.

The reality is finding any top class player is hard, regardless of position, Spurs found Kane (we had him in fact but didn't rate him oddly) and didn't need to spend megabucks, Liverpool have found several top strikers at decent money as well.

Maybe not, but every club that has won the titlein England in recent times has had a top keeper I think, but it can make the difference between winning it and not winning it, in big games where chances are few and far between a keeper can be the difference between winning and losing

You know why we haven't signed a top class keeper in years. The same applies to defenders and CM's. We'd still be talking about signing a top striker if not for Lacazette and Aubameyang. How in the world did Spurs beat us to Lloris?

[selassie]

You know why we haven't signed a top class keeper in years. The same applies to defenders and CM's. We'd still be talking about signing a top striker if not for Lacazette and Aubameyang. How in the world did Spurs beat us to Lloris?

Wenger didn’t think he was an improvement on what we had at the time! IIRC, we had Chesney as the number 1 along with Manuel butter fingers!

Ill try and dig up the article with those direct quotes from Wenger.

Lloris went to that lot for a price well within our budget too, he was cheap as chips.

[selassie]

Talking about keepers and Oblak Liverpool have bid £62 million for Alisson, they clearly think a decent keeper is worth big money.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44864358

They are bringing in the absolute best options available within their budget. We should have been doing stuff like this years ago instead of scraping around the bargain bucket. Now we have no choice, any budget we did have has been blown over the past few years mainly on duds.

[selassie]

No idea! It’s all gone very quiet.

I really hope he stays - his engine will be a real asset if we’re going for an intense, high press, and his ability to effectively double-up as either a third midfielder or a second striker will certainly be useful for those overloads that everyone keeps going on about.

Having said that, I also hope we have a deadline and a backup plan and in mind, if it comes to it.

One positive is that I haven’t heard shit from the player or his agent, agitating for a move away, and there’s been no leaked stories of interest or cryptic farewell tweets.

Aye, agree with this. I think Ramsey is one player who will profit from Emery’s high press system.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I've a feeling that Josh Kroenke would be the replacement.

Ughh hope not. I mean tbf he does seem like he's eager about the club but he clearly doesn't have the football experience for it. I can see him getting eaten alive by the other CEO's.



That’s the story that’s been painted but we’ve no way of knowing whether it was Kroenke who wanted this structure, or if Josh has been sticking his oar in more.

Kroenke has said plenty of good things because he knows how to play the CEO role to a tee. But he’s delivered nothing. Whether that’s out of his hands or not, who knows. But we sure as hell aren’t challenging with Bayern as he said 5 years ago. We’ll hardly notice he’s gone if he walks.

tbf it was pretty clear that up until very recently that Wenger was the real CEO at the club so it's to really unfair to judge him for failing to deliver on his past promises when he was hamstrung by being unable to go against the old goat. Assuming he stays though then yes he now has to deliver and be held accountable.

And doubtful. The Kroenke are known for their absenteeism and Josh up until January at least was more focused on their NBA franchise - I doubt he was capable of drawing plans to restructure the club. It's been Ivan as you can see from how front & centre he was in the Unai Emery hiring process and some of the hires he's made (Raul for example was friend of Ivan's who'd worked with him in the past).

[Power n Glory]

Talking about keepers and Oblak Liverpool have bid £62 million for Alisson, they clearly think a decent keeper is worth big money.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44864358

But you must realise Liverpool are in the position of being able to spend their entire transfer budget on a keeper because they have no other obvious weak areas.

It's the one area where they need a significant improvement and what cost them the CL title. They wouldn't blow a budget on the keeper if they didn't have Mane and Salah banging in goals.

We've been in similar positions before like the year we blew the title to Leicester City. We needed a top class striker that year.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

They've signed Shaquiri for 13million, Fabinho for 45 million and Keita for 54 million so with Allison you're looking at closer to 200 million. You might argue that the Keita funds were set aside from last summers kitty, but that touches back upon my view that there's no reason not to view windows in 2's and combine budgets.

Admittedly it doesn't help us that we have been horrible in recent years at selling for big fees or as Selassie points out, spending positively significant sums on chumps like Mustafi and Xhaka who nobody would pay near the price we paid for them now. More reason not to hedge medium/high range sums on players we aren't absolutely sure about.

[Gooner23]

70 mil on Mustafi and Xhaka :doh:

[Power n Glory]

They've signed Shaquiri for 13million, Fabinho for 45 million and Keita for 54 million so with Allison you're looking at closer to 200 million. You might argue that the Keita funds were set aside from last summers kitty, but that touches back upon my view that there's no reason not to view windows in 2's and combine budgets.

Admittedly it doesn't help us that we have been horrible in recent years at selling for big fees or as Selassie points out, spending positively significant sums on chumps like Mustafi and Xhaka who nobody would pay near the price we paid for them now. More reason not to hedge medium/high range sums on players we aren't absolutely sure about.

Lord knows where you plucked that £100m price tag from for a midfielder. :lol: How are Liverpool able to pay half that?

Liverpool have money left over from the Coutinho transfer and if they wanted to, they could choose to blow £70m on a keeper. It's the area they have to strengthen this season. It would be foolish not to. But it looks like they aren't going to spend that money on Oblak and match Atletico Madrid's valuation. I'm also hearing this news about Brazil's keeper is false too. We'll see how much they're willing to spend on a keeper and if they don't spend it on Oblak, why not? I don't know much about Allison or where this price tag came from. See how a market gets inflated? At first we were talking about Oblak being worth £70m because of how good he is. Atletico's valuation has now set other clubs off thinking they have a £50m £60m player on their hands when only a few months back they were valued at £20m - £30m.

[Özim]

But you must realise Liverpool are in the position of being able to spend their entire transfer budget on a keeper because they have no other obvious weak areas.

It's the one area where they need a significant improvement and what cost them the CL title. They wouldn't blow a budget on the keeper if they didn't have Mane and Salah banging in goals.

We've been in similar positions before like the year we blew the title to Leicester City. We needed a top class striker that year.

That's true however they bought other players too, so it's not their whole budget, they've signed players in several positions for decent money, this despite having a smaller stadium, having been in the CL much less etc.

[Özim]

Lord knows where you plucked that £100m price tag from for a midfielder. :lol: How are Liverpool able to pay half that?

Liverpool have money left over from the Coutinho transfer and if they wanted to, they could choose to blow £70m on a keeper. It's the area they have to strengthen this season. It would be foolish not to. But it looks like they aren't going to spend that money on Oblak and match Atletico Madrid's valuation. I'm also hearing this news about Brazil's keeper is false too. We'll see how much they're willing to spend on a keeper and if they don't spend it on Oblak, why not? I don't know much about Allison or where this price tag came from. See how a market gets inflated? At first we were talking about Oblak being worth £70m because of how good he is. Atletico's valuation has now set other clubs off thinking they have a £50m £60m player on their hands when only a few months back they were valued at £20m - £30m.

We've barely spent anything either (before Emery signed those players) because we had 40 million left from last summers sales, yes we spent a bit more for Aubameyang but not a lot, so in theory we should have just as much as Liverpool.

I agree with Blink though, it's a false economy buying mid range players a lot of the time as illustrated by the 70 million wasted on Mustafi and Xhaka, with that we could have signed a top class player who would probably be worth even more now and more importantly would make the team better. Liverpool have sold players for multiple times what they bought them 4, they seem to find top class players left right and centre, which makes me think that Klopp has a real eye for talent as well.

[I am invisible]

Nope, It's a fact that he has a good engine. Take a look at the distance covered stats and there's your proof. He spends the whole match running around the pitch like a headless chicken and he still has enough reserves in his tank to make those sprints into the box in the last 15 minutes when most of the other players are tired.

If only he had a brain to go with that engine...

It does feel like we lining up with half of the cast of The Wizard of Oz at times.

But, yeah, when most people talk about a player having an 'engine', they're generally talking about stamina and non-stop running for 90 minutes.

[I am invisible]

Aye, agree with this. I think Ramsey is one player who will profit from Emery’s high press system.

I think his ability to effectively double-up as a 3rd midfielder or an extra forward without the need for any on-field changes is what Emery will find most attractive - providing he can keep up with the constant back-and-forth (which is kind of his playing style anyway) then it could be like having a 12th man at times.

[Power n Glory]

We've barely spent anything either (before Emery signed those players) because we had 40 million left from last summers sales, yes we spent a bit more for Aubameyang but not a lot, so in theory we should have just as much as Liverpool.

I agree with Blink though, it's a false economy buying mid range players a lot of the time as illustrated by the 70 million wasted on Mustafi and Xhaka, with that we could have signed a top class player who would probably be worth even more now and more importantly would make the team better. Liverpool have sold players for multiple times what they bought them 4, they seem to find top class players left right and centre, which makes me think that Klopp has a real eye for talent as well.

Klopp can't be attributed with what you've said in bold for Liverpool. Under his management, they sold Countinho for a massive amount but he didn't sign Countinho in the first place.

Also, we can't forget the blunders Liverpool have made in recent years. They've made loses on sales after overspending on players like Andy Carol, Stewart Downing, Benteke, Joe Allen, Baloteli...I'm not going to pretend that they've had a desirable transfer policy. They've done great business with Saurez, Sterling and Countinho but that's about it. I'd love for us to be able negotiate that sort of transfer fee for our players but wouldn't go as far as saying they can spot talent.

Klopp has an eye for talent and it's been proven. It definitely is a false economy spending £70m on players like Mustafi and Xhaka but as said with the Oblak situation, that's a result of one club slapping a massive price tag on their star man. It raises the tide. If someone pays that amount for him, we'll start seeing other clubs slap £40m-£50m price tags on keepers that good mid range players. That's how we've been caught out with Xhaka and Mustafi.

Saying that, Klopp paid £75m for Van Dijk, £40m for Mane from Southampton. £25m for Wijnaldum from Newcastle. You're lying if you tell me you'd be happy with us spending that amount on Premier League players that weren't in the World Class conversation before Liverpool. They'd be greeted with the same skepticism as Mustafi and Xhaka. The key thing with Klopp is that he's willing to pay whatever it takes for the player he wants that he knows he needs for his system. If these players would have flopped, he ends up with egg on his face and would probably lose his job. That's a huge amount of faith and conviction he has. With what he's done at Dortmund and so far with Liverpool, he's earned faith back from the Board. Emery hasn't earned that over here with the Board or fans just yet. He needs time.

Last point, seeing how nuts things have gone with transfer valuations in such a short space of time, wouldn't it be wise to identify what it is that clubs like Liverpool, Spurs, Atletico and Dortmund are doing to be able to find £10m - £20m player and sell him on for a ridiculous fee if we're forced to sell? Oblak cost Atletico under £20m, Liverpool paid around £12m for Countinho. Wouldn't it be wise to try and get ahead of curve instead of always playing catch up? This is why I'm excited about Sven, Raul and Emery here at Arsenal. There is a clear strategy we're going for here. I think we're going to see a mix of big spending but also exciting new prospects.

[SMatthews]

They've signed Shaquiri for 13million, Fabinho for 45 million and Keita for 54 million so with Allison you're looking at closer to 200 million. You might argue that the Keita funds were set aside from last summers kitty, but that touches back upon my view that there's no reason not to view windows in 2's and combine budgets.

Admittedly it doesn't help us that we have been horrible in recent years at selling for big fees or as Selassie points out, spending positively significant sums on chumps like Mustafi and Xhaka who nobody would pay near the price we paid for them now. More reason not to hedge medium/high range sums on players we aren't absolutely sure about.
I’m not sure why, but seeing a £62 million bid for a goalkeeper made me feel queasy yesterday.

I know we’ve spent £50m on attacking players and there are players being sold for nearly £200m, maybe I justified those amounts because they are attacking players, I don’t know. Can’t quite place my finger on why, but that amount seems even more ludicrous for a keeper. Buffon went for about £40m back in 2001 I think, so the inflation is very low in that sense, but bloody hell. I’m just trying to ignore the transfer merry-go-round as much as possible so I can just concentrate on the actual games and try to forget the absurdity of the modern market.

[Özim]

Klopp can't be attributed with what you've said in bold for Liverpool. Under his management, they sold Countinho for a massive amount but he didn't sign Countinho in the first place.

Also, we can't forget the blunders Liverpool have made in recent years. They've made loses on sales after overspending on players like Andy Carol, Stewart Downing, Benteke, Joe Allen, Baloteli...I'm not going to pretend that they've had a desirable transfer policy. They've done great business with Saurez, Sterling and Countinho but that's about it. I'd love for us to be able negotiate that sort of transfer fee for our players but wouldn't go as far as saying they can spot talent.

Klopp has an eye for talent and it's been proven. It definitely is a false economy spending £70m on players like Mustafi and Xhaka but as said with the Oblak situation, that's a result of one club slapping a massive price tag on their star man. It raises the tide. If someone pays that amount for him, we'll start seeing other clubs slap £40m-£50m price tags on keepers that good mid range players. That's how we've been caught out with Xhaka and Mustafi.

