OneMoSalah

Gedson Fernandes, Wilfried Zaha and Issa Diop. Not completely sold on any of them but out of the three, although Diop has huge potential. Fernandes has fallen off the radar a bit after a promising start at Benfica when he broke into the team, he reminds me of Renato Sanches in terms of how his career has gone. He started well at Benfica and now has fallen out of favour due to a bust up of sorts with their manager. Zaha is a good player but not sure if he is top 4 material, his end product still leaves little to be desired although in 1 on 1s he is good at taking players out of the game. Diop, huge potential but again a young player, I think if Christensen is to be going to AC Milan or somewhere else as reported, then having a more established player replace him would be more sufficient unless Zouma is going to be a long term part of Franks plans here.

They outdid us tactically at Old Trafford because they sat off us, we didnt take chances and we were incredibly vulnerable on transitions (arguably still are), like against most top teams this season. Not so sure about the second game but probably similar, we didnt take chances and then they hit us on counters.

That is madness because you see Inter being linked with Vidal, Eriksen and Giroud who are a much higher quality of player than Young. Surprised Moses hasnt been talked about either then. Maybe Conte wants to recreate the Man United team with Sanchez, Young and Lukaku.

See if its Issa Diop from West Ham.... a young CB isnt what we need, a more establishes CB is.

Pretty sure they loaned him to give them numbers to cover John McGinn who picked up a 3 month injury a few weeks ago. If he does well maybe theyll keep him (hopefully)...

Good.

Dont jinx it.

Just depends how you look at it with Sanchez, he started okay for Inter, fitness stopped him playing more then he got some involvement before picking up a suspension and injury. I think hes maybe got 150 minutes for them since going there and has been involved in 2 goals. Its not exactly the most to back the move up but I do think Conte probably got the same judgement when he signed Tevez from Man City. Although it was different reasons that Tevez was available, still look how that panned out for Conte and Juve. Like Tevez for Juve, Sanchez was a huge risk for Inter. It hasnt paid off yet but its not exactly fair to say its backfired because the guys hardly had a chance to show what he can do. I mean even look at Lukaku, that move has paid off despite the fact United and their fans couldnt wait to see the back of him. I think if he was backed here and got the likes of Alex Sandro, Kyle Walker, Rom Lukaku... he might still been here to this day or have faired better in his 2nd season. Maybe not though because we did clutter the squad with shite such as Bakayoko, Drinkwater, Zappacosta, Morata etc but I dont think its as open and closed as he cant be trusted in the market. I dont think he was solely responsible for Bakayoko or Drinkwater despite him saying he wanted them because months later he said he doesnt have much say on signings and that the board did. He also wanted to keep Matic. So there definitely was something conflicting there. Why would he of wanted to keep Matic if he has just signed 2 MF players he wanted?

I agree that maybe the injuries would be my only concern but the pace and intensity of the PL really wouldnt be a problem for him in my opinion if he was match fit. Again we keep talking about needing a few established/in their prime age/older players in and around this group to improve us as well as help guys in similar positions like Tammy, Mason, Tomori... Cavani would fit that mould. Short term or not, a top player who has been a top player for the last 6 or 7 seasons, wouldnt be a bad role model for Tammy who would pick up a lot from him... yes the club has that over 30s policy but it should be looked at on a case by case basis, being 30 or over doesnt instantly spell the end for every footballer in existence which youd think it did. Cavani would undoubtedbly do a job and be worth a 2 year deal minimum for sure if we were to pursue him. He would be one of the better CFs in the league still I think because his game isnt focused on pace or dribbling or whatever, he is excellent at making the right movements on the shoulder of the defenders or in and around the box and his finishing is very good (although he has missed some sitters before but it doesnt stop him getting goals). I dont think we will get him but youd think he was a second rate player the way youve mentioned him in earlier posts, even more so the if hes happy to be 2nd choice behind Tammy one lol. Providing context about the league. Wouldnt matter if it was Spain, Italy, Germany or the French league, my point would still be the same, Cavani is still a top player playing at a top club who is capable of doing it for a top club. Hes scored lots of goals in Italy, France and in the CL as well as at world cups and whatever. The French league isnt as good as those leagues maybe but its hardly dead rubber.

