Álvaro Morata

[Unionjack 7,531]

12 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Conte's cock-up with Costa looks worse with each passing week, month, year.

Diego would score 30 in Sarriball, and put some steel into the middle.

At this point I am all for either recalling Bats and giving him a full half season try, loaning Morata to Derby (not joking) and seeing if Lamps can get his confidence back, and maybe get promoted so Mount gets EPL experience, plus making a move for Anthony Modeste, who is in China, only 30 (so a good 2, 3 year stop-gap) would be very affordable,  and scored 34 goals (25 in Bundesliga league games) for a pretty shit (now relegated after he left) Köln team in 43 games all comps in 2016-17.

Mate what did you expect Conte to do? OK The way he went about it by text was wrong but if the mardy arsed manchild was throwing tantrums and camped out on Athleticos doorstep with a begging bold in hand - basically much worse than whatever T'Boa did - and didn't come back. Then Conte had a mloomin right to sack his arse.

If he was some Morata type everyone now would be raging at Diego more than we are at T'Boa but because he scored a few we treat him different!

I loved the guy but when someone acts like he did its just out of order.

The board should have jumped in on Contes side straight away and the whole Player Power shit wouldn't have happened

[Vesper 28,787]

3 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

Mate what did you expect Conte to do? OK The way he went about it by text was wrong but if the mardy arsed manchild was throwing tantrums and camped out on Athleticos doorstep with a begging bold in hand - basically much worse than whatever T'Boa did - and didn't come back. Then Conte had a mloomin right to sack his arse.

If he was some Morata type everyone now would be raging at Diego more than we are at T'Boa but because he scored a few we treat him different!

I loved the guy but when someone acts like he did its just out of order.

The board should have jumped in on Contes side straight away and the whole Player Power shit wouldn't have happened

The text kicked it all off.

[Unionjack 7,531]

2 minutes ago, Vesper said:

The text kicked it all off.

He threw all his toys out of his pram before that tho.

He was a proper Diva.

And we forget that  he went for many games without scoring, Peeps on here were wanting his blood.. All that gets forgotten

[Unionjack 7,531]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

Conte shouting at him in January kicked it off tbh. If Costa was misbehaving, this is where your player management skills comes in. Conte obviously lacks this against big players.

What big players?

Like Willian and Luiz throwing hissy fits for being benched and moaning cause their mate wasn;t there?

[Unionjack 7,531]

1 minute ago, Mana said:

Willian and Luiz aren't big players.

But still, it was more than that. It's obvious that Conte had a bust up behind the scenes with those two. Other players were fine with Conte (except Hazard who didn't like his tactics).

It was basically Luiz I think. He started off getting injured but it didn't seem to get better. We never know whether that was Luiz pulling a quick one trying to be funny because of his mate Diego getting stroppy or if it was Conte and a clash of characters.

Then of course Luizs best mate Willian wasn't getting time cause Pedrp was starter and you can just imagine the comversations those 2 had 0 in the dressing room And that type of mood is catching isn't it.

I can only remember Dave coming down on Contes side. They all moaned about too much training from Day 1.

It was probably difficult having another tough manager after Mou

And now cause Sarri is softer on them they love him

I know managers shouldn't have favorites and not get emotional but it myst be hard dealing with some players and their egos. Specially hot blooded passionate managers. You stick a player with that same mentality up against him and bet theres fireworks

Just like Mou and Pogba now lol Light the blue touch paper and stand well back!

[Vesper 28,787]

2 hours ago, Unionjack said:

Just like Mou and Pogba now lol Light the blue touch paper and stand well back!

[Vesper 28,787]

All else aside, IF we don't sell his arse and get a REAL striker, we are fucked in so many crucial moments. No, Giroud is not the answer, that is patently ridiculous, as we do NOT have any real goal scorers other than Hazard and a sometimes-playing Pedro. Alonso cannot carry the scoring load, that is crazy to rely on a left back to pick up slack.

Our striker situ is a genuine shitshow.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

2 hours ago, Vesper said:

All else aside, IF we don't sell his arse and get a REAL striker, we are fucked in so many crucial moments. No, Giroud is not the answer, that is patently ridiculous, as we do NOT have any real goal scorers other than Hazard and a sometimes-playing Pedro. Alonso cannot carry the scoring load, that is crazy to rely on a left back to pick up slack.