Saying that, Klopp paid £75m for Van Dijk, £40m for Mane from Southampton. £25m for Wijnaldum from Newcastle. You're lying if you tell me you'd be happy with us spending that amount on Premier League players that weren't in the World Class conversation before Liverpool. They'd be greeted with the same skepticism as Mustafi and Xhaka. The key thing with Klopp is that he's willing to pay whatever it takes for the player he wants that he knows he needs for his system. If these players would have flopped, he ends up with egg on his face and would probably lose his job. That's a huge amount of faith and conviction he has. With what he's done at Dortmund and so far with Liverpool, he's earned faith back from the Board. Emery hasn't earned that over here with the Board or fans just yet. He needs time.

Last point, seeing how nuts things have gone with transfer valuations in such a short space of time, wouldn't it be wise to identify what it is that clubs like Liverpool, Spurs, Atletico and Dortmund are doing to be able to find £10m - £20m player and sell him on for a ridiculous fee if we're forced to sell? Oblak cost Atletico under £20m, Liverpool paid around £12m for Countinho. Wouldn't it be wise to try and get ahead of curve instead of always playing catch up? This is why I'm excited about Sven, Raul and Emery here at Arsenal. There is a clear strategy we're going for here. I think we're going to see a mix of big spending but also exciting new prospects.

Liverpool have agreed a deal for Alisson apparently £66.8 million

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44874142


Why can't he be attributed, he did it at Dortmund and now it's happening at Liverpool as well, it didn't happen before he arrived so much, Liverpool are a differerent team to the one they were before he arrived, both in terms of quality of play and quality of personnel and this can definitely be attributed to him, he's the guy that wasn't there before this change.

You mention blunders, but if anything this shows how much Liverpool have been willing to spend, all this without CL football, so the argument we can't spend 60 million on a keeper surely can't be right if we've had a much greater income than them? Besides we're talking about since Klopp came in and it seems to me that he's largely got it right so far with the transfer policy.

I don't agree about the Liverpool signings, Van Dijk was touted as a top notch talent, would have been happy to sign him, Mane was already very highly rated from his performances in England, you argued earlier that a striker cost megabucks and yet Liverpool signed Salah for a decent amount and have repeatedly found top strikers for what wouldn't be deemed as megamoney.

I do agree about the faith, Klopp arrived with a great reputation from Dortmund, but Liverpool have backed him 100% and he's repaid their faith IMO, Emery of course doesn't come with the same reputation but that doesn't mean the board can't see a good signing when they see one and Oblak is top notch, just like De Gea is, top keepers ted to remain top keepers until they get older, the cost per year would be relatively little, just as it has been with all the younger players who got signed for big money at the time, Rio Ferdinand seem to be a huge amount at 30 million at the time, but in terms of value for money he turned out great as he was top class for Man U for years, I think age of a plyer and how many years you'll get out of him plays a big part (which is why I guess signing Aubameyang despite his undoubted qualities was probably stranger, he'll probably only be at the top for a few more years, so per year would have cost a lot).

Yes of course it would be wise, but most of these clubs also spend big on players when they need someone in a certain position, they don't wait for someone woth 10-20 million to come good, whether we discover those players remains to be seen, you'd hope so but there's certainly no guarantee, so far we haven't signed many younger players so right now it seems unlikely.

[Özim]

I’m not sure why, but seeing a £62 million bid for a goalkeeper made me feel queasy yesterday.

I know we’ve spent £50m on attacking players and there are players being sold for nearly £200m, maybe I justified those amounts because they are attacking players, I don’t know. Can’t quite place my finger on why, but that amount seems even more ludicrous for a keeper. Buffon went for about £40m back in 2001 I think, so the inflation is very low in that sense, but bloody hell. I’m just trying to ignore the transfer merry-go-round as much as possible so I can just concentrate on the actual games and try to forget the absurdity of the modern market.

Aubameyang is 29, which means he doesn't have a lot of years left at the top realistically, so if anything spending that much on someone of that age makes even less sense, they have no resale value and you probably won't get many years out of them.

Personally think if you're going to pay 50-60 million for a players he needs to be in his early to mid 20s like Lacazette was.

[Power n Glory]

Liverpool have agreed a deal for Alisson apparently £66.8 million

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44874142


Why can't he be attributed, he did it at Dortmund and now it's happening at Liverpool as well, it didn't happen before he arrived so much, Liverpool are a differerent team to the one they were before he arrived, both in terms of quality of play and quality of personnel and this can definitely be attributed to him, he's the guy that wasn't there before this change.

You mention blunders, but if anything this shows how much Liverpool have been willing to spend, all this without CL football, so the argument we can't spend 60 million on a keeper surely can't be right if we've had a much greater income than them? Besides we're talking about since Klopp came in and it seems to me that he's largely got it right so far with the transfer policy.

I don't agree about the Liverpool signings, Van Dijk was touted as a top notch talent, would have been happy to sign him, Mane was already very highly rated from his performances in England, you argued earlier that a striker cost megabucks and yet Liverpool signed Salah for a decent amount and have repeatedly found top strikers for what wouldn't be deemed as megamoney.

I do agree about the faith, Klopp arrived with a great reputation from Dortmund, but Liverpool have backed him 100% and he's repaid their faith IMO, Emery of course doesn't come with the same reputation but that doesn't mean the board can't see a good signing when they see one and Oblak is top notch, just like De Gea is, top keepers ted to remain top keepers until they get older, the cost per year would be relatively little, just as it has been with all the younger players who got signed for big money at the time, Rio Ferdinand seem to be a huge amount at 30 million at the time, but in terms of value for money he turned out great as he was top class for Man U for years, I think age of a plyer and how many years you'll get out of him plays a big part (which is why I guess signing Aubameyang despite his undoubted qualities was probably stranger, he'll probably only be at the top for a few more years, so per year would have cost a lot).

Yes of course it would be wise, but most of these clubs also spend big on players when they need someone in a certain position, they don't wait for someone woth 10-20 million to come good, whether we discover those players remains to be seen, you'd hope so but there's certainly no guarantee, so far we haven't signed many younger players so right now it seems unlikely.


Liverpool have agreed a deal for Alisson apparently £66.8 million Oblak is rated as the best keeper in the world right now. It's between him and Neuer and De Gea. Why have Liverpool gone elsewhere?


Why can't he be attributed, he did it at Dortmund and now it's happening at Liverpool as well, it didn't happen before he arrived so much

Because he didn't sign Countinho, that's why. Common sense, man. Talk about Klopp's record at Dortmund if you must but don't give him all the credit him for finding Countinho and selling him on for a huge fee. That's what that entire sentence from your post was about. Helping to develop talent, yes, give him credit for that but not for identifying undervalued players in the market and selling them on when he hasn't done that for Liverpool yet.


You mention blunders, but if anything this shows how much Liverpool have been willing to spend, all this without CL football, so the argument we can't spend 60 million on a keeper surely can't be right if we've had a much greater income than them? Besides we're talking about since Klopp came in and it seems to me that he's largely got it right so far with the transfer policy.

So what's the difference between Liverpool spending that amount on flops and us spending that amount on Xhaka and Mustafi? It comes down back to the coaches. My argument has never been that we haven't got £60m to spend, it's always been to spend wisely and see what Emery is capable of before we trust him with a massive amount. How do you rate Emery? What was your first impression when he was announced. Do you rate him as highly as Klopp? If we'd have spent 13m on Shaqiri, what would your reaction be? In fact, is there a Premier League defender with a mid table team you'd be happy to spend £75m on? It's all well and good talking after their a success. Name the players with mid table clubs you think it would be worth spending £40m to £75m on.

Also, just so we're on the same page, what do you think our transfer budget should be this year and how many players need replacing? I recall conversations about sweeping changes across the team. If we should be spending £70m on a goalkeeper, where else do you think we should be spending money? It also comes back to how much faith you have in Emery when it comes to spending. As for the Board, shouldn't it be obvious why we've appointed the guys from Dortmund and Barca to head up are scouting and recruitment?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I’m not sure why, but seeing a £62 million bid for a goalkeeper made me feel queasy yesterday.

I know we’ve spent £50m on attacking players and there are players being sold for nearly £200m, maybe I justified those amounts because they are attacking players, I don’t know. Can’t quite place my finger on why, but that amount seems even more ludicrous for a keeper. Buffon went for about £40m back in 2001 I think, so the inflation is very low in that sense, but bloody hell. I’m just trying to ignore the transfer merry-go-round as much as possible so I can just concentrate on the actual games and try to forget the absurdity of the modern market.

Neymar went for 200 million to a club basically owned by a state with limitless wealth and it is the mere prospect of 62 million for a top keeper keeping you up at night? Get some sleep me old fruit...we don't even know it's true 100%.

Goalkeepers have been undervalued since the dawn of the game. It is increasingly primitive in context of the modern game. The blood hounds have already inflated the market.....we should simply recalibrate the value we place on goalkeepers within the context.

I don't know Allison as well but I rate Oblak as probably the second best keeper on the planet and he plays in one of the positions in which we can make the most improvement.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

As an aside, Neuer is firmly behind De Gea and Oblak and has been for some time now imo.

[Bumble]

Lets not forget that Liverpool are the 2nd biggest club in the country behind United, so they do have a huge worldwide fan base and are a bigger brand than we are. But why do we care so much about how much a player costs. It should only become an issue if things go the way like Portsmouth, Leeds, Villa etc.

But we bought a player for £100m it would not bankrupt the club. The fee probably would be paid over the length of the contract as well so not necessarily be going out of the bank straight away.

He is a good keeper, so if Liverpool want him then pay what Roma want to get him. Liverpool can afford it.

[Özim]

Oblak is rated as the best keeper in the world right now. It's between him and Neuer and De Gea. Why have Liverpool gone elsewhere?



Because he didn't sign Countinho, that's why. Common sense, man. Talk about Klopp's record at Dortmund if you must but don't give him all the credit him for finding Countinho and selling him on for a huge fee. That's what that entire sentence from your post was about. Helping to develop talent, yes, give him credit for that but not for identifying undervalued players in the market and selling them on when he hasn't done that for Liverpool yet.



So what's the difference between Liverpool spending that amount on flops and us spending that amount on Xhaka and Mustafi? It comes down back to the coaches. My argument has never been that we haven't got £60m to spend, it's always been to spend wisely and see what Emery is capable of before we trust him with a massive amount. How do you rate Emery? What was your first impression when he was announced. Do you rate him as highly as Klopp? If we'd have spent 13m on Shaqiri, what would your reaction be? In fact, is there a Premier League defender with a mid table team you'd be happy to spend £75m on? It's all well and good talking after their a success. Name the players with mid table clubs you think it would be worth spending £40m to £75m on.

Also, just so we're on the same page, what do you think our transfer budget should be this year and how many players need replacing? I recall conversations about sweeping changes across the team. If we should be spending £70m on a goalkeeper, where else do you think we should be spending money? It also comes back to how much faith you have in Emery when it comes to spending. As for the Board, shouldn't it be obvious why we've appointed the guys from Dortmund and Barca to head up are scouting and recruitment?

Not too sure, maybe because they came up against Roma and saw first hand how good he was?

Fair enough about Coutinho, but I was really referring to other signings and how he's developed Liverpool into the force they're becoming, he's also quick to identify weaknesses and isn't scared to spend big to fix them rather than wait around for a bargain.

I think we've had more flops than Liverpool to be fair, and spend more on them, for me you're always going to sign a few players that don't work out, the question is whether you can balance those with top quality players you sign as well, we haven't really, we don't really have any players we could sell for any decent amount.

As mentioned the difference is a) they probably don't spend as much on flops and b) they find gems as well. As for Emery, you don't have to trust a manager to be able to spot a top player, anyone that knows anything about football can see Oblak is top class, so this doesn't require trust at all, it just requires you to decide if it's a sound investment.

Leno we have signed made the most mistakes of Bundesligue keepers last season, why is that a better bet than someone totally proven to be top class, sure it's a fraction of the price but if he flops and you replace him you won't be far off the cost of the best option. Now it's possible Leno will work out and that wil be great, I doubt he's going to be amongst the best around however based on his career so far.

As far as money is concerned, I'd have spent on a DM (tick) a CB (maybe not Sokratis, maybe someone a little younger), a winger and a keeper (tick again I wouldnt' have spent on Leno myself), hard to say with Emery, but it's not hard to spot top class players, so if we spent 60 million on someone clearly top class I wouldn't have a problem with it.

As for the new guys, yes we're looking for them to recruit, time will tell if this works out well or not.

[Özim]

Lets not forget that Liverpool are the 2nd biggest club in the country behind United, so they do have a huge worldwide fan base and are a bigger brand than we are. But why do we care so much about how much a player costs. It should only become an issue if things go the way like Portsmouth, Leeds, Villa etc.

But we bought a player for £100m it would not bankrupt the club. The fee probably would be paid over the length of the contract as well so not necessarily be going out of the bank straight away.

He is a good keeper, so if Liverpool want him then pay what Roma want to get him. Liverpool can afford it.

Good point about the fee, it's not for us to worry about, if we signed 3 players for 60 million that were top notch, I wouldn't be worrying about the money that's for sure.

Historically Liverpool are big, though I'm not sure they are quite as appealing as they were 20 years ago as they're glory days are a long time ago now, financially though we dwarf them so we should be able to outspend easily, especially considering the fact we've had CL football for years and they haven't.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Is Allison really that good to justify all this?

Granted my only experience of watching Roma is them getting demolished by Liverpool in the CL but he never really stood out much during it. At any rate I agree with PnG, I think a competent GK behind an organised defence is far more important than spunking your entire budget on a possible worldie and then placing him in front of clowns.

