OneMoSalah

And rightly so. Top 4 was still achieveable and despite it being still esrly in the season even more so after the first 10 or 12 games when others around us faltered and we had a huge points gap. People will say young players coming through is a saving grace but if we finish 6th or 7th which is all but possible if we continue to freefall, is it really? An experienced manager as weve mentioned before wont have been so quick to dismiss Giroud, Pedro and even Barkley when others underperformed earlier on and his lack of faith in these guys, regardless how good or bad they are, has undoubtedly had a part in whats happening now as they are out of form and match fitness when we need them due to injuries. Football is a squad game, the injuries weve had this season has been telling. The boards failure to bring somebody experienced or a few players in the January window, which Frank stressed about adding to the group, also hasnt helped him. We have seen all season from a coaching point of view, the teams defensive shape and ability to defend set pieced has also cost us dearly in games in Europe and in the league. Only Villa have conceded more goals from set plays & corners IIRC but have faced a lot more than we have. I think Frank will be gone if he doesnt get top 4. Theres no excuse to have 12 points clear at one point and then to lose that spot. He can claim we are underdogs for the top 4 now as everyone else strengthened around us but again Mourinho, Arteta, Wilder etc have also managed to change their clubs fortunes/continue good form due to coaching more than recruitment. Arsenal may have only won a few under Arteta but somehow find themselves closer to us than under Emery and there is a clear, visible improvement which will undoubtedbly continue next season when Arteta gets a full pre season. Same with Mourinho, who okay he is more a result orientated manager as opposed to putting a clear identity on his side but again, they are picking up points. Its not just this season we risk falling behind, Spurs were always a couple of additions short of being title challengers under Pochettino I think and Arsenal lacked under Emery but they are on upward trajectories as opposed to downward ones now in my eyes. We are slipping and struggling. The summer window is vital for us regardless of manager as well, we will lose experienced players and how we go about replacing that while adding quality in the same window will be intriguing to not avoid what we had when we let Ballack, Joe Cole, Belletti, Carvalho and Deco go because you cannot underestimate experience and winners, especially when its guys like Pedro who has won every trophy more or less at club and international level, Willian who has won a few PLs and cups here and Giroud a WC winner qnd has won countless FA cups. Okay those other guys before were maybe more reliable and better players but again, Cech, Cole, Brana, Drogba, Terry, Cahill etc have all left in the last however long too and we do lack top experienced pros who know what it takes in this current squad. So adding quality and that sort of experience/winning mentality is vital because it can be difficult to develop. Even Courtois, Costa and Cesc had that from spells at other clubs and brought it here. Another win vs Spurs would just paper over the cracks I feel. As the previous one did.

I am not so sure. Some will argue a more experienced manager will have not blown that points gap we had earlier in the season and built on it rather than thrown it away through stubborn tactical and selections snd poor squad management. There were other factors too obviously, poor conversion rate, defending from set plays etc. too but the defending in games and from those scenarios is probably more down to coaching and the set up (zonal marking). Doubt many would flinch to get Pochettino in over FL. Even if his only criticism as a manager for me is a lack of silverwear and constantly dismissing the domestic cups in his early seasons at Spurs, he has visibly improved 75% of the players he has worked with at Southampton and Spurs, I mean they gave England debuts out left right and centre to like probably at least 10 + players he had worked with within like 3 seasons since he arrived in the PL, says it all. Back onto Frank. He is underachieving regardless of if we lost Hazard or not, I dont get this whole we were a one man band with Eden every season idea still either, there were definitely times others questioned his performances in bigger matches and there was a slight divide (when the whole he needs a new LB on his level, he needs an attacking manager, he needs this or needs that shit would be brought up but top players are top players regardless of whats around them in most circumstances). The stats may show he has done it big games, which he has undoubtedly but we werent a.one man team. Maybe other attackers didnt have the same goal and assists but if they evened out and the likes of Willian and Pedro contributed 20 goals between them a season, this wouldnt be a viable excuse. Which is why Tammy scoring regularly has been.a bonus and Ziyech will.also add to that general collective of goals from elsewhere too. We also had defenders who contributed say 5 goals a season ie Brana, Terry, Cahill, Alonso etc too chipping in to boost our goals.

Fuck. Would take him over Sancho although different positions. But think a CF is more needed than a winger at present. In terms of being a kid still, he is well filled out and has very good and varied finishing, tight angles, placing it, smashing it, strong in the air too.

