I could be wrong but he reminds me a little bit of Mane
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I could be wrong but he reminds me a little bit of Mane
Better if he can play right - all the other young wingers we have coming through seem to prefer left, so that would give us a good balance...Quote:
Originally Posted by Unai Tea
The broken hearts if this doesn't happen now....
Hopefully this will cheer Zim up a bit
while we still have mustafi xhaka ozil and mihki he will always have something to complain about.Quote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
if we don't make cl looks like we have this and next years budget
I’m not sure my brain will ever let me 100% accept that it’s true? Part of me thinks it’s more likely I’m in a coma or the matrix or something...Quote:
Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice
Err, Its not done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Penguin
Wont get on the pepe train till he signs the dotted line
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
C'mon Raul get this done :pray:
If it did happen, I'd be happy for us to go 433, with Auba left, Laca up top and Pepe right to start with and just try and out score most our opponents.
A CB of some standing....even on loan would really put the gloss on things though. Kind of expecting Tierney to be sorted.
Napoli have pulled out as they cant match us financially and have moved on to signing some guy called Lorenzo(??)
Reports are that he has chosen us anyway (due to us agreeing to pay his agents fee demands) and he will have a medical next week.
He is pretty much done and Tierney will be following shortly.
I think Tierney might go to the wire but I fancy us to get him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Blink 1nce Quince 2wice
If we can get a CB in that would be ideal but as it stands we have 5 CB’s, possibly 4 if Kos buggers off, so I really don’t think it’s on the agenda, sadly. Can we even afford a CB of sufficient quality now anyway?
Pepe would be a cracking signing but we will still be shambles defensively and that will undermine whatever attacking threats we have, as it always ends up doing.
Oh and Xhaka will still be one of the first names on the team sheet...
Ornstein said earlier if we do get Tierney we’d probably have to sell to raise funds for a CB. If the Pepe signing happens, that would make sense. Having Bellerin back and another solid LB could also make a difference to the defence, instead of hoping a CB will fix it all. Liverpool’s defensive improvement wasn’t all down to van Dijk. A lot of our issues were in the RB/LB positions last season.
Although it may be like the Wenger method - fuck the defence and worry about scoring.
Pepe would be an exciting signing, scores goals, skillful so that would be great for us. Defence would still be an issue though and that should have been our priority in reality, maybe we're waiting on Saliba next season.
I agree - there’s a lot of things we can still try to improve the defence, even if we can’t stretch to a new CB...Quote:
Originally Posted by SMatthews
Fullbacks who are comfortable in a 4 man defence (which may also let us pick a better shape in midfield and attack)...
Not picking Mustafi...
Picking midfielders and CBs who are more press resistant and comfortable taking the ball under pressure (maybe Chambers’ experience in midfield might come in handy here as a CB?)...
An attack that presses harder themselves so we’re doing more defending from the front...
Pacier attacking options (who offer a broader goal threat than just the 2 strikers) who can really punish teams on the counter, and make them think twice about pressing us too high...
Generally picking 11 players who put in the effort so we’re not carrying passengers...
Bringing us out of the malaise was always going to be a multi-window endeavour. Sure, Man City and Chelsea have just about replaced half their squad in a window but we have never been in that position.
So, if we ignore last january (the window that never was), and make assumptions about what will happen, progress is being made:
Last year we added Leno, Torreira, Guendouzi and incorporated Maitland Niles. All good pieces of the puzzle.
This year we (hopefully will have) added Pepe and Tierney and incorporated Nketiah, Willock, Martinelli, Nelson and Chambers (obviously jury is still out whether they really make it and probably only 3-4 out of these 5). We also (hopefully) drop Koscielny, El Neny, Jenkinson. We also lost Cech and Ospina and promoted Martinez and Macey.
Next year we add Saliba and hopefully another CB and potentially incorporate John-jules, Smith Rowe, Saka, Medley, and/or Olayinka, whoever rises to the top. It's also possible if Ceballos does well and Zidane stays at RM, and who doesn't rate Ceballos and vice versa, he might move to us permanently. I think we'd also look to add another striker in the 21 - 24 age bracker as Aubamayang will be 31
Don't see any chance of Xhaka leaving unless, ironically he gets better and begins to get offers. Same with Ozil, Mustafi and Mkhitaryan. No one wants them and we have them for the next two years. But other than that, it does feel a little bit like we're building a younger team which should hopefully come together after this year.
