kc_blue

Let's hope obligatory situation doesn't happen. On to midfield.

Ugh. Not Everton.

If we are really going after Lozano I think that shows the club are doing what they should be doing, planning for life after Hazard. I think it was Sarri who said earlier that Eden needed to make up his mind or it might be made up for him. If they complete this signing I that's exactly what has happened.

Neither of those two examples are homegrown talent. That needs to be taken into account as well.

All this misses the really big point. Callum is homegrown and been with the club for over 10 years. Thorgan doesn't replace this. CHO breaking into the first team helps instill confidence in our academy players that it is possible to make it into the first team.

I thought he was at least 40m?

I don't disagree with this statement at all. Unfortunately we have the scouts and the board that we have. We also play in England and everyone knows the English teams have lots of money and prices go up accordingly. I'd love to see us be able to get deals done at those kind of prices but at the moment it's just not happening. Since we aren't able to do that kind of business 35m isn't going to be much for us. It won't get us the quality we need or want and more importantly it won't help us with our homegrown issues.

This is why we need Hazard to make a decision one way or the other.

Hope we go back in for him this summer.

Doesn't matter how many aged 18 players have transferred for that amount. We won't be looking to buy an 18 year old with the money from him. That amount of money won't buy you a starting quality replacement and that's what we'd be looking for and that's what you are telling him he is going to be for you. Put your money where your mouth is, you being Bayern, and make us an offer we can't refuse. Either that or get used to seeing him from afar for at least a couple more months.

I think it's more likely to be down to the board and Raiola rather then the number of wingers we have. Especially since we could very easily be down to just 3 by June.

That's kind of how I'm reading the situation as well. I think they think he'll come whenever they bid on him so why rush it. See if they can get their primary targets first and then come in for him late if they still feel they need him at that point.

Wow. Transfer season definitely is silly season.

I don't know. I think it'll still hurt. I don't think it's the end of the world and in some ways we may be better off if he goes but I have to admit, I want him to stay. He's got to make a decision though.

Understood and agreed on the integration part. Guess we'll see how it all plays out.

Wow. Those pictures make me feel old now.

Yes. But Bayern seem to be wanting this deal done in January. At the moment you still have Ribbery and Robben. Not sure of injury status of your players but Coman and Gnabry as well. Plus Davies. And then next season you take out Ribbery and Robben but undoubtedly add others to the mix as well. I just don't see the need for a rush deal on your end.

No disrespect meant. On another note, if he's going to take the world by storm soon, what's the rush to sign CHO?

With the signing of the kid from MLS, the CHO story, and this, it certainly looks likely.

Yeah. Still think we should sign him and loan him back for the rest of the season. Maybe the board thinks they can just go back in for him in the summer. Think we'll have more competition then though.

That's unfortunate. Just when he was making some headway too.

Obviously play time is a factor. I don't think anything is clear in this case though. I'm not a mind reader though and so far I have yet to see anything reported that has actual quotes. All I've seen are reports out of Germany, possible agenda there, When's the last time Bayern, or anyone for that matter, have come in hard for a just turned 18 year old? We have a Bayern supporter telling us this bid is almost a record bid for them. All this seems odd to me so I look at possible scenarios that might make sense out of it. Of course money and playing time are factors, less so seems to be the fact he's recently turned 18 and breaking into the first team at the club he's been at for the past 10 years. Maybe he doesn't really care much for the club but I also find that hard to believe as well. Agents and advisors stirring the pot does make sense. Does that mean there's nothing to this or that he won't end up signing for Bayern or some other team in the future? No, it doesn't. I just think we all seem pretty quick to jump on this story and take it at face value without really thinking about what's behind it. Who knows, I'm probably full of it.

6 months is ideal but 18 months works if we don't buy him. Still a lot of wages to be paid but not nearly as bad as buying him. 18 months I guess gives us a bit of cushion to work on someone this summer.

Our forwards need to move and create space. Not sure there's much we can do for the rest of this season, it just doesn't seem like our front three are comfortable playing that way. They seem to like the ball into their feet and then to hold onto it.

We seem, as a fanbase to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde. At the start of the season it was going to turn out like AVB and Scolari and then when we get solid defensively now we're boring. The play hasn't been what I like to watch lately but we're still on course for what we were looking for before the season started. I hope the board can make another signing or two this window and we can consolidate our position and then try to move forward in the summer. It will likely still be another 2 or 3 transfer windows to clear our players who don't fit and get better in, but next season should be much better to watch.