OneMoSalah

Still not entirely convinced about Kounde. Kept a closer eye on him after last summer and quite frankly I don’t see him as the player which he seems to be made out to be. Looks a decent CB but I am not really sure if it would be right to say he is an outstanding one now or could be in the future. On De Ligt though - 100% yes though, if thats possible and not as expensive as maybe first thought, do it. His age, profile, experience, mentality and leadership skills at his age, to think he will only keep on adding to what he’s already achieved so far in his career in terms of the improvements he’s made and levels he’s played at, I think its a no brainer really.

This Van Dijk being one of the best PL CB’s of all time is absolutely baffling. He hasn’t done half as much as any of those, Rio, Terry, Vidic but this Liverpool love in has accelerated van Dijk, who is a very good CB no doubt, to some sort of godlike CB when he has only really played at a top top level for 2.5-3 years. He has 1 PL, 1 CL, 1 Carabao Cup, 1 Super cup, 1 Club World Cup and 1 FA Cup to his name. The others trophy haul and general consistency in the PL dwarfs Virgils by a mile. He is the best CB in the PL alongside Ruben Dias, Laporte etc but top 5 of all time?? Laughable.

Would say thats a bit outrageous to say re Aubamayang, he scored like 10 PL goals in his first half a season when he signed for Arsenal, then 22 in his first full season, 22 again in his second season and then 10 in a injury hit season prior to falling out Arteta. He was anything but horrendous in the PL. Couldn’t be further away from the truth. And IIRC Lamps tried to sign him here prior to him signing that huge contract renewal. Aye And also by that logic on Lewa I am guessing your not expecting much from Haaland at City then? Or anyone else from the Bundesliga? I mean Lewa will score goals at any level, at any club. Like Benzema. Like Ronaldo. It wouldn’t even be in doubt, you don’t do what he’s done in world football over the past 10 years and not be capable of playing in the PL. I mean Ronaldo carried Man Utd. At 37.

Precisely. Plus, not to mention the fact he has had to suffer all the Russian/Ukraine questions over the months because of Roman-Putin links, all the ownership questions and a on a personal level a separation from his wife too. Its been a tough few months. Anyone questioning if he is the right man to lead this club next season and beyond, or anyone who has any doubts should be giving themselves a reality check. The one thing that will be an absolute necessity after this takeover goes through, is that we keep the guy who has played a huge huge huge part in the last year and a half here. It is clear we need reinforcing in key areas. The manager seat isn’t one. Better finishing and we would of had much more points.

Tbf if money was the issue and thats how we’ve gotten to this stage of him leaving, again with Rudiger also, it is very disappointing. To lose 2 of our key defenders due to breakdowns in salary negotiations based on them thinking they deserved a bit more, its not anything we’ve really seen happen here in recent times.

Either way I am not surprised, I think he should of been starting but if he’s looking out for his own interests then that sort of bitters the end of his spell here. But suppose thats football these days, guys whose heads aren’t in it will do this.

Lets see how this goes. We played better second half and in ET also. Alonso probably our best player today if I am honest.

Pulisic could have had a hattrick FFS.

Pretty poor performance if I am honest. Particularly defensively. Obviously its a bit cagey and we’ve had chances but Diaz is a huge issue. Reece and Trevor need to do more there going back the way. Much much more. Reece is probably too high and too wide when we don’t have the ball, leaving Trev exposed. We need to increase the intensity though and play a bit quicker/sharper, too much faffing about.

Another big chance. Pass too late and very average first touch. TT getting into them at the sideline, should be 2-0

Yeah out right side is struggling with Robertson and Diaz. Massively. James may as well have just not been there, gave Robertson acres. They need to get a grip defensively and fast because that will keep attacking there as soon as they can. Got to score that chance there, got to.

Chalobah and James sleeping already. Diaz is running riot out there….

Mendy’s distribution gonna cause us a problem if he’s kicking it as slack as he did there a few mins ago to try find Alonso.

Wheres this Lukaku been? If he had played like this much much more often in games he’d started, maybe he’d of got more goals. Not even just the goal. Just seemed to move a lot more. Not standing about as often. Not disinterested in linking with players.