[Özim]

I think people underestimate the importance of the keeper, he keeps goals out, gives the defence confidence and organises them at set pieces and can also start attacks, a top keeper is worth his weight in gold and will win you matches and win you extra points.

Knowing your keeper isn't going to save you if someone gets past you probably leads to more fouls/penalties. Our best defence also had a great keeper behind them, consequently they could grind out results and they condeded few goals, now sure you can outscore teams if your team is good enough going forward, but I'd suggest keeping goals out is better in the long term, especially when the team has off days.

[Letters]

Is Allison really that good to justify all this?

Granted my only experience of watching Roma is them getting demolished by Liverpool in the CL but he never really stood out much during it. At any rate I agree with PnG, I think a competent GK behind an organised defence is far more important than spunking your entire budget on a possible worldie and then placing him in front of clowns.

I think if you place your keeper in front of your defence then I agree you've wasted your money.

[Power n Glory]

Not too sure, maybe because they came up against Roma and saw first hand how good he was?

Fair enough about Coutinho, but I was really referring to other signings and how he's developed Liverpool into the force they're becoming, he's also quick to identify weaknesses and isn't scared to spend big to fix them rather than wait around for a bargain.

I think we've had more flops than Liverpool to be fair, and spend more on them, for me you're always going to sign a few players that don't work out, the question is whether you can balance those with top quality players you sign as well, we haven't really, we don't really have any players we could sell for any decent amount.

As mentioned the difference is a) they probably don't spend as much on flops and b) they find gems as well. As for Emery, you don't have to trust a manager to be able to spot a top player, anyone that knows anything about football can see Oblak is top class, so this doesn't require trust at all, it just requires you to decide if it's a sound investment.

Leno we have signed made the most mistakes of Bundesligue keepers last season, why is that a better bet than someone totally proven to be top class, sure it's a fraction of the price but if he flops and you replace him you won't be far off the cost of the best option. Now it's possible Leno will work out and that wil be great, I doubt he's going to be amongst the best around however based on his career so far.

As far as money is concerned, I'd have spent on a DM (tick) a CB (maybe not Sokratis, maybe someone a little younger), a winger and a keeper (tick again I wouldnt' have spent on Leno myself), hard to say with Emery, but it's not hard to spot top class players, so if we spent 60 million on someone clearly top class I wouldn't have a problem with it.

As for the new guys, yes we're looking for them to recruit, time will tell if this works out well or not.

Liverpool have gotten things right over the last couple of seasons but they've signed more flops than us over the last 10 years or so. Without question. Also, let's put things into perspective. They haven't won anything. They've only won the League Cup in the last 10 years and have twice missed the mark in European finals. I like their style of play, I like Klopp but let's not go overboard. If the shoe were on the other foot, we'd be talking about 10 years of failure and missing the mark despite having World Class players like Torres, Saurez and Countinho.

You've missed a few questions.


How do you rate Emery? What was your first impression when he was announced. Do you rate him as highly as Klopp?


If we'd have spent 13m on Shaqiri, what would your reaction be? In fact, is there a Premier League defender with a mid table team you'd be happy to spend £75m on? It's all well and good talking after their a success. Name the players with mid table clubs you think it would be worth spending £40m to £75m on.


what do you think our transfer budget should be this year

[Letters]

I think people underestimate the importance of the keeper, he keeps goals out, gives the defence confidence and organises them at set pieces and can also start attacks, a top keeper is worth his weight in gold.

Joke's on you. Alisson is 91kg

http://www.espnfc.com/player/196876/alisson

And 1kg of gold is currently around £30,000

https://www.bullionbypost.co.uk/gold-price/gold-price-per-kilo/

So according to his transfer fee he is worth approximately 24.5 times his weight in gold.


:cool:

[Power n Glory]

I think people underestimate the importance of the keeper, he keeps goals out, gives the defence confidence and organises them at set pieces and can also start attacks, a top keeper is worth his weight in gold and will win you matches and win you extra points.

Knowing your keeper isn't going to save you if someone gets past you probably leads to more fouls/penalties. Our best defence also had a great keeper behind them, consequently they could grind out results and they condeded few goals, now sure you can outscore teams if your team is good enough going forward, but I'd suggest keeping goals out is better in the long term, especially when the team has off days.

Some of the best keepers are with clubs that haven't won league titles in ages. It's an important position but I'd treat it like the final piece to the puzzle once you've seen the bigger picture. Pay whatever it takes if that's the final piece to the puzzle but don't start off that way.

[SMatthews]

Neymar went for 200 million to a club basically owned by a state with limitless wealth and it is the mere prospect of 62 million for a top keeper keeping you up at night? Get some sleep me old fruit...we don't even know it's true 100%.

Goalkeepers have been undervalued since the dawn of the game. It is increasingly primitive in context of the modern game. The blood hounds have already inflated the market.....we should simply recalibrate the value we place on goalkeepers within the context.

I don't know Allison as well but I rate Oblak as probably the second best keeper on the planet and he plays in one of the positions in which we can make the most improvement.

As I mentioned, I think I justified those figures by thinking “they’re attacking players, it’s normal to pay stupid money.” Whether that’s the right or wrong way to think about it, I don’t know. Seeing that figure thrown around for a keeper just seemed even more absurd. My logic probably isn’t completely together on this, I know. More of a gut reaction. We’ll be onto £100m for a goalkeeper soon. I never thought fees would bother me, but looks like I was wrong. Roll on the season is all I can say.

[SMatthews]

Lets not forget that Liverpool are the 2nd biggest club in the country behind United, so they do have a huge worldwide fan base and are a bigger brand than we are. But why do we care so much about how much a player costs. It should only become an issue if things go the way like Portsmouth, Leeds, Villa etc.

But we bought a player for £100m it would not bankrupt the club. The fee probably would be paid over the length of the contract as well so not necessarily be going out of the bank straight away.

He is a good keeper, so if Liverpool want him then pay what Roma want to get him. Liverpool can afford it.

Contracts and fees are always amortised, so in accounting terms the payment is spread over the length of the contract for the club.

I think any concern about fees is just feeling uneasy at watching these sums increase exponentially all over a sport. In reality, it shouldn’t matter that much, but it’s part of a wider distance that affects some sections of fans.

[Letters]

I think a 30 goal a season player is going to win you a title more than a world class 'keeper, so arguably the striker is worth more.
You don't win a title without a good defence but as others have said a world class 'keeper isn't going to save you if he doesn't get the protection from his defence.
It does make a difference, obviously, but it's not enough on its own.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Is Allison really that good to justify all this?

Granted my only experience of watching Roma is them getting demolished by Liverpool in the CL but he never really stood out much during it. At any rate I agree with PnG, I think a competent GK behind an organised defence is far more important than spunking your entire budget on a possible worldie and then placing him in front of clowns.

You mean the clowns we have just signed in Sokratis and Litch or others? Why does the defence come before the goalkeeper?

We are an exploding clown car due to no small part the coaching.....so why wait 1-3 years before we consider signing a world class keeper available.

[Özim]

Liverpool have gotten things right over the last couple of seasons but they've signed more flops than us over the last 10 years or so. Without question. Also, let's put things into perspective. They haven't won anything. They've only won the League Cup in the last 10 years and have twice missed the mark in European finals. I like their style of play, I like Klopp but let's not go overboard. If the shoe were on the other foot, we'd be talking about 10 years of failure and missing the mark despite having World Class players like Torres, Saurez and Countinho.

You've missed a few questions.

Yes but that was before Klopp, my point is all about Klopp really, now sure they haven't won anything of note, but in terms of the team they're amazing going forward and have definitely progressed and what's clear is he's addressing the problems with big signings, a top defender and a top keeper.

Sorry here you go


How do you rate Emery? What was your first impression when he was announced. Do you rate him as highly as Klopp

To be honest I was happy because I didn't want Arteta to come in, so that was a relief, not my first choice but at least I liked what he did with PSG even if he didn't win the CL, I'm hoping he's not against signing big players


If we'd have spent 13m on Shaqiri, what would your reaction be? In fact, is there a Premier League defender with a mid table team you'd be happy to spend £75m on? It's all well and good talking after their a success. Name the players with mid table clubs you think it would be worth spending £40m to £75m on.


I actually rate Shaquiri and think he's a bargain, was very good for Switzerland and always thought he had bags of talent, wanted us to sign him quite a few years ago so I'd be quite happy, he's world class when he performs. I'm not saying we should sign players from the PL, more that we should be able to find these players as well, players I think we should consider are Douglas Costa, Fekir, Kjaer, Draxler, Lozano etc would have considered William Carvalho too before we signed Torreira as thought he was very good for Portugal.


what do you think our transfer budget should be this year

120 million + anything from player sales

[Özim]

Some of the best keepers are with clubs that haven't won league titles in ages. It's an important position but I'd treat it like the final piece to the puzzle once you've seen the bigger picture. Pay whatever it takes if that's the final piece to the puzzle but don't start off that way.

Same can be said about strikers, Kane, Salah, Higuain, Griezmann, not every club can win, but those players certainly increase your chances significantly. I can see your point, but I don't see why we can't do both, sign a worldie and bring in a few others, pretty much what Liverpool are doing (I know the are further on in their progression). We paid what 60 million or so for Auba who is 29 now, on balance whilst he's top striker it's not a very good investment as he probably doesn't have that long left at the top, it's about investing money wisely on players who's value isn't going to drop like a stone in the shorter term as they have lots of years ahead of them.

[Power n Glory]

Yes but that was before Klopp, my point is all about Klopp really, now sure they haven't won anything of note, but in terms of the team they're amazing going forward and have definitely progressed and what's clear is he's addressing the problems with big signings, a top defender and a top keeper.

Sorry here you go



To be honest I was happy because I didn't want Arteta to come in, so that was a relief, not my first choice but at least I liked what he did with PSG even if he didn't win the CL, I'm hoping he's not against signing big players




I actually rate Shaquiri and think he's a bargain, was very good for Switzerland and always thought he had bags of talent, wanted us to sign him quite a few years ago so I'd be quite happy, he's world class when he performs. I'm not saying we should sign players from the PL, more that we should be able to find these players as well, players I think we should consider are Douglas Costa, Fekir, Kjaer, Draxler, Lozano etc would have considered William Carvalho too before we signed Torreira as thought he was very good for Portugal.



120 million + anything from player sales

If Liverpool go another season without a trophy, would that be considered a failure?

Fair enough on Emery. I was skeptical at first but have high hopes. Saying that, I still wouldn't roll out the red carpet when it comes to the transfer funds just yet. We've seen what he can do with a small budget but not so sure about big budget spending.

On that last point, if you think we have £120m and should spend £70m on a player like Oblak, that leaves us with £50m. At best, we could still sign Torreira and Sokartis. We wouldn't be able to afford a younger CB at that sort of quality. William Carvalho would probably cost a little more than Torriera. We'd have to forget about signing a winger.

[Özim]

If Liverpool go another season without a trophy, would that be considered a failure?

Fair enough on Emery. I was skeptical at first but have high hopes. Saying that, I still wouldn't roll out the red carpet when it comes to the transfer funds just yet. We've seen what he can do with a small budget but not so sure about big budget spending.

On that last point, if you think we have £120m and should spend £70m on a player like Oblak, that leaves us with £50m. At best, we could still sign Torreira and Sokartis. We wouldn't be able to afford a younger CB at that sort of quality. William Carvalho would probably cost a little more than Torriera. We'd have to forget about signing a winger.

Given the competition, no, if they challenge that's good enough, I think the Van Dijk, Keita, Alisson and Fabinho strengthen them a lot but they're still a work in progress. Might take a bit of time to gel but on paper their team is looking very strong indeed.

120 millon plus players sales, i.e a combination of Xhaka, Mustafi, Welbeck, Ospina or Cech, Campbell, Perez, Iwobi, Chambers, Akpom, Jenkinson should bring in a nice sum to spend on a few more new faces.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

With the current strategy we've covered all our basis, but I do not expect every one of those 4/5 signings to be a resounding success and the point of getting them all in now is so they can make an impact over the coming season.

Covering all the areas we need is not the full story anyway as one or two of them are short termish solutions that will require revisiting shortly .... so had we put a lump sum on Oblak, brought in Torreira, Litchensteiner on a free, tried our luck with a loan move for Dembele. Then recoup the money from selling Xhaka and Mustafi to Juventus and use that for a CB. That lot might have left the squad better than what we currently have.

[Özim]

With the current strategy we've covered all our basis, but I do not expect every one of those 4/5 signings to be a resounding success and the point of getting them all in now is so they can make an impact over the coming season.

Covering all the areas we need is not the full story anyway as one or two of them are short termish solutions that will require revisiting shortly .... so had we put a lump sum on Oblak, brought in Torreira, Litchensteiner on a free, tried our luck with a loan move for Dembele. Then recoup the money from selling Xhaka and Mustafi to Juventus and use that for a CB. That lot might have left the squad better than what we currently have.

If we decide not to sell Xhaka and Mustafi I'd be very disappointed, not good enough and we should be selling them to raise money for better players.

