good buy if we can get it done. always reminded me of cazorla. cool under pressure, technically sound, and mobile

grab bissouma as well and that's a midfield

When we are done we should go back for his Argentine friend Martinez

And inter are broke. Why are City and United being linked to Kane when Lautaro is 23!?

I'm hoping this guy can be our bruno in terms of impact. united were on a one way trip to nowhere before signing that guy, and they're still no great shakes but they were legit spiralling before they bought him. his impact solidified them back into a top 4 calibre team, and it was just a case of getting 1 intelligent player capable of knitting together their brainless pace merchants

Don’t think he can be Bruno. Bruno was getting silly numbers for at least 2 years before he was signed. It is amazing it took him so long to go to a big club. Maybe his agent wanted £20m. But he can be a catalyst for change. Saka especially would feel a massive burden come off his shoulders.

I don't expect him to be as big a stat machine, but just in terms of knitting things together, being a well positioned pressure release further up the pitch etc. and all things considered, his stats have suffered by dint of playing with pukki and co. he could explode with us if used correctly

Yeah. I’m less concerned about stats as well. It’s the front footedness and providing an alternative to Saka, so the latter can also play off the ball more.

Sicario wrote:
Don Pacifico wrote:

If we are indeed going for him, question has to be, why the fuck didn't we go for him last summer when we could have got him cheaper...?

Muddled thinking then or desperation now?

Also, isn't Bell just parroting the Sun article?

Prob because we were mainly after Aouar as our number one target and perhaps it was too late in the day to get Beundia. Don’t forget the Aouar saga lasted till almost the last day of the window.

Makes sense but if my memory serves me correctly, we were looking to pay circa £40m for Aouar, which is likely what we'd have to pay for Buendia now.

Can't help but feel it's another example of a poor transfer strategy particularly given the dearth in creativity we suffered for much (or even all!) of last season.

Minus all the penalties United get Bruno's numbers don't look all that unsurmountable to me.

Let's see if we can even land Buendia before we start comparing him to Penandes.

Don Pacifico wrote:
Sicario wrote:

Prob because we were mainly after Aouar as our number one target and perhaps it was too late in the day to get Beundia. Don’t forget the Aouar saga lasted till almost the last day of the window.

Makes sense but if my memory serves me correctly, we were looking to pay circa £40m for Aouar, which is likely what we'd have to pay for Buendia now.

Can't help but feel it's another example of a poor transfer strategy particularly given the dearth in creativity we suffered for much (or even all!) of last season.

Not really sure if that's the case.

We had a CB signing as a priority.

Beyond that people seem to think we were loaded with cash.

The reality is we had to sell players.

We have to maximize the value of square pegs and get the players we need.

Willock had a great loan and his stock is at an all time high. Comes back as a bit part player and his value will go down again. AMN too.

Norwich had already sold Godfrey and only sell at the right price which is why Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell and buendia all stayed.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Not only that but he says it’s been accepted

wait, what? I was expecting them to hold out for more. 30 mil is an absolute steal.

Lost in translation from the arabic. It was REJECTED.

Claudius wrote:

Yeah. I’m less concerned about stats as well.

Really? I want "stats" from him if we are talking goals and assists. Serious lack of people putting up numbers in the squad and if that doesn't change it wont matter how nice our patterns are or who knits together well.

I'll be really disappointed if we sign Buendia and he doesn't rack up some decent numbers.

I think it is a given that he can deliver numbers. He’s multi-talented. What our offense needs is greasing. We need players to be constantly moving and available. I want to see Saka liberated to play more off the ball (and rest). I want to see Pépé played in more so we can de-emphasise his build up and emphasize his finishing. That’s the process I want. If it works, you’ll get your stats from everybody.

End product is important but I think we desperately need someone to bring our football together, think of the impact Hleb had.

The end product would the naturally follow, if not from the player in question than those around him.

With Hleb in 07/08 we mostly played with two strikers plus Fabregas who was an end product machine though. But I think Saka, Pépé and Auba is plenty of end product to be fair. Hasn't been like that this season, but if Auba isn't improving from this season we're in trouble either way.

Yeah. That's a good point. We badly needed one person to link up and provide for the rest to be productive.

That said he does really looked fantastic both in compilations and stats wise. Generally players who shine in championship does well in PL too. He's more mature and experienced than 2 years ago

goon wrote:

think of the impact Hleb had.

So you want Buendia to be shit for 2 years then manage half a decent season before fucking off to Barca and tanking his career?

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

With Hleb in 07/08 we mostly played with two strikers plus Fabregas who was an end product machine though. But I think Saka, Pépé and Auba is plenty of end product to be fair. Hasn't been like that this season, but if Auba isn't improving from this season we're in trouble either way.

Funnily enough I remember arguing with Asa about this on the eve of that season when he claimed that side had nowhere near enough goals in it. A young, optimistic otfgoon claimed the likes of Adebayor and Rosicky had it in them to step up.

