Summer Transfers 2025 Missed Opportunities and Regrets

[HCZ_Reborn]

Cala is suspect IMO, he can perhaps can do a job at LCB in the right game but hardly a top defender

Kiwior can also only play LCB (he may also be leaving, it's not clear)

White and Timber can only play RCB, but one of them we need at RB for any game, so you can only count one of them as available and tbh they should be alternating at RB rather than having to play CB except in emergencies, so I don't count them

So there's actually no dedicated cover for Saliba and the Gabby options are questionable

I might slightly accept the DM argument a bit more, although Rice was Player of the Season playing at 8 so we are weakening our forward play by having him at 6 - so really it's between Merino and Zubi

Of course we also only have one LB in MLS so should be strengthening there too - Cala can't defend in that position. btw all of this could be a sign we're selling Cala which I'd be happy with unless there's a potential role in MF

I think I can only answer that by saying I respect your opinion on these matters about as much as you respect mine

[HCZ_Reborn]

Nwaneri is the backup to Odegaard

Eze (talking hypothetically here because my position is still consistent with him being too expensive for a player of his age and ability) would play as a double pivot with Odegaard/Nwaneri

Which then possibly means we would look at signing Rodrygo in addition who can provide cover on the right as well as play on the left. And we could in addition divest ourselves of Trossard (who clearly doesn’t want to stay), Vieira (who is the only anaemic Portuguese I’ve ever come across) and Nelson.

But again that would be expensive and we’ve wasted 26 million that we didn’t need to spend.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

if he represents an alternative to Ode then I'm in, Ode shouldn't be playing every game, also sitting him down to give him time to think could help iron out all those stupid things he does

That's the main plus to the signing, he has played in the centre and dictated play numerous times so we'd get a proper plan B to Odegaard, and one who won't be afraid to start and finish a move (though his finishing is suspect).

Rogers can do the same too....and if one insists on keeping Martinelli (there is no upward curve for him under this coach), then either makes sense.

However, if we really want to have someone as deadly on the wing as Saka ( and move on from the tired project that is Marrinelli), then Lookman remains the better choice as even Saka's direct goal contribution can't compare to his.

[Mac76]

Yeah Lookman seems a good potential option

[Mac76]

Zin to Milan looks like it's happening

[KSE Comedy Club]

Reports are appearing saying we have added Nicolas Jackson to our choice of strikers.

FUCK ME!!!!!

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Reports are appearing saying we have added Nicolas Jackson to our choice of strikers.

FUCK ME!!!!!

This would cause a justifiable riot and I'm pretty sure even Arteta wouldn't dare this after the crap he pulled with Havertz...so I'll discard this news, at least for now.

[Mac76]

I think I can only answer that by saying I respect your opinion on these matters about as much as you respect mine

Only much of what i've said isn't opinion, it's fact

White and Timber need to be alternated at RB

Meaning we don't have adequate cover for our CBs, especially Saliba

We only have one LB

We need to replace two departing DMs

We need a decent backup goalie

Rice was player of the Season playing at 8, moving him on any kind of regular basis would be an act of insanity

[Mac76]

This would cause a justifiable riot and I'm pretty sure even Arteta wouldn't dare this after the crap he pulled with Havertz...so I'll discard this news, at least for now.

While I'd prefer Gyokeres, if they want Sesko, just pay what it takes ffs and stop us being linked with all this garbage

He got away with Havertz, who happened to be half-decent playing in a position he wasn't bought for, like you say Jackson would be different, Arteta massively undervalues the attacking part of the game, while I'm not using that frustration to needlessly criticise other sensible incomings, we need to get the attacking business done plus sell players - Zin, Nelson and others should be done asap

[HCZ_Reborn]

Only much of what i've said isn't opinion, it's fact

White and Timber need to be alternated at RB

Meaning we don't have adequate cover for our CBs, especially Saliba

We only have one LB

We need to replace two departing DMs

We need a decent backup goalie

Rice was player of the Season playing at 8, moving him on any kind of regular basis would be an act of insanity

I know you can’t tell the difference but it’s opinion.

In your opinion Timber and White need to be alternated constantly plus that doesn’t preclude one or the other from covering the right side of central defence without either being overplayed. So no, not fact.

It’s your opinion that Calafiori can’t play at left back. I would probably now agree with you that Lewis-Skelly is superior there but I still think Calafiori offers more going forward, so no not fact.

Rice did excellent against the top sides at number 8, but the fact that he’s not a natural passer, dribbler and lacks acceleration relative to more creative players means playing him at 8 against mid block teams is part of the reason why our XG often averaged less than 2 against some sides, he is still also naturally a 6 so to suggest he can’t play there to provide cover is silly. So again not fact, your opinion.

I didn’t even mention the goalkeeper. I think it’s an extremely low priority but actually spending 5 million on Kepa rather than the 30-40 million we would have had to spend on Joan Garcia makes it a shrewd bit of business so I have no problem with that signing.