Torreira is a fantastic signing I think, the others I'm not sure about, with Leno hard to judge, he might turn out good but his stock is low at the moment, didn't even make the German World Cup squad (so he's not even considered in the top 3 in Germany at the moment), Sokratis is decent but his age and the fact he's slow concerns me, Lichsteiner is a backup and for free you can't argue with that. The young French player is one for the future and supposedly is very talented, will be interesting to watch him.

So overall satisfied but I just think we need to shift some of the deadwood and bring in another worldie on the wing (shame we missed out on Douglas Costa).

[I am invisible]

We’ll surely have to shift someone on? The squad looks a little bloated at the moment, with too many GKs, CBs and Welbeck.

[Power n Glory]

If we decide not to sell Xhaka and Mustafi I'd be very disappointed, not good enough and we should be selling them to raise money for better players.

Torreira is a fantastic signing I think, the others I'm not sure about, with Leno hard to judge, he might turn out good but his stock is low at the moment, didn't even make the German World Cup squad (so he's not even considered in the top 3 in Germany at the moment), Sokratis is decent but his age and the fact he's slow concerns me, Lichsteiner is a backup and for free you can't argue with that. The young French player is one for the future and supposedly is very talented, will be interesting to watch him.

So overall satisfied but I just think we need to shift some of the deadwood and bring in another worldie on the wing (shame we missed out on Douglas Costa).

I'd hold off from selling Xhaka and Mustafi in this window. Curious to see if Emery can get a bit more out of them compared to Wenger. I highly doubt we'll recoup what we paid for either if we sell now. They're probably valued at £15m to £25m as it stands.

Reports say we're planning on selling some players. That wouldn't surprise me. We've got a lot of players that we have to get rid of. Jenkinson, Campbell is still an Arsenal player, one of Ospina, Cech or Martinez has to go, Welbeck, Asano, Perez and Iwobi could go. I like Iwobi but have serious doubt about his end product. I can't see him featuring a lot for us this season if he doesn't impose himself in the final third.

[I am invisible]

Jenkinson, Campbell and Assno have no future here, and one of the keepers will have to go. I also can’t really see Welbeck getting a game unless there’s a few injuries clearing his path, so he might as well move on too. How many CBs do we have in the senior squad now? 6? Something is probably going to have to give there. Kos ain’t going anywhere while he’s injured, and it won’t be the 2 new Greek lads, so that leaves Mustafi, Chambers or Holding

[Marc Overmars]

Apparently Juve have already recouped half of Ronaldo’s transfer fee in shirt sales.

What a bargain. :lol:

[Özim]

I'd hold off from selling Xhaka and Mustafi in this window. Curious to see if Emery can get a bit more out of them compared to Wenger. I highly doubt we'll recoup what we paid for either if we sell now. They're probably valued at £15m to £25m as it stands.

Reports say we're planning on selling some players. That wouldn't surprise me. We've got a lot of players that we have to get rid of. Jenkinson, Campbell is still an Arsenal player, one of Ospina, Cech or Martinez has to go, Welbeck, Asano, Perez and Iwobi could go. I like Iwobi but have serious doubt about his end product. I can't see him featuring a lot for us this season if he doesn't impose himself in the final third.

Not me, Xhaka was terrible for Switzerland as well, the guy offers nothing to the team IMO, just want rid. Mustafi maybe but not convinced he's any good tbh.

I'd agree about Iwobi, no end product would be happy to sell him.

[Özim]

Apparently Juve have already recouped half of Ronaldo’s transfer fee in shirt sales.

What a bargain. :lol:

He's a hugely marketable player, they'll get their money back and more and also bag themself a world beater in the process. Signing these worldies costs a lot but you get your money back several times over sometimes through their marketability.

[SMatthews]

Apparently Juve have already recouped half of Ronaldo’s transfer fee in shirt sales.

What a bargain. :lol:

That’s made Adidas happy at least. They’ll get about 90% of that and Juventus 10%, as they get a lump sum every year and the manufacturer gets the vast majority of kit sales.

[Özim]

That’s made Adidas happy at least. They’ll get about 90% of that and Juventus 10%, as they get a lump sum every year and the manufacturer gets the vast majority of kit sales.

Signing these top players costs a lot no doubt about it, but clubs do their homework, they know how much money they can recoup from the extra shirt sales and commercial deals, it's definitely worthwhile, even ignoring the difference they make on the pitch.

[SMatthews]

Signing these top players costs a lot no doubt about it, but clubs do their homework, they know how much money they can recoup from the extra shirt sales and commercial deals, it's definitely worthwhile, even ignoring the difference they make on the pitch.

It’s an amortised deal, so they spread the cost over how many years he actually stays there. No doubt they’re banking on winning the CL to recoup a large amount of the fee and wages.

[Globalgunner]

Agreed. Jive might be the force in Italy but they do not have the worldwide following of the big 3. RM, Barca and ManU. This will do it for them. Assuming they have a good deal on image rights with Ronaldo, they will make mint in far flung regions like Thailand, Vietnam and Crippsland.
Difficulty is getting those guys to buy genuine product.

Cripps no longer wanted to be an Arsenal fan anyway that's why he goaded the holders of the infinity stones to use the ultimate weapon. Look for him on a Juve forum near you.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Just get rid of Xhaka. Still maintain, completely the wrong profile of player and Mustafi makes too many of the sort of mistakes bad players make rather than badly coached ones do. No matter how long we wait we won't get the fee back so might as well sell now and buy a proper CB.

[Özim]

Just get rid of Xhaka. Still maintain, completely the wrong profile of player and Mustafi makes too many of the sort of mistakes bad players make rather than badly coached ones do. No matter how long we wait we won't get the fee back so might as well sell now and buy a proper CB.

I'm with you, I watched Xhaka carefully in the World Cup and the same problems were there that are there when he plays for us, just switches off and doesn't track his man, we know he can't tackle and to be honest his passing is vastly overrated, he barely ever delivers a decent pass, I can't see one redeeming feature in his play.

As for Mustafi, yeah he hasn't impressed either, the basic mistakes he's made time and time again are unforgiveable, we tried to flog him last summer so clearly we didn't think he was good enough then, he still isn't.

[Özim]

Agreed. Jive might be the force in Italy but they do not have the worldwide following of the big 3. RM, Barca and ManU. This will do it for them. Assuming they have a good deal on image rights with Ronaldo, they will make mint in far flung regions like Thailand, Vietnam and Crippsland.
Difficulty is getting those guys to buy genuine product.

Cripps no longer wanted to be an Arsenal fan anyway that's why he goaded the holders of the infinity stones to use the ultimate weapon. Look for him on a Juve forum near you.

This signing does huge amounts for Juve's world reputation and the reputation of Serie A, once upon a time every top player aspired to play there, that appearl has been eroded away over time, but signing one of the worlds best will make other players think it might be worth going back to Serie A, there is money there as has been demonstrated by some of the signings, you might find players are more reluctant to move to another league if more top players come in.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

His best attribute is his passing range which we seem to see the full extent of so infrequently anyway. He can't take the ball on the half turn, nearly always has his back to goal and opts for the safe pass way too often as a result. What he actually offers to the team is so unclear, the manager responsible for him even being here told us he couldn't tackle and that he was a 'box to box' midfielder...which clearly isn't true as he can't run, is bypassed way too easily and again, can't take the ball on the half turn or beat his man.

He occasionally he shoots well, but for what he actually offers he is an alarming accepted part of the first team. Cannot fathom why so many see him as an automatic starter.

When fans are continuously talking about having not 1 but 2 of the right players around a given player....you know he is deeply flawed.

[Power n Glory]

Not me, Xhaka was terrible for Switzerland as well, the guy offers nothing to the team IMO, just want rid. Mustafi maybe but not convinced he's any good tbh.

I'd agree about Iwobi, no end product would be happy to sell him.

Agree on Xhaka as a player. But just curious to see if he can improve. Make or break season. If he fails to perform this year, sell him.

Iwobi started the opening game for Nigeria during the World Cup and was then dropped for the remaining must win games. Not a good sign. He has to shake that Wenger mentality off and take more risks in the final third. Be more aggressive with his approach and take on his man if he’s playing down the wing. I can’t see him getting games down the middle with Emery unless he works on his pressing game but his style is more suited to playing through the middle. He’s not a winger.

[Power n Glory]

His best attribute is his passing range which we seem to see the full extent of so infrequently anyway. He can't take the ball on the half turn, nearly always has his back to goal and opts for the safe pass way too often as a result. What he actually offers to the team is so unclear, the manager responsible for him even being here told us he couldn't tackle and that he was a 'box to box' midfielder...which clearly isn't true as he can't run, is bypassed way too easily and again, can't take the ball on the half turn or beat his man.

He occasionally he shoots well, but for what he actually offers he is an alarming accepted part of the first team. Cannot fathom why so many see him as an automatic starter.

When fans are continuously talking about having not 1 but 2 of the right players around a given player....you know he is deeply flawed.

On the money with that assessment. He has no awareness at all. It takes him an age to control and turn with the ball on the half turn. It’s easy to pinch the ball off his feet on those situations. I really miss Rosicky. After seeing how well we played with Rosicky as CM and then seeing Cazorla in that position, I have no idea why Wenger thought Xhaka was a good purchase.

We’ve given Xhaka a new contract so I doubt we’re selling him any time soon. I hope we’ve renewed purely for valuation purposes but if Emery sees him as a starter, I’m curious to see what he does with Xhaka. I still have no idea why anyone rates him so curious to find out why.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It's funny you mention Rosicky. I think we've discussed it before, but Rosicky is the player that frequently comes to my mind when watching Xhaka play, it terms of what we are missing. Rosicky is probably one of the best players on the half turn I can remember watching play the game in my lifetime.

I haven't done any FA coaching badges but I know that how you are positioned when you receive the ball is one of the highlighted topics and for good reason. Very frustrating if you want to see quick fluid attacking football to have players who are really lacking on this.

[Power n Glory]

It's funny you mention Rosicky. I think we've discussed it before, but Rosicky is the player that frequently comes to my mind when watching Xhaka play, it terms of what we are missing. Rosicky is probably one of the best players on the half term I can remember watching play the game in my lifetime.

I haven't done any FA coaching badges but I know that how you are positioned when you receive the ball is one of the highlighted topics and for good reason. Very frustrating if you want to see quick fluid attacking football to have players who are really lacking on this.

Yeah, we've spoken about Rosicky before. As soon as you mentioned playing on the half turn, he's the player that springs to mind straight away. It’s a perfect example of how it should be done. The fluidity of our play changed as soon as he started playing as CM.

It's really frustrating to watch how other CM’s struggle to play the ball out from a deep position because they can’t turn on the ball to open up play. It’s worse with players like Xhaka because he’s not energetic enough to play the ball back in the direction he’s facing and then move off to find space to receive the ball back in a better position.

We’ll see what Emery does this year. If the midfield is too robust with not enough movement, we’re going to have the same problems as before.

[Bumble]

We do need to rid of a keeper and a centre back. think Welbeck worth keeping as 3rd choice striker plus an option on the wing.
does the window end 1st August this season?

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah, we've spoken about Rosicky before. As soon as you mentioned playing on the half turn, he's the player that springs to mind straight away. It’s a perfect example of how it should be done. The fluidity of our play changed as soon as he started playing as CM.

It's really frustrating to watch how other CM’s struggle to play the ball out from a deep position because they can’t turn on the ball to open up play. It’s worse with players like Xhaka because he’s not energetic enough to play the ball back in the direction he’s facing and then move off to find space to receive the ball back in a better position.

We’ll see what Emery does this year. If the midfield is too robust with not enough movement, we’re going to have the same problems as before.

Wheelchair could sort of do it but his trick of letting the ball run across him on the turn was so obvious it just led to him running into brick walls. :lol:

[Power n Glory]

Wheelchair could sort of do it but his trick of letting the ball run across him on the turn was so obvious it just led to him running into brick walls. :lol:

Wheelchair had the technique but you're right. He'd often get clattered or overplay. That's a lack of positional awareness. It also used to piss me off whenever he played with Ramsey and how often he'd go running further up field along with Ramsey emptying the middle. He'd often leave Arteta alone with passing outlet. He should have just sat deep because Arteta also had same problem of not being able to play on the half turn.

I mentioned Iwobi earlier but he's the only other player along with Ozil that have the technique and awareness to play the role. But they don't have the defensive quality and work rate. We've seen how that CM role has changed with the emergence of players like Modric, Rakitic, and Cazorla. There could easily be a lane there for Ozil and Iwobi if they were prepared to work for it. I don't see it happening and unless we're playing really shit under Emery, I wouldn't indulge the idea. That young French kid we just bought looks promising.

[selassie]

His best attribute is his passing range which we seem to see the full extent of so infrequently anyway. He can't take the ball on the half turn, nearly always has his back to goal and opts for the safe pass way too often as a result. What he actually offers to the team is so unclear, the manager responsible for him even being here told us he couldn't tackle and that he was a 'box to box' midfielder...which clearly isn't true as he can't run, is bypassed way too easily and again, can't take the ball on the half turn or beat his man.

He occasionally he shoots well, but for what he actually offers he is an alarming accepted part of the first team. Cannot fathom why so many see him as an automatic starter.

When fans are continuously talking about having not 1 but 2 of the right players around a given player....you know he is deeply flawed.

Yep, 100% with you on this.

