Sideshow Luiz

We know who to thank. Lol Ha. Thank god that Courtois doesn't have to track back, or he'd be gone too,

That's what I was saying. We sell them without giving them a change to deliver here. Gotcha. Agreed. We had a couple of good years where we bought some great young talent. Only ones that got a real shot were Oscar and Courtois.

The scenario that makes the most sense is: Ox comes to us. We need him, Arsenal have Bellerin already. + VVD goes to Arsenal. Their defence is terrible (again) and Southampton settle their stand off with VVD without selling him to Liverpool.

Unfortunately, they go on big money moves from the club we sell to. Not us.

I'd so much rather have him for 40M-ish than Drinkwater.

Ha. Yeah, I check this when I have my morning coffee. Not only is there never any news, but the names on the page aren't even interesting.

If we still sell him to Atletico, he won't be able to play until January, after the group stage is over.

I wouldn't be that mad, myself (and I wanted to keep Nate). Nate wanted to leave to get regular first team football. However, I doubt this will happen because it seems like Llorente would only leave Madrid because he wanted to play more. Of course, we don't have Modric, Casimiero, Kroos, Kovacic, Isco in our midfield.

Saw a report yesterday that we had enquired (statement of the summer). Apparently, a number of teams have asked about him. Didn't know anything about him. Looks very good (on YouTube)

Barca were always going to be screwed. Lost Neymar and everyone knew they needed a replacement and had money. Now's the time to raid La Liga where the release clauses aren't stupid money any more.

I thought that we were linked with hm last summer too, anyone else remember that?

needed more in matches like this

When I watched Italy during the Euros last summer, it seemed like Conte always put a defender on one wing, and an attacker on the other to fill in the wing back spots. The fact is, we need back-ups at both positions. Whether that means getting anyone better in (which is ideal), or just get bodies in to rotate (at least), we'll see.

I think he's come in and play RWB. Conte has used him there for Italy.

Okay. The board have been slow all summer, and have still not patched the holes in the squad. However, some of the fees, both in and out have been excellent.

Anyone else think that Azpi could be Kante's partner in midfield against Spurs? Rudiger, Luiz, AC at the back. Dave and Kante in the middle.

These names get more uninspiring as the weeks go by: Sandro, Ox, Drinkwater, Soares. Tom Cleverly on deadline day?

Just keep fining him his week's wages. If he wants to get paid again, he can move to wherever we sell him. As I keep saying, if he wants to go back to Madrid so badly, he should drop his wage demands so that Atletico can increase his transfer fee (and match our valuation). No issues.

I've totally been in favour of this move, but, I can see where there's a hang up. He's apparently after 150K/week http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/15/alex-oxlade-chamberlain-wants-150000-a-week-to-stay-at-arsenal-amid-chelsea-transfer-links-6853944/ I'm not sure how much that affects the dynamics in the team when he would be making more than Willian, Kante, Luiz, etc. Basically, 3rd, after Hazard, Costa and Courtois http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/15/alex-oxlade-chamberlain-wants-150000-a-week-to-stay-at-arsenal-amid-chelsea-transfer-links-6853944/

Agreed. It's clear that he's not fussed to leave. He hasn't handed in a transfer request or made any noise whatsoever. Should have probably moved on a few weeks ago.

Agreed. Stones, Koulibaly and now Sandro, it's not that we didn't try. It's that we kept on going even when it was clear that it wasn't going to happen to the detriment of getting anyone else in. plan B for Stones was Djilobodji. Which is what happens when you beat your head against the wall for 2 months then focus somewhere else at the last minute.

Adding Ox and Roberto would be massive for us, I think. I believe that our "4th" midfielder will play a lot this season. Having another box to box mid will allow us to not have to play Bakayoko and Kante 3 times in a week (when CL rolls around).

Unless we started the medical 2 weeks ago, there's no way anyone is coming in to play vs. Tottenhahm