Our squad is definitely the best it's been for a long time in terms of quality and depth. And we've spent a lot this Summer. I think if Hincapie does happen, it'll be close to £300m gross spend. So yes, we definitely cannot have another season like the last 2. In principle, I agree that we need to be winning one of the big two (PL or CL). But my main reservations are: 1) How long it takes these players to gel and to see the team chemistry we need. We've seen with other clubs that signing a whole bunch of players in one window doesn't always translate to team cohesion and understanding. I need to see how that plays out. 2) I'm still an 'Arteta-skeptic' and whilst I appreciate the job he's done in making us title-challengers, the lack of silverware (of any kind) can't be ignored. He needs to prove that he can deliver when the pressure/exepctation is on us and so far, we haven't seen that he can do that. His record in cup competitions also needs to be better. So the jury is out on that. 3) Tying into the 2nd point, I need to see an evolution in our tactics. The sterile, mundane, risk-averse, horseshoe-shaped football I was watching last season will not get us winning anything. He needs to give our attackers more license to have freedom and ingenuity, rather than rehearsed patterns of play all the time. We are inefficient in attacking transitions and attacking through central routes on the pitch. That has to change, in my opinion. Defensive resilience is important, but so is creating chances and scoring goals. 4) Liverpool's firepower and air of inevitability still worry me. They have some incredible attacking talent. If a late move for Isak also materialises, for me, they arguably have the best attacking depth in Europe. Also, if they get Guehi too, then that's a much better balanced squad than they had last season. In any case, I just can't overlook them and they will be a serious threat. I also think City could still turn things around as the season progresses, but let's see.
I unfollowed Romano about a year ago, I still see his tweets occasionally plus from the THFC aggregators but the bloke’s just become too much. 20+ tweets (and that’s no exaggeration) over the same player is just excessive nonsense nowadays and sometimes it’s not just transfers either, he’ll post that Lamine Yamal bought a ****ing milkshake or Cristiano Ronaldo wore a certain aftershave or some bollocks. I’m not saying he isn’t reliable anymore but he’s certainly milking the fact Twitter pays on tweets that attract likes/ RTs and so part of me at times thinks he may just be spamming certain stories, and on top of that he’s just sucked the enjoyment out of transfers too. Ornstein is pound for pound the best about now, drops one, maybe two tweets and that’s it, job done, onto the next. As for Hincapie, as I said I just don’t see that happening and that was even before the Arsenal link. He’s too good of a player to accept a rotational role here and I also feel we’ve got enough CBs, it’s a new RB we need more than anything in defence because Spence is far better on the left and so keep him battling Udogie and bring someone in to battle Porro. Romero, van de Ven, Danso, Dragusin, Davies and Takai (with Vuskovic going out on loan) is enough CBs for a season.
It's probably me (it normally is) but I don't get these 'priority' signings... We have our two preferred CB's plus the more than decent Danso and the admittedly inexperienced but talented Vuskovic, plus Davies for emergencies. If we get someone in that improves that situation then they surely won't be happy with occasional appearances. Same at LB. With Spence now performing at or above Udogies level, the latter hopefully now fit again, plus Davies as a fall-back option. I suppose in an ideal world it would be great to have 3 top players for every position, but not sure that happens anywhere. So I would prefer the club to be focusing it's energies and cash on securing the best available #10. But as I say, that's just me!
Need to add to the positions that require lots of running…the wing /wing back play or we will burn out the likes of Kudus due to the amount of high quality games we will need to play if we are to get anywhere worthwhile this season. I wouldn’t mind an upgrade on Dragusin however you rarely have 4 first team material CBs on your books…I’ve seen enough in him to feel confident that if he comes in he can do a job to maintain the standard set around him, nothing more but that’s usually enough to do the job to help carry on the good form of your team, if indeed you are in good form. Same with Danso but much more confidence in him hence why he is always coming on first and regularly.
They really do like copying our homework, don't they? Still, could be worse: the appropriately-named Alex Crook is suggesting Kobbie Mainoo could be on the agenda, as he's thinking of leaving Man Utd...and that's the one position in the team we have plenty of options
That’s basically what I’ve been saying too. We’ve got two elite CBs, a very good one, Dragusin who I’d like to see under Frank, plus Davies, Takai and Vuskovic. Another CB just feels so excessive even if Vuskovic does go on loan and someone will only end up wanting out within 6 months due to lack of games. Udogie and Spence at LB is great. It’s just another RB we need to reduce the pressure on the ever present Porro. Prioritise a 10 and a LW and we’ve got a really good first squad for Frank to work with this summer, then reassess in winter/ following summer.
Good point. I'd kinda forgotten that Spence was Porro's support as well - and now he is establishing himself at LB we really do need another top RB.
We are in the age of spin. It wouldn't surprise me if someone has been given the task of manufacturing, constructing or amplifying the 'He chose Arsenal over Spurs' narrative wherever it could be applicable in this window, just to piss off Spurs fans and make us feel and look more like losers in the light of our Europa League win. Respect to Arsenal, they do have elite level branding, despite the foibles of the current manager, and are seen as a very 'cool' club. (That Eze welcome vid with Ian Wright is solid work, but what the heck was that Arteta speech last season about the lightbulb?!? That was actually David Brent level cringe.) Personally, I hope that Levy goes in for Rodgers and Savinho will full financial force, and that Frank and the boys do a job on Arsenal in the derbies on the pitch, when it actually matters. I also hope, as I did I the Poch era, that Spurs meet Arsenal in the CL with a full and fit squad so we can actually see and measure where we are in football terms. If Levy does the right thing this season, all it will take to put us back in the hearts and minds of the pundits next season is a Kane return.
We should lodge a bid for Bryan Gil, then remember to act disappointed when the Nomads sign him for the same fee we were offering
One question that has struck me during the transfer window: when was the last time a player actually handed in a transfer request? Because it feels like that hasn't happened in over fifteen years We have players publicly going on strike (Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak etc al), we occasionally have players threatening to score own goals (William Gallas), and we have players running to the press complaining about "gentleman's agreements" (Harry Kane, Luka Modric, Riyadh Mahrez, Luis Suarez, Petr Cech, Jadon Sancho, Sadio Berahino...k'inell, that's a lot) but it seems that players don't want to be proactive about forcing a move, which creates situations like we have with Savinho
Because they would lose shed loads of money/bonuses etc. so take the cowards route. It's like the scenario of pissing your other half so much she ends up ditching you because you never had the balls to do it.....
Genuinely think that we're a few years away from loyalty bonuses being dragged into court, as they're used as a means of coercing players into staying They're basically an updated version of the old Retain and Transfer system which got punted into the long grass in 1963 - and the fact Liverpool got a transfer fee for a player out of contract this summer is exactly the sort of thing which is why we know Jean-Marc Bosman's name, while I'm on the subject...
