OK so I have 2 wishes atm:
1 - we spend again in Jan to finish the rebuild regards the spine = CMD & CF;
2 - that in doing so we see a repeat of the success of the summer transfers and particularly the starting players. I cannot remember the last time we had as much success and the new players having such an early impact.
That said it could also be the result of the bar not being so high in combination with the good signings.

Mirth wrote:

Klaus wrote:

I'm not getting into an argument over his level, but I think White is just where we want him to be on the curve. There's been a clear progression ever since his breakthrough at Leeds and he has kept it up at Arsenal. I think he's developing nicely under less than ideal circumstances. Tomiyasu and Gabriel seem to provide him with a similar environment that Webber and Dunk did at Brighton.

Agreed, also we moved for White at the right time. I did have misgivings due to his relative inexperience but it's also true that another season at Brighton would see us priced out of a move.

We did spend £50m on him, don't think another season at Brighton would have seen him go for more than that.

Tottenham signed Romero for a very similar amount - and his star was hardly soaring.

White is going to be one of the best centrebacks around and soon, in my opinion. Even if he wouldn't necessarily have gone for way more than £50m, we would have stood bo chance when City figured out he's going to be twice as good as John Stones, and so on.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Tottenham signed Romero for a very similar amount - and his star was hardly soaring.

He was voted Best Defender of Serie A last season. He didn't look anything special when Juve paid big money for him couple years ago, last year was his breakthrough season plus he starts for Argentina now. Not to say he'll be better for Spurs than White for us but it's not really up to opinion whether he had a bigger profile than him last season.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/mikel-arteta-edu-transfer-window-22155934
"The Gunners, who sit fifth in the table after overcoming a difficult start to the campaign, have £201m to play with without breaking financial fair play regulations according to a new report from the academic Kieran Maguire, which was first published in the Daily Mail."

Potentially good news to be able to finish off the rebuild so as to push hard for top4 this season. Caveat being that just because we can spend that amount, doesn't mean to say we have that amount available post COVID. According to the same report TH leads the way and could spend 400m, but I'd suggest their stadium debt and lack of revenues during COVID restrictions will take most of any revenues they have available.

Another thing with Romero is like most foreign players it is better to judge him next season as it takes them time to settle. Part of the reason you pay a premium for British talent is they usually settle in very quickly.

I'm not entirely convinced by White defensively yet, in the next few weeks we'll have a better idea of how good he is in that respect.

Even if Romero does not work out, Spurs can send him back to Atalanta in summer.

He is only on a loan with an option to buy in 2022.

mentalvortex wrote:

Even if Romero does not work out, Spurs can send him back to Atalanta in summer.

He is only on a loan with an option to buy in 2022.

Interesting. There must be some fluffing the books going on there because Atalanta got Demiral on loan with option to buy from Juve. Feel as if Spurs probably agreed to pay them next year so it'll hit their books then so that they can pay Juve for Demiral. 

jones wrote:

Ricky1985 wrote:

Tottenham signed Romero for a very similar amount - and his star was hardly soaring.

He was voted Best Defender of Serie A

White has done alright after a first few awful matches but posts like this, regardless of what you actually think of Romero, highlight his biases perfectly.

Fair enough. I didn't know he was voted defender of the year, ignorance on my part.

I had actually never heard of him and hadn't seen anyone on here talking about him, add to the fact that he ended up at shitty Tottenham, and in a summer when everyone was giving them a wide berth (even more so than normal) and I assumed he wasn't particularly high profile.

Sorry about that post Ricky, was uncalled for.

No worries, Quince.

Really wish we could have signed Bernardo Silva . So good running with ball and in possession

If Arteta pulls this off I'll forgive everything

Still only 24 years old, think there is still a class player there. Barca has been a complete shitshow for years now and he is one of many who have been caught up in that mess. Didn't he have a decent season for them last season?

jones wrote:

If Arteta pulls this off I'll forgive everything

that's a signing I don't mind us blowing the budget on. could definitely see man United being on his case if pogba goes

Is he the real deal then? I've never paid too much attention to him, a friend of mine is convinced he's a massive fraud.

