Mustafi to Schalke is a weird one in that I'm not sure who it's a worse deal for. From Arsenal to bottom of the Bundesliga is quite a drop, and from Schalke's perspective, he's hardly a player to get excited about.
Also, the January crapness was down to a lot more than just a lack of defensive options so there's no guarantee that an early purchase would have made that much of a difference. I fully expect the "Oh yes it would have... midfield weakened by playing them in defence etc" response, but really none of us are psychic despite the belief and it's all just speculation. It is what it is, and we just need to get on with it.
Mustafi reminds me of Lovren. Decent player but can have horrible moments. you watch much of German league? Thoughts on Kabak?
We also clearly either have no money or aren't willing to spend it right now. Hence we couldn't go and just throw down a wad of monster cash at someone. Kabak seems like the bringing forward of someone we had our eye on anyway rather than just a pure panic buy, and Davies is, well, cheap. Not sure what it means for future windows though if we're paying off Kabak, Jota and Thiago.
My thoughts exactly! He's never impressed me and the difference in the German national team when he stands in... I I couldn't understand Arsenal going for him at the time, and he's done nothing to convince me otherwise. At least Lovren was really good on his good days.
I barely get to watch the Premier League, let alone Bundesliga. Schalke have been appalling for a year and no-one's stood out, but apart from that I can't say much. Matip ultimately turned out better than I expected, so there's hope.
The good thing with the Kabak deal is that hes 20 which means he doesnt need to be registered in the team. If we sign another overseas player (one who is over 21), then we have to find a spot in the squad.
There is very little transfer activity and nothing happening in the higher financial brackets, clubs being careful in uncertain times
We've got a plan and targets and a strategy based for next summer, that was knocked out of kilter by the pandemic. I get all that. But events dictate emergent, responsive strategies. In short, we've ended up doing at the end of the window what we should have done at the beginning - arrange two loans with an option to buy at the end of the season. I know we've looked at Kazan on and off for over a year now, and the option of trying out a prospect from the lower leagues was mooted too. But.............. ah, **** it. You know me though; I'm not one to complain.
Exactly, and we also picked up Gini from a relegated Newcastle side so the fact Schalke are struggling means little
Anyway, I'm happy that they've eventually done what many, including myself, asked them to do - get some stopgaps in that can supplement the effort to plug the gap until the end of the season. Nobody expected them to buy Koulibally and Umpalumpa (sp) from Leipzig, just do what they've done now earlier.
Little quiz for you. I can only think of one Turk we have had on our books, there may be more. Who was he? (no googling)
