Ikon

How is it even possible to come up with something like this just like that. Shoouldnt it be more like From year 2025 for example or whatever. Feels all of a sudden?

Let other companies pay for everything and we just rent it for 1 pound/month. Like training facilities and so on.

Good for the top clubs that already have state of the art setups. If it was difficult for other clubs to compete with the big clubs for players before, then it will be even more difficult now. Wheelie bins it is for the rest of the future then.

Is this a joke? Infrastructure too..

i think we need 2 new wide players, and that’s without Miggy leaving. Much rather see Murphy leave. Also, Miggys stock has been super low for quite a while. He is better than he has showed under Bruce, even though not a world breaker by any means. He can be replaced next season. Ideally he’d be 4th choice along with Fraser. If we could get decent money for him then I’d sell, but we won’t. We also won’t be signing too many players either. with one of these two wide players being able to cover for Wilson centrally.

Much rather Gouiri for me.

Won’t get much for Miggy so keep him as backup. Think he’ll be good next season. Even if not starting. Found his form lately.

Murphy makes odd mistakes and decisions all over the pitch. He can look decent at times but he’s simply not good enough. Likeable but get rid.

Should start negotiating with Nice instead. Let Hugo and his agent come to us with their tails between their legs if they wish to.

I thought this was us done……

Our new back 5 costs the same as Maguire did Shrewd business.

I know we really really need a right sided forward/winger and a player that can play centrally if Wilson is injured. Personally though, I can’t stress enough how much another high quality central midfielder would do for us. It would take us to the next level in an instant. No doubts! Allowing us to control games more and be more calm and allow us to be more effective and composed in the last third. For example, in transition, imagine someone like Fofana or Nunes in there instead of Longstaff or Shelvey. Or just in general play. Players that can carry the ball as well as pass it really well. Offering more legs in defensive transitions too. Or someone like Paqueta being able to do what Bruno does, but in a more advanced role between the opposition lines. A player with great technical quality who will either do something constructive or get fouled because of the quality he possesses. Having that quality in central midfield would draw a lot of attention and give our wide players more space and time too. I’m not even sure if we need a AMC or box to box or a more defensive minded CM. Don’t think we can go wrong either way. I think the most important factor is that X midfielder is very well rounded and has decent athletic ability. Quality of the player will make the world of difference no matter what style. I know I keep repeating myself, but I think we should look for a versatile player like Gouiri and then put the rest we have and are willing to spend on a RW and CM. Spending tons of money on a CF that’s most likely to be benched when Wilson is fit anyway just doesn’t make sense to me. In our current situation we can’t fill every position and area in one summer window, plus there aren’t really that many top quality CF available so I think we should wait and reevaluate this CF issue later on. Getting a versatile player would give us more options out wide outside of ASM and a new RW plus the money wouldn’t just be on the bench most of the time when CW is fit. Would give massive competition for ASM and A new RW too. People say it’s not a priority but I disagree, a quality CM would elevate us to the next level while also not making us quite as dependent on Bruno. The form of our CM when Bruno was benched won’t be sustainable, we can absolutely not count on them continuing to perform like they did then. It would be extremely naive and a massive mistake. Another CM must be signed imo. I think we will, I bloody hope so. Also, not many teams play with a pure DM anymore. It depends how we set up on the whole..

I’d be content with Gouiri and Raphinha/Diaby and then Nunes to play with Joe and Bruno in midfield

Leverkusen signing a winger from Man City. If only it was Diaby’s replacement.

Footballing wise I wouldn’t say he was my first choice, but overall I think it’s the right choice. Especially when considering the mentality of the player. Seems to be a bit of a leader with the right attitude and winner instinct. These attributes cannot be underestimated. I’m sure someone like say Badiashile would have been class but Botman might have the very important mentality attributes that could mean that he’ll be the more consistent performer than many other options. Even if not quite as exciting maybe he’s still a very good player seemingly.

Ikon Licks this ?

Should we get Bale to play Botman?

Exciting times.

Things like this makes me feel satisfaction. Sometimes like to go on other boards to read what they say about good signings, it just feels good. Even though it hasn’t happened very often before.

It’s starting to kick in. The ambition.

This is all but done. And I’m usually quite pessimistic until things are very very obvious.

Botman Begins.

“Lille line wins: he wanted to sell Botman to Newcastle. Maldini and Massara did everything they could, even going to Lille before Milan-Atalanta” /Longo

It’s like someone applying for a job. Might be a 1st choice that just wasn’t happening. Still be happy about 2nd option. We don’t really know what’s actually been going on. It does seem like he preferred Milan though. No problems.