This weekend after another signing completed you have to say things so far are exceeding the usual snail-pace window, which leaves us usually feeling let down. These 3 are starters so for me an upgrade on last season. However we then get into the possibility of Kalvin Phillips joining City for £50m, and in effect making these 3 new players and £8m cash from the Phillips sale. This will never be accepted, so for that reason I believe we will be bringing in another top DM at least. Oh and Nahitan Nandez has just gone to another Seria A club today.
1/ If no more activity and by that I mean Phillips or Raphinha aren’t sold, we have a team that will make safety next season, unless something catastrophic happens again. Lets face facts we were unlucky to be dragged into trouble. Burnley upped their game and Everton were gifted wins against Man Utd and Chelsea. As things rolled out we were similar in quality to every club up to 10th place, so on paper we only need to slightly improve to consolidate in that tier of 16th to top 10, and I believe the quality we have already brought in does that.
2/ if Phillips goes we do need a top quality replacement. Yes it may be someone we haven't heard of but makes no difference as long as he can enforce the middle of the park. Ideally another Raphinha find type player, bought for peanuts but valued with a massive profit after a short time
3/ Lots of stories about Cresswell going out on loan and demanding talks with Marsch and Orta? Let me be frank here, we have a bunch of players who will not sit idly back this season, players who are too good for the 23s who want to play. I include Gelhardt here too, along with Greenwood, Cresswell, Summerville and Drameh. So expecting us to loan a couple out and sell Summerville.
4/ Looking at the new fixtures Jesse Marsch gets to prove himself inside the first 16 games before the WC break. There is 11 fixtures he needs to get something from at least. Failure to do so could probably be the end for him. He will have had a full pre-season on top of the time hes already had to get his message over. Indeed he has so far got 2 of his former players in.
5/Lots of stories about kids coming in who could go straight into the first team. A 20yo from PSG to be back up to Bamford? Joffy will be having words I suspect. Then there is the strange decision to allow Nohan Kenneh to walk on a free…. Seems the reason could be because we have known for a while we were looking at Man City’s Romeo Lavia (Olof will call him Labia) same age as Kenneh and videos show a very similar build, style of play, quality etc, but in fairness Romeo does look quality and has played a couple of games for Man City. Going to be a top DM
6/ Same bunch of names being mentioned this week on top of the PSG and City kids. Nicolas Raskin gaining momentum. Club Brugge loan player from Schalke a DM with the world at his feet and only 21yo. Rabbi Matondo, Gonzalo Plata, Valentin Castellanos. Now also Sander Berge as a replacement for Phillips?
Oh and anyone else sick of hearing about the big oiled up mirage Traore £70m last summer and now £20m….. hes just a black Dan James, and another old chestnut has raised its head today Lucas Alerio the young Argentine striker from Leverkusen who Bielsa enquired about in 20/21 season after he scored 15 from 33.
1/ If no more activity and by that I mean Phillips or Raphinha aren’t sold, we have a team that will make safety next season, unless something catastrophic happens again. Lets face facts we were unlucky to be dragged into trouble. Burnley upped their game and Everton were gifted wins against Man Utd and Chelsea. As things rolled out we were similar in quality to every club up to 10th place, so on paper we only need to slightly improve to consolidate in that tier of 16th to top 10, and I believe the quality we have already brought in does that.
2/ if Phillips goes we do need a top quality replacement. Yes it may be someone we haven't heard of but makes no difference as long as he can enforce the middle of the park. Ideally another Raphinha find type player, bought for peanuts but valued with a massive profit after a short time
3/ Lots of stories about Cresswell going out on loan and demanding talks with Marsch and Orta? Let me be frank here, we have a bunch of players who will not sit idly back this season, players who are too good for the 23s who want to play. I include Gelhardt here too, along with Greenwood, Cresswell, Summerville and Drameh. So expecting us to loan a couple out and sell Summerville.
4/ Looking at the new fixtures Jesse Marsch gets to prove himself inside the first 16 games before the WC break. There is 11 fixtures he needs to get something from at least. Failure to do so could probably be the end for him. He will have had a full pre-season on top of the time hes already had to get his message over. Indeed he has so far got 2 of his former players in.
5/Lots of stories about kids coming in who could go straight into the first team. A 20yo from PSG to be back up to Bamford? Joffy will be having words I suspect. Then there is the strange decision to allow Nohan Kenneh to walk on a free…. Seems the reason could be because we have known for a while we were looking at Man City’s Romeo Lavia (Olof will call him Labia) same age as Kenneh and videos show a very similar build, style of play, quality etc, but in fairness Romeo does look quality and has played a couple of games for Man City. Going to be a top DM
6/ Same bunch of names being mentioned this week on top of the PSG and City kids. Nicolas Raskin gaining momentum. Club Brugge loan player from Schalke a DM with the world at his feet and only 21yo. Rabbi Matondo, Gonzalo Plata, Valentin Castellanos. Now also Sander Berge as a replacement for Phillips?
Oh and anyone else sick of hearing about the big oiled up mirage Traore £70m last summer and now £20m….. hes just a black Dan James, and another old chestnut has raised its head today Lucas Alerio the young Argentine striker from Leverkusen who Bielsa enquired about in 20/21 season after he scored 15 from 33.
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I can't argue with you there Milky.