Our striker situ is a genuine shitshow.

I really thought he was going to come good this season.  20-odd goals type of good.  Sarri has turned Dries Mertens in to an accomplished striker, and Higuain in to a 100M striker.  I wish we could have seen Bats play, but he's currently getting more match time than he would get here, so....

Right now, every match looks worse than the previous.

What's kind of messed up is that (according to Transfermarkt) we have 2 of the 20 most valuable CF right now (okay, 11 and 19), and we have a bit of a dilemma:  https://footballia.net/matches/ssc-napoli-fc-internazionale-serie-a

There really aren't a lot of good strikers out there.  Now, I know that this isn't a ranking, it's based on transfer value, so age and contract length play a huge role.  

Where does Timo Werner sit with you?  I've only seen him play for Germany.

I'd kind of like to see us test out a   Willian - Hazard - Pedro front line.  Willian gets to play in his best spot out on the left.  Hazard can free roam and drop deep as he likes to do.  Long term, we need a striker, and as it sits now, I'd be shocked if we didn't have a new one next summer.  Don't know what kind of quality will be available in January. 

[Thor 2,392]

Lacazette would be perfect here IMO. Martial as well. 

Need a silky smooth operator with the ball at his feet. I think Michy to an extent could prove to offer something. Really would have liked to see him at least try here, but Giroud gives you consistency, and Morata is the big market buy so he never really had a shot to get a go here I guess.

[Vesper 28,787]

1 minute ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

I really thought he was going to come good this season.  20-odd goals type of good.  Sarri has turned Dries Mertens in to an accomplished striker, and Higuain in to a 100M striker.  I wish we could have seen Bats play, but he's currently getting more match time than he would get here, so....

Right now, every match looks worse than the previous.

What's kind of messed up is that (according to Transfermarkt) we have 2 of the 20 most valuable CF right now (okay, 11 and 19), and we have a bit of a dilemma:  https://footballia.net/matches/ssc-napoli-fc-internazionale-serie-a

There really aren't a lot of good strikers out there.  Now, I know that this isn't a ranking, it's based on transfer value, so age and contract length play a huge role.  

Where does Timo Werner sit with you?  I've only seen him play for Germany.

I'd kind of like to see us test out a   Willian - Hazard - Pedro front line.  Willian gets to play in his best spot out on the left.  Hazard can free roam and drop deep as he likes to do.  Long term, we need a striker, and as it sits now, I'd be shocked if we didn't have a new one next summer.  Don't know what kind of quality will be available in January. 

Werner is one of the 2nd tier of options, I need to see him step up and do it big this year. Huge problem with him is IF he really explodes, Bayern will hop on him. He also will not come cheap, say £70m plus, so a really big money gamble.

There are so few GREAT options left for us

all of the following have their issues, some have multiple

Bats - we could recall him, not sure if it worth the hassle, and Valencia will be PISSED

 

so

the real ones................

 

Paulo Dybala (will cost around £130 to £150m) So much dependson ifhewansttoleave Juveover playing time.I really want him, but our board will never pay his price I fear.

 

Mauro Icardi    but we blew it by not hitting his £98m (for first 2 weeks in July 2018 release clause) (it goes up each year, and zero chance Inter sell him in January, probably not in summer 2019 either, plus RM and Barca, etc are sniffing around)

 

Martial   another cockup with the failed Willian plus cash swap, might, MIGHT have a shot if Mo is still manager (looking grim for him, ZZ hire and forget Martial, he will renew in a flash), but we all are projecting him as a striker (I think rightly so) but zero signs our board or Sarri see him as a 9

 

Krzysztof Piatek, has exploded so far, a monster goal machine, Juve now want him, the greedy cunts, we will cost less than all others on here but again, not proven, regardless of massive start and Barca REALLY want him too, I think we would have to guarantee him a starting position, which is NO problem, lolol

I am leaning towards him overall, IF we don't try for BY FAR the only two superstars, Dybala and Icardi (which we damn well fucking should do! Fucking board sucks)

 

then

 

Ciro Immobile, who turns 30 in February 2020 (so maybe a long term contract issue), and if Lazio loses SMS next summer, zero chance they also let Ciro go in same window and even less than zero in ´January window, he is their captain, he doesn't want to leave

 