People tend to under rate him because for a so-called playmaker he doesn't score or assist that many goals.

What is his skillset? What does he bring to a team? Who would you compare him to?

He would be perfect for us in my opinion. Instantly solves the Partey partner problem.

goon wrote:

Is he the real deal then? I've never paid too much attention to him, a friend of mine is convinced he's a massive fraud.

Why am I not surprised

Speaking of midfielders, Nouri is one of the saddest what might have been stories in football.

Clrnc wrote:

Kyogo Furuhashi. Would be a brilliant pick up

I saw he won Celtic the Scottish cup today. Nice chip for his second goal: Streamja - Simple video sharing

I remember jones wishlisting Jeremy Doku, I wanted to mention his partner Sulemana: 

Bryant wrote:

Clrnc wrote:

Kyogo Furuhashi. Would be a brilliant pick up

I saw he won Celtic the Scottish cup today. Nice chip for his second goal: Streamja - Simple video sharing

I remember jones wishlisting Jeremy Doku, I wanted to mention his partner Sulemana: 

He comes from the highly rated Right to Dream academy in Ghana.

They have been unearthing some very good African talent in recent years and moving them onto Danish club Nordsjaelland.

Nordsjaelland then sells them for huge profits.

I have to say after initially dismissing him as an overhyped young English player I'm really starting to like to look of Rice. I'd defo take him if he's not too expensive.

edit: after watching a bit more I'd take him regardless.

I wouldn't go near Rice for the money people are talking about. He makes a few runs and some risky tackles that are great for the highlight reels but between the ears he's such a poor player.

I think he's set on Chelsea so he can do all the towel snapping in the lockers with Mount that his heart desires. I think he serves a functional and useful purpose for England's midfield and I think him in that pivot is fine. I also think there are certain things he does well, his ground coverage is exceptional, seems to have a little poise, stature and can peel off either shoulder. However it was shocking how void he was on the ball against us the other week, and its not the first time it seemed that way. Agree with Qwiss, not for that amount of money. Maybe this is a hasty comparison but he's like Guendouzi with a different set of limitations.

Qwiss! wrote:

I wouldn't go near Rice for the money people are talking about. He makes a few runs and some risky tackles that are great for the highlight reels but between the ears he's such a poor player.

That’s what I used to think but I think he’s developed a lot this season. Last 2-3 games I’ve watched him he’s barely put a foot wrong. This from yesterday was particularly lovely and not all that unusual for him:

I rate rice too, but he needs someone really tactically switched on next to him. partey has shown he has some vacant space between the ears himself, not sure they'd work together

I didn't think he's bad at all positionally, certainly not for someone his age, but maybe I've not watched him enough. He actually snuffed out a few our attacks when we played them recently. Also seems like another big personality in the shape of Ramsdale and that would be a great thing to have in midfield.

That being said, his pricetag means he's unlikely to be worth it. Linked with virtually all the top English clubs so he'll probably cost upwards of £70m.

He's made huge strides since a year or two ago, definitely an interesting player. His price tag rules him completely out for any sensible club though, forget 60m-70m West Ham said a couple of times they're not discussing anything under 100m.

I wouldn't say he is complete, I think his technical level is low, but he is a powerhouse and plays with a lot of personality.

He's going to get found out as soon as he moves to a big club. Put him in the CL and you'll really see what he is. The Harry Maguire of midfielders.

Yeah he'll most likely embarrass himself in the CL. He'll be great domestically though and there are a lot more league matches to play than games on Tuesday.

Unfair to compare him to Maguire though, can see why you're doing it since they're both overhyped but a lot more football in Rice than in that BJJ blackbelt of a dickhead Maguire.