I have actually tried to like Xhaka...just don't rate him at all. He doesn't appear to offer us anything.

I think he would be well suited in La Liga or Seria A tbh where he would have more time on the ball.

[selassie]

I'd hold off from selling Xhaka and Mustafi in this window. Curious to see if Emery can get a bit more out of them compared to Wenger. I highly doubt we'll recoup what we paid for either if we sell now. They're probably valued at £15m to £25m as it stands.

Reports say we're planning on selling some players. That wouldn't surprise me. We've got a lot of players that we have to get rid of. Jenkinson, Campbell is still an Arsenal player, one of Ospina, Cech or Martinez has to go, Welbeck, Asano, Perez and Iwobi could go. I like Iwobi but have serious doubt about his end product. I can't see him featuring a lot for us this season if he doesn't impose himself in the final third.

I think we are going to have a real problem shifting a lot of these guys, some of them are on crazy wages too.

The likes of Ospina, Cech, Welbeck and Iwobi are marketable to varying degrees...but we won't get a lot for any of them IMO. I think the likes of Perez, Campbell, Asano, Martinez and Jenkinson pretty much need to be given away.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Alisson confirmed signing.

Figure - absolute bonkers.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

No chance of us inflating the market of ourselves then! Though, I'm not delusional of course we were never going to sign Oblak for a similar price....no matter how much I may want us to.

[GP]

Liverpool winning the Best Transfer Window award.

Just like Everton did last year.

Remember people were expecting Everton to finish above us?

You know who you are.

[Marc Overmars]

The transfer market has become so laughably inflated that I find it difficult to really care or feel a sense of outrage anymore. Imagine what the likes of Henry, Bergkamp and Pires would be worth today?

It's the most popular sport in the world by a long distance, it is what it is and money will forever continue to be poured into it.

[LDG]

With a goalkeeper that's fucking retarded money anyway.

If makes a couple of confidence sapping "Joe Harts", he's useless to you, and has no sell on fee.

[GP]

With a goalkeeper that's fucking retarded money anyway.

If makes a couple of confidence sapping "Joe Harts", he's useless to you, and has no sell on fee.

They'd just blame it on "concussion"

[Power n Glory]

With a goalkeeper that's fucking retarded money anyway.

If makes a couple of confidence sapping "Joe Harts", he's useless to you, and has no sell on fee.

Some are getting carried away with this idea a player will forever hold their resale value. It’s not that uncommon for a player to lose form and wipe out their value. You’re right about Joe Hart. We’ve also seen it happen with Kaka, Shevchenko, Adriano, Fernando Torres….

We’ll see if Alisson has a couple more of these in him. :lol:

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/717543/Alisson-Liverpool-goalkeeper-transfer-worse-Loris-Karius-blunder-video

[Power n Glory]

Just seen a Tweet and Alisson has only had one season as the full time keeper for Roma and was kept on the bench by Sir Ches the season before. This is a massive risk.

[selassie]

Alisson confirmed signing.

Figure - absolute bonkers.

Is he actually any good? I mean like World Class, top 3 best?

From what I have seen of him he just looks like a decent keeper, nothing more.

The fee they have paid for him is nuts...I would understand if he had been at the top of his game for the past 5 years, but he only really emerged as a highly rated keeper last season.

[Özim]

Oblak looks like a bargain now!

Klopp said it best I think:


"He has nothing to do with the price, we have nothing to do with the price. It's the market, that's how it is and we will not think a lot about it."

He's right of course, it is the market and he can either pay what has to be paid or not sign the player, thing is hes interested in making the team the most competitive possible and that's all he worries about. Why not, he's the manager after all, that's his job, not to balance the finances and workout what should and shouldn't be paid.

De Gea, Courtois, Loris and Oblak are better than this guy for sure, but if he ends up 5th best in that list and Liverpool win the league or the CL in the time he's here I'm sure they won't care too much about the money they paid.

[Özim]

Some are getting carried away with this idea a player will forever hold their resale value. It’s not that uncommon for a player to lose form and wipe out their value. You’re right about Joe Hart. We’ve also seen it happen with Kaka, Shevchenko, Adriano, Fernando Torres….

We’ll see if Alisson has a couple more of these in him. :lol:

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/717543/Alisson-Liverpool-goalkeeper-transfer-worse-Loris-Karius-blunder-video

Doesn't tend to happen to keepers, they tend to have longer to prove themselves, De Gea struggled at the start at Man U but he came through it and is now one of the best in the world, Loris had an indifferent start too.

This happens a lot to strikers, maybe because the new culture, style affects their confidence and they never get back to what they were, or injuries of course.

Every keeper makes mistakes, look at Loris in the world cup, but for every mistake there are dozens of goal saving saves, something an ordinary keeper doesn't do anywhere near as much.

[Power n Glory]

Doesn't tend to happen to keepers, they tend to have longer to prove themselves, De Gea struggled at the start at Man U but he came through it and is now one of the best in the world, Loris had an indifferent start too.

This happens a lot to strikers, maybe because the new culture, style affects their confidence and they never get back to what they were, or injuries of course.

Every keeper makes mistakes, look at Loris in the world cup, but for every mistake there are dozens of goal saving saves, something an ordinary keeper doesn't do anywhere near as much.

This guy has had one good season. We have no idea what's in store for him. If they're going to pay that much for a keeper, they might as well have kicked out the extra £10m-£20m for Oblak.

[GP]

Is he actually any good? I mean like World Class, top 3 best?

From what I have seen of him he just looks like a decent keeper, nothing more.

The fee they have paid for him is nuts...I would understand if he had been at the top of his game for the past 5 years, but he only really emerged as a highly rated keeper last season.

He's the best in the world, according to Liverpool fans.

[Özim]

This guy has had one good season. We have no idea what's in store for him. If they're going to pay that much for a keeper, they might as well have kicked out the extra £10m-£20m for Oblak.

I'd agree with you, but spending that much they've probably done their homework, he's keeping Ederson out of the Brazil team and he's pretty good so he must have something about him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Some are getting carried away with this idea a player will forever hold their resale value. It’s not that uncommon for a player to lose form and wipe out their value. You’re right about Joe Hart. We’ve also seen it happen with Kaka, Shevchenko, Adriano, Fernando Torres….

We’ll see if Alisson has a couple more of these in him. :lol:

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/717543/Alisson-Liverpool-goalkeeper-transfer-worse-Loris-Karius-blunder-video

I think the transition of top attacking players is a lot less tricky for top goalkeepers.

I don't think that all players will retain their value.....but there are a select few who failing a 'force majeure' almost certainly will.

Even if a player like Mbappe doesn't turn out to be the second coming of Henry and isn't a once in a generation player after all...he will retain his value for some time because of both his age and what he has done to date.

[Power n Glory]

I'd agree with you, but spending that much they've probably done their homework, he's keeping Ederson out of the Brazil team and he's pretty good so he must have something about him.

This is where I say the approach should be to find out who is doing Liverpool’s homework rather than play follow the leader and think all keepers should cost that amount. Put more money behind scouting and research instead of being the last one to the party.

Better yet, if he’s that damn good, I’d want to know how Roma knew about him or what they did to get him playing at this level.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't agree with their valuation of Allison and I wouldn't want us to throw down that much on him, but you want your manager to have some conviction in his signings whether he spends a little or a lot.

Too often we have had the sense at our own club that there was little conviction about the signing.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

This is where I say the approach should be to find out who is doing Liverpool’s homework rather than play follow the leader and think all keepers should cost that amount. Put more money behind scouting and research instead of being the last one to the party.

Better yet, if he’s that damn good, I’d want to know how Roma knew about him or what they did to get him playing at this level.

I think we should be doing all that as a prerequisite and that the larger signings should be in addition to that basis thinking rather than the other way round, so I would agree with you on that.

I don't actually think these large signings should be the norm necessarily and if they are there's clearly other areas within a club that could be worked on.

[Özim]

This is where I say the approach should be to find out who is doing Liverpool’s homework rather than play follow the leader and think all keepers should cost that amount. Put more money behind scouting and research instead of being the last one to the party.

Better yet, if he’s that damn good, I’d want to know how Roma knew about him or what they did to get him playing at this level.

You'd have to look at the non EU players rule in Italy, maybe it's easier for South American to come across and get a work permit, but as for finding players, clearly it's the scouting, our scouting has been terrible for years, Southampton, Atletico etc are all very good at scouting, even clubs like Juve seem to sign the right players on top of the more expensive buys.

We can hope that our new team will achieve the same, but there's no guarantee, maybe they need the other people who were with them at their former clubs to be as successful, we'll find out I guess.

Be interesting to see if the new Greek CB and young French player are any good I guess.

[Power n Glory]

I think the transition of top attacking players is a lot less tricky for top goalkeepers.

I don't think that all players will retain their value.....but there are a select few who failing a 'force majeure' almost certainly will.

Even if a player like Mbappe doesn't turn out to be the second coming of Henry and isn't a once in a generation player after all...he will retain his value for some time because of both his age and what he has done to date.

One bad experience or one bad injury can change all that. It's a risk all players face but we're heading into flawed territory if we start thinking such huge transfer fees will hold their value because we're guaranteed to get x amount of years in top quality service. Football never works like that. Imagine we dumped £80m on Wilshere, Ox or Diaby?

To me, you should only ever invest that much if you feel the player will potentially recoup what you spent through what he brings to the pitch or shirt sales and advertising money.

[KSE Comedy Club]

It’s a laughable fee for a keeper, tbh, before Liverpool were in from him, whose name hasn’t ever been mentioned.

By anyone :coffee:

[Özim]

One bad experience or one bad injury can change all that. It's a risk all players face but we're heading into flawed territory if we start thinking such huge transfer fees will hold their value because we're guaranteed to get x amount of years in top quality service. Football never works like that. Imagine we dumped £80m on Wilshere, Ox or Diaby?

To me, you should only ever invest that much if you feel the player will potentially recoup what you spent through what he brings to the pitch or shirt sales and advertising money.

Keepers don't often get bad injuries to be fair, it's quite rare. Blink is right though, age plays a part, paying loads for an outfield player is riskier in my opinion they're much more affected by players around them being outfield players, despite that though I'd be happy for us to sign a top class player for big money, there's alway a risk but generally they work out.

Liverpool haven't gone into this blindly, they've signed him on the basis of what they feel his is, top class I guess. They took a risk with Mane, Salah, Van Dijk but it's worked out well so far, they seem to know what they're doing.

As I said it wouldn't be my choice, that would be Oblak for me, but they must have done their homework and as mentioned he's keeper Ederson out of the Brazil team who is top class, so they aren't the only ones to rate him.

That's fair enough, what's clear is Liverpool are banking on success bringing the money in and to be fair they aren't fair off, a successful team makes huge amounts.

[Power n Glory]

Keepers don't often get bad injuries to be fair, it's quite rare. Blink is right though, age plays a part, paying loads for an outfield player is riskier in my opinion they're much more affected by players around them being outfield players, despite that though I'd be happy for us to sign a top class player for big money, there's alway a risk but generally they work out.

Liverpool haven't gone into this blindly, they've signed him on the basis of what they feel his is, top class I guess. They took a risk with Mane, Salah, Van Dijk but it's worked out well so far, they seem to know what they're doing.

As I said it wouldn't be my choice, that would be Oblak for me, but they must have done their homework and as mentioned he's keeper Ederson out of the Brazil team who is top class, so they aren't the only ones to rate him.

That's fair enough, what's clear is Liverpool are banking on success bringing the money in and to be fair they aren't fair off, a successful team makes huge amounts.

We're not talking about property here. Besides injury, what happens if the player doesn't get along with his teammates, coach or can't adapt to life in Liverpool. When news gets out that a player wants to leave and won't sign a new contract, the valuation plummets. If the club start performing badly and the player wants out and is prepared to run down his contract.

God knows why it's one rule for Liverpool but another for us. Also, you guys are forgetting that you can only ever have one keeper as your number one and since they tend to play for a lot longer than outfield players, where the heck is he going to go to if all the top clubs around already have a top notch keeper? You can't adjust the formation to have two keepers on the pitch!

[Özim]

We're not talking about property here. Besides injury, what happens if the player doesn't get along with his teammates, coach or can't adapt to life in Liverpool. When news gets out that a player wants to leave and won't sign a new contract, the valuation plummets. If the club start performing badly and the player wants out and is prepared to run down his contract.

God knows why it's one rule for Liverpool but another for us. Also, you guys are forgetting that you can only ever have one keeper as your number one and since they tend to play for a lot longer than outfield players, where the heck is he going to go to if all the top clubs around already have a top notch keeper? You can't adjust the formation to have two keepers on the pitch!

How often does that happen, it does happen but not a lot, as for plumetting value, they've signed him on a 6 year contract so that's unlikely.

Loris, De Gea, Courtois they don't seem to have a problem either staying at their club or finding other suitors, Buffon was signed for a huge fortune and yet he was worth every penny.


It's not not rule for Liverpool, they go in and spend the necessary, no messing about, if they need a keeper and identify him they pay the market value or move on that's how they work, it's how most of the big clubs work, that's why they sign top players with relevatively little fuss.

You never have a problem selling one on, if it didn't work out it would be cut price obviously, but I would think Liverpool will persist with him seeing as they've spent so much.

