The College Dropout

I like the strength and mobility of that. Not happening though.

Dalot is good value at 4.5m but there are other options at that price. Think Ben White is 4.5m more nailed. More consistent team. Less likely for attacking returns though. If Ronaldo was going Martial would be automatic

First game - aye. If Ronaldo stays, he'll compete with Martial (who has seemingly impressed) at LW

Wish Real Madrid would be in for Bernardo. Could play RF and CM.

Some of us becoming the FFP police on here.

@KaKa would build our squad from a core of cheaper foreign imports. Unless we go for A1 talent, that is overly risky imo.

Then why we not looking at players' from Europe? Based on what we know anyway.

I think they may prefer to sell JM to Fofana. But Chelsea are more likely to stump up £70m than we are to stump up £50m. It's easier to replace a CB with £70m than it is an attacker for £50m though.

I agree. Truthfully Barnes is more of a similar profile. But Maddison is the better player.

No it's not. If the price was right for Paqueta or Diaby we would be in. But we aren't. If JM is sold to us this summer, i'm confident the final figures all-in will be within 10% of £60m. £50+ £4m in add-ons etc. This £45m bollocks isn't going to get the player signed.

This is true. I think we are just going for "attacking player that can play on the right - that fits our valuation". Harrison, Maddison, Cornet, Diaby - these aren't the same profile of player.

His first half season under Rafa?

To quote Edwards "I don’t think they’ve got it right so far and time is ticking. Still lots of time left but as things stand, if Wilson and ASM are injured at same time, they’re screwed! It’s a concern that is growing". This is my perspective. It's not my own timeline - for it to 2/8 and not have anyone in your 2 priority positions is not getting it right thus far by any metric. If they sign Maddison and Werner on 31/8 I would say "great business. Left it late but got A* players in. It looked dicey for awhile but they delivered". That's *IF*. At 2/8 - things look dicey.

True. Excellent post.

You're an excellent poster. Another A* star post. I get the logic of paying close to that for JM because he's PL proven.

We've not signed any attacking players (of quality) with this regime. Based on various transfer reports. We continue to be interested in players who we won't meet the selling clubs valuation. That is the #1 reason we've not signed any players that can fill the 2 most priority positions in the squad so far... and reports are that is likely the case with JM. So people are annoyed and frustrated. I don't rate our wide players (bar ASM) at all. I'd happily take Harrison, Cornet etc. but from what we hear in the media. We don't want to meet valuations or pay release clauses upfront for those 2 either. Seemingly the club is after a A & B class talent but don't want to pay market rate.

Realistically £5m is a lot. Any fee over £1m would be good imo.

I’d happily take Cornet £17.5m. But if we are serious about JM - I hope we make a serious £50m+ bid soon.

I don’t think people are of the opinion we have a divine right for JM. People want the club to make bids selling clubs might actually accept. We are getting rumours - again - that we are bidding for players far below what would interest the selling club. Getting fans excited but not actually close to making a deal.

Aye. 38 games of Wilson, Wood, ASM, Almiron, Fraser & Murphy - expecting that to finish above Leicester is barmy.

Thank you. Clearly it suggests a lack of knowledge and nous in the market. I agree - many are blinded by the takeover and won't accept any criticism or missteps in our transfer dealings. We've been interested in players that we aren't prepared to spend the necessary money to bring in before. The annoying thing with Harrison. Is that we have the money for the asking price - we just don't want to pay it for him. Which is fine. But we've set our sights on someone else.. where I think it's likely we could end up in the same situation. Not prepared to pay what the selling club wants (but enough for some of our other targets). It's not a footballing thing, a budget thing but a value in the market thing.

As things stand - no sales or signings. Do you expect to finish above Leicester?

Yeh Jamie Vardy missed 13 league games too. Fofana missed 31 games. Evans missed 19 games. James Justin missed 25 games.

....... So did Leeds (financial) and Everton (FFP). Like.. what? Leicester don't have to sell JM this summer. They can keep a £50-60m player on their books who can help them qualify for Europe and still get £30m next season. Good chance they can get £70m for a defender that barely played in the PL last season this summer as well. JM can play 10, RW/RF and RCM in a midfield 3. Also a far more creative player, also scoring more non-penalty goals and assists than Richarlison whilst not playing as 9. Arsenal and Chelsea were also willing to pay the £50m for Raphinha. These are all attacking players that are not out and out strikers (Richarlison can do that role but not his prime position). The profile is as similar as you're going to get. Big man, engage your brain.

Do you think we would have finished 3 points behind had we played in a European competition Sept - May? European football is a massive factor. Injuries to CB's is a massive factor. Looking at the quality of both squads as it is. No European football for either side. The gap is pretty considerable in quality. Aye atmosphere and momentum is in our benefit. That is true. And our manager is in a better position as well.