Miguelito

We should prefer one of the top left-backs in the world first. No doubt for me. The Ox would be a brilliant signing especially if we sell matic. Could fill in at CM if needed. We will sign another CM if matic leaves though.

Links to it? Or is it personal "sources"?

It would be brilliant. It would go from our weakest point press-wise, to our strongest in no time. Rudiger or Christensen over Cahill, and even more so.

I would have loved him here.

I understand those views. Like I said, it might be about the intangibles I see in Chalobah that aren't often evident in players. About Colkett and Baker: I agree with all those points, but they aren't enough for me to want them to play. I don't get the hype around Baker to be honest. I would never play a player just because they are good at set pieces. He is two-footed, but that doesn't help that much. He never imposes himself enough for me. Colkett, I understand the hype from some a bit more because like you said, he is a tremendous passer, but I don't think he effects play enough. I don't see him cutting it at the top level. One of those who can shine when the youth set-up, when there is so much more space, etc. The gap is seriously so massive to first team, and I don't think he will make the cut. I would love to be proven wrong about these two though. Anyways, I appreciate the decent debate when we disagree about Nat's abilities.

It really is the aura he has about him that I wanted him to make it so badly. But I also said he is solid at most everything. I really do think he is a better player than matic. In our current formation, he doesn't necessarily HAVE to excel at certain things. He shows spurts of brilliant passing and vision. He is good enough defensively, although I think he needs to improve his positioning. I don't think we have better players than him that are behind him in the pecking order. RLC has been a joke when he plays. He has ridiculous potential, but doesn't seem to be ready to make the step up yet (we'll see this season). I don't rate colkett or baker as highly as chalobah. I think they are overrated by many. Christensen obviously deserves a chance, but it's irrelevant to this discussion.

Actually very sad to see him go. He is the one I wanted most to make it here. I'm not too crazy on youth making it, but he really is the one I was hoping for. He just has this swagger about him when he plays. I just think he brings a presence that isn't something that can be taught. Future Captain material somewhere. He is clearly a great guy to have in dressing room and gets along with people. I'll never forget the way he came across to Aguero after that horror tackle on Luiz. He stood up for this teammate and team, showed no fear in defending that. I'll also never forget that assist to moses. Pure class there. He doesn't really excel at this point in any facet of the game, so I'm hoping he will develop that soon. He has the potential to though, and he solid at just about everything. I'm hoping he adds a bit to his game and becomes a dominant box-to-box or defensive midfielder. I rate him higher than matic, and think he should have gotten more playing this past season over him, but it is hard when you are winning with a certain line-up. I was really hoping matic would be sold and he would get more PT this season, but I get it. It seems that this was his choice so that is fair enough, I wish him nothing but the best. I want to see him succeed, and I hope we put a buy back clause in. I have no doubt he would have stayed if he had more playing time, so if he develops enough for him to start for us, I think he will come back gladly.

How this went down is possibly the best thing that could have happened for us. I personally did not want lukaku, so I'm happy we didn't get him. But I think it's clear we were very interested (possibly our number one striker target). I think we dodged an expensive bullet, and we'll now get a better overall player in belotti or morata. Big plus to me. Also if he was the clubs and Conte's top choice, we will not want to get "embarassed" again when trying to buy a player (although this one to me isn't embarrassing). It might push us to be a bit quicker in negotiations. I don't buy in to the whole "our board" is a complete farce. I'm very relaxed about our situation, and think we will end up with some quality players. But if not signing him spurs us on to sign people quicker, I'm all for it. The worst part is if we are longer interested in negotiating matic to Man U. That would be a bummer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good riddance then. If your support is based off of who we sign, then that's sad. You can be mad at the board/club all you want, but changing support because of lukaku and baka would be embarassing.

Agreed on most of that. I do think he will become world class. Technical quality is something that usually only improves so much. I agree it will improve, but there's only so much it can. It is something that you are naturally have.

