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Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

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SpartanSpur

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
12,552
43,063
At the risk of going dangerously off topic here, we were no where near 'competing with the best' domestically last year. We lost over a third of our league games, the same amount of games lost by Chelsea. Liverpool and City combined. We also lost 5 out of the 6 games played against the top 3.

Competing with the best and just beating them occasionally are two very different things.

Yes and no.

- We were within 5 points of the top in February (2/3 of a season), and were above City at the half way stage.
- We lost a Carabao semi on penalties.
- We got to the freaking CL final, knocking out treble winning Man City.

I think that is still largely competitive, certainly compared to where we were a few years ago. I'm pretty sure most pundits would have had us as the 3rd best team in England last year.

Yes we fell away poorly and lost way too many games but lets look at the mitigating factors:-

- Almost all of our key players returned to the club less than a week before the first PL game, physically and mentally tired from the WC. Most getting multiple injuries as a result.
- Zero signings meant we had no freshness in the team, which was badly needed with so many players knackered.
- Higher number of injuries than usual (partly due to the above) meant we spent the whole season with a constantly changing team, crucially at CB and in midfield, which really told in our abysmal run in.
- Random non-footballing absences in busy periods such as Hugo's drink driving and Dier's appendicitis and viruses.
- Stadium delay meant playing almost a full season at Wembley, with lower and lower attendances and an understandably disgruntled atmosphere.
- Eriksen having his head turned by Real Madrid.
- Real and Utd interest in Poch putting a media cloud over the club in the summer and Dec/Jan.

Without the above issues that same squad we had last season probably still gets at least 10 more points in the PL and probably goes deeper in the FA Cup too.

It's a bit ridiculous to say we aren't competitive based purely on the stats without considering the extenuating circumstances IMHO. We have clearly been one of the most consistently competitive PL teams over the last 3-4 years.

That said the way the window is shaping up we do look to be more competitive than ever, that extra quality hopefully converting our good work into trophies. Full back probably the biggest concern but even then Poch has some decent raw materials to work some magic with.

Put it in a spoiler tag as @BENNO has covered most of it already while I was typing. Yes last season wasn't good enough in terms of points, losses and H2H with the top 6, but it really wasn't a true representation of the ability of our squad. Good news is I think we are shaping up to be much better the way this window is going.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
30,536
46,628
Over two seasons (07/08-08/09) our net spend was £115 million and that was without a new stadium or CL football and in a market where players were a lot more affordable.

Comparing that with our current situation: we didn't spend a penny for 2 windows and just had the most lucrative season in the club's history.

You may well be right - we haven't spent that big for over 10 years - but it's not completely unprecedented for Levy to loosen the purse strings.

Which makes sense while you're building a new stadium. You don't go out spending loads of money when you have to ask the bank for a big loan. You end up paying more than you need to at higher interest rates.
 

Matthew

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2012
4,597
15,867
What I’m trying to figure out is if we spend £55/60m on Lo Celso plus having spent £55 on N’dombele plus another £25m on Sessegnon, that puts our spend at £135m. Recouping £22m from Trippier, £10m Dembele, £10m Jannsen and maybe GKN that puts our net spend at at least £90m. Surely something has to give somewhere? Levy would never end a window having such a negative net spend.


naming rights possibly? wouldnt be surprised if we get a new stadium name not long after the window closes.
 

Yiddo1982

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2006
2,602
6,332
Wot! No Skipp?

Perhaps we could play Sissoko as a “rush goalie”. He has the speed and physique to handle this difficult role.

What do you think Ron?

Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
 

Fan-at-ic!

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2005
582
329
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x

Sorry dad :(
 

Luka Van der Bale

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2011
6,041
13,611
What I’m trying to figure out is if we spend £55/60m on Lo Celso plus having spent £55 on N’dombele plus another £25m on Sessegnon, that puts our spend at £135m. Recouping £22m from Trippier, £10m Dembele, £10m Jannsen and maybe GKN that puts our net spend at at least £90m. Surely something has to give somewhere? Levy would never end a window having such a negative net spend.
He has before, more than once.
 
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doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
Respectively agree with the empathetic qualities of this post.

My jokes are utter panther piss
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,353
87,819
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
I'm a 40 year old father of one, and I fucking love it.

:troll:
 
D

Deleted member 27995

Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
Perhaps if he stopped posting the same fucking inane shit day in day out people wouldn't have a pop? I mean, you know just fucking stop posting if you have nothing remotely new to add, it isn't fucking hard.
 

rawhide

I have issues...
Jan 28, 2011
16,723
31,154
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
There’s an ignore function...
 

Ronwol196061

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2018
3,925
3,646
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x


Thanks Yiddo!
I don't mind being criticized when there are logical points but appreciate that. I don't do it to instigate,I have no interest in such banter. Really would be happy to take on the conversations and happy to admit when I'm wrong.
 

fortworthspur

Well-Known Member
Nov 12, 2007
11,244
17,536
Fair point, but I would have assumed that any profits over the last few seasons would have been prioritised more towards servicing the stadium debts. Maybe I’m just a cynic!

if there is one thing you can count on from the club its that Levy will manage the money in a sound fashion.
 

lukadownthelane

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2008
2,813
5,608
What I’m trying to figure out is if we spend £55/60m on Lo Celso plus having spent £55 on N’dombele plus another £25m on Sessegnon, that puts our spend at £135m. Recouping £22m from Trippier, £10m Dembele, £10m Jannsen and maybe GKN that puts our net spend at at least £90m. Surely something has to give somewhere? Levy would never end a window having such a negative net spend.
Pretty certain the talk was that Poch could spend the champions league revenue without selling which was about that figure
 

RJR1949

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2013
923
5,140
Every day I pop on to SC and I see Ron being baited by different people. I understand a few of the remarks, and that's cool, each to their own and all that, but there's too many little tarts having a pop because its flavour of the month to do so....

I'm a 36-year-old father of two, so I cannot be arsed wading through the playground chat, which isn't too far off descending into cyber bullying, so could you kindly pack it in?

It's enough that I already have to read that Doctor Alan Partridge's strained dad jokes on every page of every thread without this nonsense.

Peace and love x
Fair comment.

I’ll delete my posting.
 
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