The College Dropout

Trippier is not a defensive artist. It's not even a strength of his game. I wouldn't even describe him as a talented defender like AWB. AWB ability to shift his feet, the natural pace and acceleration, timing and technique of his tackles is a genuine talent. Trippier has learnt that side of the game and he's got much better at it but it's not one of his footballing gifts. He's also learnt all the other aspects of defending well too. Same for Dani Alves, Marcelo. But ther talents aren't in defending. Someone like Rheece James has the talent to play central midfield and centre back at a high level - I think he has numerous times actually. He's genuinely a super talent. And to Trips credit. He has the mentality to maximise his talent at the highest level. ASM doesn't. ASM won't have a better career than Trips but it's not through a lack of talent. I think people under-rate how much talent it takes to be great at dribbling. Timing, balance, pace, acceleration, agility etc. these are things that are difficult to coach and learn even with a willing and capable learner. Where as most aspects to defending are easier to learn and to coach.. That's how you get career right-wingers (Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia, Jesus Navas, Nolberto Solano etc.) making good RB's later in their career as their physical gifts start to diminish. It's easier. You rarely have it happening that a RB moves forward in the game in their latter years. Who would you say is more talented, Solano or Trips? As i've said in other places. It takes a lot more than talent to have a succesful football career. So the career outcomes aren't tightly related. Who is more talented Gary Neville or Hatem Ben Arfa? Hatem Ben Arfa or Trippier? HBA easily.

Not at all. You've misuderstood. Dani Alves is arguably the greatest RB of all time. Top 5 in my life time. Harewood a decent bottom half upper Champo position. That's not a comparison. The Alves comparison is a comparable RW or attacker. Alves is not as talented as a top 5 RW in my lifetime. Not even top 20. Because you need to be more talented to be an elite RW than an elite RB. Talent only gets you so far mind.

The best RB in the world won't be as talented a football as a comparative RW or CM (or CB back in the days). IIRC Trippier was a failed CM, moved to RB because he was technically talented. I'm not even sure I even agree Trippier is more talented than ASM certainly not "miles more".

If he was so talented, he wouldn't be a career right back. Comparable level players at CM and ST will be more talented imo.

Dribbling also involves balance, agility, different types of pace. ASM is also a clean striker of the ball and his left foot is pretty handy. He's not great off the ball though. Apart from poacher types. The most talented players by further up the pitch. I always thought Marcelo or Sergio Ramos would make decent central midfielders or 10 but they were world class for their positions that require less talent. Isak has a £100m player level talent.

Think Hodgson might demotivate the dressing room.

Yeh class stadium. Awful game.

The only 2 I’ve seen a lot of (Tierney and Mendy) I wouldn’t love.

This talk was the only reason I didn’t bring him in on FPL. I fell in love with his ability after Fulham. It was only 15 minutes. It was then I saw it. The ability to drop deep, the touch, the balance, shift of pace. Proper footballing talent. The same thing Bruno has. That proper ability where if everything clicks he can go to the top of this game. Bags of talent and ability. Genuine ability. It’s starting to click. Stays focussed and free from injury he’ll be a name to remember in this game.

I said earlier in the week. So talented. He can go on a mean purple patch and fire us to a high finish.

Interesting profile.

IIRC he suffered two ACL injuries like Wilson. Didn’t get back in the team. Was loaned out to Villa, they then got promoted and he was signed permanently (for a profit!). Mings played less than 20 league games in 3.5 years. Does that sound good to you? Like I said. He and Howe were desperately unlucky with the injuries. He was sold for a profit so I wouldn’t consider him a total flop but it wasn’t a success either. Would we consider Mitrovic a success at NUFC? Danjuma was a big signing for Bournemouth in the PL. He didn’t score any goals in the PL. Not one. And they got relegated at the end of the season. That’s not a success. Fair point on selling for a profit.

Going to Inter vs Juve actually

This not true. We were talking about top 6 + West Ham to finish 8th. Few people discussed being content with finishing below Brighton. Their summer window didn't have any renowned names either. They lost more hyped names than they signed. They've just been brilliant in the boardroom and it's shown in the market and coach decisions. Their whole development is well-ahead of course. And we haven't factored that. But it can still be slightly disappointing.

Started with a 29 year old and a 36 year old in midfield. Klopp just wanted to leave the Bernabeau without embarrassment. Can’t do a high-press with those 2 as your CMs.

Tbf hes not even a DM. He’s got the size but the rest of it doesn’t come natural to him. The technique, range of passing, balance, dribbling etc. of Modric / Pogba hybrid. But he’s getting proper positional discipline. I see a lot of Klopps approach in Howe. And its limitations.

