Mirth Also we already have Havertz and Jesus locked in for few years on a high wage so I definitely think there’s a lot to consider when building the squad here.

Yeah, there's no way that we're going to sign a center forward this window AND sign a center forward next window AND have Kai Havertz AND have Jesus around doing rehab. If we're signing (29 year old) Ollie Watkins, then that means that the three year plan is to have (29 year old) Ollie Watkins and Kai Havertz as our center forwards. I don't even like Sesko, but I can at least rationalize that we'll be better off 2 years from now than we are now. If we signed Watkins, it seems like there's a great chance that we would be worse off 2 years from now than we are now (taking optionality into account).

      • Gazza M

      • Post #1006
      • Edited

      Mirth there is no strategy to the way arteta is building our forward line. it's a moyesian after thought. stick a few 60m squad players in there to rattle around the place, and some goals might coincidentally happen.

        • Mirth

        • Post #1007

        est my point is we won’t be able to shake Jesus off for a while

            Claudius No, I've questioned why in the summer it was okay to keep the powder dry because our targets weren't available while now it's "other alternatives aren't available so we should sign him".

            As usual, I think it reeks of rationalizing that whatever seems to happen is the best option.

                QuincyAbeyie who is rationalising that whatever seems to happen is the best option?
                What do you want us to do, Quincy?

                    • Gazza M

                    • Post #1013
                    • Edited

                    Claudius do nothing. just get a warm body on loan to fill out the CF/LW for now. I said it up thread. anyone we sign in january will be an overpriced mess that we'll have to clean up in 12-18 months, and watkins is THE perfect example of this. anyone we get now likely won't move the needle enough to close the gap to Liverpool because we're playing like dogshit and that's unlikely to change until the summer anyway.

                        Gazza M we got to the end of the window last time around and picked up a loan. There’s your warm body. Basically cold to be honest.

                        We’ve lost Saka and Jesus since the season began. This guarantees us a high level of productivity now. We are SECOND in the league and THIRD out of 36 clubs in Europe. You don’t just throw that away and say “wait til the summer” on 29 January.

                        It’s also a message to our boys that we got their backs. These players have really impressed me this season. They need the reminder that the team has their back

                          Gazza M disagree. Imagine your Liverpool and you see your main rival sign the 3rd best striker in the league. Its intent. There are intangibles. The fans will be together, the atmosphere at Emirates could be similar to 22-23, there will be less anger towards the board as they pulled their finger out. It can create momentum. Momentum wins you titles. There is no tomorrow.

                              Claudius well, when I said that I think they've realized they got it wrong in the summer you were one of two instant protesters.

                                  Sicario2 - Tier 1 watkins is fools gold. it's not a show of intent, it's a gambler chasing their losses.

                                  watkins isn't a terrible player, but there's a high chance he'd be a terrible fit. I'm sure he'd bang a few in but he'd be yet another 'he'd good, but....' player. I don't want another 2 years of that.

                                    Claudius What do you want us to do, Quincy?

                                    Spend it all, every cent, on Isak. Kroenke can sell a few properties. Time for this club to grow the fuck up.

                                        DiabyKungFu yep. If we do this. We will have 60 mil+ and 200k per week on Watkins. It will be 65 mil and 275k on his back-up, Havertz and just the 45mil and 265k per week for 3rd choice Jesus. Insane waste of money.

                                        I still say/hope that VIlla won't sell.
                                        We bid for him last week, there was no news, today when the Saudis were pushing for Boniface and not Duran this comes out...so I do hope it's Villa trying to put some pressure on them. They will sell Duran and keep Watkins and save us.

                                        Coombs I agree with everyone who wants Isak, he is amazing. But can someone tell me why will Newcastle sell him to us? The guy has 3 years left, they do not need the money. Ornstein said today that the deal seems imposible.

                                              HomeSteak we need to force it. That's what big clubs do. Tap him up, make him go on strike, Arteta can go watch Netflix with his mom, I don't care.

                                                • Qwiss

                                                • Post #1021

                                                Mirth Jesus is just a cost at this stage. Can't be avoided but shouldn't be considered a player moving forward.

                                                    Qwiss loved the guy when he arrived. but all good things come to an end. he's just deadweihght now.

                                                    @Coombs there is nothing to force. He is owned by a rich club that is fighting for top 4 and could be a marketing pillar ahead of the World Cup in Saudi.

                                                        Claudius players have power. It's been proven time and again. Time to start rectifying our cowardly mistakes, and that means paying for them, literally.

                                                          Rumour that Villa are considering offer from Saudi from Duran. If they do, then that's the end of our exploration