Id be an improvement on Cabella FFS!! Big problem you will have against the big teams is that defence! Can you imagine if Aguero had had the chances United had in the first 15 minutes! Doubt it'd have been 0-0! Wij looks awesome mind! (Jealous) mitrovic managed a full game without a booking as well. Surely that in itself is a good thing!! Wasn't impressed with colback at all. Although he's playing deeper than he did last season.
Really? better than Wijnaldum? Who do you come at that decision? Apparently he was ****e last season.
He didn't say Thauvin was better than Wijnaldum Funky. He said Thauvin was an improvement on Cabella and Wijnaldum is a next level signing for us. I expect Thauvin to fit into McLaren's style of play well, and prove to be a good buy for us, and that Wijnaldum will prove to be the stand out player we have signed.
ah yes had a mark on my monitor which looked like a full stop after Wijnaldum . Still think your business has been a dodgy as **** to be honest. Wijnaldum aside obviously. And an unproven kid from a **** league being the answer to your shocking defence frankly is laughable. You're going to be in trouble with us I reckon. Very risky spending imo
I'd have been much happier with at least one more defender coming in. I've got no worries that Mbemba will prove to be a good signing, Over the three games he has been our stand out defender so far, and even yesterday when he played at right back - which he has only started at once before in his career - he adapted his game after getting roasted for the first 15 mins and coped well. The biggest risk is Mitrovic. His strength and ability should be a plus, but the big question mark is whether his temperament can cope. He'll pick up his fair share of yellows and reds, but as long as he can have a half decent season I see him as more one for the future. A lot will depend on getting him service which is not something we have been good at in the last couple of seasons.
I've no doubt they're all talented. It's just looks like comfort signings a mid to top half team can afford. With your squad being poor it just looks a big outlay for a bunch of young signing who've only cut it in lower leagues. They're the sort of players who should be allowed to develop at their own pace but because of the outlay and quality of your squad they need to come good stright away. It's pressure that isn't ideal for a young player new to the league. That's where I see the risque personally. I don't include Wij in this of course. He's a Lens & M'Vila sort of improvement who will do well, will improve you, will bring you something you lack and is already doing it. Not doubt we need couple more like that as I believe you do too. But you've spent a fortune already.
I agree that in an ideal world young players should be introduced carefully. However, the only two I expect to be asked to play every game they are fit are Wijnaldum and Mbemba. I think Mitrovic will be rotated with Cisse depending on the opposition and form, and Thauvin will be used as part of a rotating attacking midfield along with Sissoko, Perrez, Aarons, De Jong and Obertan. We have spent a lot of money. It's hard to pin down the actual amount but seems to be £47.7 million on 5 players being quoted (and one of those is a development player). So far no money has been brought in yet in this window so we need to wait and see if anyone is sold in the last week. But as it stands I think each one of them improves the squad. Thauvin should do better than Cabella - though Cabella hasn't been sold so not sure if the plan is to give him regular playing time and bring him back or move him on after this year. However, he should also prove to be an improvement on Obertan. Mbemba is an improvement on Williamson (who wouldn't be). Wijnaldum is an improvement on Ryan Taylor/Gutierrez Mitrovic is an improvement on Adam Armstrong/Adam Campbell None of this turns us into world beaters. We know there are still big gaps in the squad - and so do the board/manager. They have openly said that the aim is to improve the team over three windows. I'm happy with the start they have made. Success this year will be trying to stay clear of the relegation zone and provide a platform for further improvements. I expect us to be in the bottom three by the end of today, but then most of us expected to be bottom after 4/5 games with the start we have (which we might still be). That's just the way the fixtures work out and something you have to be realistic about. It's not something to moan about as we still play everyone twice. I just hope we can slowly improve over the season rather than decline the way we have in previous seasons.
Very valid points fella. A risk though. You'll be an interesting team to watch this season. Especially if things get sticky and the fans get restless, as the first thing they'll ask is why doesn't the improvement represent the money spent which would be valid. That's when the unneeded pressure for these kids to perform at the clubs pace will really kick in. It's pressure they don't need. They could all feed exceptionally of the pressure, but chances are at least one will buckle under the pressure. You'll have spent more than that as well fella when you take agent fees and signing fees into consideration. But that's tough to estimate. So looks like Wij is going to play wide then does it?
Wij seems to be playing as the furthest forward point of the attacking midfield rather than wide, although yesterday we saw all of the attacking midfielders a lot more mobile across the pitch than we have been used to, and he was pushed out left when Perrez came off. Out wide so far it has mainly been Obertan, Sissoko, Perrez, and Thauvin (after yesterday). If you look at this summer's spending on it's own then it would add pressure. We have the 5th highest net spend in Europe (behind AC Milan, Man City, Real Madrid and PSG). However, that is on the back of having the highest net profit on transfers over the previous 5 seasons, so it's really just playing catch up. I don't expect the fans to be complaining about how much has been spent. We're just grateful that some of the transfer profits are finally being re-invested.
So you've got Thauvin a young lad with a big fee off the back poor season, Wij a central player, Sissoko a central player, Perez a striker and Oberton(less said the better) as your wide options? Your wide options must worry you like ours worry me. Lots and lots of work needed on both squads still I reckon. Way more then can be addressed in one window.
I have never seen Sissoko as a central midfielder (though its a point of debate among our fans). For me he is far better on the right. That is where he has always played for France and where his best games for us have come. Thauvin is an out and out wide player, as is Obertan - who I don't think is as bad as many make out even though he's not great. Aarons is an out and out wide player. Perrez has always done well out wide, and played a blinder there yesterday. I could well see him developing into a wide attacker rather than a through the middle player. Wij will only ever fill in out wide as the need arises. It's not his position. I'm not overly worried about our wide options. The main worry is still defence. We need another centre-back. Colo can be great but he is inconsistent. I'd say that was our biggest concern, along with left-back.
