Palestoon

Again, I dont think the club made some horrific decision with Elanga. He's going to be a very solid player for a long time for us. I've just felt for the last 2 seasons our biggest weakness from an attacking perspective is how limited we've been in our build up play. Always look like we're out of ideas when we approach the 18 yard box. RW was the big spot for an upgrade, and I thought we could have addressed that weakness. Who should we have signed? Not sure, but was hoping for either a player who could consistently win 1v1 in close situations, or to get one of those hybrid winger/10s who has the technical ability to pick out cute passes in tight spaces. Don't see either of those in Elangas game. Doesn't mean hes a bad player or that he won't improve us. But as you said, if the plan to add those elements to our game comes from a second striker/10 like Woltemade, Elanga makes alot more sense from a team construction standpoint.

I hope the club stick to its guns and turn down any offers below 150 mil. I know most of us just want to see the back of him at this point, and im sure most inside the club feel the same...but its too easy a way out for him after his behaviour. I want to see him crawl back in a few weeks time with his tail between his legs, and face his teammates, the staff and the supporters. Or rot in the reserves for the next 6-12 months thinking about what a cunt hes behaved like. Thought of him forcing us to let him go below our valuation because of his childish antics, and then watching him turn up at Anfield all smiles with slot makes me sick. Force him to take accountability.

Today was another example of the same weaknesses we've had for 2 years against low blocks. 1. No carrier in midfield to break lines with running (Ramsey was doing s good job of it til he went off) 2. No physical presence upfront to play balls over the press to hold and win knock ons (Osula was bad, but this is also Isaks biggest weakness) 3. No wingers you can isolate with the defenses back against the wall who is technically strong enough to consistently win one on one's and delivered crosses. Positive is i think Woltemade solves alot of these issues if he can hit the ground running

Echoing the other sentiments on here. He needs a chance to build confidence and get into a rhythm. Send him to Ipswich and get another attacking midfielder

Bright spark first half. He's so much better than Willock. Much stronger, ball sticks to his feet, quick thinker. No comparison really outside of the fact they're both midfielders who like to carry the ball forward Let's hope it was just pre-cautionary and hes fine after the international break

Nah, I like Elanga, and think hes a big upgrade on Murphy, and will help us. I just wanted us to spend 60 mil on a winger who could help with plan A and plan B for nights like tonight. Anyone watching the game today knew that neither barnes or Elanga were going to change the flow of the game. And if Gordon was fit. He wouldn't either. Just felt like we needed a different type of wide player personally to add to the collection we have.

Maintain that hes a solid player, but was disappointed with his signing add today showed why. We were desperate to add something different to our front 3. Some technical quality and guile. And its not his game. And today proved that when we need to break down teams, his style won't add much.

This would be the smart move. Only reason I can see us selling would be that everyone believes internally that hes going to cause problems all season if he doesn't get his move. But from a purely an onfield and financial perspective, the best move would be to keep him this season

I know we all unanimously hate this cunt, but having him play uptop with Big Nick behind him, pulling in defenders, turning and laying it off to the rat is legit dreamland pairing Keep him and sell next summer. Nothing Isak, his agent, Liverpool or the media can do about it.

Interesting to see what happens here. Every report was consistent in saying JSL or Wissa would be Wilson replacements and would not open the door for Isak to leave. Interesting if Woltemade is any different. If anything, Wissa and JSL were more "sure things" than big Nick. And its not like the money is a huge difference if its true we were willing to go to 60 mil for JSL. Hope this hasn't changed the clubs stance on Isak. Wissa and 150 mil, fine. Anything else, tell him he's staying

I've said for a while the biggest element missing from our attack is someone who can hold up the ball and play in our rapid wingers. For all of Isaks great qualities, he was so weak with his back to goal. This guy is going to transform how we play. Only question is how hes going to adapt to our pressing style. Haven't watched much other than highlights, but doesn't look to have the speed to be the spear of our press. Trust Eddie to make it work

Would love it if we told this cunt hes the Wilson replacement

We'd have to wait and see... but history tells us that regardless of how emotional the current situation is, elite players will eventually play, fans and teammates get over it, and the club will still get a good fee in a years time.

