Claudius I keep seeing this Barcola talk. PSG have an Mbappe-lite replacement that they paid €45m. Why are they selling him?
I don't know, but I also don't know why they're benching him. Maybe they're just dumb. We should test that hypothesis just to see.
samthegooner this is why a striker should be our top priority ahead of a winger. Martinellis numbers aren't that bad. Trossards forms bottomed out but he has goals in him. We have less quality and depth up front than on the wings IMO.
Claudius this is the problem with waiting to solve issues. When you leave one, and IMO we left a Partey replacement and a forward last summer, then it all comes to ahead and you end up with way too much to do. If we'd solved either of those issues last summer then we'd be far better off this season and going into the summer. Now its January and we are in panic buy mode.
We need creativity (both on the ball and with movement against tightly packed defenses) more than goal output, particularly on the left wing IMO. Our finishing is fine, we’re just too ‘system dependent’ when it comes to creating chances, besides Saka.
I like Vlahovic. Bulldozing style with a hunger for goals
Qwiss I think part of the issue is we have really been active each summer, turning over the squad from the Covid team. 2023 summer we got Havertz, Rice, Timber, Raya. They are 4 of our 8 most played players.
It’s a ton of change. And a lot of work for the recruiting team. We need the other forward. Summer let’s deal with maintenance
Claudius Not last summer but the one before.
Qwiss that was the original plan, right? As much as Havertz has proved his worth, I don't think he's ever going to be enough at CF and I don't think we've seen enough of Havertz to say he can't own the left 8 role.
Don Pacifico Havertz is fine. What we need is another Saka out left, and then Havertz will be maximised. If we find a scoring left winger we are set. If we find a striker, I think we will find that we probably still need to deal with left wing anyway
Claudius for sure, I don't think it's a case of either/or, we should definitely get both of we want to be elite.
Don Pacifico difference is I think we can be the best team in Europe with Havertz starting. Don’t think we can do it with Martinelli starting
Claudius I agree with your prioritisation but not sure I quite have the confidence to believe it would make us the best team in Europe!
Also very much depends on who we bring in; I know I'm a broken record but I really don't want another 'system' player as I think we need more options for when that system breaks down. Don't think I'll get my wish though.
Don Pacifico he's a good squad player but he's not good enough in any position to be a first XI player if we want to consistently win things. He's a very solid player but there is little to no magic there. I think we have a squad with too many players like that but when its your centre forward it really shows.
some source I have never heard of before are saying we want Damsgaard. Horrible.
Its a bit of an issue if we can't afford £58m for one of our main targets this window.
