DKGooner Agree to a limited extent. I feel we have enough players who are very capable passers, but our system is risk averse and has led us to be very passive in the central midfield area. Maybe it is a limitation of ability, but think part of our issue is that we have very few running into space ahead of the ball so our options are usually the backwards or sideways pass.

I think if you have a less technical passer at the base of defence then that slowing gets worse as teams get back and can get men behind the ball before we get it forward. We've seen that when Rice plays as the 6, and yeah he's a capable passer but he isn't as quick to turn and release it as Partey or Jorginho are and it limits us somewhat. This is why I favour Zubimendi. I think he exactly what we need in there on the ball.

DKGooner If achievable, would love to gamble on a player like Wirtz, but can't see Arteta wanting to go down a route that would marginalise Havertz's role in the team.

I think inevitably Havertz gets somewhat marginalised anyway but I don't see Arteta signing someone like Wirtz. Havertz will be marginalised when we get a better striker.

DKGooner I also don't see the point of having both Merino and Havertz. While their strengths are not exactly the same, with the latter being a more willing runner, I can't envisage a midfield with both of them starting. Want to promote MLS into midfield to see what he can do and in terms of signings

Yeah I agree here. I think if we get some proper strikers in then this clash becomes an issue. However I think we are at least 18 months off that.

Rather than go for Williams, would like to try a prospect like Ali Cho from Nice on the wing.

I haven't seen enough of Cho but he's far less proven than Williams and his stats don't exactly blow me away in a far weaker league than Williams is in.

DKGooner If still available, would prefer to get Watkins as CF as imagine he will be better able to hit the ground running as a proven player in the league.

I think he should definitely still be seen as an option. If they don't get their top couple of targets he should definitely be considered again for exactly the reasons you say.

          DiabyKungFu Is there any particular reason why people seem to be allergic to talking about Sverre Nypan when discussing this summer's transfer window? I don't really know how good he is, but it seems like we're probably going to sign him and (if we sign him) he'll probably have a role to play in the team.

          Good shout actually, like you don't know much about him but interesting to know if he can have an immediate impact on the first team or needs to be eased in.

            Panda Zubimendi, a CF and a LW is the bare minimum. If they can't manage that we may as well not bother tuning in next season.

            That is bare minimum, we probably need another 2/3 players on top of that. We have a big summer window ahead of us. I don't know too much about the new Director of football we just signed but good thing we've got him now because he has an action packed summer ahead!

              FEBravo that’s why you want your Ekitike + Nico summer. Was watching L16 Champs league highlights. Our peers have so much running power. We need more.

                Burnwinter You in the subscriber comments: what that buffoon @Burnwinter said on his show this week was a mere tautology!

                I'd listen to your "Fuck Your Mum" podcast tbh.

                  Will be good to get him in. Raya doesn’t play like Lehman or Cech. He covers a lot of ground and makes a lot of passes. A rest here and there will be helpful if we are to preserve him.

                  United sniffing around him now as well

                    Qwiss could see it if the idea is to be backup here vs starter there. A backup GK doesn't play much.

                      Panda have to agree. The back up keeper isn't a huge concern.

                        Even if we don't need him, it's a shame that we didn't get Garcia last summer. Our GK coach was ahead of the curve in identifying him, and at the very least it was a significant arbitrage opportunity.

                        I would like to hear a little more about the club prioritizing a left winger. We cannot have Martinelli and Trossard starting games next year, as much as I appreciate both players to an extent. Forwards win trophies, particularly wingers these days. An LW is right footed, it should be easier to find that player than a RW. Instead it's our weakest link in the starting XI.

                          CPM Our GK coach was ahead of the curve in identifying him, and at the very least it was a significant arbitrage opportunity.

                          Dunno how much arbitrage opportunity there was in buying a goalkeeper with 1 season in the first team for €30m last season just to be a bench warmer behind Raya. We saw with Ramsdale that a year on the bench will really drive your price down.

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