OneMoSalah

Sometimes winning when playing poorly is a good sign - obviously not fully sustainable over a prolonged period. Did say in another thread re Nunez as he was linked with us, he is the sort of guy who when it all clicks, will score a big big amount of goals. He gets in the positions - just being clinical. Liverpool’s attack will no doubt get them points in games like these, they have too much quality not to. Diaz, Salah, Nunez, Gapko & Jota. Throw in service from guys like Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and even Thiago who are more than creative enough in midfield to open the game up for them and TAA/Robertson as fullbacks - they are always going to get chances. Its just defensively they might be a bit exposed, Newcastle had 2 big chances, Almiron hitting the post and that volley that Alisson saves which really was world class. That is what the likes of him, Ederson, Courtois, Oblak, even ter Stegen do. Big big saves. But again, Newcastle’s goal comes from a mistake. Not actual quality although they press high. BTW Villa look excellent under Emery. Yes Newcastle beat them but they still played well there. Would say so far, John McGinn and the guy Diaby on the wing have been outstanding for them.

Yeah we already have some of our loan slots for over 21s used. We can only loan a couple more IIRC. Loaning Cucurella to a direct rival for top 4 and Lukaku to Roma would be stupid, or for me anyway. Sell Lukaku straight up or keep him with the u21s/force him to take a move to Saudi - Roma links are there but they are already haggling on a loan fee and don’t want any obligations/options - and then keep Cucurella this season as Hall’s gone, wee how he does and reassess his situation in the summer.

Pulisic could score 20-25 goals for Milan this season and still, it wouldn’t convince anyone that we made a mistake selling him. Spent 4 years here and played good in maybe 10-12 games. Had nearly 150 appearances here. Serie A will suit him down to the ground, bit slower, teams stand off each other.

Not overly sure it would work the same though. And boost morale? Hardly a travesty where we are needing to take in someone who lets be honest, is extremely unfit and arguably washed up on sentimental grounds because “he is great to have around the place”. I mean not to sound Roy Keane re the whole Jordan Henderson thing when he wasn’t fit but selected for the World Cup or Euro squad a few years ago…. if he’s not going to be able to play what does he bring? Drogba was also overused in 14/15 as Costa had continually struggled with niggling fitness issues that season and even at times for Atletico the previous season but am kind of glad DD was there as he was an old head, had experience to lead the line as a lone front man and was a real leader - somebody Mourinho could trust to do a job. Not sure we could rely on Eden in that same way - particularly as physically the way he is, his game has always been reliant on things like speed, agility, sharp changes of direction etc and it looks like his body has broken down. Lack of European clubs trying to sign him says it all

Connor’s not going to be playing as a 6 though… he maybe played there v Liverpool but not since, so what does that have to do with Santos who by the looks of it, is an actual 6? Or did people want us to play with Caicedo, Santos and Enzo? With basically little to no creativity or goal threat? Same with Lavia, Caicedo and Enzo? Who’s going to pop up with a goal from midfield? Gallagher more likely than any of those 3 if I’m honest, was a big reason why his loan spell at Palace went well. Granted when Nkunku comes back if he plays in the hole maybe we will go 4231 and see a more disciplined 2 in front of the defence but doesn’t look likely at the moment.

Sterling outstanding. Can’t believe folk wanted to sell him. Shows how much they know. He is good at getting in the box and has to do so often, his second is exactly the sort of goal he scored say around 10 of a season in Pep’s Man City teams. Some of the attacking patterns and sequences that free him up to get into these positions are good, he is also capable of going wider and creating (via a deflection fair enough) but still. Promising. When Nkunku comes back into the fold the pair of him and Sterling firing regularly will soften the blow if Nico takes some time, as even though again he was good tonight, you can see he will have spells where he blows hot and cold. But positive signs tonight albeit only Luton. Still some things to improve, I think physically teams are going to look to try and pin Levi at times as Luton tried and West Ham did at times so we have to try stop the opposition getting the opportunity to make some of these longer diagonals/deep passes.