Why should they be losing their minds though? I mean reallly. Ok. He hasn’t been great at Barca (who has really been consistent though in arguably one of the worst Barcelona sides of the last 15 years though?) but he’s only 24, his ability and potential is still there, he’s rarely injured and he’s the sort of player who could inject some impetus and ability to progress the ball forward into a mediocre midfield. I would imagine Erik ten Hag will be delighted to get someone of his profile in if true. I’d be shocked if he struggled at United if this move goes through, United lack someone of that ilk and someone with that skillset. And if ten Hag is to implement his style, this makes sense. But Utd fans are Utd fans… I guess it will be like opposition fans thinking we signed a ‘Barca reject’ in Cesc. Barcelona letting him go is also mainly financially driven. Definitely not to do with his ability.

New deal for him and RJ has been mooted. Must be top of the list. People keep trying to shoot him down but look at his stats this season. And yes that includes you @NikkiCFC How has Grealish’s season at City gone? Or Barkleys? 2 players you said were better than Mason repeatedly over the last 2 years.

Richard Keys is a grade A moron. Why would anybody and I mean anybody in the PL, want to sign Harry Maguire? He has been shocking for the best part of 18 months now at club level. Absolutely shocking. An English/homegrown core? Or Spine? Are Mount, James, Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi and Gallagher not English? Throw in a few others who are in and around the squad too either English or academy players… I mean the likes of James, Chilwell, Mount are effectively a part of the teams spine. They’ve been/were ever presents.

Sterling scores goals though. A high volume of goals. Granted he is in and out at City but I do think he’s the sort of player you cant just write off - remember prior to the Euros? Also Gabriel Jesus is also much more technically gifted and would fit our approach and style much much much more than Lukaku does. He is definitely good enough to score goals regularly for a top club. Which again he does at City even if he isn’t their first choice. I mean if those two aren’t players of quality then I don’t know. Plus they are exceptional team players.

We just have to see. Tuchel has given Ruben and Trevor a chance here when many expected they wouldn’t get one. Its tough to say he isn’t going to look at some other lads who looked like they may be on the verge of leaving/not featuring that are on loan and give them that same opportunity. I mean there is nothing to say he wont use someone like Dujon as a squad player and prioritise strengthening key positions where we are set to lose players ie. CB.

I think its definitely unfair to say that. Your effectively ruling out all players in Serie A based on one guy. Tomori has been pretty good for AC Milan since going there, playing consistently. Surprise, he’s been ever present this season for them and they are top of the league with only 31 goals against which is joint best with Inter and Napoli. For me, one of Frank’s biggest mistakes here was not playing him with Thiago Silva more at any point as I think they’d of made a pretty good partnership and he would of learned a lot too. What he lacked in reading of the game at that stage he would of learned and developed playing with Thiago. I mean why do people think Rudiger has all of a sudden also kicked on massively since TT come in? Thiago is definitely a help and the other guys will undoubtedly be picking things up off him.

Hard to judge until we see him in a Chelsea shirt though. I mean I doubt many people thought we would see Trevor Chalobah playing for the first team after his loans, but he has gotten a chance and taken it.

Statement signings are all well and good, but it has to be the right signing. Look at Lukaku. Backing TT is absolutely crucial though. We are only where we are because of him and his tactical nous has definitely made up for inconsistencies from players. Any other manager and this group wouldn’t be 3rd IMO.

Wont lie I have always rated Jesus, if City are willing to let him go even for £40-45m, I would take him here. 100%. He is an incredibly hard working footballer who has shown he can deliver with goals if played regularly. There are rumours he is unhappy at City due to lack of minutes over the years. Same with Bernardo Silva wanting to leave. And Laporte was another one at the time. For different reasons perhaps but none the less, wanting to leave. Plus you look at the type of CF we need, someone who is able to run the channels, drift in and out of central areas to link with others and ultimately, press well. I don’t think he would be a bad buy at all. In fact I think him going to Arsenal, would be a good move for both him and them.

Tuchel confirmed hes leaving this summer.

Will be next summer he moves unless one of us City or United offer a huge huge fee. Would imagine none of us or those two will due to other commitments/issues.