Pay the 50m release fee or whatever it is in the summer. Some finish. What an absolute brute of a kid for 19 as well.

Maybe but I think Mbappe also had consistent great performances against big teams in that period too at club level for Monaco and also PSG. As well as international level in a huge tournament as mentioned. Sancho is a talent I wont deny that and maybe he can go that extra level again eventually like Mbappe but until he does that regularly, I will be reserved in my judgement of him until then. That's why I dont think he is at the same level as Mbappe right now as well. If he does the Euros and club performances at a high level yes he has every chance I wont disagree but I think that Mbappe will be difficult for many players to catch and compete with not just Sancho. Really be intriguing to see how Rodrygo and Vinicuis Jnr do they in the next 2 or 3 seasons as well as Sancho. They can be top players but again not sure if theyll be as good as Mbappe will when he reaches his best years.

There is more to Wolves than Traore, that is just an arrogant view on them. If you watch some of their games, youll see that Ruben Neves and Moutinho are the heartbeat of that side and both are very good MF players who could play at a higher level, more so Neves now Moutinho is older and his time has probably passed to play at a bigger club. Raul Jimenez has scored 20 goals this season in all competitions. Diego Jota is also a very capable player who has scored regularly since being there. Rui Patricio is a hugely experienced GK who has lots of international experience and also a Euro winner. Jonny Otto is a player who is making a name for himself and been kn the Spain NT squad too. Then you have their manager who is getting more and more plaudits every year after difficult spells in Porto and Valencia.

Sancho isnt on Mbappes level. Not at all for me. I think Mbappe has already established himself as a world class player. He was absolutely vital in dragging France to a world cup win aged 19 and for me that is as big a sign of being world class as anything these days. Considering the players that France side had too, Mbappe was the deciding factor in a some of the bigger games - Argentina and Croatia particularly. Throw in his performances in the CL as well as throughout the season Monaco won Ligue 1 (aged 18 he scored 26 goals in 44 games across that season) and then what he has done for PSG in terms of his performances and goals to games ratio since then at such a young age (84 goals for PSG in 115 games), I think its fair to say Sancho hasnt scratched the surface of what Mbappe has done already in his short career (Mbappe has won and been a key part of the sides, winning 3 Ligue 1 titles, 1 World Cup and 3 Domestic trophies already in 5 seasons as a professional). I think Mbappe will hands down be the best footballer of his generation and at this rate, he could do so virtually unopposed because I dont see any outstanding candidates at present who could compete or go past him. Not even Sancho, who I think does have a big future in the game, will reach the same level if Mbappes career continues at this trajectory. I think if he ever moves he will eclipse Neymars fee.

Sorry but did you see Ziyechs performances last season and this season in CL? Different player to Sancho but I dont think Sancho has replicated anything like some of his Bundesliga games in the CL against bigger teams either. Could be wrong but again didnt Dortmund crash out in last 16 losing 5-0 v Spurs? Wouldny say Sancho is an superior player to Ziyech and not to the degree your making out.

Still doubt we will get Sancho regardless even more so if Barkley and Willian stay. Ziyech hopefully plays centrally but if Lampard persists with Mason and developing him he will play Ziyech wider.

I hope we never play without a CF ever again. It doesnt work sustainably in the longrun unless you have Messi in that false 9 role and that has been proven for years now based on Peps and Germany's attempts to recreate it with Gotze to us here with Eden and various others at other clubs. I still remember when Man City played James Milner as a false 9 under Pellegrini, what the fuck was that cunt smoking?

I think back 3 could be an option. Even more so based on the previous game v Spurs. Maybe not but I think it might help us tighten up a bit. Kepa Azpi Rudiger Tomori James Kovacic Jorginho Emerson Willian Giroud (hopefully) Mount/Callum

Not neccessarily. Dealing with Porto and Benfica is never easy though either. Image rights, agencies/other clubs owning percentages of rights etc too. Im not totally against signing Chillwell if the price is not over the top. 50m max maybe. As hes young and English you have to pay a bit more but he has huge potential to grow as well. He is good, maybe not at the level that fee warrants but a long term investment at LB isnt necessarily a bad thing.

