OneMoSalah

Even then £42m would be incredibly stupid.

Permanent makes more sense. I don’t think with Caicedo & Lavia he has a realistic long term future here. Barring a very very spectacular development. @Pizy lets hope so. Paying £50m for someone they don’t want and wouldn’t have a clear and obvious role in our team here is a stupid move on all accounts.

£50m for Felix - no thanks. Ridiculous if we make such a deal. Nobody else actually wants him what does that tell you? But Scatter Gun FC probably will probably end up signing him.

But who does he play ahead of? He more than likely doesn’t play ahead of Lavia, Enzo, KDH & Caicedo and 2 of those will be 2 of our MF 3 with Nkunku/Cole. So he will not play regularly. Also not to mention if Gallagher deal collapses. Then there is Santos who is on loan, is he not part of the long term plan or is he now another dud 😂? And Casadei? And Veiga can apparently play as a 6 also. Don’t see him playing regularly at all. So should just sell. Maybe loan. Was a pointless signing in first place - should have went to the sister club in France. We need to clear space and whilst he can be registered as a u21, if he is rarely going to be involved, why bother?

He huffs and puffs a lot. Wee moments. Flashes of brilliance of what he could do but he doesn’t have anywhere near enough consistency, particularly for a supposed elite level attacking player aged 24. And which position would he play here and ahead of who? He isn’t really a proper left winger as such, lacking the athleticism and pace modern day wingers have and he isn’t a better option than Nkunku as a 10. He certainly isn’t a striker either. Seems like a proper luxury player. Will do the odd thing or two which you go wow but over 38 games and when it really matters, just going to be a passenger. Given Clearlake’s insistence on a data led approach it is surprising if those stats are what he put out. Genuinely think its this desperation to ensure we sell Gallagher so now we are open to taking anybody from Atletico who they don’t want to make sure the deal goes through… Like on a footballing point of view, makes no to little sense (although what does now with this mob running things?). You’re bang on about the off the ball stuff. I mean this is probably one of the biggest reasons as to why he was a none starter for Pochettino. Irrespective of this perceived ability. If Maresca wants a high press - his type of profile is out of the question. I mean why do people think he has struggled and fallen out with Simeone at Atletico also? Not to mention his actual position in a team, in the past 3 seasons he has been used as a 10, a wide left, a second striker, player up front… I guess people like the idea of him because he has shown little snippets of ability in certain moments but for someone aged 24, who is supposed to be someone who could an “elite level attacking player” should it not be a lot more clear and obvious what position he would play in a team? And what sort of player he actually is?

Villa were linked to him….

Absolutely. But still Lukaku as a bargaining chip to try persuade a VO deal with Napoli could be valuable. VO be a better and more sensible buy than Felix in a footballing way because he is a number 9 who has a pretty respectable record. Yes he isn’t maybe that top or world class striker but he is miles ahead of most options. Its a tough spot to be in though as there aren’t many who fit that role or calibre. I think using Lukaku as bait to get a deal for VO, direct swap and cash or separate deals would be the right thing to do. Circumstances with our squad size doesn’t help though. But if that was in order, for me a deal like that would be the sort of ruthless move Roman & Marina would of made in this sort of situation. CB is key though 100% agree also but in all fairness if we end up with Felix, no CB and no CF we only have ourselves to blame again for incredibly naive squad building and management. Forgot his wages were cut. Yep exactly my feeling. If it ends up that a Saudi club go in for VO or something then let him waste his career there. If we weren’t so desperate to shift players I think there would be much more openness to letting Lukaku rot to the final days in hope Conte & Napoli come to the table more desperate to do a favourable deal.