Timo Werner (still not sure if he is the real deal, massively expensive gamble and if Werner shows huge this year, Bayern will grab him)

 

Andrea Belotti (se Werner, and he had a shit year last year)

 

 

Then some speculative ones

 

Robert Lewandowski    way too expensive for his age last window, BUT his contract is up in 2021, so maybe Bayern come down a bit, plus he wants a 5 year deal, so that means we have him until 35yo, arrrf

Lautaro Martínez (Inter, and they JUST signed him, even less of chance than Immobile or Icardi IMHO)

Patrick Cutrone (again, so not proven, massive gamble and will Milan even remotely want to sell?, no)

Giovanni Simeone - Fiorentina looks to be a solid player, but not setting the league on fire, he is a backup type for me, and Fiorentina arecunts to deal with (see Salah nighmare)

Maximiliano Gómez - Celta Vigo  I have issues with hisoverweightweight body, others think he is great, he is the same for me as Simeone, flip a coin! lolol

 

then there are stopgap measures

 

Anthony Modeste, 30yo, in China cashing in, sign him for 2 years. In 2016-17 he was an absolute BEAST for Köln (who got relegated as soon as he left), 34 goals in 43 games, all comps, ands 25 of those were Bundesliga league goals

 

Edin Dzeko Roma, 33 in March though so at mosat (if a January buy) I would give is until June 2021, his contract is up in June 2020, so we could get him on a free in summer, but that doesn't help us this year

 

Edinson Cavani  BY FAR the best of the 30 somethings, I would love to see him here for a year and half or 2 and half whilst we sort it out long term out long term, big issue is PSG will NOT sell him cheaply, even at 32yo (which he turns in February)

Bas Dost of Sporting  turns 30 in May, scores a shit tonne ( 71 goals in last 2 years, all comps) in Liga NOS, is a giant, 1.96m

 

 

Finally the truly INSANE play

 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

He can still score like a motherfucker, he is certainly capable of playing with us until at least end of 2021

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

2 hours ago, Vesper said:

Werner is one of the 2nd tier of options, I need to see him step up and do it big this year. Huge problem with him is IF he really explodes, Bayern will hop on him. He also will not come cheap, say £70m plus, so a really big money gamble.

There are so few GREAT options left for us

all of the following have their issues, some have multiple

Bats - we could recall him, not sure if it worth the hassle, and Valencia will be PISSED

 

so

the real ones................

 

Paulo Dybala (will cost around £130 to £150m) So much dependson ifhewansttoleave Juveover playing time.I really want him, but our board will never pay his price I fear.

 

Mauro Icardi    but we blew it by not hitting his £98m (for first 2 weeks in July 2018 release clause) (it goes up each year, and zero chance Inter sell him in January, probably not in summer 2019 either, plus RM and Barca, etc are sniffing around)

 

Martial   another cockup with the failed Willian plus cash swap, might, MIGHT have a shot if Mo is still manager (looking grim for him, ZZ hire and forget Martial, he will renew in a flash), but we all are projecting him as a striker (I think rightly so) but zero signs our board or Sarri see him as a 9

 

Krzysztof Piatek, has exploded so far, a monster goal machine, Juve now want him, the greedy cunts, we will cost less than all others on here but again, not proven, regardless of massive start and Barca REALLY want him too, I think we would have to guarantee him a starting position, which is NO problem, lolol

I am leaning towards him overall, IF we don't try for BY FAR the only two superstars, Dybala and Icardi (which we damn well fucking should do! Fucking board sucks)

 

then

 

Ciro Immobile, who turns 30 in February 2020 (so maybe a long term contract issue), and if Lazio loses SMS next summer, zero chance they also let Ciro go in same window and even less than zero in ´January window, he is their captain, he doesn't want to leave

 

Timo Werner (still not sure if he is the real deal, massively expensive gamble and if Werner shows huge this year, Bayern will grab him)

 

Andrea Belotti (se Werner, and he had a shit year last year)

 

 

Then some speculative ones

 

Robert Lewandowski    way too expensive for his age last window, BUT his contract is up in 2021, so maybe Bayern come down a bit, plus he wants a 5 year deal, so that means we have him until 35yo, arrrf

Lautaro Martínez (Inter, and they JUST signed him, even less of chance than Immobile or Icardi IMHO)