Apparently Bale’s deal to China has been called off by Madrid :lol:
On paper, I think we have a pretty decent defense. They just need to be trained better IMO. Kos, Holding, Papa are top CBs. Bellerin is a great RB and Monreal/Kola are decent. I think we should invest in a defensive coach like Keown to get the fuckers organized.
Is there anyone in the academy in defense that are worth any mention?
Meade.Quote:
Originally Posted by fakeyank
Off topic. I noticed that Emery has a nice new set of teeth :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Master Splinter
Well is seems that PSG have made a late enquiry for Pepe :threaten:
Send in Sead to sort them out.Quote:
Originally Posted by dazthegooner
No they haven't.Quote:
Originally Posted by dazthegooner
Some French media was saying that PSG could stop the move to us if they launch a last minute bid.
Problem is, the reason we outbid them was because they have strict ffp sanctions that they have to abide by.
By all accounts he is as good as ours. Medical is supposedly planned in for later today.
What I like about Pepe is that he scores goals (like that Bruno Fernandes guy at Sporting, reckon he'll be a great buy too) and we need goals from another source, makes a change from us always signing players who are a bit goal shy in midfield.
Our attack should be pretty decent with this guy now, defence is a concern it's basically Sokratis who IMO is a bit hit and miss, Holding who has been overhyped IMO, he's done ok when he's come in but he's not exactly proven, then we have Mustafi who is awful and Mavropanos who is untested.
Full backs are still an issue too, if we can sign Tierney that's one side sorted out, but Bellerin won't be fit for the start of the season and probably won't be ready for a while after such a long lay off, so that leaves AMN and let's be honest, he is terrible at full back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Özim
Pepe is the best winger available on the market right now IMO. You could argue Sane is, but City wouldn't ever sell him to us.
Pepe is in that bracket of players who have the potential to develop into an Elite talent, I am really happy that we are moving for players like this because it shows we are absolutely looking to purchase the very best players from within our budget.
I like the Saliba signing, potential Tierney signing and Ceballos loan. We are doing very good business IMO.
Reports are saying Pepe has agreed terms, so this one is pretty much in the bag.
Pleaseeeee let it be so!
Potentially more good news.
Mustafi has been on sale for ages but no-one has wanted him.
L’Equipe are saying Monaco have made an enquiry.
Really? :dQuote:
Originally Posted by SMatthews
Surely not! They cant be that desperate!?
Monaco can have him for £1.
Can someone earn a statue outside the ground after 1 summer in charge?
Ornstein confirms Pepe is undergoing medical today and expected to be confirmed by end of week.
Also that we are talking to a number of clubs about selling or loaning Mustafi. Still in market for Tierney and another centre back.
If all the above happens that's a very decent transfer window.
If that does happen it goes to show judgement shouldn't be passed too quickly during transfer windows. But the internet, I guess.
I've been saying throughout the entire window it's been quiet right across the PL. No-one has really done their business early. Maybe it's about to go mental in the last 9 days.
Edu arriving seems to have sped things up. Could be coincide though. Believe the Pepe deal is Saul's work.
If we were to lose Mustafi and Kos we would absolutely need to bring in another CB, and retain Chambers as back up.
Kos has been in talks with Rennes. Ornstein said he’s probably played his last game for us.
New CB is definitely needed.
If Mustafi goes and another CB and Tierney come in, that's a 9/10 window. Top, top quality.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gooner23
Let’s hope that translates to at least a 9/10 season.
Given Chavs have no Hazard now and Utd have barely done a thing to address their problems (plus they have OGS) then 4th is there at least. CL or bust for Emery next season, especially if all this goes through.
Everton are signing Kean from Juve for £29m to start with.
Surprised they are letting him go. Maybe they need to balance the books a little. Kean was having a shit time with racist abuse last season so maybe that’s pushed him to leave too.
He’s only 19 so Everton taking a big risk on a player who hasn’t had a full season yet.
totally agree, and i really don't want to see any signs this time of him favouring the nohopa league over the PL - he's hopefully learnt his lesson on that front...Quote:
Originally Posted by SMatthews