Personally have no issue payig big money for top notch talent, rather that than 30-35 million on players who are middle of the road, like Xkaka and Mustafi, yes ideally we would uncover talent, but let's be honest there's only a small chance of that happening, I know we've brought these two guys from Dortmund and Barcelona, but as I said before maybe it worked for them due to the right combination of people, they wouldn't have been the only ones finding players and signing them up, a top clubs scouting system is vast, it doesn't rely on one person, so whist there's a chance they might be the answer we might find in a few years time they aren't quite doing what they were doing at their former clubs.

Rather than relying on some magic wand we should live in the here and now and realise we need quality now rather than basing our strategy on what might possibly happen in the future, these guys are here to find players over time, players to add to our already strong team not to build a team from players plucked out of obscurity overnight (which will never happen). In all likelyness whilst we might have the odd one or two work out, there'll probably be a dozen that don't.

Here's the BBCs' assessment of Alisson:


But, judging by Alisson's performances for Roma last season, it seems entirely fair. The Brazil international wasn't just considered the best player in his position in Serie A, but the best in any position, such was his influence on Roma's play and results.

Alisson didn't just stop goals. He set them up. He played defence-splitting passes, inch-perfect long balls, completed more dribbles than a whole host of outfield players, and embarrassed opposition strikers with backheels under pressure and a 'sombrero' against Crotone.

At no point did Alisson's tricks cause a quick intake of breath or create a sense of panic. His actions were not frivolous. They were essential. The right decision under the circumstances.

Watch Alisson perform any of the skills listed above and you will not see a showman with a professional death wish, but a self-assured goalkeeper who has earned the complete trust of his team. "He's the goalkeeper of the future," Roma manager Eusebio di Francesco said. The evolution of the species in his position.

At least that is how Alisson is perceived in Serie A, where he distinguished himself as the most convincing interpreter of the sweeper-keeper role Italy has seen since Manuel Neuer made that style the benchmark by which goalkeepers are now judged.

Alisson rushed off his line and cleared the ball 41 times this season. To put that into perspective, the next best goalkeeper in Italy when it comes to sweeping was Pepe Reina - he managed 20. Alisson proved crucial in enabling Roma to play with an aggressive high line in defence.

For all the attributes that mark Alisson out as a thoroughly modern goalkeeper, it is the old-fashioned stuff that makes him a traditionalist's favourite as well. Tall and broad shouldered, he has an imposing frame and can seem like a magnet for the ball.

Alisson made 109 saves last season and was the only goalkeeper in Serie A with a shots saved percentage of 79% or higher. Limit that to attempts inside the box and his record is the best in Italy over the past five years.

More impressively, Opta's advance metrics show that given the quality of chances Alisson faced, the average goalkeeper would have conceded 36.31 goals. Alisson is no ordinary goalkeeper. He allowed just 28; a difference of eight, the biggest in Serie A.

As Roma and Edin Dzeko did not score as freely as they had done the previous season, his interventions assumed greater significance. Some were jaw-dropping.

Alisson's first Champions League game of the season set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Roma were out-played by Atletico Madrid but held out for a 0-0 draw thanks to a goalkeeper who made nine saves.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44875174

[Power n Glory]

Dude, find an opinion piece on Xhaka before we signed him. He was supposed to be the second coming of Xabi Alonso after the season he had in Germany.

Looking forwards to seeing this new Liverpool keeper if he has all the above in his locker. But without question, this is a risky signing. The only difference is that it's Klopp and not Wenger.

[Özim]

Dude, find an opinion piece on Xhaka before we signed him. He was supposed to be the second coming of Xabi Alonso after the season he had in Germany.

Looking forwards to seeing this new Liverpool keeper if he has all the above in his locker. But without question, this is a risky signing. The only difference is that it's Klopp and not Wenger.

Let's be honest though, Xhaka was a nobody, I was very sceptical about him signing, we've seen what he's about a very limited player.

Alisson plays for a team who played in the CL and got to the semis and serie A has some very good keepers, but yes you're right it is Klopp and not Wenger and the former certainly has a better eye for talent than the latter so I would trust his judgment far more.

Time will tell of course but as it always is with players like this, if they turn out to be top class they then look like a bargain at the end of it, speculate to accumulate and all that. Seems to me Liverpool back their manager and are always willing to take a punt on players, hence the reason they always seem to find top players for modest amounts.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

One bad experience or one bad injury can change all that. It's a risk all players face but we're heading into flawed territory if we start thinking such huge transfer fees will hold their value because we're guaranteed to get x amount of years in top quality service. Football never works like that. Imagine we dumped £80m on Wilshere, Ox or Diaby?

To me, you should only ever invest that much if you feel the player will potentially recoup what you spent through what he brings to the pitch or shirt sales and advertising money.

I don't say the value being retained is anything like a cast iron guarantee and I actually don't think that is even the main reason we should sign him.

Money aside I think he's the 2nd best goalkeeper in the world. It's just my personal view, but I think that sets him aside in terms of the how risk averse a buyer should be.

Wilshere, Ox and Diaby were injury plagued young hopefuls, whereas Oblak is mid 20's, world class with a near flawless injury record.

I was annoyed we allowed Wilshere to leave at it was. Imagine if he was a proven
top 5 world class midfielder with a flawless injury record. I'd burn the ground down for allowing him to walk!!!

[Power n Glory]

Let's be honest though, Xhaka was a nobody, I was very sceptical about him signing, we've seen what he's about a very limited player.

Alisson plays for a team who played in the CL and got to the semis and serie A has some very good keepers, but yes you're right it is Klopp and not Wenger and the former certainly has a better eye for talent than the latter so I would trust his judgment far more.

Time will tell of course but as it always is with players like this, if they turn out to be top class they then look like a bargain at the end of it, speculate to accumulate and all that. Seems to me Liverpool back their manager and are always willing to take a punt on players, hence the reason they always seem to find top players for modest amounts.

You had no idea who this keeper was before Liverpool signed him. :lol: He was never on your radar as a player to sign. It's only because Liverpool have paid a huge sum that you now rate him.

Fact check, dude. Xhaka has more Champions League experience than Alisson. For Basel as well as Borussia Monch. He was captain in Germany and helped Borussia rise from 8th to Champs League 3rd and 4th place finishes.

We've only seen that he's absolutely shit because we've seen him play week in week out. Same useless criteria you're judging this keeper on can be applied to Xhaka.

[Power n Glory]

I don't say the value being retained is anything like a cast iron guarantee and I actually don't think that is even the main reason we should sign him.

Money aside I think he's the 2nd best goalkeeper in the world. It's just my personal view, but I think that sets him aside in terms of the how risk averse a buyer should be.

Wilshere, Ox and Diaby were injury plagued young hopefuls, whereas Oblak is mid 20's, world class with a near flawless injury record.

I was annoyed we allowed Wilshere to leave at it was. Imagine if he was a proven
top 5 world class midfielder with a flawless injury record. I'd burn the ground down for allowing him to walk!!!

I use the Wilshere, Diaby and Ox examples to show how an injuries can change a players trajectory.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Sure PG tips....but that is a risk with any player and no previous would make me particularly concerned with Oblak on that front.

That BBC report is particularly glowing. I'll be keen to see if Auntie Ali lives up to that.

The sweeper keeper thing does sometimes amuse me though, as if it's a new thing. I was practically playing like that in my school days! Suppose we've seen less of it in England till recently though.

[Power n Glory]

Sure PG tips....but that is a risk with any player and no previous would make me particularly concerned with Oblak on that front.

That BBC report is particularly glowing. I'll be keen to see if Auntie Ali lives up to that.

The sweeper keeper thing does sometimes amuse me though, as if it's a new thing. I was practically playing like that in my school days! Suppose we've seen less of it in England till recently though.

It is a risk with any player. Hopfully he's not that unlucky. But that's why I'm skeptical of all this talk on resale value. It's just not wise for any club to invest that sort of money and think it's as 'safe as houses'. As I was saying to Zim, when you factor in injuries, contract length, how the team is performing, mental state of the player, there is no guarantee the value of a player will hold or rise. Last window just gone we were linked with Malcom for £50m. Now I'm seeing stories of him making a move to Everton for £30m. Happens all the time in football. See Draxler. See Bernard, Lucas Moura....

[GP]

Everton are signing Richarlison from Watford.

£50m

Fifty Million.

I think I'm done with football. World's gone mad.

[Mac76]

Everton are signing Richarlison from Watford.

£50m

Fifty Million.

I think I'm done with football. World's gone mad.

Blimey i hadn't realised the pound had devalued by that much...

[I am invisible]

Have any of the clubs even thought about setting aside, say, £10m to lower ticket prices?

[Mac76]

Have any of the clubs even thought about setting aside, say, £10m to lower ticket prices?

What a crazy idea :haha: :pal:

;)

[I am invisible]

What a crazy idea :haha: :pal:

;)
I can almost hear Stan and Sir Chips choking on their whatever it is rich fuckers have for breakfast. Peacock.

[Marc Overmars]

Everton are signing Richarlison from Watford.

£50m

Fifty Million.

I think I'm done with football. World's gone mad.

Who???

It’s out of control.

[SMatthews]

He’s the guy that has a lot of goal scoring chances and misses a lot.

A poor mans Sterling, if there is such a thing.

Best thing to do is not get involved with the transfer bullshit and switch back on when the season starts. Try to pretend it’s not happening.

[Penguin]

His speciality is falling over every time he enters the box and 'winning' penalties. £50m skill apparently :lol:

[hobson's choice]

He’s the guy that has a lot of goal scoring chances and misses a lot.

A poor mans Sterling, if there is such a thing.

Best thing to do is not get involved with the transfer bullshit and switch back on when the season starts. Try to pretend it’s not happening.

Heh, he's a lot more skilled with ball than Sterling will ever

[LDG]

Heh, he's a lot more skilled with ball than Sterling will ever

be

[McNamara That Ghost...]

.

[KSE Comedy Club]

:lol:

[Mac76]

His speciality is falling over every time he enters the box and 'winning' penalties. £50m skill apparently :lol:

With a 'skill' like that, i'm surprised he's not gone to spuds, he sounds perfect for them

[KSE Comedy Club]

Anyone think Cech is gonna go?

Chelsea are reportedly interested and Atletico this morning also

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Don't begrudge him moving to another club in order to guarantee first team football but if he's going to Chelsea & Atletico to be a number two I'd much rather keep him experience & professionalism at our club and not lose out.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I just wonder what the plan is with the all new guys that have come in. Obviously we will sell a few players on but it’s difficult to know what the first choice 11 will be :shrug:

[Mac76]

Don't begrudge him moving to another club in order to guarantee first team football but if he's going to Chelsea & Atletico to be a number two I'd much rather keep him experience & professionalism at our club and not lose out.

Understood, though i've never quite forgiven him for laughing and joking with the Bayern players straight after letting in five goals against them at the Emirates

[Özim]

Talk of Iwobi getting a new contract, must admit I don't get what's going on with contracts and players who haven't performed, we seem to be giving them out left, right and centre when we should be selling some of these guys to bring in better quality players.

[LDG]

Talk of Iwobi getting a new contract, must admit I don't get what's going on with contracts and players who haven't performed, we seem to be giving them out left, right and centre when we should be selling some of these guys to bring in better quality players.

We've got to give the new dude time to work with these players. Iowbi looked really useful to start with. Fuck knows what happened, but his development definitely stalled at the start of last season....I think we all know why.

[GP]

We've got to give the new dude time to work with these players. Iowbi looked really useful to start with. Fuck knows what happened, but his development definitely stalled at the start of last season....I think we all know why.

Because he's black?

Hmm, yes, agreed.

[Marc Overmars]

Iwobi is young enough to persist with for another couple of seasons, he’s shown some glimpses of ability. Really want to see more aggression and end product from him in the final third, he’s like a blunt knife at the moment.

Didn’t bode well though that he couldn’t even get into the Nigeria team at the World Cup.

[selassie]

Iwobi is young enough to persist with for another couple of seasons, he’s shown some glimpses of ability. Really want to see more aggression and end product from him in the final third, he’s like a blunt knife at the moment.

Didn’t bode well though that he couldn’t even get into the Nigeria team at the World Cup.

I think there is a player in there, but like a lot of our youngsters in recent times...their development has stalled.

I think it's worth keeping him around and seeing how he progresses this coming season. Emery obviously sees something in him.

Emery has a group of young players to work with who I believe all have a lot of potential...Iwobi is in that group, along with Chambers, Bellerin and the younger ones like Maitland-Niles and Nelson. I am hoping we will have a clear idea by the end of the season whether these guys are progressing or whether they need to be binned.

One thing I will say is that Emery has no emotional ties to these guys and will obviously be judged on a results only basis so I expect him to be a lot more cut throat with his decision making regarding the squad and underachieving players.

[Power n Glory]

Happy to see Iwobi given a chance. Great balance on the ball which reminds me of Jack and Rosicky but he’s no winger. Classic Wenger move. Rosicky and Jack wasted a lot of time playing out wide. When the team clicks and everything runs smoothly, it pays off but they’ll struggle to influence the game if the teams struggling.

Hoping Unai can get more out of Iwobi if he’s getting a new contract. He should be developed as a CM. Within the same vein as Modric/Cazorla/Rosicky. No idea if he’ll get the playing time but he has talent. Dribbling, control, balance all top notch. Just strikes me as another Wenger candidate that spend too long playing 5 aside in training and hasn’t developed core skills beyond what you’ll learn during those 5 aside sessions.

