Lotus

I guess we’ll see. If something happens rather quickly now, we can infer Ashworth’s existing contract with the club may have been an influencing factor.

Don’t know much about employment law tbh. However, we weren’t releasing him from his contract and if we effectively replaced him I would imagine it would make his case stronger in a tribunal. This is all purely conjecture on my part.

Would imagine this could move along a bit now Ashworth isn’t hanging around threatening constructive dismissal.

From selling Isak to Chelsea we'd ideally want Palmer, enough for a top CH and to buy Sesko , cover their signing on fees and still have a healthy pocketful of change

It's hard to argue with Froggy. He's in a very unique situation whereby he has excellent contacts at the Executive and Boardroom level, coaches and management and also the senior players in the dressing room. So when he tells you they have the very best decision makers at the top of the club, the best post war manager, probably the best young striking prospect in the world, possibly the best midfielders and at least 3 of their defenders are among the top 2 in the world, you'd better listen.

Yeah, I love Dortmund too and watch whenever I can. I know that league isn’t the best but it’s not like it’s the Scottish Prem or the like. He’s definitely shown he can play at a high level. He’s a very good player when comfortable in the right environment and confident in himself and those around him. Dortmund don’t have the finances to buy him back unless it’s a very, very low package. Especially the wages…. I don’t really know what went wrong at Manu, I doubt anyone outside those involved truly knows but it’s a shame for Sancho and England. Your club, with all due respect i couldn’t care less 😘. But Sancho IS a player. Propaganda to suggest otherwise. Btw, can’t agree he was best in his 1st few games. He was trying a bit too hard and hadn’t settled with his new teammates. He has always liked overlapping FBs to give him space and options. Ryerson and Maatsen weren’t at the club when he was there. They all needed some time and practice to know each others games.

Sancho has not been poor for Dortmund. Took him a while to get some fitness and sharpness back tbf. Ask Dortmund fans if they want to keep him…..

I quite like Ten Hag tbh. He can’t be rubbish, his Ajax side was very tasty. For whatever reason it hasn’t clicked for him at Manu and yet he’s managed to win a couple of cups. It seems to me the club has issues higher up than the manager and that misalignment has caused issues that have run through the club. They are clearly trying to rectify that. Ten Hags biggest issue is not getting some of his best players to buy in, i.e. Sancho (who’s looked very good in the CL for Dortmund) and Rashford. Antony hasn’t looked worth the money but he at looks bothered about it. If the club really believe Ten Hag is the future then they to give players like those 2 an ultimatum and stick to it. Otherwise he’ll always have problems in the dressing room.

How many appearances did Isak make for Dortmund 1st team? How old was he when he did? How many appearances has Adeyemi made for them? Theres not really an equivalence imo. Also, who’s arguing the point that if you don’t make it at Dortmund you never will? Haven’t read a post that states that as an absolute. Is there anything in Adeyemi’s stats that convinces you he’s a top talent that’s badly used/trained? Is there anything in his general play apart from pace that sets him apart? Genuine question btw. I haven’t seen it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there but I haven’t seen anything obvious.

Isak was 17 when at Dortmund and, I think it was Tuchel who never ever gave him a look in. Very different circumstances imo.

Think I also remember someone called Gemmil from Toontastic.....

Alex, was another I think…..

Is Renton and J69 on here? Struggling to remember some of the other names…..

Sesko looked very very good in the clips and highlight reels. I’d rather we had Isak. No club in our relative position is going to have both an Isak and a Sesko unless one of them happens to be home grown imo.

Adeyemi is not a productive player. Poor passing and assist stats, poor at shot creating actions. Is quick and can carry the ball, can beat a player but on pace, not skill. I’m sure he has potential in him to improve but not every player realises their potential. He’s not really lit it up at Dortmund playing against inferior defences. There’s obviously a whole load of other stats that clubs use when deciding on a player, but unless the price was too cheap to pass up and our wage offer was low enough the risk factor was highly attenuated, I’d be surprised to see us look at him.

Matias Soule looks the playmaker type to me. Decent pace but not Gordonesque. As a result he seems to have prospered by good decision making and excellent technical execution.

Seem to remember something about that when his contract was signed. Could only be triggered by non PL clubs.

Cruyff would’ve loved Schar. Would’ve had him popping up all over the park. Man has the most complete skill set in our squad.

I just don’t know enough to assess if Hall would be a successful midfielder. As you’ve alluded to, it’s a lot more than being able to pass or tackle. It’s the awareness and speed of thought under pressure. If he stays at FB he will obvs be a playmaking FB and, I think takeover from Trippier in that role. Tino’s strength to me (offensively) seems to be more about running with the ball. His passing is good but not exceptional.

He can really ping the ball well, from either foot. But he can struggle to make the most basic of passes. That’s less to do with technique and more about him not making a decision early enough. He does seem to 2nd guess himself. I’ve a lot of time for him for his character. I don’t think he offers much more than ‘legs’ and he can only do that if fully fit and injury free. It’s easy to underestimate what effect a Duracell bunny can offer his teammates, especially in midfield. But he doesn’t have many secondary qualities to fall back on if he can’t cover enough grass.

Think there are some harsh posts here. He’s been out and hasn’t got his sharpness. He had a lapse or 2 one of which cost us. Unless it’s silly money I’d be happy to see him play for us next season. Would think he’s still got 1 good season left in him. Ideally Tino would show enough in training and matches to play at least half the games.

Think it’s very easy for us to underestimate the pressures these managers are under. It really bends some of them out of shape. I used to like Klopp but I think it all really got to him. I’m just guessing Ange is straining under the weight of expectation coupled with what I imagine to be less than exemplary support and stewardship from Levy.

Didn't see how EH 'got it wrong' tbh. Players didn't make the best decisions but that's on them.

Important to protect Isak imo. Wilson unfortunately not reliable this season. Still 6 points to play for.