As much as I have respect for FLs legacy as a player he has to get the top 4 or he will be out in my opinion. Mauricio Pochettino and Max Allegri are sitting there unemployed for fuck sake. He isnt invincible. Also if Simeone came here it wouldnt be as bad as many expect. His record at Atletico is pretty much excellent and his development of younger players as well such as Koke, Saul, Gimenez, Oblak, Courtois, Rodri, Thomas among others as well as bringing the likes of Falcao, Griezmann, Turan, Godin, Filipe Luis, Costa etc onto better levels is a testament to the sort of manager he is. This season Atletico are maybe in a bit of limbo, they arent sure if he will stay or go but one or two seasons after what 8 at the club? Can hardly discredit what hes done. Theyve only lost 41 league games since the 2012/13 season. Plus we wouldnt be a soft touch with Simeone in charge either. Not saying it would happen think the club would prioritise Allegri or Pochettino ahead of him if they decided to make a change but he would be a viable option if they didnt want to come here. Still think FL can maybe pull it back a bit with the bigger games but he has to take responsibility for underwhelmingly selection Batshuayi ahead of Giroud tonight and also seeming to have discarded Giroud as worthless since after the Super Cup match as well as other selection issues and tactical things. I am worried though.

Frank has marginalised him for no reason other than this own stupidity this season. What was he thinking? Batshuayi? Really? I have been mentioning Giroud not playing for ages and when he eventually does take him on he looks capable of altering the game.

Another shite result. Regardless of performances the results in big matches this season have been awful. Yes we beat Jose's Spurs but that was one game. Top 4 place is starting to become more and more open and with City potentially missing out we are not in a good place. Also whoever wrote that Sarri has shortened Kantes career, fuck off, really? Is it Sarri's fault that Kepa has regressed? Or that Kante, Rudiger and Emerson also picked up injuries after beung rushed back earlier in the season? Theres only one man who could possibly be blamed for these reoccuring injuries and his name is Frank Lampard. Mentioned it earlier in the season with those 3 and some people out it down to pot luck, I think theres a more underlying problem.

Missed this post when you replied. Not sure how I did but I did. I am not 100% sold on 25 not being young for a GK because in terms of their playing careers they can still play at the top level to they are late 30s compared to outfield players bar the exceptions who seem to decline before their mid 30s. Other than Neuer, Courtois, de Gea, Oblak, Alisson, Lloris and ter Stegen in recent times I havent thought of many world class GKs by the time they are 25 in the last 10 years for say, probably missed a few, would say Cech as well is definitely in there but he would been older, again, wouldnt say there are lots and lots of them. Ederson could be in there too but I have seen some issues in some games hes played where he has conceded some goals youd expect him to save. Yes Cech and Casillas regressed but again those 2 had been at the very very top for close to 15 years at least and that consistency is difficult to maintain for a lot of players regardless of position never mind throwing in injuries over time too. Buffon who is now 42, few years ago before going to PSG, he was still putting in very impressive performances in the CL in for Juventus the year they made the final and the season afterwards. Even Neuer who was outstanding for Schalke and Bayern over a period, had a bad injury and people thought he was finished when he still has plenty of life left in him. I still have huge faith in Kepa, it just takes a string of matches where he plays good to come out of this slump. Just as it does with any player and starting with the United game tonight, who knows? I mean look at the developement of Woijech Szczesny, he is now a very good GK imo and it took him until he was maybe 26 before he ironed out huge flaws and became a very very reliable GK in Serie A. Keylor Navas went to Madrid aged 27 or 28 and Claudio Bravo particularly had a late resurgence to the top level as well when he went to Barca probably in his 30s. Alisson also didnt become very well renowned as a GK in Europe until 2017 as well. He would of been 25 or 26. Samir Handanovic only got real recognition as a geniune top level GK when he was around 27 or 28 as well around Europe. They may decline earlier but it depends on different circumstances, I dont think the majority of world class GKs are established as world class by 25 though. As I mentioned I maybe missed a few in that list but in the last 10 years particularly I cant think of many GKs who had it all by age 25 bar the Oblaks, de Geas, Courtois, Ter Stegens, Neuers etc.

