Why didnt you just cross 2 elastoplasts on your forehead and go out in the sun for a few hours? Would have saved a bit of cash, and its temporary, just in case.
Where are we at with Lemmens, Diakite and Lucumi all gone a bit quiet as we are wrapped up with Xhaka. any ideas who the RW/LW might be ? striker rumours seemed to of slowed down nothing since Mikatadze and Vanat.
I don’t think Lammens was ever concrete, a report came out about Lucumi yesterday about Sunderland apparently tempting him but he’s in two minds because he wants to play Europe and we’re preparing a second bid diakite nothing since fabrice said talks were intensifying
keeper and striker both gone quiet since Petrovic and Mikautadze On centre backs, Diakite was strongly linked on Saturday and no reason to think thats held up. I still have a sneeky feeling Diakite is "done" and is the one we were "waiting on the green light on". Perhaps Nice wanted to get their new CB in before it gets leaked / announced. All just made up stuff in my head rather than any sort of ITK obviously.
Interesting discussion about all teams coming up going straight back down. Think it’s a bit exaggerated press love a story because it happened last two seasons however it’s only happened 3 times in Prem history 2022-23 all three teams stayed up. There is a massive gulf but not an insurmountable one
think being underdogs will suit us better than Leeds and Burnley, Yes I can see us being a battle at the bottom but I think we will be ok, we hhave a core of players who are together, there is a band of brothers feel to this squad
I know I will be very much in the minority, but I'm struggling to get enthusiastic about Xhaka possibly signing. There is no doubt regarding his ability, leadership and vast experience, but we are talking about offering a 3 or 4 year deal (depending on what you read) to a player who will be 33 in a couple of months. We are talking about lot of money to sign a player who is entering the twilight of his career, and who will be declining in terms of speed and stamina. It just doesn't match our recruitment model at all. Tin hat is on.
In fairness I think this part is what should convince you about it, the club who I'm sure you have grown to trust their recruitment feel that xhaka is worth breaking the mould for. So far he's the only player that we think improves us enough to pay a fee for.
The model has to be bent on occasions and the money we spend on him can be made back and then some just by him being good and keeping us up this year. He’s still operating at a stupidly high level currently
Experience to support youth is part of the model, previously quality additions have been available for free but that’s increasingly difficult to achieve at this level so we’ve clearly decided we need to spend to get that experience.
In amongst all the player links and signings, for me the most important activity is keeping Regis and adding to his team. I think we have gone better than I could have ever dreamed in terms of the additions there. Then we have to factor in how good Regis is already, and might actually be. He is inexperienced, but completely outthought more experienced coaches last season. It is good fun talking about how much players will change us and how goalscorers will keep us up. The coaching team will contribute to our success or otherwise is much bigger ways. I think we are well set in that regard.