The Unreliable Transfer Rumours Discussion Thread (Part 4)

Rumour Mill
2828

I agree it’s sometimes very easy to look back and say we should’ve done this or that.

I did think of Haaland when he was at Dortmund at a certain point when it seemed like Firmino’s level was dropping and we might form a new attack soon.

Sad thing is, we went big for Nunez, some said at the time he was better than Haaland and we all know how that went and ended.

I always liked Dembele’s talent, but it’s true that for a few years, it didn’t seem like he lived the most professional life. He has matured though, first under Xavi, then further for France, then at PSG. But it’s not like he was an ‘obvious’ target out there. He can play false #9, but his position during those years was Salah’s.

I like Rice, I don’t think he’s overrated (overpriced maybe) and if we had known of the kind of money we eventually got from Saudi for Fabinho and Henderson, perhaps we would’ve got involved. Things panned out differently and we spent basically the whole of our budget on 4 midfielders, some of which business I really liked at the time (especially Mac’s).

The link for Kvara happened in the January of 2025 and then we were wondering how we would fit him in, not knowing what was cooking for the following summer. At a point, it made me think that we might see him in the single #10 spot, as Szobo’s creativity and numbers weren’t quite good enough.

Olise is one of a few players I looked at over the last few years wondering if they could be a “Salah replacement” (whenever that would be, luckily he kept a high quality level for a long time). Raphinha was another one. With Olise, I thought his left foot is an absolute wand and one of the best I’ve seen in PL history, but I wondered if he was fast, direct enough and with enough end product. Went on to prove he’s or could become even better than I thought. Not only at Bayern, but basically being Griezmann’s replacement centrally for France now. He’s currently one of the world’s very best players.

And going further back to some of those names on the list, we know what happened with some of them. You cannot control everything, there are many factors involved and there are other (big) clubs who also want those players. Milner and Barry weren’t even playing the same position at the time, so that’s not fair to compare. Milner was still largely a winger when Barry was still there and we wanted Barry (initially the summer of 2008). Stylistically, we had Kuyt playing on the right at the time, so Milner wouldn’t be what we needed out wide. When Barry left, Milner then got switched to central midfield at mid-season.

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2829

Well im not because I think it´s not very good. So you couldnt think of an example? Didnt think so

2830

Isnt he just not very good? Did nothing at any team.

2831

I think Olise is the only standout candidate right now.

Question marks over all the others. Maybe that is what happens until they are at a top side. Maybe it was true of Olise until he got to Bayern and now we see what he can do.

But players like Diomande, Yildiz, Conceicao and Godts for me all have some question marks and I wouldnt be totally confident they´d be the next Salah or Mane. Maybe because they havent don´t it in the PL.

2832

He did good enough to get a move to Bayern Munich.

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2833

So have lots of mediocre players.

They signed Laimer to do something similar.

And were their fans demanding a DM?

2834

You started off saying a DM only needs to be able to run, tackle and give the ball to a better player. You then later said that even at mediocre sides DMs try to constructively play. Which is it?

And we gave you 2 example of the wealth of them that exist of a destructive first DM arriving at a club with high expectations and pretty quickly getting found out because most top sides need more than that from their midfield

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2835

Candidate for what? I don’t see him as a realistic target right now, so I’m not even hoping for that one. I was just going through that list above, in the context of different times in the past.

I like some of the mentioned players and some future great ones will appear elsewhere, without necessarily the PL proven step in between.

2836

We did go in for Milner that summer I think with a 4m bid but it was rejected.

I remember us trying to sign someone from Newcastle but being laughed at because the offer was not straight cash but a player swap with a list of several players they had no interest in which I thought was for Milner, but perhaps I am confusing that with another deal that broke down?

2837

What do you mean which is it? Just because lower teams copy big teams this way, doesn´t make it a good thing. They are at the bottom so it hasnt done them any good.

You gave Joao Palhinha who is barely good enough for Spurs. He´s not a particularly good player. Bayern replaced him with Laimer who is pretty basic.

2838

For replacing Salah. Obviously it´s not that likely but in world football he´d be the one we would want if we could.

Basically other than him, I cant see too many who we could be very confident would reach a world class level.

2839

You are so so close to getting it.

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2840

I guess that’s the point. Players who are purely destructive midfielders are mediocre players by nature. What they do isn’t easy but it is simple. Doesn’t mean they can’t be effective, or haven’t been in the past, but if you’re a possession-heavy team that player becomes a potential liability.

Ugarte at both PSG and Man Utd would be another example.

I’m sure when you visualized what you described as a make a tackle, pass it simple style midfielder you were probably thinking of the likes of Kante or Fernandinho but both of those players had a lot more in the locker than the rather basic description you gave.

Laimer also doesn’t appear to be that kind of player. Admittedly I’ve only watched them in the Champions league but Laimer has 3 goals and 11 assists this season. That’s not a destructive midfielders.

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2841

Yes you think naming one player proves your point. Not that you have any proof Bayern fans were wanting him (as you originally said).

You could apply your logic to any failed player at any club. Nunez failed? Strikers dont work any more…

2842

And notably it took Fernandinho a good 3 or 4 years to learn how to add that to his game at a level he could perform against Prem sides. Prior to that he looked not only like being a bust, but a player City had already replaced with the similarly out of his depth Fernando.

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2843

Summer of 2008? Possibly, can’t recall. Maybe we viewed him at the time as a relatively cheap option for a backup winger role and future potential to be a starting player.

Point is, I’m pretty sure Milner at the time we wanted Barry almost surely wasn’t viewed as another CM option to compete with the potential signature of Barry.

2844

As you suggested, you´re taking it as a good just running frantically like Palhinha. For me Fabinho is the kind of player I was talking about. Nothing fancy on the ball, sat in his position and shielded things. No need to be, charging upfield, scoring goals, creating chances or spraying 50 yard balls. If you have a playmaker next to them, it works very well.

Yes I was thinking of Kante and Fernandinho too. They´re two of the very best and you wouldn´t call them playmakers or goal scorers or creative, even if Kante was very dynamic. That´s exactly it. Win the ball, use the ball efficiently.

I would never have signed Ugarte for anyone tbh. Utd also have plenty of midfielders who are all rounders and its been a massive problem area for years.

As for Laimer´s stats in the Bundesliga, it´s a bit of a farmers league to be honest. I dont think hed be getting 11 assists in the PL. He´s quite a limited player. Not even that good at winning the ball.

2845

Given the quality and style of the team about to win the Premier League I don’t think we are position to throw stones!

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2846

True.

For me football in general is pretty poor right now. Everyone copies what is popular and I think it´s quite poor globally for talent. Half the goals in the lower leagues are teams fannying around at the back, losing it and the other team scoring.

We´re talking about PSG and Bayern but they both conceded 4 plus goals the other game. No serious team should be doing that.

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2847

40 new posts. Have we been unreliably been linked to anyone?

5 Likes