Shak

I love when people feel the need to belittle sports they don't like themselves, like it'll prove they like the correct sport or something

Had to turn that off after a couple of minutes

Cherki would be class like, few sneaky links to him the last week or two.

A lot of deals are being done for much less than the initial rumoured prices, it seems. 25m for Barnes does seem particularly reasonable given his output, though. That said, if you take away his goals we're paying too much IMO.

The highlighting which one he was at the start of each clip was really helpful there, would have been lost without it.

Theo Hernandez.

Perhaps it's possible to prefer one of ASM or Barnes without pretending the other is shite?

I almost feel bad for them, they clearly have no fucking clue what's going on and can't comment on things like this one way or the other as a result

Just Pata posting shite as usual, best to ignore him.

I think this is on the assumption that ASM will be sold. In which case that would fund the new RW. If ASM isn't going anywhere then I don't see us buying any more wingers. Almiron, ASM, Gordon and Barnes (with Joelinton also able to play LW and Murphy an option too) is pretty deep in the wide positions. Whether there's enough quality there is a whole other debate but the numbers are adequate.

I mean, in terms of how much fun to watch they are ASM is clearly of higher quality. But I'm not sure how you can look at how productive they've been in their careers and come to the conclusion that Barnes is a drop off from Maxi.

If the Barnes reporting is true I'll be very interested to see if that's the only winger we bring in. Reports were that we wanted a versatile forward and he's really not that. My gut says it's gonna be ASM out and Barnes in, straight swap of out and out LW players that opens up some wiggle room this season in terms of FFP. However, we really don't know. Still holding out hope for Chiesa at RW.

Feels like it we wanted to do that then Maddison would have made more sense.

I'll be shocked if this isn't Barnes in, ASM out. We're desperately short of players to play RW, signing Barnes doesn't change that. Maybe they see Gordon as a RW and it's Gordon and Miggy on the right and ASM and Barnes on the left though.

With the way Isak plays as a CF, dropping off the front and linking play, I could see Gordon being used as a replacement for him for sure. Assuming this Barnes thing is a goer, I'm quite interested to see who we bring in at RW. I've been expecting our wing additions to be more creative types who can pick a pass... but with Barnes coming in I do wonder if Eddie wants the wide forwards to be more goalscorer types with Isak bordering on playing as a false nine.

This is the real issue with Maxi in terms of fitting into the team IMO. For a player with his pace it's shocking how infrequently you see him on the receiving end of passes in dangerous positions. He's clearly been putting effort in to improve what he does when he has the ball but the bigger issue has always been his movement without it for me.

I love what a bunch of bargain hunting fucks we are domestically. Going after Gordon when he was getting hassled by Everton fans. Getting Pope from a relegated team, maybe Barnes now too. All players that would have gone for a fair bit more had their circumstances been less favourable for us.

Nah just do it in a 4-3-3. Feels like playing through Isak as much as possible would probably be a good idea

We could sign Barnes and Diaby and play Isak as a false nine.

There's a desperate lack of goals in our wide options. Barnes isn't anyone's dream signing but double figures first team goals for a PL club the last three seasons running is really good and gives us something we desperately need.

I mean if it were me I'd hold a bit back and go balls out for Kvaratskhelia next summer but I can see the play here.

Yeah but we're not that team anymore, surely? I think anyone who doesn't have a soft spot for Maxi is a bit weird and I'd be sad to see him go... but we shouldn't keep a player who doesn't fit into the current team style around just because he was good when we were shit.

I mean, isn't that the point? Having two quality players for the LW position to cope with being a high energy pressing team competing in Europe every season.

I'd go Chiesa, I think. Much higher potential and Diaby comes with plenty of question marks too.