Good list. Chukwuemeka has Bellingham levels of talent. Martinez can be the passer we need if we don't get Tielemans.

Clrnc wrote:

Jacob Ramsey is better

Yeah agree. He'd be great in Xhakas slot.

First off we need to be focussed on the young players we have here though.

————————Ramsdale
Tomi—-White/Saliba—-Gabriel—-Tierney
————————-Partey
————-Odegaard——-SMS
—-Saka———-Jesus———-Gnabry

That’ll doozie

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

————————Ramsdale
Tomi—-White/Saliba—-Gabriel—-Tierney
————————-Partey
————-Odegaard——-SMS
—-Saka———-Jesus———-Gnabry

That’ll doozie

Seconded.

Wouldnt mind a cheeky bid for Naby Keita.. last year of his contract and reports he doesnt want to renew.. Never really established himself at liverpool.. Brilliant player in there somewhere, probably at a point where he wants regular playing time.

I'd be worried about his injury issues, especially here and given Parteys issues.

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

GooneriC wrote:

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

I can't believe the reports we aren't interested when his fee is reportedly less than we are looking at for Raphinha, and we also have room in our wages.  Again I suspect it is more about us being unable to move players out before we buy.

I think it's mainly angling for a better deal at bayern. he's waiting to see if lewnadowski actually moves or not, then his bargaining position will be improved

I watched two or three Mönchengladbach games last season for reasons that escape me, and I remember one player who stood out a mile: Kone. Just saw him linked with Leeds and was thinking we should be all over that instead. He just seemed an incredibly skilful ball winner with great stamina.

Stats seem to back up the eye test too:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Klaus wrote:

I watched two or three Mönchengladbach games last season for reasons that escape me, and I remember one player who stood out a mile: Kone. Just saw him linked with Leeds and was thinking we should be all over that instead. He just seemed an incredibly skilful ball winner with great stamina.

Stats seem to back up the eye test too:

By those stats Kone is worth a punt. Statistically close to Tchouameni.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Yeah Koné is by far the best thing Gladbach have at the moment, in a season where the whole team played like trash he came in as a 20 year old new to the league and took it by storm. Lots to learn especially in the final third but his ability to move the ball forward both passing and dribbling coupled with his frame and physicality is very rare

If planning to sell Pépé then Orzabayal or Fekir, do it think later

GooneriC wrote:

We need to go after Gnabry before the Mancs get their grimy hands on him due to our indifference

Saw something that he is thought to be MCs target to replace Sterling.

Qwiss! wrote:

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

@G89, see Lokonga for documentation of ball progression.

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Was reading something that suggested Elneny will likely be cover for Partey at #6, and Lokonga could be used in more of a #8 B2B/ball carrying role when Odegaard will play closer to goal.  Same blog suggested Saka/ESR/Vieira could play as left sided #8 when we want a more attacking options in the final 3rd, with MO then sitting in the middle of the 3 midifled roles.

Whilst I think our interest in both Martinez and Raphinha was genuine initially, I wonder how much of our recent 'interest' is more about forcing our top4 rivals to pay more/smoke and mirrors whilst we look elsewhere? Same as I wonder if our inability to shift Xhaka and Pepe may have cost us the early opportunities for each target.

Anzac wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

Indeed. And I bet if you were able to add a stat for how advanced those midfielders usually are when they pass forward he'd fare well too.

Was reading something that suggested Elneny will likely be cover for Partey at #6, and Lokonga could be used in more of a #8 B2B/ball carrying role when Odegaard will play closer to goal.  Same blog suggested Saka/ESR/Vieira could play as left sided #8 when we want a more attacking options in the final 3rd, with MO then sitting in the middle of the 3 midifled roles.

I do think thats the future for Odegaard. I think he's better in there controlling things than being asked to push up and contribute a load of goals and assists, he'll still have those but it should be less of a priority for him.

Not happy at all about how much we look to be relying on Elneny though. Whats the point in having great technical centre halves if they're passing it to Xhaka and Elneny to slow the game to a crawl?

Depay available for 20 million Euro. I'd take a chance with him unless he is on a massive salary. Otherwise no.

No from me.

Kel Varnsen wrote:

Best: de Jong and Gnabry.
Good: Zinchenko and Jesus
Meh: Tielemans and Broja

Looks like this will be a good window. 

———————Ramsdale
Tomi—White/Saliba-Gabriel—Tierney
————-———-Partey
———Odegaard——-Zinchenko
—Saka———Jesus————Sane

Immense

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

———————Ramsdale
Tomi—White/Saliba-Gabriel—Tierney
————-———-Partey
———Odegaard——-Zinchenko
—Saka———Jesus————Sane

Immense

Very tasty.

It may well be MC Lite but even so if it clicks like we think it could/should, then as a team that is fit for purpose it could well challenge CFC for 3rd as IMO they are not a complete/balanced team as such.  Our biggest question is has Arteta learned in regards to squad rotation, or is he going to go with aTeamB for the UEL and Cups?

Way too lightweight that team especially in midfield. Backline looks ok for the 10 games a season where either of Tomiyasu/Tierney will be available

Anzac is spot on. Need to ditch this A-team/B-team model. It's old-fashioned and quite boring.

jones wrote:

Way too lightweight that team especially in midfield. Backline looks ok for the 10 games a season where either of Tomiyasu/Tierney will be available

I suspect that may be a major reason as to why we are seeing the 3-1-4-2 in just about every pre-season game, along with Saliba in the middle of a back3 & White as RB/RCB (both in the last game), and using Martinelli on the flank in the 4.

Just go all in for Savic, and all of a sudden we have one of the best midfields in the league.

Either option would be nice. I don't think Arteta will sell xhaka or play him as backup though. We're an injury away from disaster in that position.

What we need is more goals and better creativity from midfield above anything else now. My dream signing to complete our first team would be SMS. Wouldn't even need a wing forward if we have a player of his caliber.

Didn't want to out it in his thread in case people would think there were more rumors, but his forward passes are really something, and he doesn't slow the tempo. I really think he'd add a lot to our midfield. It's only Derby but so much went through him. Similarly everything goes through Ødegaard with us, and we'd be much less predictable if it didn't.

sign him up... feel like we wont be seeing much action till the later stages of the window.. shipping some out is the priority now.

That compilation put me off him again. Looks plucky when evading the press and his passing looks rough round the edges

He's not SMS or De Jong, but if it's sticking with Xhaka as our first choice or buying Tielemans it's an easy choice.

There's a lot to like in that window. Sharp technique with quick incisive forward passing. Getting the ball up the pitch fast will be key to unlocking the full potential of our front three.

I've gotten so used to watching Xhaka, I've forgotten what is to do what he does but faster.

We need to move for SMS quickly and seriously, United linked with him now.