Theregulars

My life has been immeasurably better since I stopped reading, watching and listening to British media. Total sensationalist wank or attempts at social control. Do yourselves a favour and choose ignorance like me. Bonus is that it helps with the Saudi ownership.

He’s not a lone striker - I think he needs a partner with him up front, or at least wide forwards who will cross more than they get to the byline and cut back. More and more I think he was just the available body when they needed an available body. His future with us is very limited now you’d think.

It’s so boring when you can predict it to a tee. 

Weirdly again felt like 2 points dropped by the end. I’m not sure enough has been made of the penalty we didn’t get - it was an undeniable foul in the box. Hit the bar, willock sitter… I don’t feel like Wolves really cut us open much. 
 

Circumstances of injury means it’s another good point. 
 

Longstaff and Willock look distinctly second best to Bruno and Shelvey for me.

I find a useful barometer in these situations is to ask “would he get games in another premier league side”? 
 

I could see him playing for Bournemouth, maybe Southampton… but not like a key player. I’ve just never seen much from him to suggest that this is his level. Like he appears ahead of Ritchie in the pecking order but Ritchie has scored and assisted multiple goals in the PL, Murphy has a few over 3-4 seasons.

43 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

So glad to have muted Vinny on my balls too. I just know he's on my nuts.

 

No tbf - I think I do.

 

We want to mainly sign youngish players on the way up who can grow and improve with the team. Whose value will increase and we want to pay what we consider good "value". Bruno and Botman are the benchmark imo. I think the "plan" in May would be to have at least 1 attacker already signed by now... and that hasn't happened. I don't think any team plans to not have key business done by 18/8.

 

In terms of particular players and such. I don't know. But I don't expect us to sign a 28 year-old for £50m.

 

I assume the plan is to sign JP and at least 1 other player.

 

This is not to sound like a know-it-all, it's just what they've tried (or not tried) to do all summer anyway according to the media.

Yup I’m not sure what it is either. My sense is that they were only all in on Botman and Ekitike, and those 2 plus Targett and pope would have been it, maybe another. I think the “plan” that we are seeing snippets of is them working out what to do instead of Ekitike.

I don’t share your frustrations re: striker. It’s a very hard sell and a very narrow corridor - someone super talented who we can develop but can already contribute as a Wilson replacement or as someone else across a front 3. There aren’t that many players good enough and willing to accept those terms so I think we are seeing them try different solutions.

I do share your frustrations re: winger or attacking midfielder. That’s been plain as day since last season. Perhaps they know Wilson is a crock so they want to get the striker sorted first as they see that as more immediately necessary (as we have lots of wingers and midfielders, but barely any strikers). I don’t think it’s a like “one transfer at a time” - I think it’s more like let’s see what we have left after buying the striker, which we think is the priority, and then choose the winger / AM accordingly. That’s also why I reckon the Paqeutá links resurfaced, because perhaps Pedro leaves us enough budget. 
 

It’s all speculation. Clearly a lot of

thought and analysis goes into your posts and they’re interesting I think.

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

But ultimately - it's 18/8 and we haven't filled our 2 priority positions. So like... things haven't gone to plan so far on that front.

 

It's like how Man Utd don't have any new central midfielders. Something's gone wrong there clearly.

 

My perspective is clear. We are on the up. We have an opportunity here to strike while the iron is hot and we may miss it. But we'll be stronger year on year. Doesn't mean I can't show displeasure at things not going to plan.

 

I like JP and I hope we sign him but I have a hunger for more.

 

 

 

Do you concede that you don’t know what the plan is?

I’m sure Garnacho is a steak house 

Reading this and a number of other transfer threads makes me worry about the impact of a football club on people’s lives.

6 minutes ago, Gaztoon said:

 

Because its seems to be used every signing .. 

 

Burn.. underwhelming

Targett.. underwhelming

Pope.. underwhelming

New kit.. underwhelming

Katy perry's boobs... underwhelming

 

Heard it more since the takeover than  ever did under fat lad.

Oh fair enough. Yeh certainly being overused in this context, those 3 signings I was all very whelmed about. 

3 minutes ago, Gaztoon said:

Underwhelming 

 

That word needs binning 

Why? 

3 minutes ago, Slim said:

 

 So your analysis is an oxymoron? Nice work Tobes

Don’t think he’s a lemon. This one is all about psychology. He needs a very particular type of manager and situation to succeed I reckon, and had it at Spurs. There will be managers who can extract it, but his move from spurs was crucial. Everton was an awful option for him - I think managers like Howe/Potter/Frank would be his right kind of landing spot. A manager with empathy and great people skills. If he was on a free or thereabouts I’d pounce like a randy puma. No expectation of playing immediately but a few months to sort his head out. 

12 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Alli had a difficult childhood, it’s hard not to have some sympathy for him - but he is a wasted talent, all the same. 

 

 

 

Understatement. His father is an all-time cunt.

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

Great answer, ASM offered nothing all game other than the threat of being sent off.

Did Murphy offer more?

Just now, wormy said:

 

Would you have preferred Ritchie?

Done a lot more as a Newcastle player than Murphy.

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

What choice does he have today 

To keep ASM on? Pick someone else there? That’s normally the two choices you have vis. a substitute - keep the original on or choose another.

There’s one part of Howe i don’t like and it’s the finding time for Murphy. He’s not good enough.

Tindall’s got monkeypox you say?

8 minutes ago, Tiotes Witch Doctor said:

Just can't see us signing anyone in 3 weeks that fits our charity shop budget.

Man I’ll have some of whatever charity you’re experiencing.

13 minutes ago, LV said:

Go on..

 

Edit: Is it ‘Packweta’ or is it ‘Packeta’? 

 

 

 

Packetar. Accent on the second A in his surname.

I would very easily be able to distinguish between the teams whatever one of our 3 kits we wear. Needless shitshow and cynical money making. The kit and merch part of the new version of the club is thus far the worst aspect, coming across as unprofessional and cynical.

1 minute ago, hakka said:

 

I've really gone off the lad. Probably his Miggy comment biasing me

Think he's talented, but mentally not the best and his attitude to drinking etc. suggests he won't deliver at the high levels City expect and demand. The Real Madrid missed chances a good example where a £100m player should deliver.

Your post illustrates my point - I don’t mean that in a shitty way. “A £100m player” - I think it will haunt him. 

Grealish won’t ever get near “justifying” that price tag. I think it might always haunt him - in reality he shouldn’t be judged by it (although even ignoring the fee I’d say he’s not yet considered a prominent player there), but I think he’ll always be the hundred million pound man to some degree. I think he is a cracking attacking player and, for the sake of our national team, I hope it doesn’t ruin him. I concede it wouldn’t not be funny if it did ruin him mind

33 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

I just don't get why people are so desperate to make premature conclusions. Unless you think the entire thing is a lie, and we're in fact not trying to strengthen the squad, the only time to assess our business is on the 2nd September.

 

If you think we've done poorly in not signing an attacker by Game 1/2/3/4/5, then fair enough (I don't agree, but it's a rational view); but to cast aspersions about our transfer policy or our mechanisms or the budget - when the cake is still in the oven ( @Kanji), is a bit mad. 

Oven-ready transfers