The College Dropout

Aye this is a weird narrative that’s developed this season about CMs.

He’s under rated here because he’s left and improved so much. And people have a narrative they won’t change. Not a dig Tron but he’s said Anderson isn’t good in tight spaces. There’s plenty of video evidence that he is good in tight spaces for where he plays. Again, I didn’t see it for him here. Like Miley is now, Anderson was figuring out what type of player he is and needed physical development. People still have that version and in their mind.

Forest have been a low possession side so the pass completion will be low. Otherwise he’s a great all action midfielder. Passed it forward. Carries it. Gets into the box. Good creativity right. Not a massive goal threat but young enough to improve. I didn’t see it for him when he’s here. But he’s a proper player. He can definitely talk to Big Joe and would rival him for a start - maybe surpass. Geordie. HG. BHH.

Anderson again is another one that is particularly perfect for Howe. Howe is part of the reason for the player he's become - that urgency and snap Howe demands of all his midfielders. In a slower more possession based game, Wharton might be better. But Howe-ball? Bring me Anderson back pronto.

Minteh? You ever seen a young player and buy stocks in them? They don't even need to play for my club. Signing for us obviously helps. I also think he's perfect for Howe. Pressing monster, direct, quick, great final ball/shot. Biggest weakness is limited build-up, Howe doesn't believe in that anyway. It's a match made in heaven. I don't like Brighton for him. They price their players out of good moves so often. Palace will give a lad a decent release clause - Olise and Eze could've gone to a dozen clubs. Unlikely Minteh has a release clause, the distressed nature of the sale, he didn't like the alternatives etc. He's got to stop scoring against us mind.

I want him and Minteh back.

At some point we’ll need to do more business in Europe. Unless we keep qualifying for the CL we can’t continue with the Wissa, Elanga, Barnes model. Bought all 3 at peak value.

We can’t just keep letting players drop in value due to age. We need to start selling them at close to peak value. Every summer is critical imo. Any 1 year only has 3 years of relevance. Unlike the cartel clubs we don’t have a pipeline of sales. We can’t even use Saudi for UEFA PSR while they can.

He moved here as it’s his biggest opportunity to secure his future tbf.

Unless we get immediate success I don’t think our current transfer approach is going to help us significantly with PSR. Next summer will be interesting. What do we do with Barnes and Joelinton?

I hate that he’s got my boy Minteh with almost 4 years left on his contract. Playing at Brighton and then Chelsea is such a waste of a career.

If we play a back 4 against Brighton, Minteh is going to smoke Dan Burn.

Yeh fairs. But if we are serious about keeping top 6 level players, we are going to have to pay top 6 level wages or somewhere approaching close.

Shit offer that. We weren’t serious about keeping him.

In 2024 or 2025?

I love him.

Aye. Weird. That's a big part of his magic. Roll it into his feet and he'll find Wirtz and Gnabry and the attack can go from there. It's one thing I love about Howe's system. It prioritises the striker.

I don't think he's particularly streaky tbh. But agree with the general point. Most strikers are like that. I can't think of many strikers that are prolific but are constantly rotated. That might change with the amount of games in the CL now. PSG's ability to rotate/rest players is a big advantage to any other team in Europe.

Thats the fickle nature of football fandom isn’t it? One moment top 5 striker in the world, he’s worth £150m. The next - well he’s only as good as a Jacob Murphy cross. He’s shit. Absolutely fleeced the £125m. I personally think the first is closer to being true but hoping for the second. I think Etikite can get to that level and they both won’t be there in 3 years time. Isak could easily pull a stinker season and quickly become persona non grata and pressured to leave like Nunez was within the next 2-3 years. I don’t see a world where Etikite, Wirtz and Isak are in the same team. I don’t think Isak works well being heavily rotated beyond helping his stamina issues.

Felt that Goretzka and Kimmich are 2 of the most over rated players in Europe.

Nick W scores as soon as I log on here

I’m busy tonight but keeping my attention on the African qualifiers. A lot of the giants in the continent are already through but still a lot to decide.

Oh it get it now. Isak should die = x player is a baller =

And this is how we get to a place where my comments in this thread are more contentious than the posts wishing him death or serious harm.

And I’m just pointing out it wasn’t a good one. Honestly, I do think people view footballers like Senior Executives which contributes to a bit of societal disdain towards them as a class of people. They aren’t viewed as highly skilled workers with highly insecure incomes and a short career, 1/2 of which occurs before full frontal lobe development. So it is that deep.