Erikse

The newly promoted team are automatically favourties to get relegated every season regardless of signings.

Delete the thread please.

If we go after every striker in Europe, the big six won't know who we are really after.

A bagsman? Count me in.

Was a bit of a joke, I guess it wasn't so clear.

Assuming Ramsdale was Dubravkas relacement.. Do we have a replacement lined up for this one?

Maybe the reality is that the other big six clubs are on a mission to make sure Liverpool don't get Isak?

Most of our centreback are past 30 at this point. We are not only going to need starters in this position in the coming years, but also depth. Thiaw would only be one of several CB signings to come. No problem with it, as we seem to struggle getting the premium we want this summer.

What signings have we done that are the equivalent to Delap, Joao Pedro, Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko, Ekitike, etc? These either had an absolutely massive season in the PL this season, or were the amongst the hottest targets in the market (or both). We have not been able to land those type of players earlier. Heck, we weren't even able to land Ekitike and Pedro before their real breakthrough, despite having money to spend. It's not just about timing.

Would've picked Everton anyways.

Well.. I also want to live in a world where those teams don't want the most obvious targets.

We went from relegation candidates to 2 CL qualifications and a trophy signing players that largely weren't chased by the big six. Okay, maybe Arsenal wanted Bruno back then, but that was before players realised our financial ceiling. I'm not aware of other big six clubs chasing Botman, Isak, Hall, Livra, Tonali etc when we signed them. Yet these are now players capable of being regulars for a regular top 4 side. Ofcourse Howe has done his bits with development, but Howe is still there to develop new players. We have already proven how creativity in the market and some risk taking can get us really far with Howe. What would take us to the next step is to do more of the Botman, Isak, Tonali type signings that we have already been doing.

I agree that we tried to show ambition. The intention was good, but evidently it may have been too much too soon? Were these players realistically going to pick us? I'd say no for most of them.

Agree on some of your points, but high press allways works better the more players you have involved in it. 1 player not doing his job properly in the press is enough to ruin it for everyone else. Being a good presser is allways a big plus for us.

I like the Cunha and Mbeumo signing for you, but I'm not convinced about Sesko for that price yet. I mean, there was a lot of hype around the Höjlund signing aswell, and now they apparently want him gone for a way cheaper price. Young player from a different league with a very high price tag. You've signed a good amount of those before INEOS. How can you be confident that the story won't repeat itself this time with Sesko?

Time is running out for more sagas..

It's not even the striker situation that worries me the most. After all we still have Isak. It's the fact that we seem to put all our work into getting a striker or two when we desperately need a midfielder or even a CB? I truly hope the club is still working hard on other positions. In my view getting a midfielder is of utmost importance. A CB can technically wait if I had to choose. Atleast from the depth perspective.

If they want more than 50m, noone will buy him. We can just tell them that we won't buy him if they want more than this, and then they won't have a buyer at all. Obviously we should start even lower.

It's difficult to compare those stats like that. Isak was our main man. Most of our attacking play revolved around him. Chelsea had lots of high quality attackers. Their total xG was higher than ours, but Jacksons xG was noticeably lower than Isaks.

To themselves, because they want to keep the mailboxes.

They bought JP for 55m and clearly rather want him in their team than Jackson. Yet they want much more for Jackson..

In one way we are far ahead. At the same time Man Utd have a bigger chance of winning the league in the next 5 years than us.. We just can't do it with the current rules in place. They keep messing it up, but it's atleast possible for them as long as they can spend 200m+ every single year. Unlikely, but still possible.

So he didn't "only want LAFC"?

Atleast he's young ish. Schär was also known for mistakes pre Howe.

Crazy, but true. Atleast going into the season when the Tonali ban was not yet know. We have barely signed a player of note since then, and we've sold 2 midfielders (we ended up having a midfield crisis that season, even with those 2 in the squad). Osula and Elanga in for Wilson and Almiron. Ramsdale in for Dubravka. Potensial Miley breakthrough, with Hall + Livra improved vs Trippier decline (since that season). Atleast we will most likely have less injuries and suspensions, because that season is very hard to beat on these points.