Rosicky doubled his league goal tally from 3 to 6 despite missing half a season. Cesc went from being a non-factor with regards to goals to scoring 7 while Adebayor went from 8 league goals to 24.

But yeah, Cesc is one of the reasons why I'd like to still prefer to see a technical player next to Partey rather than a Bissouma type.

Qwiss! wrote:
goon wrote:

think of the impact Hleb had.

So you want Buendia to be shit for 2 years then manage half a decent season before fucking off to Barca and tanking his career?

If you want to gloss over the best bit then sure, but I remember the ice cream in Milan with fond memories. 

No one triggers the forum quite like Hleb 😆

Sicario wrote:
Klaus wrote:

He's fantastic Dools. One of the best technicians around. You just cannot press this midget. Tough as nails too.

Better than odegaard?

Better technician for sure, not quite as good vision perhaps. I'm a big fan of Ødegaard too though.

I think in terms of possible combinations Buendia is a bit more flexible and more hands-on. He'll take players on and create an opportunity himself if there isn't one to spot. Like I said, you can't press this bloke. This stat (which is a year old, but probably even more relevant because of it since it concerns him playing in Premeir League and not the Championship) summarises why I wanted Buendia last year:

Klaus wrote:

To elaborate, look at this:

You want to counter Chelsea signing Havertz on a fraction of their budget, this is how you do it. It's beyond me how anyone could look at the way he dominates under pressure in the exact area that is a black hole in all our passing/heat maps and just go: "Nah, he didn't keep one of the worst Premier League sides of all time from getting relegated, not worth it."

I accept that Norwich might ask for too much and that we have other needs we need to tend to as well, but we have to at least try here. It makes sense from so many angles. Maybe Raul doesn't know his agent and perhaps he won't be as good twitter banter as another Pepé signing, but he'd improve us on the pitch which is what ultimately matters.

I still feel that things would have gone better for us if we'd had someone like him right from the go in 20/21. Season was over the moment we decided to sign an old has-been like Willian instead of someone like Buendia, who had all the right stats and indications but perhaps not the reputation.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Super Press resistant was our Hlebbo

I recon Auba would benefit greatly from having Buendia in the team. He plays so many cute slide rule passes which Auba could latch on to.

Reliable sources have now both said that we've bid £30m and that they want £40m. The only way I can see this not getting done is if a better club comes in for him.

Chelsea, City and United are stacked. Perhaps Liverpool, but it would be a departure from their current set up. And Spurs, of course. Those are the 2 most viable big name alternatives. Everyone else we best easily.

Klaus wrote:
Sicario wrote:

Better than odegaard?

Better technician for sure, not quite as good vision perhaps. I'm a big fan of Ødegaard too though.

I think in terms of possible combinations Buendia is a bit more flexible and more hands-on. He'll take players on and create an opportunity himself if there isn't one to spot. Like I said, you can't press this bloke. This stat (which is a year old, but probably even more relevant because of it since it concerns him playing in Premeir League and not the Championship) summarises why I wanted Buendia last year:

Klaus wrote:

To elaborate, look at this:

You want to counter Chelsea signing Havertz on a fraction of their budget, this is how you do it. It's beyond me how anyone could look at the way he dominates under pressure in the exact area that is a black hole in all our passing/heat maps and just go: "Nah, he didn't keep one of the worst Premier League sides of all time from getting relegated, not worth it."

I accept that Norwich might ask for too much and that we have other needs we need to tend to as well, but we have to at least try here. It makes sense from so many angles. Maybe Raul doesn't know his agent and perhaps he won't be as good twitter banter as another Pepé signing, but he'd improve us on the pitch which is what ultimately matters.

I still feel that things would have gone better for us if we'd had someone like him right from the go in 20/21. Season was over the moment we decided to sign an old has-been like Willian instead of someone like Buendia, who had all the right stats and indications but perhaps not the reputation.

Interesting. No chance of them both coming in.

Maybe Odegaard is plan A and Buendia is back up?

Watch how we cock both up and end up signing Mata #fml

40 mil tops is ok. Let's just get this done quick and hope he doesn't get crocked in the Copa.

So is this guy an actual winger ? Or more of a creative midfielder who plays wide

Never seen him play

Irish gunner wrote:

So is this guy an actual winger ? Or more of a creative midfielder who plays wide

Never seen him play

Creative player on the wing definitely, though he can play in the middle too. 

That video helps bring together some of the stats we are seeing around lower pass completion rate but high press resistance. The thing that jumps out is he’s one of the few genuinely two footed players, like Dembele. It means he can get away from defenders easily either side, is comfortable dribbling with both feet and will attempt a variety of passes with either foot. That immediately makes you a much more dynamic attacker. He’s the anti-Xhaka. ESR is the closest thing to this on our team, but nobody is operating at this level.

If it's not then just give them the full £40 mill they want. Odds are he'll be more expensive after the Copa America otherwise.