KaKa

3 minutes ago, 54 said:

To be fair the deals in January where 100% the right thing to do to get us out of the situation, getting competent players with experience in the Premier League where 100% needed, it would have been a huge risk to sign 5 players who might take a period of time to adjust from around Europe.

 

Also the rumours you're picking are very selective, yes we're being linked with DCL, Ake and Henderson, but we've also been linked with Paqueta, Botman, Ekitike, Nunez etc.

Yeah, exactly

All the numerous foreign players we have been linked with that have been just as speculative have been completely ignored

3 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

 

Well, the evidence of his transfer dealings across his whole career point to a British obsession. That’s not fiction, look at his deals.

 

 

Bournemouth fan in peace IIRC.

 

And I don’t disagree with the majority of that. Those signings were probably okay for Bournemouth, but he’s not managing them now and he’s trying to push on with us.

 

But so far it’s hard to ignore, a majority of our deals concluded and current rumours continue that British base.

You can't use his transfer strategy as a stick to beat him with man, as the Bournemouth situations was not comparable to what he has now.

He's also explained that in January it was an approach he thought was best to get us out of the mess we were in, and he was proven right. Resoundingly so.

Lets see the kinds of players that start coming in first before saying the man has an obsession

The strongest link so far has bee Ekitike, and the reports are that It's Howe that is really pushing for him and rates him, so I doubt he's hung up on just the British market.

2 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

 

I’m making an educated guess based on the rationale posted above. That’s again, assuming Howe has significant say/control.

 

Might be totally wrong, that’s fine… that’s how life works. I know as much as you all do and have never suggested anything else.

'Howe's continued British market obsession' is pretty strong for something we aren't even certain of man

Just now, Keegans Export said:

Signing PL-based players (or players with PL experience) was exactly the right thing to do in the position we found ourselves in at the time tbf.

Which is exactly what Howe said, and he has since mentioned that this summer he'll feel more comfortable now being able to really look at the whole market, and particularly some younger talents abroad.

But you know ... some folks would rather get over excited about some tenuous links

15 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

DCL and Ake would be terrible value for money. Would be paying way over the odds.

 

DCL would be a shite signing in general, always injured and crap attitude. Ake would be alright, but there would be much better options for the cost/we could bring in two or three.

 

We really need to move away from Howe’s continued British market obsession. 

 

 

 

You don't even have a clue who Howe is actually trying to sign. None of us do.

This guy man

I think with how well Dan Burn has done we will first look for a partner for him this summer, and so the major centre back signing is more likely to be on the right hand side i.e. right footed.

Recently we have seen links with Saliba and Lacroix, who would be young, athletic and quicker partners for Burn. I think the younger prospects on the left side we were looking at in January, we have since moved away from for the meantime.

Sarr is still so young. Can't believe he's only just turned 24 this year. 

5 minutes ago, Keegans Export said:

Looks like a very tidy player. Solid DM but always looking to progress the play forwards.

 

https://fbref.com/en/players/ce4f40c7/Cheick-Doucoure

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cheick-doucoure/profil/spieler/543387

Yeah, I looked at his numbers on smarter scout too, and he stands out for sure.

22 minutes ago, Rich said:

 

Did a quick filter by "young", "CM", and "international" in Europe's top leagues. Ruled out unrealistic candidates like Tchouameni then wasn't left with much in our sort of ballpark.

 

Of those, he seems the most obvious fit for our system and style based on a quick YouTube scout and looking at his available statistics. Seems likely to move to the PL this summer for around £15M, but we haven't been directly linked anywhere as far as I can tell.

Cool

I noticed him too coming from a different angle, but I agree he seems more in line with what Howe would be after. He seems to be a real prospect.

2 hours ago, Rich said:

 

I'll guess at Cheick Doucouré from Lens.

Interesting. Always thought with all the links to Fofana, that Doucore was in fact more of the type of CM Howe would be after.

What made you guess it would be him?

1 minute ago, Kimbo said:

I would’ve expected him to cost a lot more than that, especially to another premier league club.

Going into the final year of his contract.

43 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

Poor Arsenal man

11 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

But he’s had a serious injury in pretty much every season he has played, including under Howe at Bournemouth. It would be a huge risk going into the season relying on him as our main striker again.

Also ... I think if Wilson gets injured again, particularly ahead of January, that will be it for him. A new first team number 9 will be bought to replace him, and he'll be relegated to being a bench option longer term, with Wood then being moved on next summer.

