I think your take is laikely largely right, although “lied” may be too strong. It could well just be a case of internal misalignment over direction and tactics because of all the backroom changes there have been recently. There was a lot of misunderstanding over what Schmadtke’s role was and what the point is of having an interim guy in charge of a part of the org responsible for long term planning. This Isak situation demonstrates exactly why. It did not just tell other clubs who the person was they needed to speak to, but it told everyone else at the club to not speak out of turn
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Do think their intent was that isak accept a sufficient pay so as to move to Saudi. And they get some good money into Newcastle.
But isak probably thought otherwise.
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It’s too late for Van Dijk now and we’re too stubborn to move on - we’ve humpty dumptied on the wall for the last 6 weeks waiting for Southampton to sign a Defender
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I agree with this. I think we will ride the Isak wave all the way to the closing minute of the window if we have to, but in addition to that, my thinking is we will have a contingency plan all but lined up.
Could be a winger, could be a striker, but the point is someone who we can sign at the drop of a hat if it looks like Isak is not going to happen.
We look short up front, and I would be very surprised if we go into the rest of the season without an addition, perhaps two.
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We really don’t need a contingency plan for Isak.
We need one for the defense. And if need be , someone to cover as a DM.
The point that we’ve got 6 options across 3 forward positions. And not including Frimpong says a fair bit.
Mo , Gakpo , Wirtz , Chiesa, Ekitike, Rio
And doesn’t include Frimpong , Danns
we cant go 4 months with 1 CF.
My comment above was about depth in the forward department, but on the defensive side I think we will sign Guehi, to go with Leoni as two central defenders we bring in.
I can’t see a DM happening. I think we will rotate the current options if Grav needs a breather, and in addition to that, I think Slot wants to look at Bajcetic to see what he can do after his promising loan.
We should all be well aware of how the club works. It’s a methodology that has served them well. They would rather have nobody than anybody. It’s been like this for years.
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We are reintegrating Bajetic to the side and Endo is here.
We aren’t signing a DM. Sorry to break that to you. CB yes I agree it’s probably the biggest issue.
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We won’t. There are other players in those forward positions who can be playing central.
In January we lose Salah too.
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A DM would be nice to have. But not essential at this moment.
Thats one serious injury to Mo or Gakpo away from been a season shafter.
A CF is probably the last of the preferences.
Nah we lose him in December. It starts the week before Christmas this year and ends mid Jan.
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How is it. Goals win games.
We’ve just had a season previously where an injury to Virgil would derail everything. Point is it didn’t. You can’t account for pure bad luck sometimes.
Except Virg was signed at the start of the Jan window.
We are winning games. Whether it is with Chiesa with Bournemouth or Rio with Newcastle.
2020 shafted us or have you forgotten about that.