I personally feel that some people are overrated certain aspects of Belotti's game. I say that even though he would be my number one target. My order would be 1) Belotti, 2) Morata, 3) Lukaku (Mbappe is a dream, but impossible. I would pay stupid money for him). I think that lukaku has the biggest deficiencies of the three. He will do well and score lots wherever he goes, but he isn't the type of striker to take your team to the next level. When he is at his absolute best, he can be almost unplayable and arguably the best of the 3, but there's so much lacking that stops that from happening. Since this is the Belotti thread, I won't go further than that though. On to Belotti. I think he is brilliant. He does have that costa/tevez type of fight and determination (without the massive negatives of costa). This type of willpower really does have an effect on the team. It wears the defense down, but it also gives a lift to the team. Teammates cling to that and it is contagious. It's that little bit of scruffiness and fight that pushes a team over the line when they are having an off day. He presses brilliantly and willfully (vital in our system). He drives the team forward (as his coach or president of torino, forget which one, said). His runs stretch the defense and allow other attacking players to get in to the mix. When he gets the ball deep, his first thought is to go straight forward. One track mind at time it seems, and that is something I value in a striker. He is a surprisingly good dribbler in space and when he is at speed. It's hard to stop him once he starts going. So when he gets it deep, he drives the whole team forward quickly and effectively. More on other type of dribbling later on. He is excellent in the air. Again, it has a lot to do with his sheer determination to get to the ball first. He knows how to position himself well for crosses (if we end up with him and sandro, it will quite the partnership). He is pretty good at holding play up. He is physical and strong, and holds the ball well enough to left his teammates get there. When he releases the ball, he is immediately making a run forward and making himself available. He struggles getting the ball away from his feet some though. Areas I think he is lacking and overrated by a few: I think his overall technical quality is not near as good as many make it out to. Yes, it is better than both lukaku and costa, but it's not top level. In his highlight videos, it looks good, but when you watch full games or all his touches in a game, you see it is lacking. His passes are often hit too hard, he doesn't quite have that touch. His first touch is okay, but not excellent, theres a few times most games where it's just too heavy. Along the same lines, he is not that good at dribbling in spaces that are tighter. When he is at pace, he is very good though. As I said, he is my first choice and I rate him very highly. He does come with his flaws though. He is decent enough technically that it does not negatively effect the overall team play as I see lukaku's doing. He is the type that will always make a difference on the game whether he is scoring or not (another thing I think lukaku lacks).

I actually don't really care if there's a buy back with him or not. I don't think he'll ever get to the level we would need here. I just see him as a limited play, but a decent one with potential to improve. I never seen him becoming top. Good deal for us again from the board. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I also do not see them selling mbappe this summer. They seem determined, and they also just sold Germain (their back-up striker). I'm not aware if they've signed a different striker yet.

I can't find the quote at the moment but I remember one point where Conte was describing how the RCB/LCB should play. He something along the lines that those two need to be aggresive and press. That it is helpful for the them to be fast, etc. With that, Cahill clearly doesn't fit in the aggressive category at all. Luiz does though. He is fairly fast, although I thought he got slower and slower as the season went on (I'm assuming because of his injury that wouldn't go away). So I hope it will be back to normal by next season. I do wonder how he would do in that position long-term though. I have my doubts, but I also think it could be brilliant. Would give us another player good on ball, unlike Cahill.

I can't find the quote at the moment but I remember one point where Conte was describing how the RCB/LCB should play. He something along the lines that those two need to be aggresive and press. That it is helpful for the them to be fast, etc. With that, Cahill clearly doesn't fit in the aggressive category at all. Luiz does though. He is fairly fast, although I thought he got slower and slower as the season went on (I'm assuming because of his injury that wouldn't go away). So I hope it will be back to normal by next season. I do wonder how he would do in that position long-term though. I have my doubts, but I also think it could be brilliant. Would give us another player good on ball, unlike Cahill.

I can't find the quote at the moment but I remember one point where Conte was describing how the RCB/LCB should play. He something along the lines that those two need to be aggresive and press. That it is helpful for the them to be fast, etc. With that, Cahill clearly doesn't fit in the aggressive category at all. Luiz does though. He is fairly fast, although I thought he got slower and slower as the season went on (I'm assuming because of his injury that wouldn't go away). So I hope it will be back to normal by next season. I do wonder how he would do in that position long-term though. I have my doubts, but I also think it could be brilliant. Would give us another player good on ball, unlike Cahill.

"the youngster"...?

That sounds like they've given us permission to talk to him, doesn't it? If so, that is brilliant news. This will end one of two ways. He comes here, or he ends up with a muchhhh larger contract with juve. Let's hope that's not the reason he (and his agent) are pushing it.

Could be helpful, or it be hurtful based on Michy's experience this year...

Don't mean this in a rude way, but ESPN is terrible source for anything soccer related.

I would not say he is much more consistent than hazard, if at all, but that is my opinion. Are there any others you think are more consistent?

I think you proved his point by saying there "a few" players that produce more regularly. A few is tiny amount for all the players in Europe. Also, only naming Sanchez proves his point as well. There's not many...And even then, just like every footballer, Sanchez goes through spurts.

Looked really bad. Was in a lot pain and was strerchered off. Hope he's okay.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but to call Cahill proactive makes me wonder if you really understand the definitions of it....

Definitely starting to think he'd be brilliant there. Still wonder if he would want to be in that position long-term though