And then end up in the same situation again in the summer? Then eventually end up terminating his contract or lose him on a free? Not like we are desperate for £10m after the summer we've just had outgoings wise. Plus the message has always been straight sale - no loans. All summer, even to Inter who thought they could wrangle a deal because he was there the season before. Why do you think Barca/PSG/Roma are only wanting to do a loan move? It’s all loans without obligations/options going off of what is circulating. Thats no use. Option to buy is basically just a gimmick - look at Bakayoko at Milan & Napoli, they suckered us in with this “option” only to not sign him - pretty sure Milan did it twice actually. We did it to Atletico with Saul & Juve with Zakaria effectively. A straight up sale even for £20-25m would be perfect. Not like we need the cash and he’s one of the last players on these premium Abramovich contracts. Personally I’d let him rot with the u21s - fuck him. He had the options to go to Inter, Saudi and now Juve which he blew up himself. We shouldn’t be looking to loan him out because he fucked up/rejected moves. And the likelihood is any loan to Italy will resort in these clubs haggling to reduce the price like Inter did.

Don’t loan him. Why have a stance of we won’t loan him all summer, only to eventually loan him? To Roma/PSG/Barca of all teams - not one of them done us any favours. Although would be typical of this ownership to go back on their word and do something as soft as that. We’ve become soft on and off the pitch. Let him rot with the u21s to someone buys him. Put him in his place. Fuck him.

I wish he would do something. Maybe give us more a chance of selling him in a year or two because he isn’t going to be here long term, I think that much is clear already in his short time at the club.

They should all be like that though.

Why? Gallagher is a totally different type of player all together, much more offensive minded midfielder. Plays higher up. We can’t have 3 or 4 much more defensively minded midfielders in the squad, it would just be ridiculous as 1) they won’t all play and 2) no real creativity or attacking input. Yes Gallagher hasn’t exactly impressed hugely but I think having him around and not Santos, it actually makes perfect sense. Santos is probably too similar to the likes of a Caicedo or Lavia in terms of being seen as more defensively minded so keeping him around would be pointless if isn’t going to play at all. Plus we have Ugo as well. Its actually a pretty smart loan move - if he plays.

Goes to Saudi but a month ago when we were linked to him he was a top player….

I suppose we will see how Barcola does if he goes to PSG/stays where he is and Kudus if he goes to WHU. Really don’t fancy either making a huge impact this season to the point where we would be wishing we had signed them. I mean Dutch league attackers are a huge risk full stop because the quality of the Dutch league is bad, guys like Ziyech, Bergjwin and even on a lesser scale el Ghazi didn’t particularly do well up the PL. Neither did Depay years ago - took a move to France for him to kick on. Cody Gapko (would say he’s got more tools to be a pretty good player) and Antony (one trick pony still) may come good yet but nobody can tell me either are totally convincing either. All been good in Holland but hard to use that as a reason as to why we should sign them. Dusan Tadic outstanding in Holland (second time round) but only had 1 good season in the PL when he went there then faded away until he went there. He was available on a free and has ridiculous stats for Ajax but was no links or shouting about him… Has to be the right player yes but no more gambling on could turn into a good player, we really need to be smart and get a few guys who are already a good, established players that fit the direction we are going. Yes they are harder to find but what is the point in this “world class footballing department” Boehly has instilled if they cannot find a few guys who can contribute hugely right now and bridge what provide what we need to these younger guys push on?

Barcola and Kudus won’t do anything to make us any better for us this season and arguably the next 2 or 3 seasons - why do people want them so badly? 😂 Plus Barcola apparently only wants PSG - so let them have him. He won’t play there regardless. Kudus - typical Ajax player, not a special talent like MdL or FdJ, wouldn’t be surprised if he struggles outside of their system to recreate the numbers he got last season. Also the Dutch league, the standard is ridiculously bad - I don’t think this can be emphasised highly enough. I watched Rangers-PSV the other night and PSV, who finished second above Ajax last season, looked pretty poor. Was no real quality from both sides - incredibly scrappy game. This makes me wonder about Noni and also the hard on folk had for signing that Sangare. He was pretty bad against Rangers - Scottish football is very easily dismissed but the Dutch league is also overrated too. It is a poor standard. Every team tries to play the same way because they are Dutch and this incredible the Dutch way is “total football”…. so when you put the likes of Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord against teams with a fraction of the budget who try to play the same way, what do folk expect?

