samthegooner -- sounds like he could play
Clubs are "allowed to register a maximum of three new eligible players during the winter. Since 2018/19, it no longer matters whether those players have already played in the competition for another club, even for another club still in the competition.
samthegooner -- there's no way we can carry or pay Havertz, Watkins, and Sesko, and especially so if Jesus remains on the books.
If we're signing Watkins it means Sesko isn't signing - for whatever reason (cost, not interested, Arteta not sold, etc.)
No transfer window can go by without us buying a keeper
A few weeks back - after our draw vs Fulham - I mentioned wanting a livewire for a January signing, and I still stand by it. In my opinion Watkins is capable of accomplishing this.
We are in desperate need of an Arshavin-eque signing in January. Someone who can come in without being shackled by (Arteta's) instructions and create on their own. I don't want a young player who will provide too many concessions to our approach, I want a livewire like Sanchez.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 Watkins can't compare with RvP and Auba. This would be very, very poor use of funds.
Don Pacifico yep, Sicario’s logic makes sense for an elite forward. Not Watkins.
Far more likely he’d be deadwood we’d struggle to shift after a year or two (without trophies to show for it)
Hmm not sure this would be the best use of funds right now, a bit too old and I'm not that convinced on his general quality. Better then what have yeah but feel we could do something better in the summer if this is what it ends up being now.
Somehow, (late stage) Arsene Wenger returned.
Go take a look at Watkins goals plus assists numbers for the last 5 seasons. Over that period basically only Kane and Haaland are consistently better at that position. If he’s free, take him. And then worry about getting a you bf we winger in the summer. Havertz means we don’t have to abuse Watkins, so he can go a few more years. I’m just struggling to come up with a list of amazing 9s. It’s not like 8 where there are a few interesting players in the market this summer.
The question is simple. Sign Watkins and have a 30 percent chance of winning the title and/or CL this season, sign a kid to have a 10 percent chance of winning either or sign no-one to have a zero percent of winning anything this season?
The bid was made last week they said no, not selling. Good.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 we don’t have CF. We could spend the next several years looking for one. Stick this guy in. And then deal with the rest of the squad - namely getting another winger and renewing Rice, Saliba, Gabriel asap
Claudius Go take a look at Watkins goals plus assists numbers for the last 5 seasons.
This is an outstanding argument if you believe that humanity is going to find a cure for aging within the next 2 years.
Sicario2 - Tier 1 I just don't agree with those notional percentages
I think the margin of difference between those three scenarios is much thinner than you're making out - more like 15%/10%/5% as I see it.
Beyond this season, that 15% decreases whilst that 10% increases.
Mileage is more important than age. Ian Wright anyone?
DiabyKungFu he will be 31 in two years. Not dead.
Watkins is a bit on the old side but he's one of the best available strikers. Currently he is better than Sesko and he's miles better than Tel. I'd rather he was 25 but this idea that we shouldn't sign a ready made striker because it'd stop us signing some fantasy people have who may not end up signing for us anyway needs to go away. It wouldn't make a difference to going for Tel either, for starters he's a winger and Watkins is a striker. £60-70m is not a figure that stops us doing business in the summer, especially after the break even of last year.
Watkins is a box striker though. I hope Arteta realises that because if asks him to play like Havertz it wont work. He is not someone I want to see dropping into midfield a lot. I really want Arteta to be after Watkins because he's recognised we need to let our striker focus on being a striker.
