João Pedro

[St1pe]

10 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

Won’t be here as a back-up to Isak. That is an option he offers (which we badly need) but also can play as a wide forward and behind a centre forward. Gives us flexibility tactically and depth in personnel. Has demonstrated consistently he can score and create in the premier league. To my mind it’s a pretty safe buy.

I might be wrong here but isn’t only ever really used as a forward though? My understanding is when he’s been deployed as a 10 there hasn’t been a forward like Isak in front of him for example?

[BennyBlanco]

This has weeks of us fuckin around followed by him moving to Chelsea for £75m all over it.

[KaKa]

There was a couple of very common themes on here last season regarding Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon.

 

Complaints that Gordon didn't support him enough defensively, and also that Gordon didn't use him enough on the overlap.

 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Gordon goes (with Pedro and Elanga coming in), that we see more of Joelinton on the left, where he covers defensively and uses the overlap very well. Allowing for Hall to be more of an attacking force.

 

And we then see a midfield two of Tonali and Bruno, João Pedro playing in the 10 behind Isak, and everyone's favourite, Elanga on the right.

 

A return to the Howe Bournemouth setup.

 

[KaKa]

16 minutes ago, Kanj said:

@KaKa stop trying to sell Gordon today mate. Let’s just enjoy this rumor for JP while it lasts! 

 

Just a gut feeling if we are actually looking at Elanga and Pedro.

 

I'm cool either way. Whether we keep or sell anyone. They just need to be all on board with the plan.

 

Just thinking out loud.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 13:09 by KaKa

[McCormick]

JP, Elanga and Guehi would be a wild summer. Assuming Willock goes though to finance it, which is fine. 

[Kanj]

Be interesting though right - if we move on Long, Willock, Barnes (maybe?) - you’re still funding a major rebuild with quality. 

[nufc123]

Just now, McCormick said:

JP, Elanga and Guehi would be a wild summer. Assuming Willock goes though to finance it, which is fine. 

Edwards said Longstaff probably leaving so that will help also.

[Ikon]

2 minutes ago, McCormick said:

JP, Akliouche and Guehi would be a wild summer. Assuming Willock goes though to finance it, which is fine. 

 

[STM]

Gordon is going nowhere man.

 

Hasn't he already hinted towards looking forward to next season. Liverpool aren't shelling the 80/90m that it would take either, it's a complete non starter.

 

I tell you who could be sold... Miley. I'm not saying I want that either but no smoke without fire.

 

I tell you which club likes good young players to develop... Brighton 

[r0cafella]

21 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

 

The only thing with it is I genuinely think we basically did exactly this with Bruno and nobody bit, which led to the Gordon to Liverpool idea and ultimately the Anderson/Minteh escapade. It all worked out in the end but if clubs know you're relying on that sale then it reduces your bargaining power. The key is to have multiple potential sale options lined up.

 

 

 

The question I ask myself is will we be challenging for the title next season? And I think it's a clear no. Isak has to know he's got the ability to be playing at the top and he's done his bit for us. 

 

With him either extending with a release clause or having just 2 years left a market will exist next summer for him. 

[Kanj]

2 minutes ago, Ikon said:

 

 

Would be an epic fucking window if our big 3 signings are those, man. 

[Theregulars]

14 minutes ago, St1pe said:

I might be wrong here but isn’t only ever really used as a forward though? My understanding is when he’s been deployed as a 10 there hasn’t been a forward like Isak in front of him for example?

I don’t watch Brighton in any detail other than highlights really, but their deployment of him doesn’t mean ours will be the same. If we are spending £50m+ it won’t be for a rotation option, so we’ll either change formation or he’ll change position. 

[The Prophet]

If Chelsea seem more interested in Ekitike who's a very similar profile.

[TRon]

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

If Chelsea seem more interested in Ekitike who's a very similar profile.

Nowt to stop them buying both tbf. 

[Joelinton7]

40 minutes ago, joeyt said:

Hope his reported attitude problems can be rectified 

Big Joe will sort him 

[STM]

2 minutes ago, Theregulars said:

I don’t watch Brighton in any detail other than highlights really, but their deployment of him doesn’t mean ours will be the same. If we are spending £50m+ it won’t be for a rotation option, so we’ll either change formation or he’ll change position. 

 

My guess is that there's a bit of future proofing going on, in case of Isaks inevitable exit in a couple of years.

 

We have shit tonnes of games next year, JP isn't going to be struggling for game time.

[Ikon]

Just now, TRon said:

Nowt to stop them buying both tbf. 

Aye, they need a bigger squad. 

[nufc123]

1 minute ago, TRon said:

Nowt to stop them buying both tbf. 

Would think Delap, Ekitike and Jackson is enough.

[Theregulars]

Just now, STM said:

 

My guess is that there's a bit of future proofing going on, in case of Isaks inevitable exit in a couple of years.

 

We have shit tonnes of games next year, JP isn't going to be struggling for game time.

Yeh think as @ponsaeliusalso said they’re probably at least well aware of the possibility Isak goes, so useful to then have the replacement in situ. 
 

To me it just makes sense as a signing for where we are, what we need, what we can pay and what is realistic within our budget and current position on trajectory. 

[TRon]

2 minutes ago, nufc123 said:

Would think Delap, Ekitike and Jackson is enough.

 

 

Aye. For their bench. 

[Magpie Mover]

26 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

I agree. I think it will be both.

 

With Gordon leaving to free up more money.

I think Diaz will have to leave for them to consider Gordon and they have already apparently told Barca that he's not for sale. Plus Diaz is way better than Gordon.

[Tsunami]

If Isak has another season like last year & we fail to qualify for the CL there has to be a good chance he’d push to go. 
 

Getting Predo in now would be a great move. I don’t particularly want Elanga but, I’d sell Gordon if that meant Pedro, a RW & Trafford. Barnes then gets the LW spot & we’d still have Osula & Big Jo as wider options. 
 

Get money for Willock & Longstaff & we should have enough PSR headroom to perhaps get Guehi in as well (think he has higher ambitions than us). 
 

I’m not openly advocating Gordon leaving but, it’d give us options, we have cover & there was something not right towards the end of last season.

[NSG]

Something like the below would be a transformational window. 
 

In
Elanga

JP

Guehi

Trafford

Ramsey 

 

Out

Kelly

Willock

Barnes

Pope

 

 

Got a feeling we’ll keep Wilson and Longstaff for one more year.

[mattypnufc]

Everyone trying to shoehorn him into position. Likelyhood is that it’d be a fluid front 3 at times. 

[STM]

1 minute ago, Theregulars said:

Yeh think as @ponsaeliusalso said they’re probably at least well aware of the possibility Isak goes, so useful to then have the replacement in situ. 
 

To me it just makes sense as a signing for where we are, what we need, what we can pay and what is realistic within our budget and current position on trajectory. 

 

Yeah and I think there's a big difference between a club looking to sell their star striker but also being smart enough to see future problems in the potential for his absence.

 

Having JP and Isak playing together for a couple of seasons before (the sadly inevitable) cashing in on Isak, seems a sensible enough strategy and if Isak does stay, great.