All these clubs, even the likes of Ajax, have to adapt at somepoint and keep up by investing in youngsters from other clubs that may be seen as someone with outstanding talent as opposed to usual traditions. Their academy is brilliant, no doubts, but for someone like van Basten to slam Ajax over one signing it seems like bitterness more than anything. I mean its hardly as if theyve shut ther academy for this guy is it? Or shunned someone from it for this guy? Ziyech was arguably the key to their team, sometimes you cant replace that with an academy player and get the same results straight away. As I expect we will see at Man City when David Silva goes at the end of the season and Pep either uses Bernardo Silva in that position, shunning Phil Foden as his successor as he keeps calling him or signs another 8/10 and keeps Silva outwide, again shunning Foden. Again would Ajax have spent 30m euros if they had a player of that quality in that position in their academy? I doubt it really. Because the nature of how they are run is they buy/promote players and make a profit off them I wouldnt be surprised if this guy is maybe someone who could be a replacement for Neres who has been talked about a lot the past 18 months or even Ryan Babel who is there on loan more as opposed to Ziyech as well. Also if your at a club who loses de Ligt, de Jong and Ziyech in 2 seasons I think you can be entitled to spending a bit more on one or two players and not be criticised for it..

Wouldnt be surprised if FL goes for Kepa, Azpi/James Rudiger Tomori Emerson, Kante Jorginho Kovacic, Willian Tammy Callum/Mount.

Lets be realisitic, Kepa and Pulisic are going nowhere. This isnt FIFA or FM where you can sell somebody with ease 1 or 1 and a half years after buying them. We arent selling Jorginho either. That would be stupid. Even if his agent has said that about Juventus and other proposals I wouldnt be surprised if its a ploy for a new deal. Selling 3 of our most expensive signings in one window, what have you been smoking?

You must of not watched Kepa or any of our games last season then.... hes had a bad half a season but last season he was pretty good which nobody seems to mention. Hes hardly too average at everything, hes regressed but theres been talk of new GK coaches for a while now and when Sarri left the one on his staff also left. If we sign a new GK but the GK coaching behind the scenes isnt pushing or improving the GK then it will be same again. Onana, although a pretty decent GK, seems to be flavour of the month but I really have my doubts whether he is a major improvement on Kepa or not.

But his last season here there were lots on here saying he was average and costing us matches...... particularly in the CL. Thats why I compared him to Kepa right now. Courtois is a world class keeper though and he has shown again this season after a difficult start at Madrid how good he really is. It just shows how fickle fanbases are and thats what I meant regarding Kepa who was ranked as better than Courtois by fans here last season....

Has been very much outstanding this season for Real. Back to his best.

Again, just seems like over complication to me. If we are that desperate for 20 or 30m okay, but we are hardly skint I mean it seems like a lot of fucking about. Hes a half decent player but hes hardly an improvement on anything we have so I dont see what the big fuss is about. I mean I doubt Barcelona were genuienly interested in him and I doubt he would play here regularly if we signed him as well. I mean he strikes me as someone like Andre Schurrle, a lot of hype st a smaller club but in reality, average.

While I dont quite think we should go for Boga, who I always feel has been slightly overrated from his time here as a youth player even to now with all the so called experts acting as if they watch Sassuolo every week and as if he is head and shoulders above a lot of guys in the same position (there are much better players) in Serie A and anything we currently have, it strikes me as a waste of time and just a huge over complication signing him to sell on again. Firstly, moves can fall through for whatever reasons. Then ultimately your left with a player youve signed only as a money making scheme on the wage bill. If we want him to play, okay use the clause, that makes sense but if he wont play, just let Sassuolo sell him if he is going to be an asset to another club. For the sake of a club of our size and financial stability trying to go through buy back loopholes to gain an addition 10m or 20m, it seems like overkill. Even more so if he did come to be resold, the move ended up collapsing or not happening as this reported interest from Napoli is just bullshit like a lot of rumors then we probably add another player to the scrapheap of loan players with no immediate or long term future at the club. Even then, the player might not want to come here, he might not want to be fucked about, coming here being resold etc. Or even if he was to play, as weve seen with Lukaku (who I know wasnt a buy back clause but similar case in my view) and might yet see with Nathan Ake, he might rather go somewhere else, having already been at Chelsea and didnt quite happen so theres that to consider too. Think it would be hugely arrogant to just assume that he will be willing to return here at all, yet alone only to be sold on. I think the only real case of that I have seen is with Morata going from Madrid to Juventus to Madrid again because there was a lot of rumors they would sell him after resigning him? But even then he ended up being played at Real afterwards before moving here because he wasnt their first choice but at least he played and wasnt just a quick cash gain move (although they did make a profit when they sold him to us, like 25m at least excluding add ons but that was because their buyback clause was 30m euros).

Doubt he will want to play in League 2 anyway.