Patrick Cutrone (again, so not proven, massive gamble and will Milan even remotely want to sell?, no)

Giovanni Simeone - Fiorentina looks to be a solid player, but not setting the league on fire, he is a backup type for me, and Fiorentina arecunts to deal with (see Salah nighmare)

Maximiliano Gómez - Celta Vigo  I have issues with hisoverweightweight body, others think he is great, he is the same for me as Simeone, flip a coin! lolol

 

then there are stopgap measures

 

Anthony Modeste, 30yo, in China cashing in, sign him for 2 years. In 2016-17 he was an absolute BEAST for Köln (who got relegated as soon as he left), 34 goals in 43 games, all comps, ands 25 of those were Bundesliga league goals

 

Edin Dzeko Roma, 33 in March though so at mosat (if a January buy) I would give is until June 2021, his contract is up in June 2020, so we could get him on a free in summer, but that doesn't help us this year

 

Edinson Cavani  BY FAR the best of the 30 somethings, I would love to see him here for a year and half or 2 and half whilst we sort it out long term out long term, big issue is PSG will NOT sell him cheaply, even at 32yo (which he turns in February)

Bas Dost of Sporting  turns 30 in May, scores a shit tonne ( 71 goals in last 2 years, all comps) in Liga NOS, is a giant, 1.96m

 

 

Finally the truly INSANE play

 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

He can still score like a motherfucker, he is certainly capable of playing with us until at least end of 2021

This is what I mean when I talk about the lack of strikers.  Dybala and Icardi are the only sure things, everyone else is a gamble.  Dybala won't happen.  No way.  What can we offer him?  He's got it all at Juve.  

It has to be Icardi.  You can pay 100M for him, or 70 for Werner, or 50 for a younger gamble.  

Either way, I can't see us doing anything in January for that position.  I doubt we'd recall Bats to sit on the bench.  Since it will be near impossible to get a top striker in January, Morata is ours for the rest of the season.  

[Vesper 28,787]

3 minutes ago, Mana said:

Yeah. No one can defend this now. Torres 2.0 confirmed.

Torres negative 2.0

[whats happening 1,525]

i'd put alonso as a forward and emerson staying on lb. there is no way that alonso would be worse than this guy.

torres was romario compared to him.

[robsblubot 3,502]

A striker’s goal. 

Hopefully his confidence is improved bc giroud does not seem more likely to score when he plays.

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Robguima said:

A striker’s goal. 

Hopefully his confidence is improved bc giroud does not seem more likely to score when he plays.

He scored that good goal against Arsenal and look what has happened since...nothing! Let's face it, he's crap and there's more chance of United getting relegated than Morata going on a goalscoring run!

[Vybzkartel 284]

1 hour ago, whats happening said:

i'd put alonso as a forward and emerson staying on lb. there is no way that alonso would be worse than this guy.

torres was romario compared to him.

Emerson looked clumsy today. I see why Sarri rates Alonso over him 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

2 minutes ago, Vybzkartel said:

Emerson looked clumsy today. I see why Sarri rates Alonso over him 

With run of games, Emerson would definately improve alot. 

He was better than Alonso in italy by quitr a bit when both played week in week out.

The ONLY reason why Alonso is playing in first 11 is his goal scoring ability which cant be underestimated. Kind of a character too, so I like him. But he is slow as feck and thats the big issue because there is highway behind him and he never manages to run at same pace as Eden or Willian when we attack which clearly shows how one dimensional our attacks are sometimes. Alonso can score indeed, but when it comes to actual offensive play, both Alonso and Azpi are average at best. 

[robsblubot 3,502]

23 hours ago, Jason said:

He scored that good goal against Arsenal and look what has happened since...nothing! Let's face it, he's crap and there's more chance of United getting relegated than Morata going on a goalscoring run!

Yeah not expecting a goal scoring run from him. Not the type... more like a decent number of goals plus better linkup play.

point being that giroud does not seem any better and looks pretty well past his prime.

On Emerson, 99.9% of all LBs on earth have quite a lot of pace (more than alonso). The vast majority of them will never, and should never play for a top club, despite them being very pacey. e.g. Bertrand. A minority of these pacey ones do play for a top club, and again, the majority of them aren't better than Alonso. Really can't understand this obsession with pace... The most important thing in football is knowing how to play football... sounds obvious when I write it, but some folks seem to forget.