The College Dropout

Aye.

Maddison isn’t a CM. He’s a 10 who can play on the wings or 8. Qualifying for the CL will dictate transfers more than anything else. As of now. We are light in midfield as we enter a top 4 fight. Maybe we will sign someone, maybe we won’t. Maybe it will be a pivotal decision, maybe it will not.

Yes and no. He has 2.5 years left on his contract. He’s 22 and an international. He has a certain market value. That can go up and down based on other variables.

We need a CM man.

This is relevant if it becomes a fire sale. Which might happen in the summer but not now.

Chelsea and Forest are setting the price points In the market tbf. But everyone is following. I think Gibbs-White and Gordon have gone for £45m. Good argument that galllagher is more. He has more pedigree than both.

One is an England international. One is not. One has had a full season as a starter in the PL. One has not. Gallagher’s pedigree suggests a higher price point imo. whether someone will pay it is another issue.

Hope we sign a midfielder or attacker tomorrow. 2 in. 2 out. The 2 In being Gordon and that West Ham lad. I don’t love it.

Brighton won't cough up £40m anyway. It's those options you named + us. Might be worth fighting for his spot this season and assessing in the summer.

He hasn't done anything useful in the PL for 4 years. And he's on relatively big wages.

RLC was playing wing-back a lot. Would prefer Gallagher -seems less injury prone

Best of luck Jonjo

He’s also not really a winger. Or at least the take on a fullback type. He’s more a Odegaard type pass and move playmaker. At least that’s the sense I get watching him play. He’s been largely awful.

Edwards was first ? we should keep a track of journalists that break substantial stories.

I disagree. He has genuine ability. Real class. Top 4 class. It’s just, can he put it together consistently? He’s a bit languid and passive. And needs team mates on a certain wave length that was never going to happen under Ralph. Saying that. I always preferred Saka. Even when Sancho was regarded as the bigger talent. I loved Saka’s application and mindset. Always getting on the ball, attacking his man time and again.

Sancho is super talented. I don’t like his application. Would like to see him under ETH for a long period.

Weird. He’s been a great lad. I wish him all the best.

With the possible exception of Lascelles and Darlow, none of our fringe players will get a fee.

Harrison has either been injured or out of favour until recently seemingly.

One of them will much more often than the other over time (most likely) if both are fit. Liverpool have been amazing for 5 years. You could name their ideal team 10 out of 11 players. Maybe 9. Ditto Real Madrid. Ditto even Tuchel’s Chelsea. Injuries and European football is the biggest factor for rotation

People love to say this. Apart from Pep’s Allstars. Every other great side you can name they’re starting XI front to back. Give it or take 1 position. Arsenal are first in the league. I can name you their preferred XI right now. Apart from Pep. Most manages don’t switch personnel significantly based on opposition.

There is evidence that Gordon is our #1 priority. Whether that is true or not, we don't know. But the evidence suggests Gordon is our main man for this January.. ahead of other business. We could have a Isak or Bruno type breaking news

I've always rated Gibbs-White. Wanted him here, just not for that price.

Yeh at some point you need to have both. Can ASM keep the workrate up? I think he can. It's not like he's had long stretches out the first team when fit. Can Gordon have more ability on the ball? Still young and developing I guess.

It's reported that the City game and the Wilson injury was a game changer for the decision makers. It's not like Sociedad reached out to us. Isak played that same weekend and scored iirc. We went back determined to get a deal, with a bigger budget and Sociedad came down a bit on price. They got a whole £60m, it's not like we got a cut-price bargain deal. In short, we did the pivot. It was circumstance and desire rather than a "value for money" call.