KaKa

I wish this was true.

 

https://twitter.com/blurtnite/status/1301894394380013568?s=21

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Where did he play for Ireland yesterday?

The mood on here at the minute man 

Looks like Arsenal are going for Felipe Anderson.

Very shrewd move. Think he'll look a lot better in their team. Didn't seem to play as much under Moyes.

7 goals and 14 assists the season before last. Less fruitful last season but Bournemouth were collectively abysmal.

 

There's no doubting that he and Hendrick for a cumulative £0 is decent value; they're the sort of signings that ensure you have a squad capable of keeping its head above water, which I've absolutely no doubt it will.

 

Fraser in particular has the potential to be a useful asset, but they're not remotely interesting signings and neither of them represent a significant upgrade on the options we've had in either of those positions before. There's no imagination or strategy, they've just been advertised by their respective agents and Bruce has happily chosen them because they're available and he's heard of them. Like Bentaleb and Rose, basically. This is how our recruitment works now, under a regime that has well and truly checked out: "I don't care, give him a few players if he really needs them, as long as they're cheap." Just kicking the can along the road. Scouts need not apply/come back to work.

 

I fail to see either player making a significant impact. If Fraser is going to be first choice, where does that leave Almiron and ASM? Are we going to be playing a derivative of 4-4-2? Can see the form of those two players dropping off a cliff and the squad's interest collectively plummeting as the season goes on. We've seen it happen in revolutions of the Ashley cycle - players' performances start to falter as their time at a meaningless club reaches its latter stages. We'll still stay up, though. The banter will keep em going, just.

 

As for Wilson, I can't see us spending £20m on him and nor should any ambitious club (lol). Again, he's just familiar and available. Not actually a particularly good option, certainly not at that money.

It's been a disgraceful summer so far, but Ryan Fraser is legitimately good in my opinion. Aside from Bournemouth being poor last season, I think his contract situation also didn't help.

Hendrick is hard to say. It'll be interesting to see if he gets to play his preferred roe through the middle, as he was shunted out right at Burnley.

Are non of you bothered that our "head coach" has not been seen in public for what must be two weeks now?

 

Worrying times.

He's having to multitask with all of the staff furloughed.

Bins and bogs in the morning. Offices and groundwork in the afternoon. Then chasing up targets in the evenings.

The bacon sarnies should seal the deal.

It is, especially since it means Elmohamady is now available.

Okay, everybody please take a deep breath

There are Phil Jones rumours. Considering Schar and LeJeune are on their way out I think it might be true

It's went from wages agreed and him agreeing to join to now not even having an agreement on wages

Open to offers for Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune apparently. Inevitable I guess

As a "head coach" Bruce doesn't have a say in who comes or goes, or does he?

 

Previously we have had players brought in, with allegedly the manager having the final yes or no.

 

The more I follow these journos reports the more confusing it becomes.

 

So is Bruce actually doing the transfers like a modern day 'Arry Redknapp?

 

Looking at the players who are coming in, I would guess Bruce is having a fair bit of input. Of course they will all still be cheap or free transfers, but he's definitely going for a basic British look, which considering the type of coach he is, is probably the right idea tbh. It won't win anything, but might just keep us clear of relegation with a bit of luck.

Yeah, he's definitely getting a say. And is getting his type of players, which is what should happen with any manager really. If different players are wanted by the club then get a manager that prefers those types. It's not rocket science.

I don't even think MA cares who comes in really as long as they are either young with 're-sale' value, or if they are older, and then they have to be cheap.

The Wilson deal will be interesting because he is an older player (by MA's standards) and it looks like even if we send Ritchie we will still need to pay £20 million. I will be shocked if that happens under Ashley.

Which footballer does Kaka not know about?

I mean I'm not saying anything extraordinary here at all, and I do love my football.

Can't say I've seen much of his play, but he seems like a relatively entertaining player from his highlights. If only I had any faith he's going be utilised effectively.

Both he and Wilson are very straight forward players for Bruce's 4-2-3-1.

Wilson stays up top and focuses on getting into scoring positions high up the pitch, and Fraser is a wide player that takes people on and delivers the ball well into the box from either side.

Don't think misusing either will be a problem. Wilson up top, ASM and Fraser out wide and Almiron behind the front man should work well for Bruce.

