KaKa

4 hours ago, LionOfGosforth said:

Nearly double our transfer record. We're nowhere near being able to compete for these types of players. So much pressure on EH to bridge the gap with genius coaching and fitness levels others struggle to get near. I prefer it this way, fuck the ESL cunts.

 

 

 

It's really not necessary to spend this way, but once these so called 'big clubs' get some money in they just can't help themselves. They'll always pay top rate for players already proven in the premier league.

We will compete with them doing exactly what we've been doing.

Brighton have figured out a model to identify these players from all over the globe for incredible value and I find them absolutely terrifying to be honest. They have started targeting higher profile players and are going to start climbing to even higher levels.

In the last year they have received around £200 million for Potter, Cucurella and Caicedo who together cost them less than £20 million I believe.

This deal to gazump Chelsea was all the more delightful after I saw a bunch of content by Chelsea fans insulting Brighton for having ideas above their station and daring to demand £100 million.

Love this for Brighton. Setting the standard of absolutely rinsing these 'big clubs' when they come for players.

4 hours ago, The College Dropout said:

Liverpools transfer policy since Edwards left has been a bit mad. 
 

Think he’ll do well there but £110m?  
 

Todd is an idiot. Chased him all summer - eventually offer the asking price anyway… then get gazumped by Liverpool. What a shit show. 

Chelsea could have easily wrapped it up earlier too because Liverpool only became players once the Saudi money unexpectedly came through for Fabinho and Henderson.

I said a little while ago on here that I would pay the £100 million for him for his age and proven play in midfield since day one as a teenager practically. Also already done it in the Prem in a progressive team.

Monumental fumble by Chelsea.

6 minutes ago, Jaqen said:

Grealish role at City is very different to Villa where he was the main man. He's basically there to hold his position right on the touchline outwide and draw defenders to him whilst creating space for the midfielders and Haaland.

 

City pretty much play with a front 5 in attack, two wide players to stretch the opposition as wide as possible then two '10s' exploiting the gaps between the fullback and CBs who are occupied by Haaland. They don't even use pacy wingers anymore just ones very good at dribbling, holding the ball and passing. Wide players stats probably suffer in this system but they are clearly doing what Pep wants them to do.

 

It's daft to compare Grealish to Sterling and Jesus as that was a totally different setup with essentially wide forwards getting into to the box as much as possible. 

Regardless of roles, I just don't think he has been as threatening as any of those other players.

Bernardo and Mahrez on the opposite side in the current system still cause far more problems.

4 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Foden and Mahrez couldn’t even get into the team last season. 
 

Pep seems happy with him in the system. Happier than he is with Foden. So I’ll take that as him being good. Pep is all about the system and he seems happy with Grealish in it. 

I get it Pep absolutely values him highly, likely because he is doing exactly what is being asked of him.

I just think within Peps parameters he could still express himself a bit more. I liked him a lot at Villa and it's clear the instructions have hamstrung him a fair bit compared to then.

Whenever we played Man City the last few seasons I was far more worried about Foden and Mahrez causing us problems, even if Pep valued them less.

1 minute ago, Shearergol said:

Yeah you win, he’s shit 

No one said he was shit. My goodness.

3 minutes ago, Shearergol said:

In which he plays pretty much every game. You reckon pep picks him for no reason?

This guy man 

I've explained my stance.

In all honesty I'd start Foden over him every single time.

But I'm sure Pep has his reasons. 

Just now, MrRaspberryJam said:

kaka I’m fucking sick of it man. 

Just now, Shearergol said:

He’d get in every team in the league 

That's not what we're discussing. We're talking about him at Man City.

Just now, MrRaspberryJam said:

Whenever I watch him all he seems to do is receive the ball on the left wing, sidestep down the touch line 10 yards with it then pass it back 5 yards. 

Exactly. He's become so hesitant. It's a classic case of thinking too much.

Just now, Shearergol said:

Kaka liking it shows it’s wrong 

I like Grealish but I think Pep's instructions have him overthinking everything.

He looks so robotic and unsure of when to just express himself now unfortunately.

For the level of talent around him Grealish has been okay at Man City.

Mahrez, DeBruyne, Bernardo, Gundogan, Foden all perform at a higher level than him IMO.

Even Sterling and Jesus before him looked more threatening in that wide position.

He's been okay.

The Kane thing is fantastically funny. 

Him staying and leaving for a free to another Prem club, after another stinking season for Spurs would be just desserts for Levy.

£100 million for the Paqueta I watched at West Ham last season is actually hilarious. Great business for West Ham.

Paqueta will clearly be far better suited at Man City. However I'm still not sure exactly how good he'll ultimately be. 

My guy instinct is that he'll be alright kind of the way Grealish has been and not the level of the likes of DeBruyne, Gundogan and Bernardo.

Coulde be wrong though. Be really interesting to see how it plays out.

This season is going to be something.

2 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Was thinking this the other day, imagine if we could get him ?

He's so good and really productive when he plays.

Have noticed Pep not being happy with him at times. Think perhaps tactically he doesn't always follow Peps instructions to a tee.

Going to be interesting to see how his situation develops over this season.

I'm beginning to think Foden needs to get out of Man City. Don't think Pep trusts him.

Thought with Gundogan and Mahrez leaving he would be put into the first team, but it's not looking like that will be the case.

Seems such a waste as I think he starts for anyone else in the league 

32 minutes ago, Shearergol said:

@KaKa thoughts?

Argentine league?!  You having a laugh?

Just now, Gallowgate Toon said:

Paqueta isn't good enough for City. He's a good player but very streaky. 

To be fair I think he fits their style more, and will have a ton more space and quality technical players around him. It will be a great change for him compared to West Ham, and I expect he'll look far more dangerous.

Just now, Matt1892 said:

I’m not sure why people are down on Chalobah, if he was in Ligue 1 playing for someone like Rennes last season he would have been like prime Costacurta.

He's a talent and can apparently play in midfield which I didn't know.

Think it was the season before last when he was playing a lot at the start of the season and was looking really good.

£25 million for him would be very good business.

1 minute ago, Adam P said:

Nope, their turnaround came when Paqueta and Rice learned how to play together. Antonio turning round their season is an absurdity. 

I disagree. I really don't think Paqueta even really ever did that great for them. Had flashes here and there but it was mostly an awkward fit.

Just a few days and it all kicks off. We'll all get to see for ourselves.

1 minute ago, Adam P said:

The only reason West Ham did anything of note last season was because they had Rice and Paqueta. In the latter stages of the cup, it was Paqueta standing out as their best player. He found his feet at West Ham and was instrumental in getting them to the final. Losing those two players and replacing with JWP, McTominay etc will make them worse.

Those two were playing in the team when they were flirting with relegation most of the season.

The turn around mostly came when they gave up on Scammacca and went back to Antonio up front.

1 minute ago, Jaqen said:

The context is it's a side that finished on 40 points selling their two best players and replacing them with bang average (at best) players. 

Man, we'll see when the season starts.

You guys are just tied to the narrative Maguire, McTominay and JWP are shit players no matter the circumstances.

I'm pretty confident that will prove to be completely wrong in a Moyes side.

5 minutes ago, KDT said:

 

Didn't they have a great transfer window last summer and look to be so much better going forward then we did as well?

I personally didn't like the Scammacca and Paqueta signings for them last summer as I knew they wouldn't do much under Moyes.

And for what it's worth I'm not saying they will be better than us with these signings. They'll just be much better than last year and more difficult to play against.

1 minute ago, SUPERTOON said:

Me either, one of the least mobile and creative midfields in the league.

If you're trying to play like Brighton, Arsenal or Man City, yes.