[SMatthews]

Talk of Iwobi getting a new contract, must admit I don't get what's going on with contracts and players who haven't performed, we seem to be giving them out left, right and centre when we should be selling some of these guys to bring in better quality players.

Probably the homegrown rule more than anything else.

[I am invisible]

Happy to see Iwobi given a chance. Great balance on the ball which reminds me of Jack and Rosicky but he’s no winger. Classic Wenger move. Rosicky and Jack wasted a lot of time playing out wide. When the team clicks and everything runs smoothly, it pays off but they’ll struggle to influence the game if the teams struggling.

Hoping Unai can get more out of Iwobi if he’s getting a new contract. He should be developed as a CM. Within the same vein as Modric/Cazorla/Rosicky. No idea if he’ll get the playing time but he has talent. Dribbling, control, balance all top notch. Just strikes me as another Wenger candidate that spend too long playing 5 aside in training and hasn’t developed core skills beyond what you’ll learn during those 5 aside sessions.

Was thinking the same - looks more of a CM being played in all the wrong place. Needs a role where the game is in front of him, and where his list of core responsibilities are more suited to his strengths (e.g. balance, control, carrying the ball forward) rather than his weaknesses (critical, quick decision making in the final 3rd). He's got a bit of presence about him too - may need a crash course in tactics and defending (same as everyone in the squad, tbh), but the raw ingredients are there...

[I am invisible]

Talk of Iwobi getting a new contract, must admit I don't get what's going on with contracts and players who haven't performed, we seem to be giving them out left, right and centre when we should be selling some of these guys to bring in better quality players.

I guess it's all about control - can still sell them down the line if we choose to, but we need to make sure it's our choice.

Besides, if we let them go now, after their form has been erratic and their deals are low, then we're not going to get much for them - give them a year of proper coaching, another season of games to boost their reputations and longer contracts and we might actually get a respectable fee for them if we still want to get rid!

[Power n Glory]

Was thinking the same - looks more of a CM being played in all the wrong place. Needs a role where the game is in front of him, and where his list of core responsibilities are more suited to his strengths (e.g. balance, control, carrying the ball forward) rather than his weaknesses (critical, quick decision making in the final 3rd). He's got a bit of presence about him too - may need a crash course in tactics and defending (same as everyone in the squad, tbh), but the raw ingredients are there...

Raw ingredients are definitely there. Will be interesting to see how much game time he gets this season and where he gets played.

[Özim]

We ust be really struggling to shift the unwanted players as so far noone has been sold. Even if we have to give them away for next to nothing it's better than continuing to pay their wages, would be good to get some money.

Welbeck, Xhaka, Mustafi, Chambers, Iwobi, Perez, Campbell, Akpom, Holding, Ospina, Cech, Elneny, Jenkinson, take your pick of any of those!

[I am invisible]

Raw ingredients are definitely there. Will be interesting to see how much game time he gets this season and where he gets played.

Shame no one spotted it and gave it a try last season when there was less competition in the middle - he's really going to have to make the most of any chances that come his way this season...

[Özim]

Truth be told we need a winger, I'd have sold Iwobi to by a winger as Iwobi is more of a central player (weren't they all under Wenger?), we've got so many central players in and around the team we really need players who'll give us some width.

What games he did play in the World Cup he didn't impress in for me.

[SMatthews]

We ust be really struggling to shift the unwanted players as so far noone has been sold. Even if we have to give them away for next to nothing it's better than continuing to pay their wages, would be good to get some money.

Welbeck, Xhaka, Mustafi, Chambers, Iwobi, Perez, Campbell, Akpom, Holding, Ospina, Cech, Elneny, Jenkinson, take your pick of any of those!

How many of these are actually unwanted by the club, rather than the fans?

That said, the market will start to ramp up in the next 4 weeks. Jim White is going to be wanking himself into a coma.

[Özim]

How many of these are actually unwanted by the club, rather than the fans?

Hopefully most of them, we should be keen to get rid of as much deadwood left from Wengers reign as possible!

[Power n Glory]

Shame no one spotted it and gave it a try last season when there was less competition in the middle - he's really going to have to make the most of any chances that come his way this season...

I blame Wenger. Henry said a couple of seasons ago that Iwobi should be played as a 10. With Ozil in the squad, that wasn't going to happen and now with Emery here, I doubt we'll be playing with a 10 this season.

Sometimes, players need to speak up and say where they want to play instead of accepting any old place. Seen a few end up playing in a false position and never recover.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Truth be told we need a winger, I'd have sold Iwobi to by a winger as Iwobi is more of a central player (weren't they all under Wenger?), we've got so many central players in and around the team we really need players who'll give us some width.

What games he did play in the World Cup he didn't impress in for me.

Iwobi was genuinely unlucky to be left out. It looked like a tactical decision to me by the German manager. When he did play, he was played wide even though he should have played central and still had an impact, so generally speaking I think he's presented himself well at international level and should have easily been playing instead of Ndidi IMO.

I also don't think as seems to be the common view that he is some transformed player when he plays for Nigeria compared to Arsenal. What is apparent is the lack of surrounding quality when he plays at that level and his skills are therefore easier to discern as a result. That almost forces him to take more responsibility and play with a little more abandon.

[SMatthews]

Hopefully most of them, we should be keen to get rid of as much deadwood left from Wengers reign as possible!

That probably explains why they haven’t been sold yet. I expect they’ll sell only two or three from that list.

[Penguin]

Iwobi would definitely be much better in a central position than out wide. The problem is that he's too weak defensively and off the ball to play CM (just like most of the young players Wenger has brought through). But he's still young so it's not too late for him to learn.

[Power n Glory]

Iwobi would definitely be much better in a central position than out wide. The problem is that he's too weak defensively and off the ball to play CM (just like most of the young players Wenger has brought through). But he's still young so it's not too late for him to learn.

His defending is suspect. But not too late to learn. I just don't think he'll get a chance to play there under Unai. He's going to have to really pull his socks up to impress.

[Özim]

On another note not sure what to make of the Ramsey contract situation, the new season isn't too far away and still he hasn't signed on. Is he going to sign or are we going to sell him, either way we better hurry up otherwise he'll be another player we lose for free.

[Power n Glory]

On another note not sure what to make of the Ramsey contract situation, the new season isn't too far away and still he hasn't signed on. Is he going to sign or are we going to sell him, either way we better hurry up otherwise he'll be another player we lose for free.

I'm 50/50 on Ramsey. I really don't know how he'll cope with a high pressing game and fear he'll keep picking up hammy injuries. If we give him a ridiculous contract and he keeps on getting injured because his body can't handle the intense pressing game, we'll be stuck with an injury prone player on a very expensive contract.

On the other hand we could end up losing a really good player. I don't rate Ramsey that highly at all but it's just off the back of Emery wanting him to stay that has me wanting to see what he can do under new management. But I'm curious to see how every Arsenal player reacts under new management.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I actually think there is a lot less to find out about Ramsey than others. We know he can be exceptional and may well benefit from the structure and discipline of Emery but we have less idea about how several others will get on. Sadly he may well always be injury prone.

Can't see Iwobi getting much game time at all to be honest.....though he isn't the only one.

[Power n Glory]

Barcelona announce Malcom deal. £41m.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

WTF!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Seri to Fulham, Moutunho to Wolves..... Malcom to Barce!

[I am invisible]

I actually think there is a lot less to find out about Ramsey than others. We know he can be exceptional and may well benefit from the structure and discipline of Emery but we have less idea about how several others will get on. Sadly he may well always be injury prone.

Can't see Iwobi getting much game time at all to be honest.....though he isn't the only one.

Yeah, my hopes for Ramsey are more about seeing him in a role that suits him, within a system that suits him, and surrounded by a group of players that allow him to be himself without leaving gaping holes in the midfield whenever goes marauding off somewhere. I don't see him suddenly discovering extra levels of tactical and positional discipline - I see him as more of an all-action player who needs to be everywhere at once, so for me it's more about finding our Alonso and Mascherano to compliment his natural Gerrard style of play: the guys who provide the solid structure and shape and tactical nous while Ramsey charges about and doubles-up as the extra man pretty much everywhere.

As you say, the major reservation has to be how long we can rely on him for before he breaks down? Potentially great while he's fit, but should we really be building a system around a player who could easily be out for half of every season?

Then again, maybe I'm worrying about nothing under our new coaching setup? It's hard to shake off 22 years of Wengerised thinking, and my first thought is still to view things in terms of a best XI and a one-size-fits-all system, with very little rotation - maybe (hopefully) Emery has multiple shapes and systems planned, in which case Ramsey's fitness may not be the major issue I'm fearing?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think if you're wanting to offer him a package that is actually appealing enough for him to sign a contract, make him captain and a key part of the way we play most or at least a substantial amount of the time, then his injury record is a major issue.

As arseblog suggests the heralded IRS and their credibility really come into play in situations like these, because none of the other things to date were particularly tricky. At least ostensibly....ie Sokratis, Torreira, Litchensteiner....Leno. The manager as well of course, but he doesn't have the all encompassing role operationally that his predecessor had.

Given we have lost Santi (no real difference of late in reality) Wilshere and may still (even after the English new transfer deadline) lose Ramsey I really wish we'd managed to sign Banega or somebody like Seri.

I'm hoping Dembele is lost down the back of Barce's sofa so that we can pounce, then that will make 2 players this summer I'm genuinely really looking forward to seeing.

[Marc Overmars]

Dembele is apparently unsettled now they've signed Malcom in the Middle.

Though I'm sure they'd want to recoup most of that 100m they spent on him, would we stump up that kind of cash?

[I am invisible]

Dembele is apparently unsettled now they've signed Malcom in the Middle.

Though I'm sure they'd want to recoup most of that 100m they spent on him, would we stump up that kind of cash?

Maybe? If we thought he was worth it?

I mean we supposedly offered 126m for Mbappe and 90m for Lemar, so I don't think money is necessarily a problem...

[Özim]

Dembele can play on either side, talk is of Malcom on one side, Dembele on the other. Don't think they'll sell him, they need to add rather than lose players especially with Suarez and Messi in their 30s. Plus we have no chance as we'll never stump up the money as they'll want most of their cash back, this is a pipedream I reckon.

[Özim]

Maybe? If we thought he was worth it?

I mean we supposedly offered 126m for Mbappe and 90m for Lemar, so I don't think money is necessarily a problem...

I don't think we offered 126 million for Mbappe at all, that was just speculation.

We did offer 90 odd million for Lemar but that was on the basis of the profit we had made and selling Alexiz for 50 - 60 million which covered the cost of Lemar. We've spent that now.

Don't think we have bags of money to spend personally.

[Marc Overmars]

Maybe? If we thought he was worth it?

I mean we supposedly offered 126m for Mbappe and 90m for Lemar, so I don't think money is necessarily a problem...

True but then we also had the prospect of losing our best player for 60m and the impact that would have to consider.

I'd love it if we were a little more carefree and had a real interest in Dembele but given how this club is run, I think that's fantasy land.

[Power n Glory]

Yeah, my hopes for Ramsey are more about seeing him in a role that suits him, within a system that suits him, and surrounded by a group of players that allow him to be himself without leaving gaping holes in the midfield whenever goes marauding off somewhere. I don't see him suddenly discovering extra levels of tactical and positional discipline - I see him as more of an all-action player who needs to be everywhere at once, so for me it's more about finding our Alonso and Mascherano to compliment his natural Gerrard style of play: the guys who provide the solid structure and shape and tactical nous while Ramsey charges about and doubles-up as the extra man pretty much everywhere.

As you say, the major reservation has to be how long we can rely on him for before he breaks down? Potentially great while he's fit, but should we really be building a system around a player who could easily be out for half of every season?

Then again, maybe I'm worrying about nothing under our new coaching setup? It's hard to shake off 22 years of Wengerised thinking, and my first thought is still to view things in terms of a best XI and a one-size-fits-all system, with very little rotation - maybe (hopefully) Emery has multiple shapes and systems planned, in which case Ramsey's fitness may not be the major issue I'm fearing?

This midfield combination issue has gone on for ages and just snowballed into bigger problems. I have no idea how Emery will solve it. Good post. The part about having to find a Mascherano and Alonso combination just reminds me of some the earlier debates about our midfield. I was just about to say Ramsey flourished when we played a Coquelin and Arteta combo but that’s not right because we had signed Ozil and also still played Flamini. We were playing all sorts of combinations. Arteta/Ramsey/Ozil….. Flamini/Ramsey/Ozil…..Flamini/Wilshere/Ramsey….Ramsey had a hot start to the season and was scoring regardless of who he played with. It was a brief purple patch in his career.

We need him to be able to perform regardless of who he plays with otherwise we get into bigger problems. We haven’t solved who Xhaka can play with and we have the same issue with the type of player Ozil needs to play with in the midfield. It’s a mess. We really can’t afford to have specialist midfielders that only have one core function to their game. Ramsey really has to get back to doing more than just marauding forward and looking for goals. If we have to surround such midfielders with one or two other players to compensate for their flaws, they should be resigned to the bench and only called upon for special occasions where the conditions suit their style of play. Definitely agree with the last sentence of your post. Will be interesting to see what Emery does.