Works both ways though. Lets be realistic, they know we are trying to offload Rom cause he’s on massive wages and doesn’t want to be here - hence why their lowballing us. They also know we need to start offloading players irrespective because of the squad size. I get the club put a clause in for Rom but barring a Conte melt down/ultimatum - which I get he is who he is but 7 weeks into his job, he’s not even that stupid - theres not too much we can do. I think we should be saying if they offer between £30-35m for Lukaku… even with no swap deal on the table, that we will look to accept it on the basis that they accept a £50-60m bid in a separate deal for Oshimen. Then do both deals at the same time but separately as we were doing with Gallagher and whats his face. And if they fuck about just pull the plug on the Lukaku deal and let him rot. I know its a bit of fucking about but if we really want Oshimen and they really want Lukaku - be hard with them. Still think offloading the likes of Kepa, Chalobah, Broja, Ugochuwku & various others on loan/permanents would also give us a better footing too to make this deal as the need and desperation to trim a bloated squad disappears. I mean if we really want VO and Napoli really want RL, then we have to try make that happen.

Should have been made to them minute they appointed Conte. But dumb & dumber probably were too busy wanking each other off about how good they are at signing GKs…

It is really looking like we will have to give in to Napoli if we really want him to go. But the club have already been doing these strange deals with Villa for Maatsen & Kellyman and now potentially Atletico for Gallagher & one of whichever player Simeone cannot be fucked with next, probably Saul Niguez, if we don’t sign Felix. So who knows, maybe another iffy deal on the cards, Lukaku for 30m and then we give them 50m for Oshimen… either way we look like fannys but nothing new there 🤣

What I also don’t get regarding the Felix signing also is, if Nkunku doesn’t play for whatever reason be it injury or whatever, are people forgetting that Cole (our best attacker last season) can and would likely play as a 10? As he did under Poch? I get having squad depth but people were saying for weeks and weeks Maresca could/would use Palmer centrally - because he did with City u21/EDS - but now its we must sign Felix to have squad depth incase Nkunku doesn’t play? Unless we 100% see the sale of Noni and one of Mudryk/Sterling - a move for Felix would be very strange. I get he can maybe play 4 or 5 positions but whats the need if we already have got plenty of options there?

Hopefully permanent. Another stupid signing although surely make us some £ no? Even if it is Strasbourg.

Mudryk surely? But even then they aren’t like for like players. I don’t think signing someone who played predominantly as a left winger at Barcelona last season and as a number 10 for us the half season before is a good move without shifting one of either Mudryk or Sterling anyway. And still means we need a CF. And still, I’m with Tomo on this one too, not for me. JF was the best of a bad bunch and even then, for me his most memorable highlight was getting sent off what 10 mins into his debut? Can’t think of any real contribution where I thought wow what a player we’ve got here. This is am really interested in, really. How is Maresca going to incorporate Felix? When we play 433/4231…? As a 10 when he has a fully fit Nkunku who has been a real standout this pre-season and must start? And Palmer who can definitely be used there if not on the right wing where we have Noni and Pedro Neto? As a left winger when we have Sterling/Mudryk who are going nowhere as of now? Felix causes more headaches than he solves. Just as he did when he signed the first time round. Not consistent enough. Not got a defined position. Yeah clearly wasn’t a thought at all but we are desperate to sell Gallagher. So its likely 90% more Clearlake, Stewart & Winstanley throw shit at the wall until it sticks scattergun approach without any genuine consideration for what we actually need. Given Felix isn’t a CF or a CB also… what more proof do folk need? I mean I really doubt Maresca is even interested in him either, genuinely get the feeling he is a yes man, as a lot of these “head coach” types are.

Should have been the plan from day 1 but too busy scrambling about to sign players without offloading/loaning out guys. Just stupidity again but as I always keep coming back to, look at the clowns heading the football operations. I get we can have as many u21s as we want without actually registering them but this is still poor squad management and affects Maresca big time. Like it did with Potter and also Lampard.

Maybe. But still deals like this normally have a way of taking time, from day 1 working at it, with it later coming to the table Conte was keen on Lukaku… a compromise could of been reached and sooner. Might still happen but imagine we run out of time because we spent weeks chasing and almost signing some Atletico loanee? Could have given both players a pre-season with their new clubs too. Fuck knows what is happening now with Gallagher too. These Stewart & Winstanley cunts have to go either way. As soon as but won’t happen until after this season is done if it is going to happen. All that time fucking about for a exchange deal - nonetheless on a player who is a young CF who we already have 2 of in the squad - only for it to collapse over contract issues and now they prioritise Oshimen, a more established and higher quality player which is more of the profile we should of targeted from day 1? And are now trying to take Felix (for LW I am guessing or else makes no sense although hugely inconsistent still) to make the Gallagher deal work? On top of only having 2 loan slots left for non u21/HG players and a squad of 40 odd players with no moves happening for players who need offloaded. Shower of useless bastards. Honestly couldn’t run a piss up in a brewery…

Yet some people think Clearlake and the sporting directors are competent and willing to give them chance after chance….