I think they'll get at least 5 points from those

I think Brighton play better football than us. I think they're probably a better team than us at this point. But somehow, I would be slightly disappointed if they finished above us. Probably because it would mean they've been better coached and smarter in the transfer market. But they are a more mature outfit. It's taken Bloom years to get his transfer policy right in the PL and it's paying divdends. Di Zerbi is a genuine upgrade to Potter too - or at least he's able to build on Potter's work.

All his 10m+ signings. There's only one clear success imo. benik afobe - €14m - FLOP Mings - €12m (massive shame for Howe) - FLOP for Bournemouth but sold for a profit Max Gradel - €10m - FLOP Ibe - €18m - FLOP Ake - €23m - SUCCESS Begovic - €12m - FLOP Lerma - €31m true forrin - PAR? solanke - €22m - FLOP for Howe. Long-term success. Rico - €15m true forrin - FLOP Mepham - €13m - NO IDEA (SUCCESS??) Brooks - €12m - INITIAL SUCCESS Billing - €17m - SUCCESS (I GUESS) Danjuma - €17m true forrin - FLOP Kelly - €15m - FLOP. McTominay is a Howe Bournemouth type signing (and so is Gordon). It seems to emphasis that we are prioritising physicality and athleticism. IMO that fits the Gordon & McTominary signings/links. And so does Botman & Isak but they are also technically great for their positions. JM doesn't fit that profile his physicality is a weakness. I think we need cuteness in attack. Isak has that. Not sold on Gordon having it.

To add, 20-40 years ago. Spurs consistently finished 8th-12th in the league. Historically no bigger than us, Everton or Villa but they've jumped into an elite bracket over the last 20 years thanks to Levy. They should have won a couple trophies tbf

"Size, speed and athleticism are being prioritised as key attributes for incoming recruits, alongside technical excellence." - this is a rare combination but sound s like the earlier ones are being prioritised. "There is a common theme emerging during discussions: that Newcastle, already one of the top flight’s most physical and athletic teams, crave even greater power, speed and dynamism throughout. Technical proficiency is also a prerequisite, but physical and aerobic attributes are key considerations." Smells like Gordon and McDominate. Would prefer us to focus on bringing in additional quality. "Long-term targets, most notably Leicester City’s England midfielder James Maddison, remain of keen interest." - love that for us. "an orthodox left-back, a centre-back (preferably a right-sided one), a defensive midfielder, a No 8 and potentially two forwards." I like it. Interested in the profile of the 8. Is it more Maddison / Odegaard (the AM in a 4-2-3-1) or Bruno / Cabaye " financial fair play (FFP) restrictions — which senior figures at Newcastle insist are a major constraint in their transfer plans — will affect their business." FFP Champs 23/24 "Yet there is a shared internal notion that Newcastle should make a push to regenerate to the furthest degree possible without compromising their financial position or upsetting squad harmony." Interesting. I think at some point, you have too. But I think this is when we are close and have a squad that only needs a little to get top 4. "There is a realisation Newcastle simply do not have the player pool to compete in Europe’s elite club tournament and the Premier League simultaneously, so a top-four finish at the end of May might expedite additional elements of their revamp." Would be a great thing. "Howe’s preference is for players with experience in Europe’s top five domestic leagues, especially the Premier League. But budgets and Ashworth’s remit to reduce the average age of the squad even further — according to Transfermarkt, Newcastle have the fifth-highest average age in the Premier League at 27.1 years — means that calculated gambles may need to be taken on imports from overseas or promising EFL players to bolster the ranks below the first XI." Thank God. We're not going to break into the top 4 abiding by FFP and signing young players with Premier League experience. Something will have to give and imo it should be the Prem league. We need our Yaya, Silva & Aguero signings at some point. "Howe is also a long-term admirer of Arsenal’s Scotland international Kieran Tierney, so his situation is being monitored. Antonee Robinson of Fulham has been watched too." Based on rumours and his record at Bournemouth, i'm not loving Howe's approach to transfers. Over-rule him. " Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is a favourite of Howe’s and Alex Scott, a 19-year-old at Championship side Bristol City, has also caught Newcastle’s eye." I would welcome both of these at the right price however. "McTominay - Howe values his experience and physicality." c'mon man. "Midfielders in Germany and France are being watched extensively, too." Names would be nice Pretty quiet on the striker front. These have all been previously reported iirc? Not much is new here or things you couldn't easily deduce.

Love Big Al. But he stayed on at least a season too long.

Spurs have been fantastically well-run imo. They just don't win trophies but in truth, they are the 6th place in terms of top 6 but they finish top 4 more often than not. They haven't had a big hit in the transfer market for some time. But they had a great run from Modric, Berbatov, Bale, Kane & Son.

Bruno really helps with our progression. You can see 2 clear banks of 3 there. Schar's forward balls going to Wolves I see.

The Joe's have a lot of similarities to their game. Joelinton is more physical and gets stuck in more.