At this point if they can then loan another striker, it might then be best to loan Joelinton out to the kind of club and manager that had him previously so that his value doesn't tank any further, and hopefully is maybe even enhanced, so that the fee isn't a complete write off. Palace have succesfully done that with Alexander Sorloth and are going to end up making a profit on him.

Really couldnt give a s*** 

 

as already said, with bruce and his 'tactics' - we will under-perform all season.

 

Wouldnt surprise me if ASM ends up benched.

 

All signs point to Joelinton getting benched.

 

Like gayle being crocked?

If both Fraser and Wilson come in I mean.

Haven't Leicester just signed a left back from Atalanta?

 

Castagne is a right back.

 

Yeah I've just seen that, thought he was brought in to play on the left. Seems a lot of money to play back up to Ricardo

Think it's to allow Periera to work his way back from that knee ligament injury.

The only back up they had was that young kid Justin James who did okay, but he'll probably go out on loan to get some more experience, which he didn't have much of.

Really couldnt give a shit 

 

as already said, with bruce and his 'tactics' - we will under-perform all season.

 

Wouldnt surprise me if ASM ends up benched.

All signs point to Joelinton getting benched.

The players being brought in are what Bruce is more accustomed to working with and so I could see him doing well with them.

It's what they should have just let him do in the first place, instead of wasting a fortune on Joelinton and now messing up his situation so badly.

I doubt he’s on much by Premier League standards. This is going to be his one big contract to take him to 30-31, can’t blame him as shit as it might have been for Bournemouth.

Yeah, the risk of him getting injured in those last games for a club he was leaving was a lot to ask. Especially as he didn't already have a deal lined up with a new club.

Haven't Leicester just signed a left back from Atalanta?

Castagne is a right back.

If Norwich seemingly have so many talented players how were they relegated?

Most of their more talented players were all really young and inexperienced.

Also had a bunch injured early in the campaign if I remember correctly.

Very nice replacement for Chilwell. Clever and shrewd move by Rodgers. Will still leave him with £30 million from the Chelsea deal.

But, hey, he's no Paul Dummet now is he. Not bothered at all. Nope. No. Not one bit ...

Batshuayi would be very good, i.e no chance in hell

 

The sad thing is if we want him we could get him. Chelsea have decided to move him on, particularly as he is in the final year of his contract now, and they will be using Werner, Abraham and Giroud, while Havertz can also play up top.

 

Going to be interesting to see who we end up with, if anyone. There are a decent number of options out there in the likes of Callum Wilson, Josh King, Alfredo Morelos, Michy Batshuayi, and even Ollie Watkins. It will be terrible if we end up blowing it.

 

Please stop pushing this rumour - it makes me vomit in my mouth every time I read it...

 

Unrealisitc signing? Or you think he's bad?

 

Absolutely awful signing. Not good enough, and frankly broken in the head.

 

Would certainly prefer the money collect interest in Ashley’s account and persist with Joelinton.

Raconteur[/member]

Thought you might like this. Seems like an amazing guy 

He is a luxury player for us. He cannot play central. Has to drift pit wide. That's fine except he doesn't create or affect play enough when out wide to justify his starting spot.

 

We can but wish the best for him but barring a complete rejuvination in confidence and a role that works, which of course we will be told has happened, I don't see him making progress. Hope this is an embarrassing post to look back on when he lights it up.

Don't think he'll ever light it up under Bruce unfortunately. Be happy to be proved wrong though. Hard to believe it's the same player in the clip below, but just look at the forward runs from all the players around him and how that allows him to initially drop deep as you said, and then arrive late.

He gets a hat-trick that way and then a brilliant assist for the last goal. All of last season with Newcastle he had no one ever making runs forward off him. Too bad.

Joelinton is fucking awful lads, it's nowt to do with being played out of position or Bruce's tactics, he is simply not a good football player.

So easy to say and just so lazy, but you're entitled to your opinion man.

Every Arsenal fan I know says he's been poor and hasn't been the same since his last big injuries

 

That is an extraordinary offer from PSG man. What the heck man?!

 

How much do you think he's worth?

Around half of that at the most, so £15 million. He's always injured. He only played 25 games last season and was out for most of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury and then a hamstring.