Feel like how I did after the summer one - happy with the stuff we done, not happy with the stuff we haven’t done. Kulusevski and Bentancur are - on paper - good signings for the club and I’m happy to have them here. Getting out unwanted and likely unhappy players is huge. During prime Poch years we had a very happy and committed vibe around the place and it showed with performances on the pitch, so getting out those who may have been potentially bringing the place down could be massive. But not adding another striker at least feels dangerous. Season on season we know Harry gets overplayed and this one’s seemingly gonna be no different. We all wanted a creative mid and RWB too, here’s hoping Emerson learns to cross soon, if he does he’s a top RWB in the making but whilst he can’t, it’s a problem. The lack of creativity though will be the real issue for me, especially against the big clubs. Gonna have to hope Conte has things in mind and that Kulusevski and Bentancur can aid a more efficient system as well as chipping in individually. Feels like we could’ve capitalised a bit better seeing as none of our close rivals for top four strengthened, in fact you could say Arsenal (Aubameyang) and Utd (Greenwood) have weakened. Another signing or two for us could’ve made a huge difference in the fight for CL spots but ultimately we did (or hopefully did) still strengthen with the two new boys providing they can make quick impacts. 9/10 for outgoings, 5.5/10 for incomings.
I agree with this. In terms of outgoings probably our most efficient - if not necessarily profitable - window in as long as I can remember. Getting the three stooges out the club was a must and I think Gil to Valencia is a positive move. I think not sending Rodon out on loan was a mistake for both club and player. But as you say, this does leave loads of work to be done in the summer as we haven't addressed any of the 3 or 4 positions that urgently needed addressing.
I’m broadly in the same boat. We got rid of the 3 stooges, at least until the end of the season for 2 of them (and here’s hoping they have a hell of a shop window moment) and I’m glad Gil got out on loan. Incomings is harder to judge right now of course. Bentacur I’m more confident on, I think he’ll add some steel in the deeper midfield position. Strong tackler and quite press resistant. It’ll help our defence in and out of possession to have a player like that. I’m a bit worried about midfield creativity still and perhaps that’s where Kulu comes in. I’ve seen lots of different opinions about what he is as a player - a 10, a winger, a second striker - and his versatility is clearly helpful. From what I’ve seen (not a lot) he doesn’t have outright pace so I’m not sure he’s a winger but I wonder if Conte will tweak the 352 to have 2 sitters (Bentacur +1) and Kulu in behind. Then again I’ve heard he’s more of a runner than a passer so maybe he plays as an 8 in a 3-man midfield, if he’s got the fitness to do so. Like you say though, I think not getting a RWB is annoying and a striker remains elusive. I’m not sure about the midfield balance too but we’ll have to see how the new guys change it.
Yeah Rodon not getting a loan and Doherty still being here are the reasons I can’t give the outgoings a 10, though as we didn’t get another RWB keeping Doherty makes sense. Journalists were saying that we’d try to strengthen in Jan but that we’d be a major player in the summer so for our sakes we need to hope they’re right.
I think Bentancur will definitely aid the grit side of things, the ability to hopefully efficiently rotate him, Hojbjerg and Skipp around with two in, one out, will be ideal for us in order to try keeping them all as fresh as can be. I think Kulusevski will likely initially play on the right and compete with Lucas but his versatility allows for alternative uses. I’m presuming Conte and Paratici went over their plans for the pair so it’s interesting to see what happens.
Yeah they’re players both of them know well so I’m sure there’s some thinking behind it. I still don’t want a 343 as I don’t think we have 2 midfielders who can pull it off, which is why Kulu is probably more of an AM for me. But we’ll see.
Cute that Barcelona has become the golden shore for Premier League flotsam and jetsam. Best of luck to 'em.
So Arsenal ‘sold’ Aubameyang (their best striker by a distance) for free. Didn’t they pay over £50million for him. And he had 18months on his contract. By anybodys standards that’s poor.
They have saved themselves £22m in wages for a player that has done nothing for 18 months or more and may never be the player he was agan. Harsh but reality can be like that. EDIT......Sky just said £25m in wages.
No cigar yet bruh. Romano got the Carvalho move wrong so as far as I'm concerned Dele has just been made Spurs captain and awarded a new £500k a week contract until we hear otherwise.
