24 May 2022 20:10:52
Anyone see tchouameni reportedly going off to madrid as a blessing in disguise? We clearly have a number of alternatives, and it allows us to go all out for Bellingham next season. If we were reportedly willing to pay the asking price for tchouameni, I don't see why we couldn't come up with the cash for Nkunku, who I think is the perfect Bobby replacement. Selling NW, Ox, and Taki in addition to more fringe players would offset the huge price tag as well.

1.) 24 May 2022
24 May 2022 21:24:13
I’m not sure how missing out on a top class player who can play 6 or 8 and play both positions excellently is a blessing in disguise? It’s pretty evident that’s a type of midfielder we’re very short of and there’s really not many quality ones out there who excel in both roles. And Tchouameni is only likely to keep getting better as he’s a level headed lad and works hard.

As far as I’m concerned, a player like Tchouameni is far more suited to our system than a big headed workshy show pony like Bellingham, I really don’t get the obsession about him, he really isn’t all that, the newspapers have done a great job over hyping him. The obsession about us being interested is almost as bad as the poor saps who thought we could sign Mbappe. As it is, we’re not in the hunt for him it’s almost completely illogical. Madrid or one of the oil teams will flash a huge bag of cash at both him and Dortmund and that will be that.

Also. I can’t see how nkunku a perfect Firmino replacement? They’re not even similar types of player? Nkunku is slightly built and relies on pace, Firmino plays with guile and intelligence as well as being physically strong.

Possibly a Mane replacement or even Salah at a stretch. But as a centre forward or false nine? No, he’d get battered from pillar to post by defenders through the middle. As has that other former RB striker, Timo Werner, if we’re going for someone to go down the middle, how about we go for someone taller than 5’9”? As we’d lack variety otherwise.

2.) 24 May 2022
24 May 2022 21:42:03
VVV, salah was 4th choice wasn't he? So losing out on our first choice is hardly something to worry about.

There are plenty of options out there and if the player didn't want to come to us then it wasn't to be. It's not like he's picked another English club over us either, he's picked real which is the peak for most players in the world.

To be honest to be even in with a shout shows how far we have come (we are now a consideration for most top players) but no matter how good he is, I trust the club will find someone suitable for our needs.

3.) 24 May 2022
24 May 2022 21:48:02
Yeah, VVVV. I don’t get that either. As for Bellingham, he already said he is staying at Dortmund next season. Tchouameni is who we wanted but we have alternatives so let’s see what happens if indeed, he has gone to RM.

4.) 24 May 2022
24 May 2022 22:27:58
VVVV, i get what you mean about Bellingham and i think you're spot on. He is very over rated. Good player but he has a long way to go.

However i don't get the 5ft9 comment. Jota and Mane are both about 5ft8 to 5ft9 and they're 2 of the best headers of a football in the Prem. Height is almost irrelevant if you time your runs and jumps properly as a forward. I do agree that the player through the middle should be strong and good in the air, just don't get the height statement. Aguero and Rooney are probably the best strikers to grace the Prem in the last 10-15 years and neither of them were tall either.

Can't say i've watched much of Nkunku but you did touch on what happened with Werner (i'd also throw Haller and Havertz in that bracket) . Bundesliga forwards are hit and miss when they move to a stronger league. That Jovic who Madrid signed hasn't done anything either. Then you have guys like Burke and Lookman who did well there and score about 1 a season in England. Although we've also seen the likes of Firmino or Pulisic do well, it's still risky in my opinion. Havertz especially cost a small fortune and he looks bang average at best. If i was to poach a player from the Bundesliga i'd want to see them prove it in the latter stages of the Champions league first (Lewandowski, Gnabry, Muller all come to mind) .

5.) 24 May 2022
24 May 2022 22:38:40
Firmino is strong?

6.) 25 May 2022
24 May 2022 20:49:51
So sell 4 or 5 players to bring one in?
And that's on top of Div leaving.
Transfer fever starting early this season.

7.) 25 May 2022
25 May 2022 06:57:05
Personally I would be a bit aware of any player signed from the Bundesliga and not just forwards. I mean Sancho and Keita haven't set the world alight considering their fees.

8.) 25 May 2022
25 May 2022 08:05:31
How many players did we sell / release last summer because we only brought in Konate didn’t we.

Carvalho is already here so I’m not sure if we see 4 or 5 leave that we’ll need to replace them all. I’m sure Mino and Origi mins combined in the league meant they played 2 games.

A big factor I suppose that I am missing is next season we can use 5 subs so maybe there will be lots more minutes for the squad players but that then means less minutes for the regulars.

9.) 25 May 2022
25 May 2022 09:25:30
Mane is not that good in the air. Jota is but there are better. I'm thinking Ronaldo, Lukaku, Kane and Calvert Lewin for starters.