I think they’ve accepted like £35m upfront plus £2-3 mil add ons.

Not even that. Look at how much the pressure began to mount on TT after 3 or 4 bad results. The scrutiny will get up with Poch if we don’t start getting points on the board. Even Potter and Lampard seen a build up of scrutiny not getting points on the board. For a club wanting to change our ways from the Roman Abramovich model - we’ve very much seen the same as before. Likes of 3, 4 or 5 iffy results turns into a crisis. Throw in spending £1bn since Todd came in, arguably could be even more scrutiny from outside (media, pundits, other managers, fans etc).

Must win. I mean lets be honest, anything but a win here and it would be an absolute travesty. I mean these are everyone’s nailed on first choice team to get relegated. Bet they win 1-0 after claiming this but honestly if a £1 billion squad cannot get 3 points here we might as well give up - forget project 2030, we wont be any use by then either 😂 No wins in 3 when 2 of the games have been against West Ham and Luton would be an incredibly disappointing start. I mean granted there has been encouraging moments but encouraging moments need to turn into good performances and ultimately points.

So apparently the price will be higher for us as opposed to Monaco. But the whole selling to rival in same league etc. What I don’t get is why Arteta isn’t keeping him ahead of Nketiah who is a worse player….

Not 100% sure what you mean about a dedicated striker…I mean no top team plays to suit one specific player these days or has done for years. That doesn’t mean teams don’t play with more traditional number 9s as opposed to these false 9’s and what not. I mean even City don’t play directly to Haaland’s strengths in the same way Dortmund may have but they have their own identity and its been incredibly successful. There as so many moments where he isn’t involved as much as say a KdB, a Silva, a Foden, a Rodri etc who are perfect examples of Pep Guardiola players so don’t know what you mean by hinting at Haaland demanding their team plays to his strengths.

Disagree, most top teams play with a CF. Not many play without. Or not many will. City before Haaland had Aguero & Jesus as options barring that one good season they played without a recognised CF but they also wanted to sign Kane and Kane only that summer. Funnily enough the one season they win the Treble after all the years of talk of could they do the Trebles and Quadruples, it was when they had Haaland, one of the most natural number 9s they’ve had

Apparently “insiders” at the club are disappointed he was allowed to leave whilst other disappointing signings remain at the club….

Yes because we need another unproven, inexperienced, development style project player to go with the 13, 14, 15 others we have. Will we just enter the u23s league and win that every season?

Then the next arguments what about post lockdown for 10 games…. Pulisic might do ok for Milan but wouldn’t expect him to go and kick on to another level. Or take Milan to another level. He could have been better if he was aboe to manage his fitness and more consistent in his play but he blows hold and cold too much and is never ever fully fit.

Theres no doubt a new attacker is needed. But proven quality, be it someone to play as a 9 or more withdrawn as a left winger or an attacking midfielder as Nkunku’s out. No more one hit wonders or projects like Kudus, Chekri, Barcola, whoever. We need players who can score goals and assist them regularly this season, not in 2026 or 2030 or whatever. We have enough projects in attack - Jackson, Broja, Noni, Mudryk. Only Nkunku and Sterling are really proven at a competitive level in our attack, add another player with that experience and pedigree and we may have something to work with. Sterling has certainly looked a totally different player these first 2 games. Nkunku looked good pre-season. Carney has impressed with Poch and may have something to offer this season. If we got a good left sided attacker, Carney could be Nkunku’s direct competition perhaps? Lets see how he comes back from his injury. Would say he’s done much much more than Mudryk has in a Chelsea shirt. I mean there is nothing there with Mudryk that makes me think he will ever be worth half of what we’ve paid never mind all of it. A £80m + package for someone with 40 games in his whole career, in Ukraine, definitely looking to be a much more embarrassing deal than us paying £50m for a shot Torres in 2011. He would maybe make a good olympic sprinter.

Is this clown still here? Just shows good highly rated he is, Juventus only if they sell or Saudi.