The College Dropout

Think all the clubs involved in FFP shenanigans with maybe Everton as an exception have owners that would pump money into clubs via inflated sponsorships if possible - no? Forest Chelsea Us Villa Leicester That would leave us 2 short of preventing crappy rules. We’ll find out soon enough.

Someone a few pages back suggested £80m would be a decent fee. It was only one person mind.

Knew it would happen. He’s a baller. I said it last season - he was probably 4-6 weeks too late getting into the team from making the England squad for the Euros.

I mean…. He did only get game time towards the end due to having zero first team options. I found people thinking we were playing contractual games funny. From the outset of the transfer it was widely reported his loan conditions were minimal. It was clear Howe just thought he wasn’t ready or didn’t rate him. His appearances early in the season was evidence he wasn’t ready.

I think he could be a CF. Hes got the ability to score scruffy goals. Movement and desire is more important than ball striking. When he’s confident he’s a composed finisher. But I wouldn’t expect him to score the types of goals Barnes scores with the sams level of efficiency. At least not now.

Yeh his fee is just about correct. But Isak is a level better and the fee should reflect that. Kolo Muani went for £80m last year too. Off the back of a single 15 goal season in the Bundesliga and a good World Cup. These are al good players in my book. But if Isak puts another 20-goal season up, any selling fee next summer needs to reflect he’s a level above and a surer-bet.

Thought he was decent against Forest personally. I have different expectations of him and Barnes. I don’t expect Gordon to be as ruthless in the final third as Barnes. He’s not consistently shown that ability in his career. I do think he could be sharper in that area this season. And I expect him to be in position to score more scruffy goals than he has so far. Barnes is a finisher. He’s ball striking is considerably cleaner. But I don’t expect the same level of work rate, tracking back, being a constant menace on the ball as Gordon. That’s not his game.

He clearly thinks he could at some point. He's mentioned it before. With his skill set and age I think it’s a viable option in a way that it isn’t for a player like Schar.

£100m is the norm for a 25-year-old striker who has scored 40 goals in 78 games for a PL team. Who is noted for his speed, technical skill, and composure and has three years left on his contract. You are right that he may be priced out of a move next summer. Because to me £80 only starts to look a decent price with 2 years left on his contract.

Atletico always have vast sums of money to spend on players. Lots of Atletico deals look dodgy. Ditto Juventus. Isak is a viable option for any elite club. There’s a market for him if he performs imo. 3 of them in the PL.

Man City/Real, Barca (Lewa is 36), Juventus, Atleti, Man U, Chelsea, a random Italian club might have money. A couple clubs could easily be in for him. There’s so few strikers around. PSR for clubs might be the bigger issue. I think PSR is a big reason Man U or Chelsea might not get involved.

Agreed. To me £100m is the start of the convo. Jackson will come good mind. Maybe Rasmus too. Havertz is a decent player.

Lad says he thinks he can play in midfield. Some of you think it’s akin to playing Schar in midfield. It ain’t.

Yeh that’s fine. I’m just saying the floor has to be £100m if he has another good season. Given our position of power, his age, profile, contract length. In terms of our purples he’s the most complete for his role. Or has the most elite profile/style imo. And his main weakness is mostly ignored in the media (stamina).

I’m sorry £80m is a bad offer. Havertz has been sold for £70m ish twice. Lukaku went to Chelsea for £97.5m in his late 20’s. Went to Man U a few years earlier for close to £80m. Nunez went for £80m iiirc. Hojlund £70m. Anything less than £100m with 3 years left on his contract is a robbery. I’m sorry. £80m isn’t a good fee if he does well again this season.

DMs are going for £100m

He’s got. 3 years left on his contract. If he wants to go - we need a proper fee (unless we get in a PSR mess again). Anything less than £100m next summer - we’ve been robbed. And £100m isn’t even a great fee. £130m+ then we’ve done well. It changes once we get to 2 years or less. But not now.

Was his yellow as a result of the elbow on Livra? Big shame that suspension. Kelly at LCB will be interesting. West Ham aren’t the biggest side. Better he misses West Ham than this Forest game. Forest have some aerial threat.

What a little grass whoever shared that.

Also there’s 3 points splitting loads of teams. I’m glad we are in the mix. But this run through to the FA Cup 3rd round is pivotal. The league should stretch out a bit.

No Europe is great for Isak.

Didn’t think he was at his best especially in the first half. Cost the goal. Non existent linkup. Weak as piss. much better after his goal. Seemed to have a buoy more stamina than usual. Still think his conditioning isn’t great. I love him as a player. But if he could add one or two more elements to his game he’d be the best striker in the league.

Imo Chelsea are a Palmer injury away from being a very average team.

Chelsea are an ok team with a high technical base and one of the best attackers in the league. I don’t think they play well as a team much. That might be a good thing for them as there’s levels to come. I don’t think they’ll take the conference league serious until the very end so I don’t think it will impact them seriously. The new CL format is brutal in particular for Villa.

Avoid injuries, play to our max potential we’ll be well placed. You’d expect each English club to progress in Europe as well which is bad for their legs. Chelsea might permanently play the B team mind. But the rest you expect will play strong teams.