This may be questioned by many but here we go fuck it. From 2009 onwards. Matic and Cesc were tough to leave out but for me Ramires (was a huge favourite of mines) and Lampard deserved places. Suppose a bench would have Courtois, Cole, Matic, Cesc, Willian and Mata maybe 😂 Cech Ivan - Cahill - Terry - Azpi Ramires - Kante - Lampard Hazard Costa - Drogba

Yes they are at the same age but it is clear Cavani is still at a much much better level compared to what Eto'o was aged 32/33 although what Eto'o did wasnt exactly poor either. Regardless of how good or bad the French league is (its hardly that bad), the standard is still good, much much better than the Russian league which Eto'o was playing in prior to coming to us. Hes hardly needing to rediscover his best form, its not as if he hasnt been scoring goals when he is playing. Other than this season which injuries and contract issues have halted his playing time, he has scored over 20 goals in the last 8 or 9 seasons. Injuries aside his form and ability has nothing to do with anything, he is still a very capable goalscorer and even at his age, he still has more than enough to offer which is why us, United, Juventus and Atletico are all heavily linked. Maybe he wont come here but I dont think for one minute if he was to be made available at a decent price this month/free end of the season that we would instantly say no because we have Tammy playing for us every week or because he is 32 or 33... Plus if the French league, as you said, is a weak league then I suppose us going after/being linked with the likes of Moussa Dembele, Houssem Aouar, Boubakary Soumare or Youcef Atal, they should be instantly dismissed based on your judgement of the competition they play in? Its a bit of an arrogant comment to make, its not as if the league is made up of non league teams. I suppose the Italian and German leagues the same too then?

Dont think he will ever be/was on Suarez's level as Suarez is a much more technically gifted and has that sheer unpredictability where he can turn a game. Do think Cavani's in much better physical shape than Suarez these days and if he keeps himself in this condition (except the muscle injuries hes encountered this season) will play at a higher level then Suarez will do over the next few years to they both retire. Think Suarez days at Barca are numbered despite him very much being their number 1 CF, I think the MLS or South America will be his next move, but that depends on Barca if they replace him or want to keep him as a second option.

One game against a championship side whos manager said they didnt expect to beat us and 'our right hand side is set for years'. Will believe it when I see this sort of things against PL opposition regularly. Talk about carried away. Probably Callums best game this season bar v Newcastle which is a plus I suppose.

Cavani and Eto'o's situations were totally different though Jason? I mean if you cant see that then I dont know. Eto'o was playing in Russia, on huge wages, past it where as Cavani is still playing for a top top team in PSG and if he would commit to a new deal he would probably be involved a lot more. There is a reason why Atletico are pushing hard to get him. He has struggled with injuries, Icardi's arrival/forn and his contract situation this season has forced Tuchels hand. Was the same with Rabiot last season with the contract situarion. Even then, Cavani has got 5 goals in 12 games and last season scored 23 in 33 games at a much more competitive level than Eto'o played at before we got him. He is hardly past it. If he was playing in Russia then yeah I could see your point but hes playing for one of the top clubs in Europe. I still think he would do the business for many clubs not just us. Id still fancy him as a better option than Tammy. He has got a ruthlessness to his game and even when he misses he always manages to get into those positions to score goals every game regardless. Didnt see this post until last one posted...

I dont think it matters what player or age it is though. If its Cavani, Werner, Isco, Ziyech, player X aged 24 or player Y aged 31, whoever it is, Frank wants to sign the right players. Those will undoubtedly be improvements on what we have in some positions or he wont bother. Regardless of their ages or who is their competition, youth players or not. You need to have some top quality in about the youngsters if your going to compete. The balance has to be right. Or we will end up like Arsenal under Wenger, with the likes of Walcott's, Nasris, etc who "might be able to compete for titles in 5 years time"....

Perhaps but I did expect Emery to do well in the PL. Maybe not win trophies but he seemed suited to change Arsenal more than what I felt Artera could do to change Arsenal. Hes almost the opposite of what youd expect an Arsenal coach to be after Wenger but as weve seen with United perhaps going for someone similar in his ideas and philosophy might have eased the transition. Emerys teams were usually a bit more disciplined, play with a higher intensity and adaptable. PSG was different to that as they had aspirations to be a CL winning team but at Valencia and Seville under him they were very much intense, discplined and very adaptable.

