Summer 2022 Window Scouting Thread

[Ruffinthepuffin]

I think we need to get out of the “Does X player improve our starting XI?” mentality.

Firstly, we don’t have a defined starting XI.

Secondly, if you take the XI players most likely to start and call that our starting XI for argument’s sake, then it could probably beat any team in the world on its day. But we haven’t won anything, so clearly there are weaknesses somewhere.

Ergo, it’s the squad that needs improving.

“Does X player make our 25-man squad better?”

If the answer’s yes, then they should be considered, providing Conte wants them.

It’s not about “the starting XI”.

This, a thousand times over. ??

Absolutely spot on imo.

 

[JKendall13]

Based on his previous track record, Conte will put far more emphasis on getting players for the starting 11 than making sure the squad is two deep at every position.

At every stop, he's relied heavily on a relatively set starting 11 with a few trusted bench players. He's never been one to rely heavily on rotation which has often been attributed as the reason for his somewhat disappointing (by his own extremely standards) record in Europe.

Hard to know exactly what he'll want, but even with 5 subs I wouldn't expect him to be emphasizing getting promising rotation options just to have them. He'll run his preferred 11 into the ground and rotate only when he must due to injuries and such.

 

[snakehipsspurs]

Matt Law and Mike McGrath’s piece earlier said that Conte wants Raheem Sterling.

I know Ornstein previously said Sterling wanted a “European giant” if he leaves City, but wonder if hearing Conte wants him and us having CL could change things.

 

[hellava_tough]

I think we need to get out of the “Does X player improve our starting XI?” mentality.

Firstly, we don’t have a defined starting XI.

Secondly, if you take the XI players most likely to start and call that our starting XI for argument’s sake, then it could probably beat any team in the world on its day. But we haven’t won anything, so clearly there are weaknesses somewhere.

Ergo, it’s the squad that needs improving.

“Does X player make our 25-man squad better?”

If the answer’s yes, then they should be considered, providing Conte wants them.

It’s not about “the starting XI”.

I think it's both tbh; starting XI and squad players.

Also, to say we don't have a defined starting XI is probably technically true, but not really true in the way the statement was intended.

Lloris, Davies, Romero, Dier, Doherty, Skipp, Kulu, Son and Kane are clear starters.

Upgrading Davies and Doherty would mean upgrading the starting XI and improving the squad at the same time (Davies is a brilliant second string player).

We'll also need back up for Kane; this player will either be a squad player second choice, or a first XI player who can fill in for Kane (an example could be Gabriel Jesus).

 

[ralphs bald spot]

a bit of topic but for those of you who want to look at player stats and I have no idea about the accuracy or indeed what most of them mean but this site has loads for you to play with https://fbref.com/en/

 

[ardiles&villa]

Matt Law and Mike McGrath’s piece earlier said that Conte wants Raheem Sterling.

I know Ornstein previously said Sterling wanted a “European giant” if he leaves City, but wonder if hearing Conte wants him and us having CL could change things.

I wouldn’t have sterling, I think there’s better players available

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Anyone know why we do so little scouting/recruitment in South America?

Have we done two signings in the last 10 years(Sandro & Foyth)?

 

[JKendall13]

I wouldn’t have sterling, I think there’s better players available

He's 27 and already 25th in the history of the Premier League in goals scored. 6th in Premier League goals scored among active players behind only Kane, Vardy, Salah, Mane, and Lukaku. Plus those goals are as a winger, not an out and out striker.

How many better players are there? Let alone ones we could get? Though realistically we probably can't get Sterling either.

For me, Sterling would be the type of signing that would make us look like actual league title contenders. Kane, Son, Sterling, and Kulusevski is a legitimate potential title winning attack. Still would need to sort out the wingbacks and maybe add a top level midfielder.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

I think in order to get the 6-8 players Conte has suggested there’ll need to be a trade off between actual step up in class, versus in some positions it’ll be a player who is functional but at least better suited to Conte’s demands, not all of the players are going to be £50m.
GK, sounds like Forster is as good as done.
If we want a CCB and a LCB, then one may be a premium signing, the other less so, so perhaps De Vrij and Bastoni/Gvardiol, or else Bremer and Ndicka/Hincapie.
At RWB Spence might not set pulses racing in the same way as Hakimi might, but ultimately Spence is a more athletic option than Doherty with stronger attacking instincts than Emerson. I think we may keep both Emerson and Doherty, as with the additional subs next year I see Conte rotating his WB’s in game more, so having Doherty able to play will either side helps cover the depth for that.
LWB will probably be dependant on Reguillon’s future. If Real come in and activate their option, then we’ll possibly go shopping in the Bundesliga (Raum/Sosa/Kostic) by the sounds of it, although I wouldn’t be against McNeill to help alleviate HG restrictions.
I don’t think we’ll go big in CM, Bentancur has shown himself nailed on for one spot, and with Hojbjerg and Skipp able to partner him effectively, plus Sarr coming, it will likely just be looking for an upgrade on Winks as squad option. Palhinha or Tielemans probably won’t break the budget. Grillitsch on a free could be a compromise to allocate the budget elsewhere.
AM/WF/CF, I’d say we need two if Moura and Bergwijn leave. Dybala or Eriksen would be available free, but not quite the same player stylistically. Dybala more WF who can operate as an AM, Eriksen the opposite way round. De Keteleare is the alternative with an eye on the long term, also able to play CF. Terrier as a less heralded option, Nunez/Martinez/Jesus as the bigger cost options. I wouldn’t be against making a play for Nketiah. Go with 3x WF type forwards, and 2x CF’s, given Kane and Kulusevski can also drop deeper into the No10 role to mix things up.

 

[Mr Pink]

As I said in the GJ thread....I'd much rather Sterling.

 

[freeeki]

I wouldn’t have sterling, I think there’s better players available

Oh come on now

 

[BTN1]

Cucurella please

 

[bubble07]

One of those proposals must be us but reckon inter will pay him what he wants in the end

 

[djhotspur]

Find it so funny our fans turn down these players who have incredible pedigree, at the biggest clubs in the world… only for them to move on elsewhere to a bigger club than us.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Anyone know why we do so little scouting/recruitment in South America?

Have we done two signings in the last 10 years(Sandro & Foyth)?

Always thought it was previously due to all the issues with 3rd Party Ownership.

 

[thebenjamin]

I still would like us to sign Charles the Kettle..

That's Charlie de Ketamine to you

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Anyone know why we do so little scouting/recruitment in South America?

Have we done two signings in the last 10 years(Sandro & Foyth)?

Supposedly we have been scouting 19 year old CM/AM Carlos Alcaraz at Racing Club. Not sure how true it is but I’m sure now with Paratici here we will be looking at that side of the world in greater detail.

 

[spids]

I wouldn’t have sterling, I think there’s better players available

If Conte wants him it is exactly who I would sign.

 

[sammyj]

The money we would need to spend on Stirling I feel would be better on a centre half and midfield

 

[ToDarrenIsToDo]

In: Forster, Cucurella, Bastoni, Klostermann, Spence, McKennie, Eriksen, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus.

Out: Gollini, Regulion, Doherty, Emerson, Rodon, Tanganga, Winks, Ndombele, Lo Celso, Bergwijn, Lucas, out on loan: Gil, Devine, Scarlett, Parrot

Lloris, Forster, Austen
Klostermann, Spence
Romero, Dier, Sanchez, Bastoni, Davies
Cucurella, Sessegnon
McKennie, Sarr, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Eriksen
Son, Kulusevski, Sterling
Kane, Gabriel Jesus

Now that's how you push on (Perisic on a free if Cucurella is silly money)