The College Dropout

The amortisation for both is no more than £11m. Salary we won't know for sure.

A fair amount will depend on bonuses. Salary will be 5m-7m - but CL, 20+ goals etc. might be worth £1-5m - who knows

That guy is Gold tier as an FPL source.

Yeh but these are all footballers. Like being fast and strong is a talent in tennis. It's not a technical talent but a talent nonetheless that helps with the game. When Bale ran off the pitch to run around that Barcelona player and scored - that was a goal that was only possible due to his insane physical talent. The overhead kick was still a display of talent but a different type. As are the freekicks he's scored. All a combination of incredible physical, technical, mental talents. I get it - in football we revere technical talents the most. Those are what I call "ballers". That Monaco winger looks a baller, Kudus is a baller. Elanga isn't. Doesn't mean they are not talented footballers.

All are talents that are honed. That ability to do tricks - mentally and physically - is a talent. Dancing is a talent. Running fast is a talent. Being strong is a talent.

I'm surprised that people consider talent - learned. It's the opposite to me. Another definition: the natural endowments of a person I think Gordon and Elanga have limited technical talents. I don't see great natural ability in them.

talent /ˈtalənt/ noun 1. natural aptitude or skill. Talents are natural skills or aptitude. Athleticism is a primary talent. I think the players are as technically talented as ever. It's just the tactics are more structured and defenders are more physically gifted. Zidane was 6'2, strong as fuck and deceptively fast for example. Tactics in his day were largely - give him the ball and do what it do. He didn't have to track back, mark anyone, press anyone. Just focus on balling out.

Do people think athleticism is a talent? I do. But a lot of people almost don’t. Size, power, agility, balance, strength, speed, engine etc. all talents. I agree about Elanga vs Kudus btw. But Elanga’s physical talents are genuinely next level.

If we want to sign 3-4 top quality players I assume we’ll need to sell at least 1 high value player next June. Could be Gordon, could be Isak himself - I’m obviously just speculating. We do need to lessen our Joelinton dependence this season anyway.

Sign for 4 top players and give us a title push. He’ll stay and become a Shearer like legend. Flog £80m Joelinton to Saudi and sign new sponsors in June. Sorted.

I remember vividly because I couldn’t believe what you were saying I actually thought you were pretending to have watched him or like.. racism was blinding you to his very obvious skill set. You were describing a very basic West African winger type. At worst Kudus is a Mercurial talent. You were saying he has a genuine lack of footballing ability/talent beyond athleticism, couldn’t believe it. Sulemana is closer to the description you were giving. I prefer Kudus because of the higher ceiling. In the right environment Kudus could be a world class player. Surprisingly good in the air, beats a man, shoot off both feet, a threat from range, work in tight spaces, find a pass etc. under Howe Kudus could go to the moon or at very least hit career highs. He has that bit of magic. I think that’s reflected in the fact West Ham would probably want a larger fee than Elanga despite having a poorer season last go out.

Ashworth has never been a scout though. So it’s likely a Nickson recommendation and Ashworth prioritised getting the deal done - it wasn’t pennies either. I disagree slightly. Mitchell has been a head of recruitment before iirc several times. His experience has been much more focussed on recruitment and player identification. Ashworth also does recruitment but his focus prior to Newcastle has been broader. And from the interviews it sounded like Mitchell was coming into deal woth transfers without much input from Eddie which caused all the issues. A proper head of recruitment. The previous model and the one we are returning too is more collaborative with the manager. Wales or Mitchell even spoke about Howe as the ‘coach’. That has always been his title I think but he was basically the manager previously.

He was as productive as Elanga was this season, the season prior mind. Compared to Elanga - his ability in tight spaces suggests he’s a better fit for a top club profile wise. I always remember Ferguson talking about wanting Collymore and Cole. He went for Cole because Cole was better in tight spaces which is more valuable against a deep defence. Collymore was rangey and was more dependent on running into space in behind. Thats what we need.

Every transfer is a gamble but I agree it’s more of a risk with those factors. @McCormick iirc you’ve never rated Kudus. I think it was you that said he was pants prior to joining West Ham. Poor technique or headless chicken or something like that. Kudus already proved you wrong. I knew you were wrong then as I’d watched him closely for Ghana and I knew - at a minimum - he had bags of talent. Genuine dribbling ability, strike a ball clean off either foot with power., silky touch and move etc. If it wasn’t you I’m sorry. But someone was very strong and wrong about Kudus 2 years ago.

I agree with the bolded. Arsenal are historically the 3rd biggest club in England. By a distance from the top 2. England has 2 European aristocratic teams. I would count about 8–10 across Europe with 6-8 able to be competitive due to the size of their leagues (so excluding Benfica and Ajax). I count: Real Barca Juve Bayern Man U Liverpool could argue both Milan clubs too For 25 years - Liverpool operated at a level below these. For 25 years they operated below the level of Arsenal. They were less successful on the pitch, smaller revenues, couldn’t attract the same calibre of player. As late as the mid 10’s Alexis Sanchez was choosing Arsenal over Liverpool. Players were doing that in 00’s and most of the 90’s. FSG have returned Liverpool to being an elite European club. They knew that was possible when they bought them and it could be done sustainably.

He had a stinker that day. Fought someone for the penalty then missed. That was the end of him as a useful player. Bit weak mentally I guess.

Madrid looked weird. I’m used to seeing 2 players on the LW just trying to make something happen. It might take some time for the players to get used to this type of structure.

Pre-FSG - they were a long way away from the revenues of Arsenal and Man U. Didn't maximise their global reach. FSG have realised Liverpool's potential as a properly elite club. There was 20-30% of unrealised potential for 30-odd years.

Counts for most players. Counts less than money though. Which is the bigger issue.

No they weren't man. You need to let that one go. Man U are a sleeping giant. Liverpool were a sleeping giant. PSG ascension is only possible with the crazy investment they have received - that's not a sleeping giant. You were wrong on that point man.

Obscure is Mahrez from Le Havre for less than a million. Obscure is not a £15m signing from Juventus, having played in Serie A for Roma too. Capped at every youth level for Netherlands. That is not obscure. Huijsen was seen as a coup from the start due to his reputation. Obscure means little known. Minteh was far more obscure and even then, I don't think that's the right word. Within the game at least, Minteh had a big reputation which is why the fee was decent and he went on-loan to a fairly big club.

Liverpool's 3 best players were linked with sales last season and 1 obviously left. Konate and Saliba are on the Madrid rumour list too

Kudus is two footed, has bags of pace, end product and decent work rate. And is more tactically flexible. If we are after both of them - it's because they share a lot of similar traits. Kudus was inconsistent last year. But his first season was better than Elanga's last season.,

It is my eternal hope that we invest heavily next season and mount somewhat of a title challenge and Isak again

Kudus is the more talented technician. Nothing wild about it. Kudus was disappointing last season. But in his first season got 8 goals and 9 assists. Same total G/A as "high output" Elanga. Kudus also probably doesn't start in his best position often (RW) cos of Bowen. While I think his positional flexibility might be a hindrance to him. He can play CM, AM, RW, ST, LW etc. which is useful