I’d say the James rumours are just rumours. Click bait and journo’s repeating articles that they know will be read. You just need to see the stats that show our social media mentions that we’re a club that the media love to write about. But if Bielsa does want James and he doesn’t cost much I’d take him as long as we’d also be looking for a midfielder and possibly a left back but don’t know that a left back is urgent as Dallas does a job for us there. I also think Harrison needs someone to push him because as bad as he’s been recently I still haven’t seen anyone do a job on the left side for us. Raphinha has looked better on the right and middle and I’m not sure Poveda or Costa are good enough to take that place off of Harrison. A lot of talk of a new CB etc. and there’s no chance of that for as long as Bielsa is in charge as he’s got 1 more option at CB than he did last season already. And when you look at it we’re quite good defensively, especially when it comes to open play but we’re having a horrid time at set pieces at the moment which obviously needs improving. The thing is we have just played 2 of the best teams at scoring from set pieces and our defence has had so many different types of back 4 recently so I’m not sure if it’s a case of needing a new CB. Also, the last time we had a big commanding CB we stayed in the championship so I’m not sure it’s the answer. Especially if we want to play the way Bielsa wants.
First of all, Cooper can, and has, played LB. (Wouldn't want him to either - just being pedantic! ) I don't want to rubbish the guys & have the same hopes as everyone else. BUT! It's aspirational thought atm. We have definitely not had our money's worth from them. My post was in response to Ell's assertion that our most expensive CBs must be our best. Well I hope he's right, but we're already through 30% of the season & neither has been value for money, far less be considered our best. Using Ell's method, JKA was our best striker last year!
You are dead right about Llorente and injuries pal https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/diego-llorente/verletzungen/spieler/246291
As we know, some of what Bielsa says gets lost in translation. By ‘best’ he probably meant most expensive, and not the best CB’s as in what they’ve contributed to the team so far. If he was to publicly say (he won’t) who his best CB is, it would probably be Cooper.
Hmmm. Easy explanation, but is it true? I have no idea. Perhaps @esteponawhite could tell us if it's easy to confuse 'expensive' with 'best'?
Sorry cannot agree with you as Cooper being a good captain, never seen him rallying players, lifting players if they are having a stinker etc and yes i have watched him specifically last few games and nothing, not a captain in my eyes anyway.
Afternoon all.... If we could get out of signing Harrison and get our £15m back for Costa I’d prefer James over them both
I haven’t changed my mind mate. Three points today but how many points have they possibly cost us with their previous displays. Harrison was getting moaned about right left and centre first half. It depends on what everyone wants from next season. Do you just want survival or mid table? Harrison and Costa aren’t good enough for a top 8 side, Bielsa seems to disagree so I wouldn’t argue although I think Costas time is up.
But that’s the same as Poveda and Harrison not good enough for City. If Bielsa wants him I think he could develop him. Depends how much they want for him too, Costa certainly isn’t worth £15m maybe we could do a swap
But that's exactly what is so frustrating about him. He fully deserved all that recognition just do it in the next game, and the one after that etc and occasionally have an off game rather than the other way around.
He would be we aren't a championship side anymore, early days, but we should, from what I've seen, be safe in the low to mid table position this season so yes we should have players who are doing this sort of thing most weeks.
Love this stat Bamford became the all-time top-scoring player in Bielsa's entire managerial career, netting his 35th goal and overtaking Fernando Llorente, who scored 34 under Bielsa between 2011 and 2013 for Athletic Bilbao.
