KaKa

I remember Pep saying at some point that Palmer had been asking to leave for two years prior to that. All these clubs that spend loads, but that also have good academies, usually end up not giving enough of their young talent opportunities to come through. They are very impatient. Palmer, Lavia and Delap are serious talents that they let leave, and there will be plenty more to come. We should be keeping a close eye on that continuously.

I mentioned his contract situation in my post. It's going into its final year. Palmer still had another 3 years to run on his at the time he left. In addition, he is not an actual clone of Cole Palmer! Despite being a promising prospect himself, he probably isn't as far along as Palmer was when he left for Chelsea.

There were no clauses for Palmer to Chelsea. He wanted out and it's a similar scenario here. The fee being mentioned is £25 million, as his contract is up in 2026, so it won't be a big fee. When Chelsea signed Palmer no one was saying he was a potential mega talent or sure thing, that wasn't said about Delap either, and we weren't saying that about Hall. It's going to come down to being a judgement call by the scouts. He's highly thought of prospect and so hopefully we've got decent info on him.

Just been reading an article about James Mcatee being unsettled at Man City. Not enough playing time and wants to leave. Similar situation to Cole Palmer and oddly enough similar sort of profile, as far as being a lefty that plays number 10 or on the right. Has also played CM and CF, so pretty versatile. Tends to look really good for the under 21s when he goes away with them too. Looked good coming on the other day against Leicester. I wonder if he's on our radar and if we'd be interested. Having seen what's happened recently with the likes of Palmer and Delap, I'd be very tempted. Especially with how the Lewis Hall transfer has worked out for us too. I'm a big fan of nicking these highly rated prospects from Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal, if they are looking to leave for more playing time, as their academies are so good. 22 years old too, so a good age to really kick on now. Could he be a right wing option perhaps? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14230571/Man-City-James-McAtee-Cole-Palmer.html

Think it's just clubs abroad he can agree a summer move with in January. Or did they change that?

I just think the potential is undeniable really, and so getting carried away is perfectly understandable! They've only just started playing together and so this should only go from strength to strength. Fingers crossed, but it's also looking like they are all pretty durable sorts, and so hopefully that remains the case. I also think that Bunce guy we brought in has made a difference. The squad seems to be in a better place in general injury wise, and we're not seeing as many longer term injuries where we are losing key players for long periods.

Very interesting to hear this from a staunch Man City fan, who has been privy to watching some seriously good midfields in recent times. I posed the question earlier today in a different thread, if we had the best midfield in the Prem. Not surprised to see others are thinking along the same lines too. Think it will become more of a discussion over the next few months. It's just such a robust three with a nice variety of elements that compliment each other so well. Very exciting indeed. Funny how flabbergasted he is that we aren't further up the league already. We were just waiting for that final Tonali piece!

That makes him even more evil and cruel! Peddling that nonsense because of his goofy baseball caps man. Hope he's enjoying the Ratcliffe era.

Yeah, I think there is talent there for sure. Pretty tough to nurture it as the lead man at Man United though, especially when the team isn't firing on all cylinders. I think for it to work at your club he needed to come in behind a more experienced striker already doing the business, that he'd eventually take over from in a couple of seasons. Would have been less pressure. Think you could still pull that off to be fair, if you go for that more experienced striker in the upcoming windows.

That's the whole point though, you went way too soon for Hojlund. He hadn't even established himself as a starter in a top league yet and you spent that fee on him! To come in as your starting striker! Isak had already played at least three full seasons at Sociedad by the time we went for him as our starting striker. And had shown a lot more at that level, to then make a reasonable assessment on. It's really not comparable at all.

Rio was so cruel when we were suffering under Mike Ashley man. Just talking complete nonsense. It's unbelievable how things have flipped and they are now the ones stuck in a rotten situation. Makes me so incredibly happy. It's good and healthy for other fans bases to suffer a similar fate. Too many of them think they are invincible and speak so recklessly.

Wow. Missed this yesterday. Think Concecaio is going to do really well there. Sad for Fonseca. Just wasn't doing a good enough job.

It's a strange thing just looking at a players numbers/output. Isak's size, speed, athleticism and technique have always stood out and he was really starting to have some significant showings for Sweden about a year or so before we bought him, in the Euros I think it was. He was clearly going to be far more dangerous in a more open and faster paced league than he was in Spain, and I imagine we recognised that. It's a similar story with Cunha at Wolves. At Atletico he wasn't even a consistent starter, and really didn't have much to show as far as numbers go. In the Prem he looks like a star, because of how well suited he is to the higher tempo and more open style. And now every fan base is thirsting after both Cunha and Isak!

Totally agree. It's really great having such a good set of players and characters that make up the team. I really think it's going to culminate with them winning things at some point too. It's coming.

Amazing. I totally get it The trophies are coming for this current lot though, and it's going to feel special.

Was catching up on the highlights of their game last night. He is an all action wrecking ball of a striker man. Proper talisman for Ipswich already. Glad he missed our game against them. He looks like he is going to be a top top striker.

Yeah, it was a great deal. You'll likely get most of it back from a club in Italy I imagine, he was that good there. You really needed a more seasoned striker ahead of Hojlund that he can rotate in for as he's still so young, and wasn't even starting at Atalanta when you got him. Going to be interesting to see who you go for.

He's more of a Firmino type of striker. He was class for Bologna last season and contributed massively to them getting Champions League. I was very surprised that Man Utd signed him. It really didn't make sense as a fit. It's since been mentioned that Ashworth recommended him based on the scouting report we had for him at Newcastle. He also had a low release clause.

Wrong answer! Be assured. The trophies are coming for this team. If not this season, for sure next season, once we sort that right wing out.

Think they will figure something out. The situation is quite bad, I just can't see them not doing anything.

Yeah, going to need to make some key moves in January in those positions.

The trophies thing is interesting in these circumstances. Here's a question ... Would anyone take those two Man Utd trophies under ten Hag, if it meant we had the current Man Utd squad and league position, while they had the current Newcastle squad and league position instead?

The thing about Antony is he has a great shot on him, and Amad overlapping might open up space for him to get that off? I don't know man. It seems very difficult making these players work in Amorim's setup. Too many headaches.

Yeah, I know. That's fair. I just think it's great that it's a legitimate discussion we can have without being completely off the mark. Our 3 have only just got going too, so watch this space!