OneMoSalah

Suppose we will see now if Gusto is as good as people thinks he is now. Big opportunity for him - shame for Reece but not to be unexpected. Trev can step in for Gusto to give him a breather also.

Olise signing didn’t make sense as he was another right sided attacker where we already have Sterling and Noni. Not to mention Angelo. And even then its funny the change in how Olise went from a great talent to nothing because he didn’t come here…. Fickle. Would say avoid Kudus at all costs too, average. The bigging up he’s getting after one good season at Ajax. Does nobody remember how Ziyech turned out after 3 good seasons there? Or does nobody find it alarming that West Ham seem to be the only club with concrete links to him? And thats only if they sell Panqueta? Big fish small pond. Would say £30m or around/more for Hall is exceptional business too. Brennan Johnston would be a joke too.

Played much much better second half but in the first half, he was a disaster, was so clear when he got the ball that was a trigger for Liverpools press.

Not good enough to be number 1 for an elite club which is what we are aiming for. Good number 2 but so was Kepa. And we’ve seen that having a top elite GK is absolutely essential to being successful. I mean people wanted an upgrade on Kepa but Sanchez is hardly that big of one if at all, baffles me. Look at Arsenal with Ramsdale last season and now arguably again with Raya - not truly elite GKs. Liverpool before Alisson, City before Ederson.

He should of stayed at Barca. He had 2 outstanding seasons in terms of returns under Luis Enrique before leaving IIRC giving he was playing with Messi and Suarez who has outstanding years too. He would of naturally been Messi’s heir so to speak at Barcelona and really fucked up. He would of gone strength to strength and no doubt Messi would of left Barca anyway given their financial constraints so he would of naturally became the main man there. Still, Saudi’s can sign whoever they want, the league won’t be in top 5 watched this season. Still too volatile to see if this will turn out a long term success or not because there really seems to be a lack of investment in coaching and infrastructure, compared to players.

Sterling will be going nowhere for a few seasons I would think. Olise and Noni both young enough but questionable marks over both their fitnesses. I am surprised we aren’t going for a more left sided attacking player though. Sterling and Noni then Mudryk and someone for 2 wide roles would be good. I know it was only one game but felt Raheem and James were very good v combining on that right side and I’d hope that Poch builds on that to get more out of the pair of them. Plus he has shown at City under Pep, in teams with clear defined attacking patterns, he is a very good option to have so lets hope he can get in amongst the goals this season. Plus Saudi? Really I don’t think so. IIRC he wanted to move back to London specifically for his family. He doesn’t strike me as the sort of person who’s going to trade London for Saudi, or someone who’s going to have his head turned by mind blowing money given the wages he got at City and now gets here.

Here? Maybe this is the most but we’ve had a lot of foreign contingents in our squads before of 4 or 5 of the same nationalities at the one time. Had like 5 from Brazil under Jose 2nd time round - Filipe Luis, Oscar, Ramires, Diego Costa and Willian off the top of my head. As well as a lot of Portuguese and Spanish in the past. I think it’s going to be interesting to see what happens with Ugo - I think he will get loaned. Wouldn’t write out City coming in for Olise yet but as we’ve seen with the squad build and Caicedo & Lavia maybe we will beat them to him too

I hope he has the personality to not let his price tag affect him negatively if he doesn’t have the greatest start here. Thats one of the two major concerns I have, that and if he does a Cucurella. I mean hopefully neither of these are issues and he hits the ground running but its a big big big price tag for a 21 y/o who really has only got 12-18 months of high level of football under his belt. If he hits the ground running we are in for a potentially delightful long term partnership between him and Enzo though I reckon but it’ll need some work too. Both really can do a bit of everything to a certain degree so it will be interesting to see if we stick with a 2 or play a 3 or whatever (depends on Lavia/Santos as well I suppose) and how we utilise both their strengths. I don’t necessarily think Moises is a 6 although he did play there for de Zebri at times but at the same time pinning him in a more disciplined role, you lose some of the he can bring in transition and in high pressing situations, similarly to Kante when folk were adamant that he was a holding midfielder and should of been playing as the pivot in our MF 3 instead of Jorginho.

As a whole United were poor and made Wolves look pretty impressive which normally is easier said than done. Wolves outdone them and had superiority in midfield, particularly when Matheus Nunes got going. Pity Wolves didn’t have a half decent striker because they would of won the game if so. Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes is going to leave them very unbalanced based off of tonight (although still early). Not getting Rice/Caicedo/someone of that moulds going to be a mistake on their behalf, particularly in bigger games. And a good job too because having one of them types of players with Casemiro and a Mount/Fernandes, they would be a totally different proposition I think. I do think if Fernandes didn’t make the pass before the assist, United fans would be slating him as badly as Mount though, he was extremely poor and went missing. Always great to see obscure or smaller clubs in South American/European leagues getting such a huge payout from these sort of deals. And what a great way to use it. Maybe buy them for the multi club model 😂 ? Just need to get a top GK and maybe a CF sorted, if Lavia is coming in. Few loans on the outgoing side too and we will be good to go I think

Not been any links since early window though. And even before Sanchez deal seemed very very quiet, he was linked a lot more to Bayern and wouldn’t be surprised if that materialises now Kepa gone to Real. Although lot going around re Bayern reportedly wanting De Gea m? But would of thought long term move to replace Neuer be more traditional with how Bayern usually do things. Either way we need to get a move on and get a top quality GK in as Sanchez isn’t the answer. As a number 1 anyway.

