Alexander Isak - International C*nt

[The Prophet]

1 minute ago, SUPERTOON said:

We cant let him leave this summer regardless imo, there is no way we would adequately replace him now.

 

100%. I wonder if that's what's happened.

[Pablo123]

6 minutes ago, andycap said:

Well he's in charge of transfers now How's that working out for him? 

He's in charge of the players he wants to sign, it's up to other people to sell the club and seal the deal. We're trying to shop with the big boys, but haven't got the financial clout, so we're missing out on our top targets. That's not Howe's fault. 

[The College Dropout]

Doesn’t smell good at all. 

[andycap]

Just now, Pablo123 said:

He's in charge of the players he wants to sign, it's up to other people to sell the club and seal the deal. We're trying to shop with the big boys, but haven't got the financial clout, so we're missing out on our top targets. That's not Howe's fault. 

Which other people? Howe should be doing that if he wants the players to sign. 

[Shearergol]

Just now, Pablo123 said:

He's in charge of the players he wants to sign, it's up to other people to sell the club and seal the deal. We're trying to shop with the big boys, but haven't got the financial clout, so we're missing out on our top targets. That's not Howe's fault. 

 

This has been done to death over the last few weeks. Yes, everyone wants us to sign the best players, but the club will know who we're competing with and also rough wage demands. We seem to have wasted a lot of time going after players we couldn't afford.

[Nucasol]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

Doesn’t smell good at all. 

Smells like a mackems soiled  undercrackers.

[midds]

Recruitment team (stop laughing) have been shown up all summer. They've sat for 8 or 9 weeks after the season finished, watched Almiron, Kelly, Longstaff and Wilson all leave the club. They've been completely played by other clubs whilst seeing the prices for the players we do want go through the roof. Zero plan B, just one player brought into the squad and seen one of the best CFs in the world deliberately unsettled and probably leaving for less than he's worth as a result. The sky-high prices we've been quoted just got even bigger as other clubs take advantage of our desperation. Relentless incompetence from all concerned.

 

3 steps forward last season but 6 steps back in the last few months. Isak leaving sends a clear message to Tonali, Tino, Gordon and Bruno too. They're ambitious players and seeing Isak walk is huge. This summer was huge for us and they've completely 100% fucked it 

[madras]

1 minute ago, Pablo123 said:

He's in charge of the players he wants to sign, it's up to other people to sell the club and seal the deal. We're trying to shop with the big boys, but haven't got the financial clout, so we're missing out on our top targets. That's not Howe's fault. 

Hang on, if Howe wants players out of our reach then who's fault is it?

[Green2025]

9 minutes ago, Pablo123 said:

I disagree. He should absolutely be in charge of players the we bring in. He's the manager and the one who works with them every day. Not to mention the fact that we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. It's pure guesswork 

How is a manger supposed to scout players properly? Almost all clubs have moved away from this model and gone the sporting director route. If and when Eddie leaves, it makes it difficult for the next manager. Manager has enough on his plate already. Now he's dealing with his star player wanting to leave while also trying to keep morale of the squad high before a CL campaign as well as addressing reinforcements needed. 

[Pablo123]

7 minutes ago, madras said:

What if his valuations are wrong ? Or hes too invested in certain players so wont move on to other options ? Or has a very small pool that he'll pick from?

 

All allegations laid at us so far with some evidence l.

That's a fair point, but truthfully, nobody knows. I think we can all agree, its been a bit of a shitshow, but I can't criticise too much, because we never know the full story.

[gallowghoul]

Just now, Green2025 said:

How is a manger supposed to scout players properly? Almost all clubs have moved away from this model and gone the sporting director route. If and when Eddie leaves, it makes it difficult for the next manager. Manager has enough on his plate already. Now he's dealing with his star player wanting to leave while also trying to keep morale of the squad high before a CL campaign as well as addressing reinforcements needed. 

 

spot on

[madras]

Just now, Shearergol said:

 

This has been done to death over the last few weeks. Yes, everyone wants us to sign the best players, but the club will know who we're competing with and also rough wage demands. We seem to have wasted a lot of time going after players we couldn't afford.

I think we could afford them, if others hadn't  came in. 

[Pablo123]

2 minutes ago, andycap said:

Which other people? Howe should be doing that if he wants the players to sign. 

Kevin Keegan

[Pablo123]

2 minutes ago, Shearergol said:

 

This has been done to death over the last few weeks. Yes, everyone wants us to sign the best players, but the club will know who we're competing with and also rough wage demands. We seem to have wasted a lot of time going after players we couldn't afford.

I agree.

[Optimistic Nut]

11 minutes ago, madras said:

What if his valuations are wrong ? Or hes too invested in certain players so wont move on to other options ? Or has a very small pool that he'll pick from?

 

All allegations laid at us so far with some evidence l.

 

The pool of players is naturally small, though? We're in a position now where the next step up is the elite clubs in the world. To get into that, the signings we make need to be good enough for those clubs. PSR means we can't. I think We've literally hit our wall now and it's rotten that it's regulations that are stopping us from getting those players. 