[I am invisible]

I think if you're wanting to offer him a package that is actually appealing enough for him to sign a contract, make him captain and a key part of the way we play most or at least a substantial amount of the time, then his injury record is a major issue.

As arseblog suggests the heralded IRS and their credibility really come into play in situations like these, because none of the other things to date were particularly tricky. At least ostensibly....ie Sokratis, Torreira, Litchensteiner....Leno. The manager as well of course, but he doesn't have the all encompassing role operationally that his predecessor had.

Given we have lost Santi (no real difference of late in reality) Wilshere and may still (even after the English new transfer deadline) lose Ramsey I really wish we'd managed to sign Banega or somebody like Seri.

I'm hoping Dembele is lost down the back of Barce's sofa so that we can pounce, then that will make 2 players this summer I'm genuinely really looking forward to seeing.
I don't know, I don't think the situation is all that tricky to manage? Set a limit on we're prepared to offer, set a cut-off point for negotiations, and have list of buyers and replacements lined up, if we can't agree terms. Might end up having to move quickly, but that shouldn't be anything that these guys can't deal easily handle? Christ, we usually do all of our shopping in the last 6 hours of the window, so having another 2 weeks to work with must feel like a real luxury!

I'm not unduly worried about losing Ramsey on top of Wilshere and Cazorla though. Jack and Santi's combined PL appearances have amounted to paltry 30 games over the last 2 seasons (and a lot of those will probably have been from the bench), so they represent no new loss or sudden shock for us - we've been effectively coping with them for a long time now. We've also added Torreira and Guendouzi, and I still consider AMN as new option, as we only really started to use him seriously in the last few games of last season. Then there's Iwobi, who might be able to do a job there with a bit of coaching? We're already well up on CM options from where we were, with or without Ramsey. If he stays then great! If he goes then I expect we'll sign a strong enough replacement. Even if we have to wait until January, I think we'll be able to get cope...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Dembele can play on either side, talk is of Malcom on one side, Dembele on the other. Don't think they'll sell him, they need to add rather than lose players especially with Suarez and Messi in their 30s. Plus we have no chance as we'll never stump up the money as they'll want most of their cash back, this is a pipedream I reckon.

I only envisage it as a loan with an option to buy for what is still a stupidly large fee.

I'd be interested in whether or not people think we can make the funds available for the transfer of a special player as this was the same basis in which I was arguing signing Oblak who lest we forget has already unreservedly proven his quality already and isn't a talent yet to prove himself.

The ability to make the funds available in the right circumstances is a very different argument to whether we should do.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

This midfield combination issue has gone on for ages and just snowballed into bigger problems. I have no idea how Emery will solve it. Good post. The part about having to find a Mascherano and Alonso combination just reminds me of some the earlier debates about our midfield. I was just about to say Ramsey flourished when we played a Coquelin and Arteta combo but that’s not right because we had signed Ozil and also still played Flamini. We were playing all sorts of combinations. Arteta/Ramsey/Ozil….. Flamini/Ramsey/Ozil…..Flamini/Wilshere/Ramsey….Ramsey had a hot start to the season and was scoring regardless of who he played with. It was a brief purple patch in his career.

We need him to be able to perform regardless of who he plays with otherwise we get into bigger problems. We haven’t solved who Xhaka can play with and we have the same issue with the type of player Ozil needs to play with in the midfield. It’s a mess. We really can’t afford to have specialist midfielders that only have one core function to their game. Ramsey really has to get back to doing more than just marauding forward and looking for goals. If we have to surround such midfielders with one or two other players to compensate for their flaws, they should be resigned to the bench and only called upon for special occasions where the conditions suit their style of play. Definitely agree with the last sentence of your post. Will be interesting to see what Emery does.

...yup, my Xhaka stance. UNLESS, what they give to the team is such that that is worth while.....and Ramsey would need to prove that under this regime.

On the basis of the potential for it, I am open to Invisible's idea of Torreira and AMN as a pair with Ramsey ahead.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't know, I don't think the situation is all that tricky to manage? Set a limit on we're prepared to offer, set a cut-off point for negotiations, and have list of buyers and replacements lined up, if we can't agree terms. Might end up having to move quickly, but that shouldn't be anything that these guys can't deal easily handle? Christ, we usually do all of our shopping in the last 6 hours of the window, so having another 2 weeks to work with must feel like a real luxury!

I'm not unduly worried about losing Ramsey on top of Wilshere and Cazorla though. Jack and Santi's combined PL appearances have amounted to paltry 30 games over the last 2 seasons (and a lot of those will probably have been from the bench), so they represent no new loss or sudden shock for us - we've been effectively coping with them for a long time now. We've also added Torreira and Guendouzi, and I still consider AMN as new option, as we only really started to use him seriously in the last few games of last season. Then there's Iwobi, who might be able to do a job there with a bit of coaching? We're already well up on CM options from where we were, with or without Ramsey. If he stays then great! If he goes then I expect we'll sign a strong enough replacement. Even if we have to wait until January, I think we'll be able to get cope...

It's never a question of numbers though....always quality. Santi, Wilshere and Ramsey going is more representative of the potential in quality we will lose in total. That quality or potential isn't replaced with AMN and Iwobi.....certainly not from an attacking point of view.

We are kind of already in make or break territory, so really we should be flogging or bringing in new faces in now if we have designs of behaving differently to the old regime. Personally I'm happy to see it go to the wire but will be pretty annoyed if the season starts, he hasn't signed or we're down a Ramsey with no replacement and/or no quality winger.

[Marc Overmars]

I think it's all strong arm tactics from his agent who's trying to get Ramsey the best deal possible. Could be wrong but he doesn't strike me as someone who's itching to leave and I think he sees himself as an important member of the team.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't think they're just playing poker though. I do believe Ramsey is willing to leave... even if he isn't actively setting out to make it happen.

[I am invisible]

True but then we also had the prospect of losing our best player for 60m and the impact that would have to consider.

I'd love it if we were a little more carefree and had a real interest in Dembele but given how this club is run, I think that's fantasy land.

The income from the new TV deals has been the real game-changer - absolutely crazy how much it's increased over the last 5 years. In 2013 Man U made £60.8m for winning the Prem - that's when it started to change. One year later, Cardiff made £62m for finishing bottom! And it's just gone on and on from there. Last season both Manchester clubs raked in close to 150m each for finishing 1st and 2nd, and we made a tidy £142m for finishing 6th! The money is definitely there, IMO (especially if the rumours of our cash reserves are in any way accurate).

You're probably right though - I expect that money will somehow be accounted out of existence or disappear into Kroenke's pocket...

[I am invisible]

This midfield combination issue has gone on for ages and just snowballed into bigger problems. I have no idea how Emery will solve it. Good post. The part about having to find a Mascherano and Alonso combination just reminds me of some the earlier debates about our midfield. I was just about to say Ramsey flourished when we played a Coquelin and Arteta combo but that’s not right because we had signed Ozil and also still played Flamini. We were playing all sorts of combinations. Arteta/Ramsey/Ozil….. Flamini/Ramsey/Ozil…..Flamini/Wilshere/Ramsey….Ramsey had a hot start to the season and was scoring regardless of who he played with. It was a brief purple patch in his career.

We need him to be able to perform regardless of who he plays with otherwise we get into bigger problems. We haven’t solved who Xhaka can play with and we have the same issue with the type of player Ozil needs to play with in the midfield. It’s a mess. We really can’t afford to have specialist midfielders that only have one core function to their game. Ramsey really has to get back to doing more than just marauding forward and looking for goals. If we have to surround such midfielders with one or two other players to compensate for their flaws, they should be resigned to the bench and only called upon for special occasions where the conditions suit their style of play. Definitely agree with the last sentence of your post. Will be interesting to see what Emery does.
The best partner for Ramsey was Arteta, so out of the current lot it would probably be Xhaka - basically someone who can constantly find him with the ball. The problem with that partnership is that Ramsey isn’t the best partner for Xhaka - he charges off too often and leaves all of his weaknesses exposed.

Xhaka’s ideal partner will probably be Torreira (or someone similar), and I hope that’s where the buck stops, as those types of DMs generally aren’t reliant on anyone - they’re quite specifically there to cover for others.

This is why I’d like to see us try a 4231 with Torreira and Xhaka at the base, and Ramsey in the middle of the 3 - that way it doesn’t really matter where Ramsey decides he’s going to charge off to. Of course, that will likely mean Özil playing wide (at least on paper), but as you’ve suggested in the other thread, if most of his assists come from crosses and cut-backs then why not play to those strengths? It could work really well for us and him?

Anyway, that’s just one potential combo - I have my fingers crossed that we’ll have a few different shapes and combos in our locker under Emery, and that we might see more of a horses-for-courses approach to team selection this year...

[I am invisible]

It's never a question of numbers though....always quality. Santi, Wilshere and Ramsey going is more representative of the potential in quality we will lose in total. That quality or potential isn't replaced with AMN and Iwobi.....certainly not from an attacking point of view.

We are kind of already in make or break territory, so really we should be flogging or bringing in new faces in now if we have designs of behaving differently to the old regime. Personally I'm happy to see it go to the wire but will be pretty annoyed if the season starts, he hasn't signed or we're down a Ramsey with no replacement and/or no quality winger.
Agree and disagree with that. The quality definitely needs to come up, but we’ve also badly lacked numbers for the last 2 or 3 years. Cazorla and Wilshere have barely featured, and Ramsey has only really played about half the league games each year, which has left us painfully reliant on Xhaka (and Elneny at times).

This is where I actually feel a little sorry for Xhaka - he’s almost being punished for staying fit because we end up having to field him against anyone and everyone, regardless of whether he’s the right choice for the game, or has the right partner, or maybe needs a rest himself. We had the same situation with Giroud a few years back - he went on that incredible barren run, where he couldn’t buy a goal, and everyone absolutely slaughtered him for it, but what gets forgotten is that he was basically the only member of the front 5 or 6 who actually stayed fit and available for us, and he literally had nothing around him for about 3 months at on point!

The quality definitely needs to come up, but you can still do a lot with numbers, if there’s enough variety in the skill set - just think of all the times Man U made us look stupid with the likes of Fletcher, Park and O’Shea!

[GP]

Courtois is off to Real Madrid.

Chelsea are replacing him with...


ROB GREEN!!

[I am invisible]

Courtois is off to Real Madrid.

Chelsea are replacing him with...


ROB GREEN!!
I choose to believe that that’s true.

[I am invisible]

Trying to nick another couple of French yoots, apparently - Stanley Nsoki from PSG (CB, 19) and Nabil Alioui from Monaco (striker, also 19). Anyone heard of them?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How many of these are actually unwanted by the club, rather than the fans?

That said, the market will start to ramp up in the next 4 weeks. Jim White is going to be wanking himself into a coma.

Two weeks, it closes on 9th August this year.

Although having said that, European clubs will have until the end of August to buy in from the Premier League. :lol:

[SMatthews]

Ah yes, of course, it’s the start of the season now. That’s good news, only two more weeks of this nonsense left.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Agree and disagree with that. The quality definitely needs to come up, but we’ve also badly lacked numbers for the last 2 or 3 years. Cazorla and Wilshere have barely featured, and Ramsey has only really played about half the league games each year, which has left us painfully reliant on Xhaka (and Elneny at times).

This is where I actually feel a little sorry for Xhaka - he’s almost being punished for staying fit because we end up having to field him against anyone and everyone, regardless of whether he’s the right choice for the game, or has the right partner, or maybe needs a rest himself. We had the same situation with Giroud a few years back - he went on that incredible barren run, where he couldn’t buy a goal, and everyone absolutely slaughtered him for it, but what gets forgotten is that he was basically the only member of the front 5 or 6 who actually stayed fit and available for us, and he literally had nothing around him for about 3 months at on point!

The quality definitely needs to come up, but you can still do a lot with numbers, if there’s enough variety in the skill set - just think of all the times Man U made us look stupid with the likes of Fletcher, Park and O’Shea!

My point with numbers is, we can always just promote from the youth ranks if we are physically short on numbers. Even the numbers game calls for the requisite quality, which is why we don't just fill all the gaps we have with youth players in the first place.

I think considering the outlay on Xhaka and game time he should be suitably be able to play most if not every game. Suitable being the operative word as he is just not suited, seemingly anywhere. Even if he hadn't been playing as the DM....or furthest man back, I question whether I'd actually want him starting in any position given how limited his game is in my eyes.....apart from in the timely injury crisis' that happen periodically.

I think he is a marvellous example of why Stat DNA will never... 'run tingsz'.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I liked the look of that Diallo kid for Frances' yoots, but I've no idea if he could actually make the step up. He has a bit of the Patrice Evra tenacity about his game..... putting aside the fact I fuhking hated Evra through his entire career.

[I am invisible]

I liked the look of that Diallo kid for Frances' yoots, but I've no idea if he could actually make the step up. He has a bit of the Patrice Evra tenacity about his game..... putting aside the fact I fuhking hated Evra through his entire career.
As long as he doesn’t have Patrice Evra’s little-man syndrome - worst case I’ve ever seen! Yes Patrice, you’re a man - a BIG man - we get it. Playing in a team of men, yes. Everyone else are babies, right, got it.