I’d go for both Abde and Barcola, especially if Gakpo is off. Fast dribblers who also make runs in behind the defence, I like those.
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I can see the like for Abde and if we do accept a bid for Gakpo, I’d definitely want another wide player as well as Barcola.
Same here, I don’t think they’re in a position to sell Gakpo without getting a replacement.
We know Iraola likes to sub both wingers at times, so with that in mind I think having Barcola, Abde, Ngumoah and Munoz to choose from sounds like the sort of depth that could be reasonable to have.
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I like the look of Munoz. I’d be lying if I said I’ve seen 10 games, but since we signed him I looked into it more, and he is very fast, direct, can beat a defender either side, and also weighs in with some goals.
I think he will surprise a few with how good he is, although obviously we will have to wait and see.
Given the Gakpo to Spurs rumours, I’m imagining four wingers - Barcola and Ngumoha on the left; Minteh and Munoz on the right; and then among the group we have increased versatility as at least two of them can play both sides, which is what Iraola just said he is looking for.
Edit
I’m mentioning Minteh because he is left footed, and that balances the group out a bit. He is very fast and plays off the right. The end product would be a slight concern, but I think that will improve, and besides, we won’t be counting on him to get Salah-like numbers, but rather, beat your man and get it in to Isak, who is going to score a lot of goals for us with good service from the wings.
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Yes, Minteh is another one. I’m not actually that bothered about exactly who the fourth winger is - assuming we already have Barcola.
Abde, Minteh, El Mala, Brahim Diaz; I think there are a few ones out there who look interesting. And probably many more I haven’t heard of or thought of.
I’m more bothered about having enough of them, without counting the emergency options.
Same thing with the striker options, we’ll need good cover for Isak.
Edit: posting this one here as it’s the first I’ve seen of Mbaye possibly leaving PSG. I thought he’d stay and get more game time with Barcola moving:
At this stage of the game (ie Diomande gone), this would be my favoured scenario for sure.
And I don’t actually mind the Endrick shout either, although his choice of agency (Roc Nation) could be problematic.
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So what do we do when Isak needs a break or is injured?
I know Gakpo isn’t great up top but he has at least played there which I don’t think the likes of Minteh have.
Is it then Barcola who’ll go into the number 9?
It’s not ideal obviously, but we used Chiesa at CF already in preseason so I think he’s an option.
I also wonder if Wirtz could do the false 9 thing in a pinch.
Interesting. I’ve just been assuming he’s off back to Italy at some point so hadn’t even factored him into the squad.
There were stories about his support team being an absolute nightmare, with it becoming a bit Bobby Duncan like. It looks like PSG are just willing to fuck him off and move on.
That is the question. And I’d keep Gakpo for that purpose. I’m not thrilled about how he plays between the boxes, but I do like him as a finisher.
I actually like Chiesa better in terms of link play, movement, decision making etc. But yeah.. tricky. I’d sell both and buy Ferran Torres, but that’s not happening.
This is Anfield had an article about Chiesa wanting to stay and impress Iraola in pre-season. He is looking more likely to still be here this season then not now.
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Ew, that’s no good is it. Not something anyone needs if that’s the case.
Amazing that anyone who claims to follow La Liga would rate Abde higher than Munoz.
Abde lacks the mentality to be a top player…
This is a great question. Ekitike will be out for a long time, and Isak will likely get a niggly injury or two, and/or need some rotation or rest built in, so we don’t break him.
So at that point I might go for Fernandez-Pardo instead of my Minteh shout. It leaves us with four wingers: Barcola (assuming he signs) Ngumoha, Munoz and Fernandez-Pardo.
FP is 6ft 2, fast, strong, and can play through the middle, off the left and off the right. Of the three positions he has done the least work off the right, but he still has that in his locker and Iraola likes versatility.
The fact that he can play through the middle is what might tilt it towards him, and not Minteh, in a world where Gakpo is sold.
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Minteh is an odd one. I know Brighton wouldn’t let him go cheap but he’d be cheaper than Barcola for sure. He’s one of the few left footed right wingers you think has the kind of attributes we might want and yet there’s not a whisper of a link to him. And not a link to anyone from what I’ve seen.
Was listening to the Anfield Wrap and they were discussing the possibility we just aren’t convinced on any of the left footed RW options currently out there for one reason and another. And so, instead of buying someone they’re not keen on but also not being in a position to do nothing, we instead go get Barcola as the best LW upgrade we can do and essentially correct the mistake we made in not replacing Diaz. And Munoz is a bit of a flyer for a relatively modest fee.
Then RW is covered by Munoz, Rio, maybe Barcola or Gakpo at times, perhaps even a Szoboslai or Frimpong. We essentially see a few different options on a horses for courses basis and then next summer we move for a Rayan or Minteh or someone else we’re looking at but once we’re more convinced on them.
Made a lot of sense to me. Less than ideal and not doing nothing but also not spending if we don’t think the right player is there for us.
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Real nonsense comment.
Even if you just go by the fact Abde scored 15 goals and got 13 assists last year, to Muñoz 7 and 5.
You don´t know anything about what people in Spain think.
Ferran Torres is bleh. Just because he got the winning goal for Spain in the final doesn’t make him a good striker.
I have been on the ‘move on Macca, get in Wharton’ train for a while, but I admit it’s hard to really know what Mac Allister’s level is at the minute.
He is experienced at the very highest level, league winner, World Cup winner and despite suggests that he’s finished, he has just played an integral part of an Argentina team that has reached a second WC final in a row. You don’t play in that team if you are shite.
But we all saw him last season, and how totally off the pace he looked (which I’d argue started at the tail end of the league winning season). He looked like he didn’t have the energy to grab a lads shirt and haul him back, never mind win the ball.
I suppose it comes down to looking at the data and analysis tools that we fans don’t typically have access to. Maybe he was carrying an injury. Maybe he was being asked to cover too much space by Slot (although he was hardly ‘expansive’)
For me, if a good bid of around £60m came in, I would be inclined to take it. It’s probably the last point in his career we’d be able to command that kind of fee and it frees up space to bring in a younger more dynamic player.
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