No. It'll be the usual "He will have a scan on Monday. It looks not good." The knock-on effects are....... any possible full back signings will have doubled in price for us, having already doubled in price since January, meaning that we have less money to strengthen elsewhere. if we don't bring in reinforcement at full back then the games without Rose and Trippier are going to be unnecessarily more difficult. Those games are likely to include Chelsea and Everton; we may have to hang onto...........(takes deep breath)..........errrr........Sissoko.......as an emergency (dire emergency) option at right wing back. I get holding out on Barkley or Max Meyer, as their contracts tick down they become less valuable. However, as the close of the window approaches, other players become more expensive and less available.
Apparently, it looks better than was thought at half time, so there's hope. KWP confirmed by Mauricio Pochettino not to be a potential starter at Newcastle. I think that's right. He's not really ready and we need a good start to the season. Too much pressure for the young man. Mauricio Pochettino won't comment on Ross Barkley, which means we're definitely interested. I still reckon we'll lose out to someone offering him an enormous wage (comparatively) who will sell him on at a profit after a season. Probably Chelsea.
Hopefully good news 're Trippier. But I am not sold on Barkley at all. I had the same sense of dread when I first heard the Sissoko stories. I am more than willing to trust the club as we have done so well in the past 2 or 3 years but there is a Barkley shaped cloud darkening my natural sunny mood!
I'm a bit more hopeful. He is a talented footballer whereas Sissoko's main gifts are athleticism. I can see Mauricio Pochettino getting the very best out of him with him being able to play with Dele and Christian Eriksen behind Harry Kane and later in a deeper lying position as his long range passing is excellent. He scores goals and makes assists. Sissoko just runs and misses.
I think you are under playing Sissoko a little... he runs in a straight line really fast, fails to control the ball and misses Found Barkley completelh undershelming last season and their manager is very similar to Pochettino in what he expects from players and his no nonsense management style so if Barkley fell out with him I fear the same will happen at Spurs. I hope I am wrong as we do look like we are trying to get him but I fear the worst.
Given the choice I would take Barkley over Sissoko every day of the week. My main qualm about our interest in him is that neither the fee nor wages are going to be particularly low and he plays in probably the only position other than LB that we are quite well stocked in. Assuming we play 3 at the back, Eriksen and Alli have the 2 spots behind Kane with Son next in line and one of Lamela, GKN and my favouritest player ever providing further cover. And then we have Edwards and this Georgeou kid knocking on the door too. CB, RB, ST and CM are in far more desperate need of strengthening and it is clear that we just don't have the money to do it all this window. So moving for Barkley is like a bloke redecorating his perfectly tasteful loft conversion when there's a major flood in the kitchen.
Given the choice between Sissoko and Barkley my response is to point out there are thousands of other midfielders out there, so why is the choice between Sissoko and Scouse Sissoko? Trippier doing his ankle yesterday is exactly what I was worried about happening, because as I said at the time having Trippier while Pereira* beds in would be perfect, having Trippier while KWP gets thrown in at the deep end is anything but.
I'm a big fan of Barkley and also believe that Poch could get the best out of him too Barkley and Pereira/Toljan should be the two signings we get done this window.
So I return from a weeks self inflicted absence from the net and log on thinking that at least one player would have joined, but find that we have loaned out one and lost another to injury leaving us looking a little short just a week before the season begins. Whilst I love our 'first XI' the absence of depth in our squad is in danger of becoming more of an issue as each day passes, surely an additional right back and another midfielder must be added this week. I think i'll head back out to the Alps again as at least the views and the fresh air took my mind off of football for a while.
I'd add a backup keeper, but we made such a bollocks of Lopez I can't see that happening until January at the earliest.
How bad is it that we'd consider it a good transfer window by signing a 3rd choice keeper, back up right back and someone who had potential but career's has stalled. Shambles
It still would've been a decent window if we hadn't lost anyone, but I'm less happy with our current state. Definitely need to get some business done quickly.
FWIW, one of the supposed ITK's has had this to say: Apparently one deal is very close to being completed. (Not the goalkeeper) Also another deal for an attacking player is currently being worked on and is very much "under the radar". The player apparently plays for a good side in Europe. If that doesn't work out, we have a premier league player in mind as back up. Make of that what you will. No names mentioned, of course!
