Just wondering about the links to Barcola. How comfortable is he playing off the right, I thought I read that he predominantly plays on the left?
If we were to play a 433 sort of set up we could have a choice of Wirtz, Rio and Gakpo playing on the left. However, if Barcola comes in then he would presumably take that space. I’m also not sure I see us landing both Barcola and Diomande because PSG would be presumably looking to replace the former with the latter?
PSG’s game plan is very fluid and Enrique is well known for playing without a center forward. Their front three switch positions very dynamically. And both Barcola and Diomande can play on either side. I could see Diomande playing in Dembele’s role in some game too, even Doué could move into a more central role.
Reports starting to do the rounds that Gakpo has submitted a transfer request… unreliable right now but, well, that’s the name of this thread, right?
It is coming from a piss take site that was downlow making the joke Slot was his patron and so he dosnt want to be here now he’s gone.
Isn’t that where he was playing for PSG before Doué usurped him ?
I’m sure I’ve seen him start games on either flank. And the way the PSG front line often switch positions in-game means that he’s got the adaptability to do both, as well as popping up centrally.
His unpredictable and seemingly instinctive dribbling style also adds to this, he’s not really the type of winger who seemingly only does his routine dribbles - like for example Gakpo does - but can go both outside and inside regardless of what flank he’s on.
For me Diomande is the same, in terms of being able to play on either flank and go inside/outside. He said himself he’ll probably play on the left in the World Cup. I’ve just assumed he’s been playing mainly on the right for Leipzig because Nusa seems to have a more fixed position, I think I’ve only seen him play on the left both for Leipzig and the national team.
And I agree, we’ll probably not get both. Would be nice if we could, as I’m hoping we go into next season with three fast and dribbly wingers and Gakpo as the fourth guy.
I’m not crazy about Barcola, but I’m not crazy about any other winger on the market than Diomande. I think we absolutely have to buy two, and if both can play right and left then great. If we get Diomande, I’ll happily look elsewhere for the second guy.
The point is well made that all of them had an iffy season. Gakpo has proven that he is a perfectly good option for us, though not an elite player. So I would be of the view that you keep him, at least as a versatile squad man who is able to play on the left or back up to the central striker.
However, if he is open to a move and if there is good money on the table, then he is not a good enough player that I would fight tooth and nail for. We would not be prime movers in shipping him out, but if it came our way, I could see us sanctioning a deal.
I suppose it all depends on budget and who we are signing.
If we are in a world where we sign Barcola and Diomande, and Cody makes way to offset some of the large outlay, fine by me.
Isn’t Barcola supposed to have a bit of a shitty attitude?
Hard to say. I think there was a mini issue with Enrique recently, where the manager put his foot down because he didn’t like the effort he saw.
If that’s a pattern, it is definitely cause for concern. If it’s a carrot-and-stick sort of thing, from a seasoned manager who is trying to make sure his player doesn’t adopt any bad habits, then I wouldn’t see an issue.
Our people will obviously look into it more deeply if we are going to put good money down.
If his haircut is anything to go by … 
There was a story of him getting chewed out by Enrique a few weeks ago for a bad reaction to getting subbed but I don’t know there is much beyond that (could be wrong)
I’ve read a few articles that state we should swerve Barcola at all costs… Will post the next article I stumble across that mentions it
A lot of very good points but you mentioned Vitinha, who I love to watch, this is the same Vitinha that failed at Wolves.
So either he wasn’t good enough or the coach/manager didn’t put him in a position where he could flourish?
Also, the players around him may not be as good, but then look at Stevie G, with some of the quality he had to play with and how he still was the shining light.
That’s how I feel about him …admittedly just a vibe … but I don’t particularly rate him tbh. Now if it was Doué we were after instead … 
He was only on loan for a season at 20 years old then went back to Porto.
I thought he was promising to be fair but obviously he went up some levels at Porto and as he got older.
Stevie G is a great example. Obviously an all time great but good players don´t entirely need others to show their quality. I rate Wirtz but its one of my concerns this year with him.
Of course, if your team is bad and you´re out of position it´s tough but you I think the quality players find a way to show something.
The focus of the post is that you inferred in your post that the coach doesn’t have much sway, when they can be massive for a player or players to flourish.
You use Wirtz in your reply and he is a prime example, performing for Germany and Nagelsman but looked a pale shadow of himself under Arne.
You are really under playing how a coach/manager can effect players.
I wasnt saying they don´t have much sway but I think tactics gets wayyy overplayed.
If you put players in their best positions and around players who complement them, they should do most of the work. Like Shankly said, football is a simple game complicated by idiots.
International football is rubbish though. There is also a big degree of the Premier League simply being much tougher than either international football or the Bundesliga.
Your original post said the best players, look a Madrid.
You are right in the last post
Who puts the pieces together and gives those players a direction and a footballing philosophy to make them work.
Look at Klopps team, that won everything, put Pep in charge of them and they just wouldn’t have flourished to the same extent.
The coach and the tactics were developed by the coach and made to work for the players and team to suceed.
The tactics of Jurgen were massive in getting the best out of the players he had.
There is a pretty obvious explanation for this that blows a hole in your thesis