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3 minutes ago, PauloGeordio said:

Meaning Maddison is our main target this window! 

If Leicester made him available for a fair price that took into account his contract situation as well, I have no doubt we would go for him. 

14 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

I think it’s more that we would be buying Gordon in a position we aren’t exactly blessed with real quality in and he isn’t proven. If we already had a winger or 2 of real proven quality then signing someone as raw as Gordon would be more accepted. It was the same with Pedro in the summer I was against signing him at the time because I felt we needed someone more proven and in the end the club agreed and went for Isak. 

With everyone fit and firing, ASM would be on the left and Almiron on the right IMO. Those two at their best are good enough to start at the minute, and would provide enough quality.

Gordon would be a high potential young player that can start occasionally and come in off the bench and make an impact, and he can do so in multiple positions on the pitch. It would have been a similar thing or idea with Joao Pedro.

From what I can make of things, the Gordon signing looks to be an alternative to signing Joao Pedro, who is unfortunately out injured, and who Watford were seemingly not willing to sell anyway. 

I think this money we are looking to spend on Gordon would have been spent on Joao Pedro in the summer if Watford had not been against selling him. I think the Isak deal was a separate deal altogether, and we would have still signed Joao Pedro.

1 minute ago, ohmelads said:

 

How much do you think we're spending this month? Do you think that we are going to spend 40M+ on Gordon and still be able to sign a proven Premier League player like, say, Maddison, in January? I didn't say no other deals could be done, but let's be real.

 

ASM's last league start was in August and we're looking to make our major January signing a player who plays in his position, when he already hasn't started a league game for 5 months. That's pretty indicative.

I believe the club would absolutely spend that kind of money, but only if the valuation matches theirs, yes. The problem is that in January that is rarely the case. The Gordon deal is being done because with all the hoopla over there he seems to be available for a valuation close to what we agree with. If the same happened with any other player we liked, I think we'd do such a deal as well.

ASM hasn't been able to get a run in the team this season because he has kept breaking down physically, and was ultimately out injured for a decent amount of time. This has likely set him back fitness wise, and for the style of play we currently use, he can't just come straight back in, and so he's being worked back in gradually, just like they are doing with Isak, who's been out injured as well.

6 minutes ago, Dokko said:

 

Maddison had just signed for Leicester at Gordon's age and hadn't played in the prem. Gordon has 6-7 PL goals to his name before Maddison had even made his PL debut at the same age. 

 

Gordons breakthrough seasons were in a relegation threatened basket case of a club. Leicester were at the top end of the table functioning like a club which could upset the establishment again. 

 

It's really hard to compare them both due to their environments, nevermind the different types of players that they are. 

If there's one thing that is for certain, it's that most football fans don't trust their clubs buying promising young players that don't come with the ready made stats in hand.

It was the same thing with Joao Pedro on here over the summer. People saying we shouldn't be spending £30 million on him because he wasn't a goal scorer and pointing to his record in the previous prem season when he was just 20 years old.

They just don't believe in scouting and identifying players potential based on their abilities, which haven't yet translated into actual tangible stats on the pitch yet.

5 minutes ago, Colos Short and Curlies said:

Its been said before but this place would have been fun when we were signing Bellamy.

 

Other than the hair aspect they are very similar situations

 

For the record I'm on the fence as to whether AG will kick on and have a good career or last season will be his peak, but I don't think he is the type of player we should be targeting right now and a Maddison type makes more sense. I wouldn't be against seeing him right wing with Maxi on the left and Miggy as a number 10, or even try Maxi as the 10 and have 2 pacey wide players and Wilson/Isak create space so he doesn't get crowded out

And still it continues ...

Why do you believe they have prioritised Gordon ahead of this Maddison type and chosen to forego that sort of signing? And what makes you think Maddison or any other similar profile of player has not been targeted this window?

1 minute ago, ohmelads said:

 

What is this budget you refer to?
The club's budget, whatever it is. Any signing comes with opportunity cost. 

 

Why do you think it is either Gordon or Maddison?

Didn't say that. Was an example of a more proven player, one we've been linked and possibly available so he's relevant.

 

Why do you think he is coming in to start straight away ahead of ASM or anyone else?

Didn't say that either. Howe showed with Bruno and Isak he's happy to ease players in, and I'd imagine even moreso with someone younger. That's why I said "maybe in the summer". But fact is ASM has barely started a game this season as it is and if we sign a left winger for big money in ASM's position, it's pretty obvious it further limits his opportunities. I see it as either ASM accepting his role as an explosive sub or moving on. That might depend on us finishing top 4.

You spoke of the budget as if spending on Gordon means no other deals could be done.

You spoke of signing Gordon as if it meant Maddison or anyone else couldn't be signed in addition to him.

You spoke of Gordon coming in on the left because Howe doesn't trust ASM tactically.

Come on man.

On 23/01/2023 at 17:13, joeyt said:

Remember when they had Ancelotti. That was a weird period

Yes, I remember it well.

There was a brief period after Everton had just hired Ancelotti, and James Rodriguez had joined them also and started the season on fire, and DCL was scoring goals for fun.