Should of been from fucking first day of the window if we were wanting a CF. Felix would be a bad move. Not cut out for the PL. made the mistake of paying a fortune for him once on loan, don’t do it again.

So apparently want Oshimen and a left winger still? For a left winger especially, pull the plug on that Atletico striker and start selling some players. Mudryk included especially. Wouldn’t even bother loaning Petrovic, he has no long term future here clearly. Just sell him. Likes of Kepa, Lukaku, D Fofana, Trevor, Washington, Casadei, Broja, Ugochuwku all need to leave for a start. Mudryk if by some miracle we can sell him also. Few loans maybe.

I think we will end up selling Carney. Shame really. If Poch had stayed it would be out of the question, he really liked him but we have far too many players and then signed KDH also in midfield.

I think their head football operations guy & directors of football, Michael Edwards and the other guy they appointed from Bournemouth might have decided against due to injury record. I think they may want an attacker for that right side incase Salah goes down but by sounds of it, isn’t a huge priority as they want a 6 and a CB. Their record with signing players with bad injury records also has been pretty good. Can’t remember one really bad one. Its still 50/50 for us also with Neto in terms of him justifying his fee mainly for injuries. If he ends up like Reece has this last few seasons for instance, playing only so many games, it won’t look like a good deal. Hes talented though so lets hope it works

Not a serious injury, we will see… can’t write it off with this guy though, give it a few weeks or a few games later be another issue. Not necessarily his fault perhaps but something has got to be wrong with either what we are doing with him training/workload wise or what he is doing away from the club training/workload wise. Hamstring injuries don’t just repeatedly happen this often. Galo at RB though - excellent signing and option there. And more comfortable inverting although again, showed time and time again last season he was a real threat on the outside. Lets hope Maresca gets some balance right between him & Cucurella to give both the chance to thrive.

Even if we only clear 6-7 we will have about 30 odd players still. Club clearly not learned from the Potter situation when we had 30 odd first team players. Ok some of these guys are u21s and dont need to be registered but it is still retarded as fuck.

United looked quite neat and tidy in attacking play at times today. Few sharp one touch moves. Wonder if this has anything to do with Van Nistelrooy’s appointment as was heavily hinted at he would be hugely involved in the attacking drills. Oscar Bobb also looks like he will be the next big one to break through at City.

Not necessarily. Depends on the players attitude, circumstances etc. I understand Lukaku & Kepa 100%. Talk of Broja too perhaps banished and barred from first team facilities but falls into same category as Trevor for me, maybe a bit on the extreme side, particularly given we have 40 odd players, some who have never actually played for the club with access to these facilities and they all won’t be remaining either. Same sort of thing was also talked about with Conor when the team returned from the US tour. I get both clearly aren’t in the first teams plans but there is a way to do things. Which is probably more what is riling people up and rightfully so, no? Does put the message across though yes but Trevor was already told to remain at Cobham already as he wouldn’t be going on the US tour because he had no future here. And they were desperately trying to convince him last summer to go to Forest IIRC, like Maatsen to Burnley & Gallagher to Everton when Dyce took over. So maybe thats more of the outrage? I could get that no? Just seems like double punishment when they already made the message clear a month ago, after the writing was perhaps on the wall a year ago. I can see why people are onboard with that article. It is a matter of interpretation - and sometimes other clubs also take this approach but doesn’t mean it’s right and defos varies on a case by case basis. Very rarely do you see academy lads who have come through the ranks banished from first team facilities… at any club…. barring some severely extreme circumstances. That is the point.

Cant see how Mudryk is ever going to work in any football system for any team in a half decent division because that would actually rely on him thinking.