This
I think I said last season that howe would be lucky to last this season, nothing in the transfer window changes that
Bruno has already started talking about his future.
They will not be as lucky with injuries this year and 2 games a week will stretch them
Reasonable owners become unreasonable owners very quickly
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Yeah agree Chelsea are essential a wildcard this year. Could finish 10th or win the league.
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Looks like West Ham are signing Dec's replacement for £35 million.
Edson Alvarez, 25 year old Ajax and Mexico midfielder.
Better late than never.
Cheers,
Neil.
Chelsea's big signing Christopher Nkunku will be out until the new year after a knee injury picked up in the friendly against Dortmund
He has an extensive CV: championship winner on three continents & managed the Socceroos. He's way more experienced than the usual European who's been assistant, assistant throw in coach at a La Liga team & then gets appointed to an EPL team in their thirties. I suppose it rather suits him to be underestimated.
Success at CFC isn't a given, BTW. Being second is absolute, abject failure: ask Neil Lennon, Tony Mowbray or John Barnes.
Incidentally, Postecoglou doesn't hang around: three or four years & then he moves on. He also doesn't suffer fools gladly, either in the boardroom or on the playing staff.
Last edited by jwg663; 8th August 2023 at 19:18.
______
Jim.
I reckon Lopetegui will be Spurs manager by Xmas
David Raya to Arsenal for £30m, deal agreed.
I really don't get the point of this, Ramsdale does have his moments buts he's a solid keeper, 30mil for a back up is way too much money. Unless he plans to play him first choice but then we have another expensive keeper on the bench.
It is like Arteta felt we lost the league last year for a small squad and now he is just trying to pack out the squad with better quality players, which is nice but not at the huge sums of money he is spending. Turner was a decent enough back up.
If we don't win something this season Arteta needs to go, but the question is what? cant see us winning the PL, no way we are winning the CL, historically he gambles and plays weak teams in the FA and league cup. So cant see us winning anything, best chance maybe the FA cup, or if we drop out of the CL into the Europa and try win that.
Interesting friendly against Barcelona last night. We were well worth a 2-1 lead that lasted until the 80th minute, after which we let in thee quick goals resulting in a 4-2 loss.
However, we played almost an entire 2nd string side, about 8 of which had played no pre-season minutes prior to this game (consequently they lost their legs towards the end, particularly with Ange making no substitutions). Given that, a lot of positive takeaways, especially given how rubbish the more marginal members of our squad have looked over the Mourinho and Conte years.
Lo Celso did start, and continued to look superb as he has throughout pre-season. I can't see him going anywhere now (sorry, Villa fans), as he will clearly be a really strong alternative to Maddison when needed.
I read yesterday that Arteta tried and failed to sign Reya a couple of years back. Reya’s stats are impressive but I can’t see either him or Ramsdale being happy being 2nd choice keeper. Why would Reya come to Arsenal just to play 2nd string to Ramsdale when he can play every week for a very good Brentford team.
I’m also surprised no one has tried to buy that goal scorer Evan Ferguson from Brighton this year, I think this kid could be one a real gem in the future.
Raya will be 1st choice. He has better distribution than Ramsdale.
Re trophies I agree it will be hard - ironically probably easier to win the CL than the PL! If you look at the CL then City are better equipped than us but squad quality wise we'd be on par with Real Madrid, Bayern etc so apart from inexperience at this level we'd have a shout. We shouldn't go into the CL with an inferiority complex - we've spent a ton of money and our squad is better than the vast majority of teams in it.
We do still need a top quality number 9 to really make a difference.
Yeah that maybe the reason but I think it’ll be similar to Kane who teams could have got cheaper earlier in his career, I.e if they wait too long they’ll be paying serious money as I think he’s going to be a proven goal scorer for someone.
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West Ham still chasing Maguire and McTominay for a combined 60m? (Why not throw in Fred to sweeten the deal?) If that goes through I’ll be betting on Moyes as first casualty of the season. He is on borrowed time either way.
Maguire to West Ham seem to be edging closer. Right move for all involved.
Man City in for Lucas Paqueta from West Ham
Ward-Prowse to West Ham fee agreed
Last edited by ryanb741; 9th August 2023 at 10:36.
"A man of little significance"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66437506
Hopefully this will age well.
"A man of little significance"
Looks like Maguire and Ward Prowse for West Ham.
I actually think they'll both do well.
Hopefully Paqueta will stay.
Cheers,
Neil.
I'll be following Luton Town this season.
Why?
My neighbour's grandson has just signed for them.
Who Barkley or Giles?
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I really don’t understand the Kane situation.
If Spurs decide to retain him and turn down let’s say 75m. They are effectively paying him 1.5m extra ‘wages’ per week for the next 12 months before he goes for free. I know they’ve turned down more than that already but 75m makes the maths easier.
That’s financial suicide.
I have tried to think about why they would do that, possible reasons:
- They know he will sign a new contract between now and next summer. Unlikely.
- Levy will hold out until deadline day and then sell. Risky.
- They will try to sell in Jan instead and hope they get something out of him in the next few months. Pointless. He will sign a pre contract and go for free.
- He will fire them into the Champs League and hence worth sacrificing the transfer fee. He won’t.
Why are they playing such a level of hard ball with Munich as if they hold all the cards when it appears they hold none? Levy may be a lot of things but he isn’t foolish so what am I missing in my analysis? They are risking Munich and walking away at this point. According to the bookies he is now favourite to stay at Spurs.
Spurs have agreed a fee for Kane, let’s see what’s next.
I think deep down Ange is glad he’s going so he can hopefully get some funds and a replacement and start moulding that team and style in his own way.
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Thing is say they agree a fee of £80m or whatever with Bayern. Then all of a sudden Man Utd or Arsenal say 'OK great, here's £85m'. They'd need to take that offer and Kane would surely rather remain in the PL. So I can see why Levy was reluctant to agree a price as it means the vultures circle including teams he may not wish to sell Kane to but now the genie is out of the bottle, they'd have to accept the highest bid.