All the while we were stuck in the doldrums with Mike Ashley ... and I remember thinking we were completely finished and that we would soon be miles behind even Everton.

4 minutes ago, ohmelads said:

I was hoping we'd spend our budget on a proven talent like Maddison who not only brings the exact attributes we need (creativity to unlock a low block defence) but who has produced goals and assists year on year in this league and was producing far better numbers at the same age as Gordon. That type of signing is usually a pretty safe bet for teams who have the finances and can attract them. But we do need quality on the left and Howe clearly doesn't trust ASM tactically. You can see how Gordon would fit Howe's system, and he has talked about lowering the squad's average age. This feels much more of an educated punt on youth, a gamble on his potential, the fact he'll suit our system better than he did at Everton, and maybe shine in a better team. It feels high risk for the fees quoted, but Howe and the scouts have earned some trust.

 

This looks like it'll spell the end for ASM maybe in the summer, unless he's willing to accept his role as an explosive bench player.

What is this budget you refer to?

Why do you think it is either Gordon or Maddison?

Why do you think he is coming in to start straight away ahead of ASM or anyone else?

Just now, Doctor Zaius said:

 

So? We're allowed to debate the merits of the deal as we see fit. 

 

So? Who says you can't?

I'm just letting you know I don't rate or trust your judgement, like you don't rate Gordon 

1 hour ago, Doctor Zaius said:

Really not sure what Gordon has done to deserve a 40M pricetag like. A few decent performances last season. Cant get in the team this season. 

And yet one of the best Directors of Football in the country is trying to do the deal, And THE best manager in the league wants the deal done.

Maybe you just don't really get this whole football thing 

34 minutes ago, toontownman said:

Think its bollocks and his agent and Roma are struggling to shift him. It was reported AC milan had agreed a deal for him a day or two ago wasn't it. He has been shopped around us and Spurs and suddenly Bournemouth are in the running. Seems suspiciously like thats the kind of club he will end up at and all the others have passed.

Yeah, maybe you're right.

9 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

I’ve not seen a lot of him is he any good ?

Honestly, I haven't watched much of him either.

I know we were linked a fair bit in the summer too, and then that report of details of our bid this window popped up, so I'm guessing there was some truth to it.

Seems highly rated and is positionally versatile, also another left footer, which would be good, and he's also quite tall. Just a shame about the injury history, but could still be worth a punt as he's still young and can be had for a decent price as Roma's price is fair.

1 minute ago, Ikon said:

Not very surprising really because we have been/are in need of quality players. Maddison for example, why not longing for him until it’s done or over. Think most folks know that it won’t happen in January though. 

It's understandable for sure, and we will definitely eventually get one of those types or a DM that allows Bruno to step into that type of role higher up the pitch. Like you say January is just a tough time to manage getting a top quality player for fair value. Getting Bruno this time last year was a small miracle to be honest.

A guy we were linked with earlier in the window that would have been an alternative to a Maddison/Paqueta, was Lovro Majer at Rennes, but that rumour faded away without any further news. He would have been a great addition, and a similar sort of player to those two.

6 minutes ago, loki679 said:

I say we go full shithouse and pull out of the deal.  Let them deal with the fallout in the middle of their relegation battle.

13 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

We actually bid on Maddison tbf , we were never after Paqueta.

Yeah, that's true. I was more talking about the endless longing for both 

5 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

 

If we've been allowed to speak to the player and agree contract terms, then that suggests it's pretty much done.

Either the structure of payments or some other finer details are being ironed out, or the announcement is being delayed for some other reason.

Over a game man ... my God!

27 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Find it a little strange that so many people think Maddison is coming this window. Thought it was fairly common knowledge he was going to wait until the summer and pick the best option for himself when he knows for certain which team can offer him. ECL being his priority.

Maddison is the new Paqueta.

49 minutes ago, Hanshithispantz said:

I’m not sure I could hold it against a player refusing to train for us if our fans were chasing them down the street like 

 

 

 I think it's a big part of the reason they've been open to letting him leave. No idea what the heck those fans thought they were doing.

4 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

Apparently we agreed a fee with Roma for him, based on an initial loan and obligation to buy at the end, but we had the obligation to buy based on him featuring in 75% of games due to his injury history, and Roma didn't agree to that.

Wonder if we go back in and reach a compromise on the conditions for the obligation to buy.

3 hours ago, Jack27 said:

 File this under probably bollocks

Think Milan are being petty and are trying to wind us up with this.

I read a rumour earlier in the window that we enquired about Charles De Ketelaere who has had a tough time settling in there, and who we apparently liked a lot and tried to sign at the time he decided to join them. 

Apparently though, AC Milan still believe he will come good there and want to keep hold of him still. I think they maybe felt our approach was a distraction and so are pulling this stuff with ASM.

Remember we already have a bit of a thing going with them over Botman, who has turned out great for us and contributed to the best defence in the league and a top 4 place, which I'm sure hasn't gone unnoticed there 

2 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

That would be class for Lamptey man. Wow.

Really like what I'm seeing from Danilo.