The College Dropout

Even at LB that's a nice signing. Cornet Scamacca Bowen On paper that's a nice front 3.

It's called monitoring the market. Oh, there goes another one. Seriously, I think it's good. I hope we are left with no other option but to get in a top player because all the stop gaps have gone.

Yeah the wider attitudes and cultures. When i interview people I look to see if they fit in with the team ethos. Will they contribute to the type of culture we have and want to cultivate? It's a call on their professional personality.

I doubt he'll be able to answer this properly.

Who is emotional?

I would just like us to be decisive. At the moment we are looking around the market for value. Werner, Harrison, Cornet & JM and others are all available at different price points. Get one in. I don't want us to suffer too much in the first 5GW's. A slow start essentially cost Arsenal a CL place. I think there can be room for criticism at any stage. It's not a permanent marker on the management and leadership which is growing and maturing anyway. Our January window wasn't ideal but it was more than enough to reach our goals. I don't even know the goals for the club this season. I would like us to go for the top 8 and show the footballing world we are progressing and getting better and that our project is real (this helps with signings at all levels and commercial deals). When you step away from (a rumoured) 5 transfers for attacking players - it's not controlled or good management. When I think of City or Liverpool moving on from targets - they either go down a small shortlist or they continue as they are and go back. We are going the Chelsea route, going down a larger list of targets because we desperately need the bodies in.

This is fair but equally this is a football forum and a James Maddison thread. What else are we meant to talk about in here? The title gives you the headline story. Everyone in here will just discuss ideas and hypothesis. Some people don't like to read criticism of the owners / management. They don't want the fanbase to be ungrateful.

I think the bolded is true but at some point 1 & 2 clash and you have to make a decision one way or the other in terms of priorities. WE'll never know how much it would've cost to bring in Botman in January. But we've ended up with a 14m backup stop-gap player for 6 months with little resale value which is not ideal. I agree I think we are prioritising player value over most things - including first team strength. If it was simply a budgetary issue. I would've preferred to keep Burn as first choice and use that £35m for Botman to contribute towards a RW & ST at the right quality point (even if we over pay a little - and we both think c/ £54m for Maddison is fair). But I think they have a valuation issue and our valuation of attackers is so far out of loop with the rest of the market which is frustrating.

ethos /ˈiːθɒs/ noun the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its attitudes and aspirations. The words he has used are talking about attitudes and aspirations. That's an assumption on his personality.

What is this based on? I've noticed an interesting trend about assumptions people have about players' characters that I will keep to myself for now.

Also the fact we've spent 50m on 2 LCB's and 0 on any RW suggests there's been at least 1 miscalculation in transfer approach.

No but I think Maddison is already a contingency route - not one of our primary targets at the beginning of the summer. With other players moving on. The further down the list we go - the less amount of preparation and analysis we would've done. Which means we are more likely to overspend or get in a player without the right skillset or ability (or get nobody). So far we've shown miscalculation for all of our attacking targets. Most of them haven't even moved on or chosen another team - we've just miscalculated what it would cost to secure them.

Aye. Do you think we are at the back-up plan or even further down back-up routes? I've said this before - we are moving like Chelsea who everyone is laughing at. At best Maddison is plan C and if we don't get him - it's proof of miscalculation by the management. Meanwhile other targets are moving on. I presume Burn and Targett were fairly far down our list in January. But the summer market is a more competitive one and we are looking for a higher calibre of player for at least one of the roles. I've no doubt we'll get bodies. I hope we panic and get quality ones too but the management of the window hasn't been good so far and we are relying on late good deals.

Aye. West Ham and Everton are similar profile of clubs. One is doing much better than the other at the moment but I wouldn't be surprised if they were neck & neck in 5 years or situations were reversed (which was the case not too long ago). If i was a lad from France, i'd go to the highest bidder of terms were different by 20%+

Do you think it's part of the plan to be where we are now at this stage of the window?

Fofana & Evans (first choice pairing) missed a combined 50 league games last season. Started together less than 5 times I reckon. First choice left-back missed 25 games. They have a serious problem with all these injuries but could just be bad luck.

RW is priority. Ideally a RW that can also play ST. Cornet + a top signing would be great - Werner/Maddison. Maddison isn't the ideal profile at RW - but he can play there.

But they can get that next season if he continues to impress. No reaso to sell him now unless he throws his dummy out. Which would be poor from the lad.

Lots of considering. Good work lads.

Why are people becoming the FFP police? the more clubs that flaunt it. The better for us.

There’s pictures of the lad in the Chelsea kit. It may not be official but it will happen 99%.

I think it’s better than sell-on clauses. Everyone knows at the start what the best/worst case scenario is.

Buy back clause.

Cucurella confirmed to Chelsea. Alonso finally gets his dream move to Barcelona I guess.

We are a long way from their asking price and about 15-20% away from a figure they would seriously consider by yours(and mine) estimate. I'm not optimistic.