Disagree. He’s made too many mistakes the last 18 months and performed pretty averagely. If he is our target for number 1 - no thanks. much better gks out there, we just loaned one to Madrid and signed one from Brighton and both of them are pretty average.

Perhaps. But with Nkunku a key component when he returns eventually, will he play off the left like in pre season at times or will we go back to 4231 and use him centrally off of the CF? I suppose it gives Poch a nice headache to have and bit of flexibility but I think Santos and Lavia are both at a stage where they need to play a decent amount of minutes to continue kicking on. Be it here or loan. Ugo also. I think its fair to say Gallagher’s safe unless we get some sort of crazy crazy offer, as he would realistically be the only real offensive minded midfielder 8 come 10 sort of player. The rest are much more closer to being 6’s or 8’s.

After the injury to Nkunku, I don’t see it. He can be used further ahead to compete with Carney who can maybe be used there but I thought that after getting Moises in the door, Gallagher higher up could of free’d up minutes for Ugo or Santos to come in for Moises in certain games.

But wouldn’t having Lavia and Santos in the squad not defeat the purpose? Both need to play minutes and both would be virtually fighting for the same role no? They are definitely going to play with Enzo or Gallagher as more defensively minded player in a pivot. So unless Santos will be loaned - which would of happened by now you’d of thought his signing wouldn’t of been a huge priority now we are getting Moises. I mean if we sign him yeah cool but I don’t think or see him playing very often if Caicedo and Enzo stays fit because Poch is going to eventually resort to a 4231 you would imagine based off of pre-season and his stints in England beforehand (although 343/352 was a nice surprise on Sunday). And Lavia still has a lot to learn, which Santos also does so if they both stay as part of the squad, wheres the minutes coming from for them both? We have no European football so thats another 8-10 games or so minimum this season. £60m that could have been used towards a GK and another ST though. I mean may happen yet but if we don’t see a loan for either of Santos or Ugochuwku sorted pretty quickly if Lavia signs, I would be concerned.

Is he really that good right now though? I get he had some good games for Southampton last season but I am still very skeptical of him and don’t think he’s even the player Liverpool need yet alone us. People are going for the potential as opposed to how he can play right now. And for £60m, when we are already getting Caicedo, have Enzo, Santos, Gallagher and the other player we signed from Rennes… wouldn’t a GK and CF not be more important and better spent? One of Lavia or Caicedo I understand yes but not the two of them. Logically it doesn’t make sense because Enzo and Caicedo will play 90% of the games they are fit for. Then everyone sat raving about Santos in pre-season. Can’t have too many players in the same position even to spite Liverpool.

So we need to get another GK in. Hopefully someone better than Sanchez but can’t see many top options being available this late in the window.

£60m for Lavia? Southampton can get fucked. Let him go to Liverpool for that, be daft to even entertain paying that after spending £115m on Caicedo.

Thought Sterling and James combinations on right hand side was brilliant at times - hopefully they can build on this and Sterling in particular I am expecting big things from him this season. Good first step. Showed plenty of fight which is the main thing for me because that was non existent last season. The goal we conceded was poor though. Sanchez also doesn’t give me confidence if I am honest. Hopefully he’s not going to be our number 1 but who knows if we will get another GK in if Kepa goes…

James poor, Diaz just runs off him. Also Gallagher has been a trainwreck whenever pressed.

Holy fuck. Never thought he’d go. Some signing for Bayern but that PL goal record is as good as gone now for Kane as 4 year deal will take him to what 34, 35? Can’t see him banging 20-30 a season in the PL at that age if he ever returned.

Why did we not try sign Lavia from minute 1 either? I get the feeling its going to be Lavia or Caicedo. Can’t see both. I don’t see us matching £110m. Has there been anything about Tyler Adams deal being reignited either? Wouldn’t be surprised if we bought him and Lavia for the £70-80m total instead of Caicedo for £110m.

In all honesty don’t know who’s done worse. Barring Fernandez and Badiashile in January this “amazing footballing department” have not exactly convinced, particularly when it comes to negotiations look at Mudryk and even Fernandez cost a lot despite being a good player - although was drawn out to fuck getting it done. Then prior to that, Boehly & Eghbali also made huge mistakes in the previous summer. Fair Nkunku & Jackson may prove to be part of the exceptions also but the last 3 windows have been absolutely ridiculous for various reasons.

Lowballing them would be ridiculously stupid though. As if the pursuit hasn’t already been. They’ve said highest bid wins, £110m was highest offered and accepted, do you think their going to accept less? Even if we are only place he wants? I mean they will try to push him to go to Liverpool for a higher fee I would think still. And even then look at what Brighton did to Robert Sanchez last season, De Zebri wont be scared to do the same I would think. I mean they know we are desperate so lowballing them would be incredibly stupid. Just leaves a further opportunity for Liverpool to try convince him or someone else to potentially enter the fray.

Honestly for £110m - far far too much - when Brightons manager has said he’s already forgotten about him, just go and get it done no pissing around if he’s the guy we want. Or just go get someone else for half the price and let him stew at Brighton meaning they lose value and probably never get the same offer again. Been far too much fucking about and wait and see we will probably try lowball the deal Liverpool agreed…. just do it or don’t. Can just see it too, if we pay £110m for him that he’s going to be absolutely bang average (hopefully not but wouldn’t be surprised now after this whole saga)

If he has doubts about Liverpool move then if we don’t agree a fee, he’s staying at Brighton for another season. This is a disaster as he was clearly plan A.