Summer Transfers 2025 Missed Opportunities and Regrets

[Mac76]

Would definitely consider selling Martinelli if a decent offer came in. I like him because he’s the only direct forward we have and sometimes that’s a welcome change given how often we end up overplaying. However I just don’t see something special in him that suggests he could explode into something else here, I feel like he shrinks when he reaches the final third which is not a good look. Now I imagine that could change at a club like Bayern because they’re so dominant but what he’s doing for us is the only thing that matters here.

We shouldn’t be too sentimental with long serving players, City and Liverpool have sold big name players in the past (players better than Martinelli) and replaced them well. You don’t build and succeed by hanging on to players who’ve done ok but not really moved the needle for the team.

Only if we replaced him with someone better. I don't want to see any weakening of the side. It's weird the way things have turned out with him, you'd think the coaching team could've explained he needs to lift his head up earlier and look for options instead of just playing hopeful balls in.

But he's still one of our quickest players and we don't want to lose what little threat we offer in the transition.

If we sell him to get someone like Rodrygo (though I'm going on other people's observations on him a bit) then fine.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Again only paper talk but linked with Bradley Barcola who definitely has skill in transition

I’m not so sure we would be selling Martinelli though, it’s possible Bayern might go for him if we signed Barcola but who knows

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Would definitely consider selling Martinelli if a decent offer came in. I like him because he’s the only direct forward we have and sometimes that’s a welcome change given how often we end up overplaying. However I just don’t see something special in him that suggests he could explode into something else here, I feel like he shrinks when he reaches the final third which is not a good look. Now I imagine that could change at a club like Bayern because they’re so dominant but what he’s doing for us is the only thing that matters here.

We shouldn’t be too sentimental with long serving players, City and Liverpool have sold big name players in the past (players better than Martinelli) and replaced them well. You don’t build and succeed by hanging on to players who’ve done ok but not really moved the needle for the team.

[Niall_Quinn]

Bayern Munich being linked with a move for Martinelli. Unlike others here I’m a big supporter of Martinelli. I don’t want to sell him, but for the right price I’d be open to doing so.

Yeah, if we sell him it tells us everything we need to know. There are no grey areas after that sale.

[Niall_Quinn]

My opinion on Gyokeres bares no relation to Sesko, if we had the chance to sign both I would not want that. I do not want us to sign Gyokeres full stop.

Well, you changed the focus, but whatever. At least you admit your agenda is based on what you don't want. I'll have Sesko all day long. But will then go all out to get a striker.

[Niall_Quinn]

Again only paper talk but linked with Bradley Barcola who definitely has skill in transition

I’m not so sure we would be selling Martinelli though, it’s possible Bayern might go for him if we signed Barcola but who knows

Barcola is a giant pile of shit. He was a constant source of amusement for me all through that CL campaign that was brimming with shit clubs. But Barcola took the biscuit - prime shit, not your knock-off shit from China. The real deal.

[Niall_Quinn]

Would definitely consider selling Martinelli if a decent offer came in. I like him because he’s the only direct forward we have and sometimes that’s a welcome change given how often we end up overplaying. However I just don’t see something special in him that suggests he could explode into something else here, I feel like he shrinks when he reaches the final third which is not a good look. Now I imagine that could change at a club like Bayern because they’re so dominant but what he’s doing for us is the only thing that matters here.

We shouldn’t be too sentimental with long serving players, City and Liverpool have sold big name players in the past (players better than Martinelli) and replaced them well. You don’t build and succeed by hanging on to players who’ve done ok but not really moved the needle for the team.

So why not sell half the team - particularly that Swedish bloke whose name I've actually forgotten - oh yeah, Odegard.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well, you changed the focus, but whatever. At least you admit your agenda is based on what you don't want. I'll have Sesko all day long. But will then go all out to get a striker.

It’s not an agenda it’s an opinion

I’m all for going all out for a striker, I just don’t think that striker should be Gyokeres.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Barcola is a giant pile of shit. He was a constant source of amusement for me all through that CL campaign that was brimming with shit clubs. But Barcola took the biscuit - prime shit, not your knock-off shit from China. The real deal.

Didn’t you also call Yamal shit, or average. One of the two

[Mac76]

So why not sell half the team - particularly that Swedish bloke whose name I've actually forgotten - oh yeah, Odegard.

You probably did it deliberately, but Odegaard's Norwegian

I'm beginning to think I wouldn't object to selling him as he's becoming a trademark of over-elaborate, too-clever-by-half play that often yields little result, but we'd need to sign a decent replacement and we've enough to do already

What we need to do is get the ball out left more, rather than so much play being sent down the right to Saka/Odegaard

Which btw means Martinelli gets underused, it may be one of the reasons he's not developed as much as we might hope

Much as I like Gabriel, he's particularly culpable of almost completely ignoring our left hand side when he's looking to progress the ball