[TBG]

10 minutes ago, TRon said:

Tbh if you have got a thigh injury, you would not want to be spending 13hrs on a plane. It might just be that you know.  

 

Boats exist. 

 

If they wanted to, they would. 

[Green2025]

6 minutes ago, gallowghoul said:

I agree with your first point, he has a strong voice at the table, but he cant have complete control.  Going back to my first example, that's where you get the antony at united for £80m situation

Exactly this. I remember Eddie wanting Solanke, Ibe and Smith when at Bournemouth from Liverpool and he paid a lot. None worked out for him.

[Pablo123]

2 minutes ago, madras said:

Hang on, if Howe wants players out of our reach then who's fault is it?

He might not know if they're out of reach until they start communication with the selling club. It's a shitshow, but in honesty, nobody really knows too much in terms of what we're bidding and what terms we're offering. I think he's genuinely going for realistic targets 

[The Prophet]

 

[Sibierski]

2 minutes ago, midds said:

Recruitment team (stop laughing) have been shown up all summer. They've sat for 8 or 9 weeks after the season finished, watched Almiron, Kelly, Longstaff and Wilson all leave the club. They've been completely played by other clubs whilst seeing the prices for the players we do want go through the roof. Zero plan B, just one player brought into the squad and seen one of the best CFs in the world deliberately unsettled and probably leaving for less than he's worth as a result. The sky-high prices we've been quoted just got even bigger as other clubs take advantage of our desperation. Relentless incompetence from all concerned.

 

3 steps forward last season but 6 steps back in the last few months. Isak leaving sends a clear message to Tonali, Tino, Gordon and Bruno too. They're ambitious players and seeing Isak walk is huge. This summer was huge for us and they've completely 100% fucked it 

Just a counter point to last part though, every player has a sale figure. If Isak moved for £150m, it won’t (and shouldn’t) see other players question our ambition. Should just say, if someone pays super high funds, we won’t stand in your way (which is fair). Then taking that £150m and spending £250m from it is the ambition shown.

 

What’s dented us more this summer is the amateur stuff upstairs, and still no news on training ground. That’s the stuff the agent will be chirping up about when talking to their clients about ambition of the club. 
 

Finally sorting that out upstairs, nailing a few signings in August (albeit later than planned) is the ambition statement. Then Isak new deal which we have to take gamble on. If he’s injured for 3 months, can understand if the club may be a bit twitchy dishing out £250k a week, but leave it to next summer, he’s off, so some gambles need to be made. Can’t be risk adverse all the time which we have been since Staveley left.

[SUPERTOON]

Must be hard being in the right head space to play football for massive amounts of money. 

[gallowghoul]

1 minute ago, Green2025 said:

Exactly this. I remember Eddie wanting Solanke, Ibe and Smith when at Bournemouth from Liverpool and he paid a lot. None worked out for him.

 

Yep - the other obvious example of this is Brendan rodgers at Liverpool Vs the transfer committee, all ended in tears trying to appease both

[Tsunami]

I mention Yasir as he will ultimately have the final say and he’s supposedly said Isak is his favourite player and will not be sold.

 

Isak does deserve an improved contract, we’ve not been proactive on this. If another player has a clause to match the highest earner, then we’re clowns and unless said player agrees a smaller increase then we offer that player to other clubs. We can’t have contracts like that.

 

If Isak is injured, I mean wtf are we doing with him. What is clear is that we’re in desperate need of an acceptable (hopefully) backup striker.

[SUPERTOON]

8 minutes ago, midds said:

Recruitment team (stop laughing) have been shown up all summer. They've sat for 8 or 9 weeks after the season finished, watched Almiron, Kelly, Longstaff and Wilson all leave the club. They've been completely played by other clubs whilst seeing the prices for the players we do want go through the roof. Zero plan B, just one player brought into the squad and seen one of the best CFs in the world deliberately unsettled and probably leaving for less than he's worth as a result. The sky-high prices we've been quoted just got even bigger as other clubs take advantage of our desperation. Relentless incompetence from all concerned.

 

3 steps forward last season but 6 steps back in the last few months. Isak leaving sends a clear message to Tonali, Tino, Gordon and Bruno too. They're ambitious players and seeing Isak walk is huge. This summer was huge for us and they've completely 100% fucked it 

Don't let @joeyt see this. 

[GallowgatePigeon]

I'm not trying to be facetious, but who is in charge here? After the takeover it was clear that PIFs name was above the door but Amanda and Mehrdad were the custodians. Who is taking ownership of this mess? Who is at the centre of the proverbial wheel? 

 

We are just one small tile on a huge mosaic for PIF, I doubt Yasir gives a shit about the day to day nitty gritty of running the club, I doubt PIF even have the same level of enthusiasm or appetite for us anymore. The Saudi MO is to throw enough money at something to buy your way to the top. You have to be a lot smarter and strategic than that in the PL, they're probably more interested in their vapid wankbox of a league that no one cares about