The College Dropout

Who do I have an opinion on now? I'll say how i've got to any conclusions. E.g. Botman - only seen Youtube clips and looked at stats from statsbomb / fbref. I say it with my chest - I don't pretend to know these players closely outside a few competitions and teams that I follow very closely.

Random: Apparently Sergio Aguero was bang average in training. The players weren't sure about him when he first joined City. Then he banged a brace on his debut and the rest was history. Guess it's a bit different for a defender though.

Zaha is almost 30 and has been one of the best players outside the top 6 for at least 5 years now. I like Eze. I think he can have a great season next year. But calling 24 year olds - prospects - is funny to me.

Palace apparently in for Gibbs-White. Depending on the fee, i would be interested in that for us. I think he played advanced/10 last season but he has the physical profile to play 8.

Eze the 24 year old prospect.

Btw Olise can go to the very top of this game. I think his ceiling is crazy if he can put it all together. If he was ours, we wouldn't want a RW - we would give him the keys.

I'm not sure about Eze personally. Very different style of player to Zaha. Quality on his day, would love to se him kick-on this season. I really like Olise and Guehi. I think losing Kouyate is a bad decision mind. Btw I think Palace WANT to sell Zaha this season. He has 1 year left on his contract I think. As a free agent next year - he probably gets his move to a top 7 club on a 2/3 year deal. This might be their last chance to get a fee which they can spend on a direct replacement. You figure £20-£30m fee and £7-8m in wages. I said I would like him here but I doubt he would want to come. He doesn't have the time for a project.

Love Palace me. They've been preparing for Zaha leaving for 18 months. They'll be ok. Might finish lower but won't get relegated. For the first time ever in the PL, Palace looked decent without Zaha in the side. Last season they had multiple different options going forward which was a factor in Zaha's greater goal output - teams had to worry about a lot more things. Palace are a good team for players' to join and they are taking advantage of that. Pretty low pressure. London but can live very suburban if you wish. Finally a manager that suits the club.

I'm just looking on whoscored and it suggests he's played mostly as a 10. A few times upfront. Then a few in central midfield. And a few on the right. That doesn't strike me as someone who will come to the PL and play in a midfield 3 for a team who don't have the ball most of the time (currently). A round circle for a round hole feels like having him at 10 but that's not how we play. He looks a talent. If he could come and play RCM I would love it. He's clearly immensely taelnted.

But can he do it on a cold Wednesday night..... in central midfield in the PL? Unless you dominate the ball entirely.. i'll say it..... I think you need more physical players in that midfield 3. If we were to play with a 10 he looks perfect.

Didn't play there too often for Lyon in a less physical league. If he could do that role that would be great.

Same. I would prefer genuine pace at RW and we havent been playing with a 10.

I would rather an option to buy rather than obligation. I like Broja but I assume any option to buy will be close to £30m for a striker with 6 EPL goals in 20+ appearances. He wasn't even prolific in Holland. For comparison - Tammy had torn up the Championship by this point in his development. Had a poor year in the EPL in the following season mind.

No I didn't. I said what I meant. It's a lazy comparison - if CHO was white Italian - it wouldn't have been made. Likewise if he wasn't coming from Chelsea - it probably wouldn't have been made either. Both probably contributed to the comparison Like i've gone on to say - it's more jarring because it was used to suggest he may end up being a bit shit. Racism? Not implied.

Timo Werner doesn't get compared to Craig Bellamy enough for my liking.

It was Atsu and CHO (e.g. this might be a bit shit). And Milner and Gordon (e.g. good hard working lad - might be better than expected). CHO has never played left-back for Chelsea (or at least not this season). He has played RWB on occassion though. Probably more to do with being a black winger from Chelsea that doesn't play too much for them - might not have known but both have Ghanaian heritage. Btw Brazilians have by far the best stereotype and it's just of being good. Even now 20 years since they last won the WC. If Richarlison was Senagalese his transfer fees would not be so high and I do rate him. Likewise, if Mane was Brazilian he would be higher rated.

Always been a big fan of Perisic tbh. Just from his performances at the WC and Euros. I've long said Asensio's not become the player I hoped for because of injuries. Happy to see him leave Madrid.

Who mentioned racism?

Yes it's not just black players obviously. It's literally a racial or ethnic thing - as you say we can easily think of others for a French winger, non-descript English CM etc. That Atsu comparison was especially lazy. And jarring because it was used with another (semi lazy at the least - and i've made the same comparison based on football ability at the same age) comparison that painted the white English player in a positive light.That's all.

This is a good idea for both parties if true. He's better than that. I'd take him for that money now. Has all the right tools to be a top player. Injury record and VVD tax are a worry. Chelsea need to sign at least 2 CB'd so Ake is good business for them. Ake & Silva in a back 4 is a bit short although both have a good leap.

There's 0 chance Asensio's getting a new contract at Real Madrid. RM want him off the wage bill, he's a weak link in the side. The fans want a new RF or they want Rodrygo to get more game time. They don't want to start Asensio again. He's a good finisher and has good movement. Not RM quality. I wouldn't want him either.

And how often do people say "Kante reminds me of David Batty"? He's most frequently compared to another short black midfielder of African heritage. Let's not pretend that how players look and their ethnic background doesn't play a part in who they are compared too and their general description.

How many white players get compared to Christian Atsu? Players of African heritage are most often compared to other players of African heritage. Much like we compare Frenchmen to Frenchmen. It's lazy though. The Atsu comparison is 100% lazy and wouldn't be said if CHO was a white Scandinavian with the exact same skillset.

Almiron is bobbins man.

Initial reaction based on a different black winger coming from Chelsea - inconsistent winger trope. Gordon - hard working good English lad - maybe not so talented trope.