Yep, its the best solution for the club this season, the best solution for the club financially, and the best solution for the clubs image long term.

Let's hope that's coming straight from the ownerships mouth. That's the only scenario that makes sense for us

No, buy Wissa or Strand-Larsen, play them for a few weeks while Isak gets his head right. Play the majority of the season with Isak and a very good back up. Scout the continent this year for a true difference maker up front. Sell Isak in June for 100-120 mil

Let's be honest lads. Strand-Larsen and Wissa are solid PL players... But if I told you all in June wed be straight swapping Alexander Isak for those 2, the entire board would be on suicide watch. Yes in the present, it improves our situation significantly. But from a high level, its an absolute disaster. To go from -Isak not for sale, looking at Delap/Pedro/Ekitike to play with him To Isak can go but only for 150 mil and we need a high level #9 and a Wilson replacement To We'll keep Isak and sign a Wilson replacement To now: Paying way over the odds for 2 Wilson replacements and letting Isak go... We'd basically be publicly bullied by Liverpool and a player with 3 YEARS left on his contract to accept a worst case scenario. It would be such a damning indictment on the clubs image. We hold the cards, and we need to stand firm.

If we have no other options, overpay for one of either strand-larsen or wissa. Tell Isak hes going nowhere and call his bluff. I refuse to beleive this cunt is willing to sit out the season. Play the season out with Isak and our new Wilson replacement. Spend the year scouting for a new top #9. Let this cunt leave early in June, and spend on a new high level goal scorer. If he does sit out, worst case scenario, we make due with Larsen/Wissa and Osula and Gordon until January and re-asses. But zero chance we take 130 mil from Liverpool (dont forget the sociedad sell on), and then spend 100+ of it on strand-larsen and Wissa. It would be the biggest statement of surrender and acceptance of "our place" that i could imagine.

Anything other than signing Wissa OR Larsen, and forcing this prick back into training is a disaster scenario. If we captiulate and sell him after all of the grandstanding, and then panic buy Wissa and Larsen for over 100 million combined... thought of it is sickening

Using the Isak money on Wissa and Larsen is terrible business. Can't believe that's the option we have at this stage

Would love to see us go with Joelinton at LW and Ramsey at LCM, similar to the old willock/joelinton combo we used alot in the 4th place finish season. Would give us a lot more defensive solidity/pressing power. Let Gordon and Elanga use their speed on the counter. Barnes and Murphy to come on 2nd half if we need more of a goal threat

If Ramsey can stay healthy and regain his form, hes going to be a star for us. The team is desperate for a dynamic playmaker in midfield, and someone who can play effectively in the space between the center of the park and the final 3rd. He's a beast physically, but also has the technique, and dribbling ability to be the link we've missed the last few seasons. Think hes going to suprise alot of people this season

The new contract wouldn't be to reward his behavior, it would simply be a face saving exercise for all involved, and to draw a line under this whole summer fiasco. Isak and his agent get better terms and a guarantee to leave next season if a club pay an agreed upon amount, and the club look strong in that they kept a player who they didn't want to sell. It allows both sides to focus on this season and return to the status quo with some dignity in tact

Any idea what made him take such a staunch u-turn- was it simply Liverpool showing interest that made him lose his shit?

I think it would be foolish to assume that we didn't consider the possibility of him leaving as part of our striker search. But its also possible we were looking to bring another big name striker in along with keeping Isak as was reported earlier in the summer. We bought Isak in initially to go along with our #9, so its not like we csnt have 2 starting caliber strikers on the books. Also from a PSR perspective, theirs nothing stopping us from bringing in a Wilson replacement and a young up and comer to bed in if we assume Isak will be sold anyway next summer at the latest