The College Dropout

I’m not from Newcastle so I don’t take this personally. But location is a factor for all clubs and it does impact the likes of Liverpool, City and Man U. All things behind equal the best players in the world would rather live in many cities across Europe before Liverpool Manchester or Newcastle. Location and culture in large part is why many of the greatest players in the world don’t come to the PL in their primes. So aye it’s always going to be a factor.

I think this is likely true. Also most Italian players and managers just do this circuit: Juventus Inter Milan Roma Napoli Lazio And then sometimes a couple others are super competitive too. Only England rivals that level of depth of top clubs. Like Sevilla are successful but they don’t have the same pull as the 4th 5th clubs in Italy for domestic talent

AOC knows his career has been a disappointment . He never recovered from that ACL. Some are just happy to be there.

Financially it was a wonderful decision. His agent deserves credit for both moves. But for his development as a PL footballer? That Bundesliga football isn’t what he needed. He needed to learn the other side of the game. Unless something changes mentally he will not be an elite PL player. Maybe in Spain or Germany again because he has ability.

I liked the look of that Badshiallie that went to Chelsea. Schar is good at a lot of things. Finding someone that can do Newley everything Schar can + quick + strong is not going to be easy.

Gibbs-White scored 11 goals from midfield in the Champ aged 21-22. And was considered a major wonder kid at Wolves, big part of that U17 World Cup winning team. 45 was a lot but he was more deserving of his reputation and fee than Gordon imo.

He needed toughening up at that age. He’s overly suited to German football and particularly not suited to English football. That dog needed developing. I like Tifo but not enough emphasis is made on mentality on that channel. If he’s going to be an elite PL player he’s going to have to change his mentality. He’s not a Howe player at all.

He has less ‘get up and go’ than ASM. It wouldn’t work. ASM actually attacks with a level of aggression and explosion that Sancho doesn’t have physically or mentally. And defensively he’s probably worse. There’s this one clip of him bottling a tackle that’s 60/40 in his favour. That’s how he plays all the time. Timid.

Using FM stats his issue is: Aggression 4 Bravery 2 team work and work rate 10 acceleration and pace 14 & 15 Dribbling, creativity, passing etc. 16 He’s got no bite/tenacity to this game defensive or offensively. With the slightest adversity he folds. Technically he might be better than Saka or Martinelli. But mentally and physically he’s levels behind. He strikes me as one of those people who has always been by far the best at every level of his development. On ability alone. He hasn’t had to fight to succeed it’s always come to him or when it didn’t at City he just left for somewhere he excelled straight away. Germany seems a more open and less physical game in a club with less pressure. Which in turn would help his confidence and mentality. For him Dortmund was a mistake. He would’ve been better off having 2 seasons in the Championship. Getting lumps kicked out of him and still coming out on top. Wilfred Zaha might be a whinger but he’ll pat himself down and demand the ball again and again. Nearly All the lads that come up with through the Championship have that bit about them where they can mix it with the rough. That’s would’ve been way better for him than playing through balls to Haaland on carpet pitches in Germany.

Feel bad for the lad. He’s had a tough few years. Timing and circumstance are so important in life. I don’t think Sean is incredibly more talented. He’s been at the right place at the right time in 2 crucial periods for the club. He may well end up an England international and star in the Champions league. While Matty’s career as a professional footballer is in doubt.

Their 84 point haul was legit as were the performances. chelsea haven’t touched 80+ points since Conte. Man U haven’t touched 84 points since Fergie. Aye but Leicester won the league with 81 points. That’s the lowest total since Mourinho came to the league I reckon. 84 points is usually enough for 2nd except those 2 seasons Liverpool ran City close with 90+ points. The no CL football was a massive advantage for Arsenal. Any regression will be in large part down to that. They were also fortunate that most of their attackers stayed injury free except GJ.

And having £150m worth of talent come out the academy.

Disagree. Brighton sign players and have a clear path way for them to get into the first team squad. That’s in large part the appeal. They don’t sign multiple players for the same position. Chelsea and City sign these players for economic and FFP reasons. Little care is given if they make it to the first team as long as the players is economically viable. circumvent May be the wrong word but it certainly helps to ‘game’ FFP. Even if it’s not an actual profit it can be a FFP profit due to amortisation. They are only the same in terms getting in high potential young players. It’s a very different experience as a player or fan. As a player you sign for Chelsea at 14-18. You may win the Youth Cup. Go on loan a few times. If all goes well most likely be sold by the time you’re 23 for a lot of money. Not because you’re not good enough - it’s just that there’s no pathway for you into the first team. KDB, Lukaku, Ake all came from Chelsea and played in the CL final. City do less of the stockpiling signings at 18+ but they do it at youth level. At Brighton the experience is different. The USP is that there will be pathways to regular first team football. One thing I like about Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U is that the fans get to enjoy youth products and young signings. The connection to a Saka or Rashford or Trent is crazy as a fan. Love to see it. If a youth product doesn’t play in the first team it’s because the management just don’t think he’s good enough. Part of the plasticity of City is all the youngsters that just don’t care about City and are angling to leave as soon as they can. Sancho, Lavia, Edozie etc. The ones that stay like Cole Palmer are beginning to waste their careers. I’d rather be a little less successful than City but actual have players from the academy or young signings actually play and represent us. We might have too. Anyways that’s the game these days. I’ll be following this lad and I hope he comes back to be an important player for us.

It is to some degree. Chelsea pay these players high wages too. They signed KDB for 7m on a 5.5 year deal and sold him 2.5 years later for 18m. That’s an FFP profit of 14-15m.

Nah previously we signed young players with a view that they would become first team players. I don’t follow Brightons transfers closely but I believe they also sign players with a view of becoming first team regulars. Or at least becoming a regular for one of Bloom’s clubs. It looks like we are doing what City and Chelsea have done. Sign players for FFP circumvention. Sign them cheap and young, loan them out, sell for a profit. From a business perspective I understand it. I do the same in FM and it’s pretty fun. But IRL it’s plastic and lame but that’s the modern game.

Don’t think the AOC transfer is a good one on paper depending on length of contract. Nobody is going to pay money for him if it doesn’t work out.

The quality of the squad is already high.

The Arsenal kits are elite. They have this pink jacket that is excellent too.

Watched the Nicholas Anelka dot. They said he liked London because he could be close to anonymous.

Being in London can be good for footballing reasons. Less pressure day to day is better for some players.

I think he went on to do well in Ligue 1 but I didn’t see any of this supposed talent for us. None. Zilch. Saw more talent from Marveaux.

FA Cup is harder to win then Europa League.

Tbf Fiorentina finished 8th in Serie A. league cup and conference league are about the same level to me. Champions league obviously thr pinnacle of European club football. I only have Europa above FA Cup because of the CL qualification.

Revenue generated. Pull with players.

Paqueta with the assist. Good finish Bowen. Hopefully that’s another year of Moyes at Wham.