The Unreliable Transfer Rumours Discussion Thread (Part 5)

I like Ndiaye a lot. Good signing for them.

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They still think they are better than us the idiots that was a cheap shot but we shall bide our time.

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Let’s see what happens to tomorrow, but generally I’m alright with it. It’s not stellar work, and I’m a bit concerned that it all feels ridiculously last minute and scattergun, but I don’t think it can be said that we’re short. I’d say it’s a 5/10 with some caveats.

We have two keepers, two left backs, five centre backs, two right backs, five midfielders, four wingers, two strikers and a number ten - that’s 23 players, and it’s not including young players just under the first team, and players who can cover more than one position.

I would still be looking at moving on Endo for a proper number six option, and trading Gakpo for a natural right winger. Possibly in January if possible.

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Ha Ha Lol GIF

I’m probably just an old man but does anyone else feel the quality of ā€œtopā€ players is decreasing?

I think of Man City signing Mahrez, the Silva’s, de Bruyne, Aguero etc. and now they’re signing Iliman Ndiaye because they failed to sign Cody Gakpo.

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Was that a loan offer :joy::wink:

I mean, they did also sign Jo, so…

luckily the club snuck through the transfer of Munoz behind his back then…

Jere was some talk that he had wanted to look at the players first, but it’s still a stretch.

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Shit like this makes you think its intentionally stupid.

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Ā£100m + MGW or do one.

So, I mentioned towards the end of last season, when we went from all sources saying that we’re backing Slot, to suddenly sacking him a week after the season was done -

My fear was that one of the main reasons we chose to sack Slot was because he was insisting on some wholesale and expensive surgery on the squad, and FSG wasn’t willing to back him for another summer window after such poor returns last season.

So, they realized that they couldn’t keep Slot and only supply him with a couple signings - the season would start with impatient supporters waiting for the first sign of trouble to mutiny.

It was easier for them to pull the plug on Slot and bring in a new manager who they believed would rejuvenate the players they signed already without needing a huge transfer spend to compete. I assumed that they’d go after Alonso, as he was the perfect palate cleanser - a beloved club legend, winner, and someone who has shown the ability to unlock Wirtz. But they waited and waited - rumors being that he wanted more control than FSG was willing to give him - and he went to Chelsea and they turned to Iraola.

So I’m not surprised that they didn’t make the six signings people were expecting. I figured that we’d get two or three and we’d only go for more if there were significant outgoings.

Salah and Jones were the biggest departures. They’ve got Munoz/Barcola for Salah and Nyoni stepped up in the midfield.

We’ll see what happens in the windows to come, because I fully expect certain key players to be moved on over the next twelve months:

  • Macca
  • Gakpo
  • Alisson (though they may try to extend him if they move on from Mama to give their new keeper some seasoning).
  • Van Dijk (another short term extension possible).

What time does the bed wetting start?

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It’s already started.

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I actually think the issues with Slot relate to the fact he wasn’t willing to use the youth system.

Expected about 3-4 signings and we may still end up with that.

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Probably in 1892.

He looked complete tosh in the World cup from what I saw.

And he must be because we didn’t gazump Newcastle

Same goals and assists last year as our new 120 million winger.

Now i“m worried. Tosh. :confused:

For me it was clear he was done for once the match going fans turned. And, having tried for a continuity in style with Slot, they didn’t fancy ripping up the squad again to make Alonso work.

Now 3-4 is kind of what I expected but then replacements for those leaving on top. Jacquet, Barcola and Munoz look like good additions. About covers the losses of Konate and Salah and the Diaz shaped hole we left unfilled last year. Araujo is fine all things considered but it’s a short term sticking plaster to basically cover Gomez.

But have we really improved? Jones gone, replaced by a teenager. Elliott, even with his issues is a squad piece we’re losing. Is Tsimikas really the required level? No addition to help rebalance the midfield. A big hole at CF the second Isak gets a niggle. Still got Endo and Chiesa on the books, nothing against either but again both are easily improved upon without breaking the bank. And then possibly even losing our backup keeper to boot.

People can call it bed wetting if they like but we’ve spent a ton of money in the last 12 months and still have gaps and depth issues all over. And that before you even get to all the failed bids and scatter gun approaches to players this summer.

Iraola has a huge job on his hands and a massive amount will rest on the second half of the season when his methods are more embedded and we get the likes of Bradley and Ekitike back.

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