The College Dropout

Hey man… at least we’ve acted quickly. Given the circumstances. Better than Dubs. Don’t think he’s better than Pope. Let’s see. (we are a shambles)

Always been this way mind. Blackburn to Leeds to Chelsea to City. It’s not a new thing.

As soon as Etikite started stalling - we would've seriously started exploring alternative options. Rather than being stuck trying to agree on a transfer fee with Reims. I'm sorry, Madras but I think you're taking the piss. Getting more information earlier in a time-bound setting is always better than later. That's not much of a discussion or debate. The bolded are 3 of the hottest young strikers in Europe/PL. We would've anticipated competition from other teams. I've no issue with our approach to Delap & Pedro either. We did the best we could in good time. Etikite, we didn't even agree on a fee to my knowledge. Sesko we seem to be dithering. Wissa not agreed a fee either. If we always did this and it worked for us - so be it. But we haven't always done this and it doesn't look like it's working. So far - we are having an all-time bad window in terms of getting deals done. Manchester United levels of not getting deals done.

I don't pay too much attention to "pull" - especially for foreign players. Within Europe - players go where they get paid the most. Man City took some of the best players from Arsenal and Man Utd because of money. That's what it boils down too for most players.

We can present what we think is fair. Within a short amount of time last summer - we agreed a fee with Reims(?) and presented Etikite our package. That was done quickly. Etikite and agent knew PSG were interested, stalled and eventually moved there. That's fine, no issue with any party in that situation. With recent targets, we dither and dither. That increases the likelihood of other clubs getting involved.

Not in our control. We can agree terms in principal and agree fees with the club. That's in our control. Let's do that with Sesko - no dithering. That we did with Mbeumo and Delap and for both of those we knew the competition would be stiff. With Wissa and Sesko - we've dithered.

Bruno was sorted within a month however we look at it. I don't know when the rumours started with Tonali. But the bid was publicised 20th June (that's when his thread was created) - all but confirmed 23rd June. Unless you have other timelines - that's a brutally swift transfer at least publicly. Point remains - you go after potentially elite players other clubs haven't moved on yet and you try to get it done quickly.

On these - Botman was protracted over 2 windows. But from memory we sorted it in the summer quickly with our battle with Milan. Bruno, Isak & Tonali completed quickly once we really went for them. In football - you have to to be aggressive and quick. If we are genuinely after this lad - we need to move quickly.

I think the price point is now £45-60m at the lowest end, but I still agree. I think Sesko is the right type of profile. The player in the top club orbit that nobody is going for, or at least the competition is in Europe, not the PL top 6. That's the Botman, Isak & Bruno profile. Sesko fits that.

A player of Isaks calibre was never going to be here for 5+ years unless we became a serious outfit. Which is why most of us assumed he would be sold next summer before all of this came out anyway. If we could match Liverpool for wages and sporting success - he could very well stay. That’s extremely unlikely. As that’s the case. I don’t really blame Isak too much. Unfortunately for him he has 3 years left on his contract. Decent leadership doesn’t sell him and gets him to agree to stick around for another year on better terms.

Always been the case. Unless we step it up drastically.

Spent a grip on Mane too.

Spains goalie looks so small in the goal.

Double kicks re takes across the board now?

Antony joining the Saudi league being more important than NUFC is telling though. If something is genuinely important you’ll make sacrifices. What scarifices will they make for us?

Who is ‘the club’?

It’s more of an ownership thing than a DOF thing. Edu runs NFFC but it’s still Marinakis(sp?) baby and club. He’s personally pissed off about the MGW debacle and he’s ensured it’s ended where he’s happy. Levy is the Chairman of Spurs. He’s the second biggest shareholder at about 25%. All major decisions are his. We don’t have that figure. Yasir has the position but not the time or interest. I agree it’s rudderless leadership.

I’ll be honest - the Etikite transfer did smell like we were preparing to sell Isak. I was hoping it was next year rather than this. Etikite isn’t a 10 but you could see a partnership forming. As @Kid Icarus the Sesko links also smell like a replacement. With JP often playing a 10, a smaller fee - I could spin it as both. Do I expect us to sign Sesko, a CM, CB and keep Isak? I don’t.

Yes. This is elite business. Everybody involved is an apex capitalist. The best interests of NUFC come first. This has been my frustration all year in this thread. I don’t thikk no people understand what it’s going to take to become a force in European football. It’s going to take apex capitalism. hard negotiations. Pressing any leverage we can.

Left refused to sell Kane to City with 2 years left on his contract. Spurs didn’t have CL football and Kane had a verbal agreement he could leave if spurs received a fair offer if they had not qualified for the CL. Levy didn’t budge. We have more chips than Levy did but seem prepared to bend over.

Yep. Levy wouldn’t be letting Isak go with no CL football. Kane went on strike. Kane had a verbal agreement. 2 years left on the contract. Levy didn’t budge an inch. He got €100m for a 29 yo with 1 year left on his contract.

If we are not a serious outfit let him go.

PIF signing Felix.

Ah then I hope Isak gets his move. This club isn’t going the way it was sold to him. Nah the transfers stink too. €180m on Diaz and Kane?

MGW strong armed despite a legit release clause. the might of PIF can make Isak stay new bother. If that might is actually mobilised.