OhForAGreavsie

Perhaps there's a get out clause? Meanwhile, does anyone else have a deep uncomfortable feeling in the pit of the stomach about what Bissouma might accomplish at Spurs? I'm not happy.

I see. Shame for the lad and disappointing for TT if indeed he really did want to sign Kounde.

For me, this list would be improved if one name was removed from it. Could someone who believes in Jules kounde please tell me what I'm missing about this bloke? To my eyes he's another player who doesn't even look good in his highlight videos.

This is certainly true but I must say that I formed a similar low opinion of Nunez after watching the videos that are meant to make him look good. I can't remember exactly what I posted after watching them but the gist was that I did not want us to buy him. The only thing that truly impresses me about Nunez is that Liverpool are going to sign him. In other words, it's their recent record in the transfer market, not what I've seen of Nunez, which suggests he might succeed, I'll believe that when I see it however. This reminds me of the Torres situation. He had a growing reputation and was linked with us before moving to Anfield. I didn't rate him however and said so. Even when he made that great start with them I still didn't believe because the underlying quality told a completely different story from the number of goals he was scoring. I didn't believe it could last and it did not. Although, as usual when a player turns out not to be as good as people thought, a convenient injury was blamed when his real level began to show itself. If I had to guess then I would predict that's how it will go for Nunez also.

Agreed.

Those two would be very interesting. Gnarby's football brain is amazing, he thinks so fast and sees angles and paths that don't seem to be there.

I'll be surprised, but happy, if Liverpool spend a lot of money on Nunez. I don't believe in him as a top level performer.

You mean Xavier Mbuyamba. Barcelona was only a pitstop for him. He was supposed to join us but couldn't because of the transfer ban. He's actually put on a little more muscle since arriving. Unfortunately he's playing in fairly ordinary sides so it's hard to shine. Not really producing the kind of performances which demand first team consideration yet.

I don't believe in Harvey's chances either I'm afraid. The lad I like best from the 18s group is Jimi Tauriainen. Not saying he's a certainty but I like him best of those in the age group.

Someone made a good point yesterday, don't remember who but I'm going to echo it. If Dembele's attitude stinks, and his injury record is a problem, then why are Barca trying so hard to extend him? Ok, it could be argued that they are just trying to re-establish a transfer value and will look to offload him asap but I really don't think they would think in such a contrived way, or take the risk of being saddled with an Injury prone bad apple. No, Barca are offering him a contract because they want him to stay and this implies that they see no problems with the player. My feeling is that Dembele's agent is just playing everybody off against each other to secure the maximum offer for his client. If the best offer comes from Barca then case closed but if not then the player will chose between staying in Catalonia, which is what I suspect he wants to do, or taking the best offer on the table.

Other than the bit about Haaland, which we see differently, I like what you say here. Nothing more really needs to be said. You are self-evidently correct and I hope no one here disagrees.

Yep. This is gonna be fun. 🙂

If it goes that way then lets hope you are right but my own view, expressed during 2018/19, is that Ethan is not good enough at either of his positions.

Again, I say this is evidence of issues with our squad, not evidence of Ruben's output. If our midfield was as strong as we all agree it needs to be then Ruben wouldn't be in it.

It's all just opinion of course but, as I wrote at the time, if Ruben suddenly looks a good fit for your squad then that's evidence of an issue with the squad. An issue borne out by the wildly inconsistent performances I'd say.

Sounds like they might just be playing everyone off against each other trying to push the price up.

How have they demonstrated this?

🙂 A23/M23 Took my mother down to visit my sister for the day then picked her up and took her home again.

I disagree with this but for a particular reason. A reason I can't offer any supporting evidence for so it's just a gut feeling of mine. When, having initially said he wasn't interested in leaving Inter, Rom suddenly announced that he had, "Unfinished business with Chelsea.", I reacted by saying it was more likely that he was attracted by the jingle of Roman's wallet and that it was someone at Chelsea who had unfinished business with Rom. I believe that this someone was Roman. In that case we couldn't say the decision was lazy because I'm sure the advisors would have done the work and presented the facts. They just got overruled by the boss. I think Roman's motivation, at least in part, was to vindicate the initial decision to recruit Rom ten-years earlier.

You are not alone. Many here were strongly in favour of signing Pogba though I always argued against it. Over the years many have talked up Grealish including some here. I never believed in him however and always said so when his name came up. I was stunned when City paid all that money for him. Rom I wrote off as a Chelsea player ten-and-a-half-years ago. I had no opinion on Maguire when he joined United having never watched him seriously. Of course I have one now. 🙂

Worst is a big claim but least well thought out I would agree with.

Totally agree. Agreed again.

Totally agree with you about Jordan and Bent, albeit I've literally only heard Bent on the station once. (Wednesday before last when I did London to Brighton and back twice in one day so listened to more radio than I normally do.) Bent was on with Goldstein. Can't remember what they were talking about but Bent was informed, lucid and mega impressive. Jordan is absolutely always worth a listen. I often feel educated or at least informed by him, sometimes infuriated but always entertained. Very high value contributor. I don't think I've had the misfortune to come across Agbonlahor on the Talksport airwaves.

For many years I couldn't stand Talksport. In part because of the lowbrow nonsense but mainly due to my intense dislike of that spoiled, self-entitled, never did a day's work in his life, ingrate, waste of space, snob, Brazil. Never have I had the misfortune to listen to an ex-footballer who knew less about the sport. Racing, very knowledgeable, football not a clue. Every time I've risked tuning in during recent years however, though never during Brazil hours of course, the programming has been first rate. Barring Jim White, the place seems to me to have become a high quality operation. I still don't listen much but I would tend to give their output more credence than I would have in the past. As for the actual rumour, could it be the agent is releasing a story about Paris to gee up Chelsea, then one about The Blues to gee up Paris? Maybe I'm imagining too much about how agents operate, or maybe not.

I think this comes under the heading 'firm, but fair.'