More transfer rumours

[The Prophet]

To add to that, I think a right winger would indirectly benefit Maxi. If there's fret on both flanks, sides won't be able to double or triple on him. He's at his best when he can isolate the full back and a right winger would enable him to do that.

[The Prophet]

7 minutes ago, hakka said:

I am sure by window is closed we will have got the attackers we need. Negotiations will be difficult with inflated prices, and the lack of leaks and details can feel like nothing is moving - but I'm looking forward to that random announcement that someone is about to be signed when it happens.

 

The lack of information coming out of the club, compared to what it was is impressive. 

 

Obviously they won't keep everything under wraps, with agents and selling clubs involved, but it seems there's a concerted effort to lock things down at just about every level, with the CEO appointment, sponsorship news and two out of three transfers more or less coming out of the blue.

[worthy]

It’s a bit frustrating when it feels like it does now with nothing concrete. But I will just assume they are working hard on a few players that will be a massive improvement. And honestly on RW and ST I don’t think it’s the hardest. But finding players with the mentality and desire that is needed that also wants to join in this transition state probably prolongs the deals, and avoiding the now “Newcastle” tax.

 

I will keep dreaming about Paqueta in our midfield though .

 

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by worthy

[Tiresias]

I would love Paqueta but I doubt it. I am wondering now if they are just going to wait till later in the window to see if prices come down and focus on clearing deadwood for now.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Tiresias

[KaKa]

3 minutes ago, worthy said:

It’s a bit frustrating when it feels like it does now with nothing concrete. But I will just assume they are working hard on a few players that will be a massive improvement. And honestly on RW and ST I don’t think it’s the hardest. But finding players with the mentality and lust that is needed that also wants to join in this transition state probably prolongs the deals, and avoiding the now “Newcastle” tax.

 

I will keep dreaming about Paqueta in our midfield though .

 

[The Prophet]

It's interesting that in the information vacuum Waugh and Downie are claiming we're relaxed and taking a pragmatic approach, whereas Edward and Wilson paint a picture of frustration and imply that options are running out.

 

Speaking of Edwards, I'm fully expecting another click bait exclusive in the next 48 hours. If KI's theory is correct it'll be a positive piece to juxtapose the mood on social media.

[KaKa]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

It's interesting that in the information vacuum Waugh and Downie are claiming we're relaxed and taking a pragmatic approach, whereas Edward and Wilson paint a picture of frustration and imply that options are running out.

 

Speaking of Edwards, I'm fully expecting another click bait exclusive in the next 48 hours. If KI's theory is correct it'll be a positive piece to juxtapose the mood on social media.

 

Yeah, after seeing how well they came through in Jan, which was a much tougher task, there's no way they are panicking, especially with Ashworth now on board as well.

 

I think they are looking to wait as long as possible to give themselves as much of a chance to land their primary targets, but will have options lined up to pivot to, if that doesn't work out. Not ideal from a pre-season preparation stand point perhaps, but if it means we ultimately get better players in, then long term it's the right move.

[worthy]

22 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

 that’s what I get for directly translating 

[TRon]

3 hours ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Opinion keeps changing on what I think we need most but leaning again towards a good striker so that we've got a good option for 38 games. If we've got that, I think we could get by for another season with Fraser, Almiron and Murphy as a last resort.

 

Disagree tbh, I think Fraser. Almiron and Murphy are weak links and you'll struggle to get half a dozen goals between them over the course of a season. It would be fantastic to have a genuine goal scoring front 3. Imagine a front 3 of ASM, Wilson and Diaby for example.

 

That said, I think we'll go with whichever genuine top class player we can get in, so if Diaby isn't coming, we might pursue a top striker like Isak.

[Keegans Export]

16 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

Yeah, after seeing how well they came through in Jan, which was a much tougher task, there's no way they are panicking, especially with Ashworth now on board as well.

 

I think they are looking to wait as long as possible to give themselves as much of a chance to land their primary targets, but will have options lined up to pivot to, if that doesn't work out. Not ideal from a pre-season preparation stand point perhaps, but if it means we ultimately get better players in, then long term it's the right move.

This is my opinion too.

 

Obviously you'd like to get the players you want early, get them a decent pre-season and be in before the first game. But if that isn't happening, they'll probably think "Well, there are five games before the window closes, we'd rather sign the player/players we really want and have them miss those five than panic and bring someone we don't rate as highly just to get an extra few fixtures out of them"

[greydos]

11 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Disagree tbh, I think Fraser. Almiron and Murphy are weak links and you'll struggle to get half a dozen goals between them over the course of a season. It would be fantastic to have a genuine goal scoring front 3. Imagine a front 3 of ASM, Wilson and Diaby for example.

