Clrnc those heady days when Wenger started bidding 100m for players

    The Times is reporting that we're open to selling Richarlison and Bissouma to fund a striker, a midfielder and a defender.

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/sport/football/article/spurs-ready-to-give-ange-postecoglou-funds-for-three-key-signings-h0b37rcmv

    It's an interesting one. Richy has definitely been better for us this season than last season, but it might not be quite enough for Big Ange to take us to the promised land. No matter what, we need to find a solution here because Sonny is definitely way better on the left than down the middle.

      None of those players are good enough. Maybe Ange is serous after all

      That little girl has to be related to Bill Murray.

      Re the earlier discussions about Bruno G being a violent animal - I refer to the movie The Commitments - "yeah, but he's our animal".

      Burnwinter At the risk of nitpicking, I THINK I'd swap De Jong and Rice's roles here. I don't think De Jong is good enough defensively to anchor as the 6 and would rather him be more freed up to help with the first and second phase buildup.

          Burnwinter It will also give us the flexibility of switching it around based on the opponent, much like we did with the Jorginho/Rice pivot at times in early 2024.

            11 days later

            Camden is a little more reliable these days though maybe it’s because he gives himself get out clauses like below, but I’d be amazed if this is true. If it is then Arteta must have a hell of a lot of faith in his coaching abilities.

            There is still a player in Rashford, but whether or not Arteta can change the attitude is a different conversation.

            His crossfield pass yesterday for the 2nd goal was amazing

            Rashford has been like a spoiled child this year. His lack of effort is a big red flag for me. Maybe Arteta can save him like he did with Kai but I don't want another half season trying to turn someones form around. Especially at the sort of money we'd be talking about for Rashford.

              Qwiss iirc Havertz was always one of the most hard-working Chelsea players despite things not working out there, so his attitude was never in question.

              Also, I'm not sure what about Arteta's managerial career so far has indicated that he's one to fix players' poor attitudes. His way of resolving that issue (which has worked out well) has been getting rid of said players the first moment he could, not 'fixing' them.

                Rashford has had his head turned by fame and he's on huge wages, but he's still only 26.

                He'd score starting on the left for us and he'd be tricky to ignore whenever in form. What I see in him is an approval-seeking personality who's starved of approval at a rustbucket club. So I think he'd arrive eager to toe the Arteta line, and that would continue as long as the validation of selection was there and success on the way, especially given the cultish atmosphere we've fostered.

                Any contrary twists in the tale would likely lead to the resentment and attitude problems seen at United.

                Potentially we win a title adding Rashford to the XI, but it'd be a huge gamble for these reasons, so why not sign a hugely expensive game-changer with fewer pretensions and downsides?

                It seems like now is a decent time to have discussions with Rashford.

                There’s plenty of opportunity for him and Arteta to clarify what more he wants from career.

                “You’ve missed the Euro’s, how desperate are you to make the next World Cup? And at what position?”

                Arteta has strong pull with England stars and is recognized for helping players hit new levels. That is what pulled in Rice, and I would imagine other players like Kai.

                All that said, until we can shift significant wages it feels like signing Rashford could easily (financially) hamper our transfer windows.

                I’m also skeptical he’d do half the work Martinelli does, or play with some of the demands (possession wise). But sure would be nice to add some goals and be less reliant on Saka and set pieces.