- Jul 29, 2011
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Wasn't this also said of Soldado!There is a very good player in there somewhere
Wasn't this also said of Soldado!There is a very good player in there somewhere
On the whole this is absolutely true, but I think many are frustrated with our failures in the transfer market since we began to qualify for the CL. In that time the only players we've bought who have been unquestioned successes have been Wanyama and Sanchez, though the jury is still out on Lucas (where the early signs are good) and Aurier (where, well... not so much).Fact is the "transfer committee" have had far greater success than they have failures, and yet for some reason there are a lot of posters on here that can't seem to understand that.
Any way we are getting nowhere. as I have said before last three weeks or so of the window is where we will do the bulk of our business. Getting upset about stuff now is pointless, there is a long time to go.
Wasn't this also said of Soldado!
Fair and valid observations. Ones that has to respected.On the whole this is absolutely true, but I think many are frustrated with our failures in the transfer market since we began to qualify for the CL. In that time the only players we've bought who have been unquestioned successes have been Wanyama and Sanchez, though the jury is still out on Lucas (where the early signs are good) and Aurier (where, well... not so much).
We haven't signed a single attacking player or non-defensive midfielder who has come in and made a major impact in years (though again I have hopes for Lucas), and there's a feeling that the squad has stagnated compared to our rivals. We've reached a point where our first XI is of a standard that it is very difficult to improve upon within our financial constraints, which I think is why we have found it so difficult to do successful business in recent windows. The most obvious place within the first team where we should be able to bring in a player who can slot right in is central midfield, so to see us linked with the likes of Barrios and Gomes is just compounding years of frustration for many of us.
All anyone would need to do is watch the Argentina game today to see how important the midfield is. You can have all the forward players in the world but if you don't have the players to link them together it won't matter.The two known targets are:
Barrios - car crash in the making
Gomes - definite talent but currently going through a mental breakdown. Not mocking him but this isn’t going to be something he gets over any time soon
Hopefully with Wanyama staying we’ll only be pursuing one of them, with the other CM someone who can take us to the next level. Otherwise it’s a bizarre strategy to go after a quality attacking player in Martial or Pulisic and a quality CB in de Ligt but to have a hope for the best approach for central midfield is madness considering it’s our current and only area of weakness.
Fair and valid observations. Ones that has to respected.
Dude, he literally said since we've become a champions league club.well if you ignore Son, Ali and Eriksen (and hopefully moura)
All anyone would need to do is watch the Argentina game today to see how important the midfield is. You can have all the forward players in the world but if you don't have the players to link them together it won't matter.
Dude, he literally said since we've become a champions league club.
Fact is the "transfer committee" have had far greater success than they have failures, and yet for some reason there are a lot of posters on here that can't seem to understand that.
Any way we are getting nowhere. as I have said before last three weeks or so of the window is where we will do the bulk of our business. Getting upset about stuff now is pointless, there is a long time to go.
I was talking about the windows since we qualified for the CL, which I specifically mentioned in the first sentence of the post. It's all well and good that we did great business with Eriksen, Son, Dele, etc. but we were in a different place as a club when we brought those players in, and since we've been in the CL we haven't been able to make that next step. That's what I was getting at.Dude :-
"We haven't signed a single attacking player or non-defensive midfielder who has come in and made a major impact in years (though again I have hopes for Lucas)"
He was a fucking unmitigated disaster here though.No he was a top player in a top league scoring at 1 in 2, 1 in 3 rates in a top league, before he arrived, he was supposed to be the finished article.
Still find him and morientes head scratchers personally
Agreed that Banega can be that player but my point still stands that they struggled today creating a bunch of chances given the forward talent that they have because of the midfield players they had on the field. It's without a doubt the most important area on the field and the spot that will absolutely be crucial for us to get right this summer.They have but didn't play them imo. Banega is a creative genius and should have started.
You're not far wrong. Our best attacking player of recent time, who we bought, was signed as a left back.... Bale!Dude :-
"We haven't signed a single attacking player or non-defensive midfielder who has come in and made a major impact in years (though again I have hopes for Lucas)"
Dele was signed for a box-to-box role. Poch moved him forward eventually, didn't he?I was talking about the windows since we qualified for the CL, which I specifically mentioned in the first sentence of the post. It's all well and good that we did great business with Eriksen, Son, Dele, etc. but we were in a different place as a club when we brought those players in, and since we've been in the CL we haven't been able to make that next step. That's what I was getting at.
I was talking about the windows since we qualified for the CL, which I specifically mentioned in the first sentence of the post. It's all well and good that we did great business with Eriksen, Son, Dele, etc. but we were in a different place as a club when we brought those players in, and since we've been in the CL we haven't been able to make that next step. That's what I was getting at.
Herc said he prays Barrios comes in because he's more reluctant to have Gomes. Suggesting that it's either Barrios or Gomes.So, the ITK last night/today was that Wanyama is not being sold. The constant has been targeting two CM, one WF/Striker and a CB.
CB will be a replacement for Alderweireld.
WF/Striker will be a replacement (I assume) for Llorente and Janssen.
So the two CM's will be replacements for Dembele, and probably Sissoko, possibly Lamela/Nkoudou also.
Overall that's a reduction in players, opening up opportunities for the best of our academy/development players.
From previous ITK, it sounds like our signings will signal a shift in tactics/formation, and it seems like we're loading the CM area, whilst doing away with some of our attacking midfield players, suggesting a shift from 4231 to more of a 433 like City.
On that basis, I'd assume it'll be Barrios plus one of Grealish and Gomes. Barrios to provide the steel and industry, then Grealish/Gomes to offer the craft that Eriksen does, as he seemed to play deeper as the season went on.
I'm a bit torn on Gomes v Grealish, part of me thinks if Gomes can rediscover the form that took him to Barca in the first place, great, he could be an astute signing like VDV was. However, whilst I see Gomes having more experience at international and CL level, does Grealish have a higher ceiling, plus PL experience and home grown, albeit personally I always thought Grealish was a winger not a CM.
My interpretation is, maybe Grealish was seen as a decent gamble at a low price, but other clubs coming in, have pushed the price up, and maybe now Gomes is a cheaper option? We did have ITK that we'd need to be creative in CM options. If we feel they offer the relevant balance and calibre required, but that leaves additional finance for De Ligt and Martial, so be it.