 

That said, I think we'll go with whichever genuine top class player we can get in, so if Diaby isn't coming, we might pursue a top striker like Isak.

There’s a good chance Murphy gets us  5-6 assists off-the-posts this year! Bruno, Almiron and Wilson the beneficiaries! Wood will spoon his over the bar. Joelinton will scare the ball into the net

[JonBez comesock]

I thought we were also in for Broja ?

 

 

[JonBez comesock]

 

[sushimonster85]

3 minutes ago, JonBez comesock said:

I thought we were also in for Broja ?

 

 

 

Assume we either didn't rate him at the price we were quoted, or he wants to stay in London. 

[Kanj]

Hoping this leads us to Paqueta

[JonBez comesock]

2 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Hoping this leads us to Paqueta

Me too 

[Ikon]

No point in waiting. Get it done! 

[Guest]

50 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Disagree tbh, I think Fraser. Almiron and Murphy are weak links and you'll struggle to get half a dozen goals between them over the course of a season. It would be fantastic to have a genuine goal scoring front 3. Imagine a front 3 of ASM, Wilson and Diaby for example.

 

That said, I think we'll go with whichever genuine top class player we can get in, so if Diaby isn't coming, we might pursue a top striker like Isak.

 

I think they offer other strengths though and you can get assists from other sources (the full-backs, Bruno...). If Wilson's out, there's no goals.

[Happinesstan]

2 hours ago, Keegans Export said:

I've been doing the same, but I'm currently settled on the opposite.

 

I think if you bring in a quality RW you're improving the team for 38 games. If you bring in a backup to Wilson, you're improving the team for however many games Wilson misses. Obviously, Wilson could do his knee and miss the whole season or the new RW could break their leg in September but the likely outcome is that you're going to gain more from a starting RW than you would a backup CF. 

 

Check back in with me tomorrow when I'll have changed my mind and be arguing the exact opposite point.

You're bringing in a better sub who can play 30 mins for 38 games.

[Holmesy]

20 minutes ago, sushimonster85 said:

 

Assume we either didn't rate him at the price we were quoted, or he wants to stay in London. 

I also think we'd have wanted a loan to buy, to keep it within our 'budget'

[sushimonster85]

Just now, Holmesy said:

I also think we'd have wanted a loan to buy, to keep it within our 'budget'

 

I don't think it's necessarily a budget thing. I think they have their internal valuation of players, and Chelsea valued him past what we thought he was worth. 

[arnonel]

I wonder if a train of thought is to go for someone like Paqueta (because we are confident we can get him) - instead of a striker?

 

Howe made some weird striker comments recently (ie: Wilson/Wood good enough, and we can move ASM and Big Joe there too if required)

 

Would make sense, also given that Anderson is coming through

 

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by arnonel

[The Prophet]

It sounds like we were only after Broja if we could loan him first. It seems sensible, the lad looks a talent, but he did only score six league goals last term.

[TRon]

6 minutes ago, arnonel said:

I wonder if a train of thought is to go for someone like Paqueta (because we are confident we can get him) - instead of a striker?

 

Howe made some weird striker comments recently (ie: Wilson/Wood good enough, and we can move ASM and Big Joe there too if required)

 

Would make sense, also given that Anderson is coming through

 

 

 

 

I have a feeling the forwards we would like might be unattainable for one reason or another, and we seem reluctant to go down the pecking order to 3rd or 4th choice players who we might not consider good enough. It's probably a case of waiting until a really good player becomes available whatever the position. So we don't really need Paqueta, but if we can't get the striker we want, might go for him instead, assuming he would fit how Howe wants to play.

[Abacus]

He might well believe that, but I think Howe was just saying what he has to re strikers. If you come across as desperate then you're held over a barrel in negotiations, for one thing.

 

Besides, whatever he does privately think, he couldn't very well come out and say that he can't rely on Wilson and doesn't rate Wood, or else what sort of message would that send?

 

Likewise re saying St Max and Joelinton are options, when they probably aren't. We might well not be able to get the right striker this summer, or at a price we're willing to pay, so we might well need to rely on some or all of those options for at least a while.

 

If so, for squad morale, then there's no point in him publicly saying he doesn't think that's good enough.