daredevil I have taken pains to articulate that I am not saying signing an attacker would have worked out. Over and over, I've framed it in terms of risk. We took a big risk on Calafiori, but did not for an attacking player. We took a minor risk on Raheem Sterling. The result was that we failed to improve our forward line because of an inability or refusal to take any real risks on a forward signing.

If we had signed Mudryk, he might be outscoring Mo Salah for us right now. Probably not, but that isn't the point. The point is, we'll never know if we never push the boat out for a big attacking signing.

      Coombs The point is, we'll never know if we never push the boat out for a big attacking signing.

      we're probably traumatised by the last time we did that

        We know that the beginning of the summer was dominated by us chasing Šeško. And that we tracked Nico all summer. From reliable journalists.

        Top forwards are much more hotly contested market than defenders and midfielders because their quality is easier to assess - and even City has had challenges beyond Haaland. Doku, Savinho and Grealish must have 4 goals amongst them in all competitions despite costing £175m

          Claudius We know that the beginning of the summer was dominated by us chasing Šeško. And that we tracked Nico all summer. From reliable journalists.

          we are quite possibly getting Sesko next summer.

              banduan wouldn’t be against that. Would still be good to get another speedy winger in as well

                Seskos not really looking like a game changer this season. I think given his lack of ambition last summer we should move on.

                  Qwiss

                  Every time I've watched him, he's looked mediocre. We should go for Duran instead.

                      But do we want to pay tons for Duran in January or do we wait for the summer and make the big run at Gyokeres? Or does no one think we will realistically go for him? (i think the Sesko train has already run out of steam)

                      daredevil Duran's combination play and hold up ability isn't consistent.

                        Isn't there some kind of English law that prevents players coming from South America to immediately play in England without being granted 'exceptional status' and requires them to get an English passport first or something. We always seem to miss out on South American players when they are young.

                        If we are getting a player from Villa then I hope it's Boubacar Kamara. He looked like a DM that could easily play for one of the top teams in europe pre his ACL injury. Very silky on the ball but also reads the game so well and is quality defensively. I'd say he's like a typical nr 6 from la Masia: a playmaker at the base of midfield with excellent technical skills combined with very good reading/understanding of the game.

                        I remember watching him against City last season (before they went on to beat us in the following match) and thinking "how the feck did this guy end up at Villa!"

                          Tactics he’s coming along nicely. this is how I described him in 2019:

                          Boubacar Kamara - you should see this guy. He is deployed as a central defender. He’s 1,78, so not a giant. But he is is composed as a defender, with great timing on tackles and interceptions. And when he gets on the ball, he can slalom through opponents with ease. He’s a total football defender. He could easily do DM based on his ability. You can see why Chelsea are sniffing.

                            Pepe LeFrits it'd make a mockery of everything we were told about "the standards" if he did. Rashfords an absolute shit show at United. He's on the piss, he's leaking stories, he's worse at tracking back than Sterling.

                                Thought there was an interesting point in the Arsecast today, unsurprisingly it's in line with something I believe😂, but I think it was articulated well. Mainly as noted above that we've not taken enough chances in our attacking recruitment as it's always a gamble the idea you can find a guaranteed top player is unrealistic approach.

                                They cited Liverpool signings since 2015 which includes Ings, Benteke and plenty of others who flopped but equally Mane, Jota, Salah. Also made the point both Henry and Salah when they were signed nobody knew they would become the elite players they did. There was an element of luck in that and our approach recently just hasn't been diversified enough and willing to chance it to try to improve.

                                Equally as mentioned here we have taken more risks in recruiting defensive positions with no guarantee so it doesn't seem to be a universal approach so why have we fixated on it for attackers.

                                  Qwiss I really worry that's the kind of guy he's going to go in for.