The College Dropout

Bournemouth picked up Rayan for £30m in January. We had no interest in signing 19-yo's from Brazil for the first team.

Dislikimg Dan Burn as a Newcastle United supporter is insane. And honestly fitting of someone with a HBA display picture.

Has Fenerbache or Saudi all over him

Thanks lad.

The ultimate contract bullies.

Delighted me.

Yeh if true and depending on other transfers they make it’s just a bit irresponsible imo. Rogers was the only player under 25 that started their Europa League win.

From what I understand Emery has been given the keys to transfers like Howe was last season. While Howe wanted immediate results the transfers showed he was at least Aware we needed to reduce the squads age and retain some sell-on value (in theory). Howe see’s himself as a long-term NUFC boss, he just needs immediate returns. Emery however doesn’t seem to give a toss. Which makes me think he doesn’t see himself at the club in 3-5 years time.

If Villa want Barnes I think my Emery theory might actually be true. He’s trying to win the league in the next 2 years - after that he will leave and join a mega club. Why would the club with the oldest team in the league and FFP issues sign a 28 year old for a fairly big fee?

Never understand why you lot debate Froggy in good will.

Aye it was just a thought exercise- no ill will or hard feelings. I saw Villa linked with MGW. If Villa sold Rogers, signed MGW and say 1-2 more top class players 26+ Villa could challenge for the league. But with the age profile of a squad like that, it would fall off in a few years. Villa could easily sign Mbaye or other youngsters that develop and go on to build more £50m+ players. But there is a world where they keep signing Abraham’s and Rashford’s. As I’ve said in other threads. Villa and Emery don’t seem overly concerned with lowering the age profile of the squad. Doesn’t mean it won’t change.

Very interested in how Villa navigate this window. If they sell rogers or not. And how they go about using the funds. I have a scenario where Villa can challenge for the league next season and then fall right off it within 2-3 years.

Randomly I hope young wingers are seeing what’s happening. Anthony Gordon signed for Barca, chased by Bayern and Liverpool. Rafa Leao and Rashford are for sale with no buyers. The ballers need to graft.

Wish Arsenal would take more risks with attacking signings. I hope Villa can keep hold of Rogers but I don’t see how it’s possible.

You can sign a player on a 3 year deal and then have options to extend to take it to 5 without a renewal.

I don’t think Isak camp ran their mouth. It wasn’t until what July? That it became public knowledge Isak wanted out. Gordon has sat it out since March and we’ve had strong rumours for months. Agent has evidently been a talkative man.

Yeh it’s clear to me that if a player is professional and a good servant they keep playing right up until they leave. Many such cases.

I think that’s just such a poor mentality. When a team like ours concedes so many late goals - there has to be some mental fragility in the camp. The Barca result I thought was mentally damaging so that didn’t help. It sounds like we may have 2-3 that don’t want to be here. Gordon was one. If Tonali wants out, let him go. We need an army of the committed.

Think we have players that actually want to leave that we need to sell first.

Antoine Semenyo is going to the World Cup as his counties star player. Semenyo signed for City 9th Jan. Semenyo played 90 minutes and scored for Bournemouth on 7th Jan. in the 25 days before signing for Man City, Semenyo played 7 games, playing 90 minutes in every single one, scoring 4 goals. Plays week in week out for City - starts a dead rubber of a last game of the season and scores again. That’s professionalism. Gordons dicked us about with inconsistent performances and then not even playing while we chase Europe. Honestly I thought Tonali gave up in the Camp Nou to protect himself for the Italy World Cup qualifiers. Hate that mindset. If anyone isn’t fully committed get them out straight away. Glad we’ve sold Gordon now.

Do you think Gordon would’ve sat out those games if he thought his England place was in jeopardy?

Really good point you make. The idea he was inconsistent for 2 years is a bit reductive. - Aug-Oct 2024 he’s average to poor - lots of talk about the summer causing him unrest. - Oct 2024 he signs a new contract. - Nov 24 - Jan 25 he has 10 G/A in the league in 14 games. Scores in each leg of the league cup semi final. - His last goal contribution in the league is 25th January. League cup goal is 5th Feb. - Gets sent off twice in the remainder of that season. Costs us in the FA Cup and misses the league cup final. - In 24/25 he’s brilliant for just over 3 months. Poor for 7 months with as many red cards as goal contributions in that time. - 25/26 consistently excellent in the CL until the last 16. Superb. - 25/26 very bad to start then works his way up to inconsistent. Doesn’t play any of the last 6 games. Misses 3.5 games through suspension/sending off. Looking back - I think he’s played this season for himself. Do enough to go to the World Cup and get a move. Made sure he played left wing. Sit games out. I do think his lack of end product this season is largely driven by non top 6 teams sitting deep and clocking his game. But I think there’s a level of effort and desire he lacked when playing the likes of Brentford and Leeds. Too much effort, not enough spotlight. When he hit form the previous year it was week in week out.

He did get skinned by Mendes. Surely gets credit for not getting skinned by Kvara mind. I just don’t think he was bad. Maybe TNT were going overboard because he largely kept Kvara quiet and some regard Kvara as the best player in the world.

How? That moment was huge and helped get PSG level. All credit for that. Outside of that he had that 1 shot at goal, didn’t create a single chance for a team mate. He was well marshalled by Arsenal overall. Think Gabriel and Pacho were the best players on the pitch. PSG midfield and attack had zero penetration and Arsenal barely played a pass. Arsenal defended well overall - I don’t recall a single save from open play the entire game from either GK. Doue had one late on maybe. Typical Arsenal shit game.

Guess they are saying he cost Arsenal the game? Winning that penalty is all Kvara did in the game. Mosquera kept him quiet. Havertz and Madueke aside - I thought all Arsenal attackers had poor games. It’s tough when you have to do so much defending mind. But Gyokeres and Martinelli in particular ruined promising situations. Odegaard was particularly bad too. Saka had that one dangerous cross.