Agreed. Even though Quansah has gone and we have a need, Dejan is too old now.
Just want to agree with the general point. We screen for character quite deeply these days. It doesn’t mean someone can’t make a mistake, or do something unexpected, but as far as we can minimize that possibility, we do a better job than most. We have a good group.
I see some of the questionable politics too, but for the most part, the ones that applies to are from different cultures and backgrounds, and much as it grates, their worldview is not the same as a large part of the fan base. At least politically.
As for Partey and Arsenal’s behavior, I have mixed feelings. It has been an open secret for a couple of years. But he hasn’t been named, legally, while things run their course. The timing is very suspicious that a matter of days after leaving Arsenal, it is now in the public arena.
On the one hand, innocent until proven guilty. That has to be there as a foundational principle. But I’m troubled by the possible sense that Arsenal got what they could out of him, before the shit hits the fan, and if that’s how it pans out, it is a failure on their part.
understandable. You just can’t stop stupid behaviour from footballers all the time. Not every footballer comes into liverpool with the upbringing that some of their colleagues in other countries would have. Not excusing Lovren’s behaviour , but then Mane’s engagement and marriage with someone so clearly younger than him never set right with me either. So does Pepe Reina’s links with right wingers. You can add Alisson supporting Bolsonaro too in that list
All of the above doesn’t set right with me but you’ve got to look at their upbringing as well. Different people, different countries and different values.
But as far as his behaviour goes while Lovren was with us, there was nothing untoward happening in that front.
We are talking about a serial rape accused here who was defended by Arsenal and allowed to finish his contract. I do have no sympathy for anti vaxxers and their bullshit but the two instances aren’t nearly related.
Maybe having a Spanish manager will help but this could be one of those cases where a player doesn’t settle and ends up heading back home in a window or twos time on loan given previous concerns about our local sub Par-bold hills.
Not going to belittle his ability now he’s signed for a rival club as I still think he is a good player but I am happy to question their next signing as rumours are circulating they have agreed a deal with the player and Sporting for Viktor Gyökeres who I remain firmly unconvinced by.
Never looked premier league quality during his previous spell in England and whilst he has a good record for Sporting even back in my playing days I could probably have hit double figures for goal contributions in the Portuguese league and I was an amateur level left sided defender
Just seen that hes 27. No spring chicken. He’s hit high numbers in the Portuguese league, but as we’ve seen with Nunez, that doesn’t translate to success in the PL necessarily.
Nunez is a recent example we are particularly familiar with but my opinion on the standard of the Portuguese league goes back a lot further than that, I think it has only been won by teams outside the big 3 of Benfica, Porto and Sporting twice and the drop off in standard is quite severe so if you play for one of those leading teams there are a lot of stat padding games against far inferior opposition as it doesn’t have much depth.
At International level Gyökeres record is closer to 1 in 2 rather than just under a goal a game at Sporting - I expect he will score goals for Arsenal but I’m not convinced he is at that very top level needed to post Salah/Haaland level numbers.
I dont think that’s the case. It is more that he has failed to do anything of note anywhere else and so 2 seasons in portgual at 27 years of age is not enough to get excited about.
He had two pretty good seasons in the Championship. A step below for sure but enough to earn a pretty big, high value move.
He’s shown he’s more than capable of performing at that level and a CL level too. He wouldn’t be the first late bloomer and I’d probably have preferred them to get a project in Sesko than someone hitting their peak.
Comparisons with Nunez are a bit moot. Just because it’s the Portuguese league doesn’t make them comparable.
Comparisons and counting good or bad examples end at one point, because each career can be different. Some career pathways can be a bit special. Look at where Drogba was just before he ended up at Chelsea, with a quick and successful stop at Marseille. He was already 25-26. I don’t know too much about Gyokeres, will wait and see how it all looks on the pitch, if he does join Arsenal.