But again, for instance say if we spend say 40m on Moussa Dembele or more on Timo Werner, do you think one of them ade going to come here to start twice a month and Tammy will be happy to start the other 2 games a week? Frank will have the same problem every other managers had here with a bigger squad with more quality players in several positions. Its all well and good saying that, that FL and JM were brought into integrate youngsters etc but you can still do that without playing them from the beginning every week. You can still be patient with them and nurture them even if they arent starting every match every week. They need to play but again the goal here is going to be to compete for top 4, to push on from there and compete for titles etc. We will see but I dont see the harm in a few additions in some positions. Tammy cant carry the goal burden by himself as our number 9 all season. Mason cant carry the burden of being depended on as our number 10 every game all season. They need help. Be it top top players in the mould of Cavani or Isco or whoever weve been linked with or slightly older players who arent at that level yet such as Dembele/Werner or Ziyech etc. This de Bruyne/Salah situation thing is stupid. The difference already between their time here and now is that Frank has already gave youngsters in the mould of Tammy, Tomori and Mason ample chances, its not as if he will sign 3 players and totally forget about them like Mourinho did with Kevin and Mo. I am sure Frank values them 3 more than say Giroud/Batshuayi, Christensen and Barkley who might not survive past this window or the summer. Im guessing everyone thinks that signing 3 top quality players in those 3 positions is not an option purely for the reason they may end up like Mo and Kevin?

That is very true. Its not as if Alisson or van Dijk were virtually unknown when they signed both either. A lot of PL teams had been following van Dijk from his time in Scotland and then when he improved again, us, City, United and Liverpool went after him. I still remember Conte pleaing with the other top 6 clubs to not allow City to sign him. And many people said Christensen was better too...... which looking back on it now, is laughable. Again Alisson was linked with us and Liverpool among others only when he had established himself at Roma. Youd think they signed him from Brazil the way their board are talked about. The real gems and severely underrated signings theyve gotten in this last however many years were Mane, Joe Gomez (Rodgers signed), Robertson, Matip (free)... but even with them they werent good enough to win titles. Which the media forget.

But again, its also easy to say he wouldnt just toss Abraham aside because he came in preaching about using young players and had done at Derby. For me if we had a better 10, CB and CF Id be surprised if Tomori, Tammy and Mason had made as many appearances as they have. Sure theyd still have played but I dont think they'd have played as often as they have already. If we had a top top striker, which is no disrespect to Tammy who has done incredibly well after a poor spell in the PL with Swansea a few years back, I dont think it would be as easy as saying theyd both be rotated evenly or whatever. Strikers like GKs and defences, are positions you dont often see rotated because they build key relationships and chemistry as well as give them a chance to maintain form (when Tammy wasnt scoring he was kept in and while Id imagine due to a lack of options was a reason why, Id say giving him the continuity and chances to play with the same players most week to build up chemistry was another). Midfielders and wide positions are changed more often in modern day football.

Yes he would. He would start ahead of Tammy and Michy and saying otherwise is being incredibly biast.

Back up? He is one of the best finishers in world football and is still capable of scoring 15-20 goals a season at least. Still think he is better than Icardi but he is younger than Cavani and benefits PSG more in the long run. Plus think what Tammy would be able to learn off somebody of his calibre and experience. Its totally different from a Higuain situation too (although if Higuain was fitter when we got him I do think he would of done a lot better because the movement was there). Atletico Madrid are after Cavani, he will do the business for them. I dont think we should be concerned about his age, he is one of the hardest working and looks after himself incredibly well, we talk about lacking top established players in and around this group, Cavani would be one, 32 or 33 or not. Hes won a lot, has scored a lot, wouldnt be a downgrade.

Ziyech would be a clever buy for say 30m. Good value, can play as a 10 or RW, in his best years, will be an improvement on most of our central and wide attacking players. Maybe wont be as good as he has been in that Ajax team but will still do well.

Martinelli looks a real talent. Arsenal with a bit more fitness, intensity and a few good players look like they could be a good side under Arteta. They started poor 1st half but seen enough of then with Arteta to think with more fitness and intensity they could be a good side. Cant believe someone like Emery who has been an established coach and has a relatively successful career couldnt get a performance out of some of these guys.

Signing Zaha would be hugely underwhelming imo. Especially for more than 40/45m.

Taking stats after 4 games and using them is reaching though. Emerson has shown a lot good and bad this season. Same lasy season and he never got going under Conte. His inconsistency will hold him back from ever being more than just a good player. Hes not a kid either. Hes 25. He should be a lot more consistent, a lot more dependable but hes not.