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

But he’s had a serious injury in pretty much every season he has played, including under Howe at Bournemouth. It would be a huge risk going into the season relying on him as our main striker again.

And that's why they bought Chris Wood in January. I don't rate him, you don't rate him, and most others don't either, but that's who they went with at the time mostly due to the situation we were in. Unfortunately, that means he's going to be the fall back option for the meantime. Fortunately he's only on a two year deal.

We can only but hope that as I mentioned previously, he has someone playing off him this season, in order to reduce the amount of hold up/link up play he is involved in. Also, hopefully with improvements to other key parts of the team, we'll see more goals from all other areas too, so we're not overly reliant on him if and when he plays. 

5 minutes ago, Awaymag said:

it was only a year ago when Bruce was in charge........a lot can change in a year!

 

If you are going to spunk £200k a week on someone then please do it with a signing that is top notch.

 

 

 

You'd think there were no other players coming through. People just find it so hard to let go of the past.

Signing Gareth Bale man ... yikes.

3 hours ago, Hanshithispantz said:

If he's been bought as a number 9 he'll obviously not start because we have Wilson. If we're playing with wide forwards (not wingers like Howe was using last year) which wingback suggests then Ekitike will start if fit like. Unless he's a total flop.

 

 

 

He's not going to start. ASM will be on one side and the other wide man we are buying will be on the other side.

11 minutes ago, nufc123 said:

Its Ligue 1 not PL. And no he doesnt look better than anything we have. Besides Maximin will play left. We need a right player. Would happily be wrong here but just cant see your plan being one that Howe would do

 

 

 

You're right. He's not going to start. Absolutely no chance.

It's clear we are after a top class right winger the likes of Moussa Diaby and Zaniolo who we have both apparently registered interest in.

ASM, Wilson, the new right winger and Joelinton ... none will be dropped to throw a 19 year old who has just completed his first full season into the team off the bat. 

4 hours ago, SUPERTOON said:

Wood should be absolutely nowhere near the squad going forward

Well you'll have to have a word with Eddie Howe about that. I'm not the one in charge.

3 hours ago, Ronaldo said:

Literally the wealthiest club in the world and you’re making a case for Chris Wood to figure, man. He’ll be 4th choice at best next season or out the door. 

Man, you guys are really getting carried away already. We'll see. They keep telling everyone it's going to be a gradual progression but no one is listening.

I'm not making a case for anything by the way. They just spent £25 million on Wood a couple of months ago, and so I anticipate that he will still be used for at least another year as a more experienced backup, because I doubt anyone is going to come in and buy him this summer. 

5 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Would you not be slightly concerned relying on Wilson being fit the whole season again ? 

Well, the manager signed Chris Wood, and so he will be making use of him.

I do think we are going to transition to more of a 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 to have someone play in behind the main striker , which should help Wood improve, as he cannot play upfront by himself, which is why his best at Burnley was with Barnes doing all the link up play.

Just now, SUPERTOON said:

 

Are you both expecting us to bring in a right winger and another striker along side this lad ?

Right winger and another midfielder apparently.

And so Ekitike will get minutes covering upfront and on the left initially.

3 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Massive risk this mind spending that much on someone so unproven, especially when our attacking players need such an upgrade. Fingers crossed he’s the real deal and hits the ground running, don’t see him having much time to settle in as such as we will need him to start pretty much straight away.

He's not going to be in the first team initially.

Just now, Flip said:

I don’t agree Kaka. Whatsoever. A player that has won things should have more of a right to go for the money than someone like Botman. His main focus should be to play with and against the best (Champions League) and win titles. He can move to the PL in a few years. Bit sad that we want the PL to be the Super League of Europe and to discredit anyone not wanting to play in this league. A league hugely dominated by one team for the past five years.

I see it completely the opposite way. He's a 20 year old that hasn't even proven himself at the top level yet. Winning the Champions League should be the least of his worries at that age. If he goes to the prem in a team on the come up and does well, it's the biggest stage in football. Absolutely everyone will want him then, and at 25 then he can go to a top club and look at winning the top prizes, if he hasn't been able to achieve that yet where he is.

Surprised Wenger has not taken up an international gig since he left club football. Think he'd be quality.

Pretty cool for the kids in attendance

You haven't lost to these lot in 60 years man. My God ...