GUEST POST FROM THE MAIN MAN MIKE MCDONALD (FOLLOW)
I can’t remember a time in the last 20 years where there has been so much potential Premier League talent available in the Championship.
I think this has snuck up on us as coaches. Championship teams have suddenly made the conscious choice to ‘play football.’ In previous decades there has been a marked difference in the playing style as you looked at the lower leagues.
The result is two-fold. Potential becomes easier to spot as teams like Leeds/Brentford have players who not only understand modern football but they play it too. Secondly, you can slide them into a PL team with significantly less adaptation.
Arsenal not only need to look at some of these gems because finances may dictate but also because they are good enough. Some could even be elite.
You will enjoy these videos. Some will dazzle you. I haven’t priced these players as prices will depend on each club’s Covid impact.
CREATIVE PLAYERS:
Arsenal need a modern midfield, centre backs that can handle stress, and arguably need a creative player or two more than anything.
The Championship has more of this type of potential gem than any other type of player.
Said Benrahma (Brentford)
An inverted right-footed, left-winger. Can play both wings and as an attacking midfielder.
A difference maker with delicious feet who brings joy. If you see potential in Pepe, you will see the same here. Perhaps the player we hope Nelson could be.
Chelsea are allegedly very interested but have much competition in this area already. Arsenal could use him as a ‘wandering left-winger.’
What a talent!
Ebe Eze (QPR)
A powerful, direct, line breaking attacker. Has an equal eye for an assist as a goal. Reminds me of Martial with a similar toolbox of skills.
Can play as an 8 in a 4-3-3 or anywhere across the front 3 in a 4-2-3-1.
Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool on loan at Reading)
Very similar in playing style and looks to Eze, but taller and stronger.
Another fantastic natural footballer with a bag of creativity.
Much like Eze he can play as a line-breaking third midfielder or across the front three.
Would Liverpool sell or probably want to loan?
Matheus Pereira (West Brom)
After speaking to a handful of fans of Championship clubs, most felt that he is the best of the creative players. His loan from Sporting Lisbon is now obliged to be triggered for €9M.
Plays as a 10 or as a right-winger. Six goals and 12 assists to date. His primary qualities are his vision and high technical level. Has a wicked reverse pass.
If you watch this video, you will note a left-footed, elegant player who seems to glide around the field. Never known West Brom to have this type of player!
Michael Olise (Reading)
Reading have this 19 year-old French kid Michael Olise, if we didn’t already have Willock I’d be rooting for us to get this guy as his deal ends 2022.
He’s certainly one to watch.pic.twitter.com/vRzx9n4vk3— Gilles (@_Grimanditweets) July 5, 2020
Yet another gifted creative player. Olise is a left-footed, attacking midfielder with the proverbial wand of a left foot. At 18, he may be the cheapest of the ‘creative’ list and a worthwhile investment due to his high ceiling. Seems to use the sole of his foot to bamboozle. Love it!
MODERN CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS:
Even though we all see the improvement in Xhaka and Ceballos, we all see the need for modern, athletic central midfielders.
Max Bird (Derby)
Arsenal need modern, athletic, tall, powerful midfielders to at least be on par with the vast majority.
Max Bird may not be this in the PL yet, but he has the profile. His most impressive quality lies in his ability to see both opportunity and danger quickly.
Bird plays alongside Rooney in the centre of midfield. Rooney recently claimed that he “wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the England squad within a year.” Much like Olise, at 19 years old it might be a wise investment?
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
With Leeds likely to go up, it’s highly unlikely that a hometown boy would reject the opportunity to play at least one season for Leeds in the PL. I’ve included him however as I think he potentially has everything we need. An athletic centre or defensive midfielder who can deny and create. You will remember him as the hub of the one sided first half at the Emirates in January as Leeds totally dominated. It is hard to find a central midfielder who is a specialist in both areas, you normally have to find two.
Arsenal are pursuing Partey as he can do both, but so can Phillips. I’ll be very surprised if he’s not very close to England’s Euro 2021 squad as he’s a far better footballer than both Rice and Dier.
Kalvin Phillips will also be the player with the highest value in the Championship at around £35M.
Conor Gallagher (Swansea…. on loan from Chelsea)
A two way, two-footed creative central midfielder. An impressive eye for a pass in the final third as well as counter opportunities. A modern-day number 8, with boundless energy and goal threat.
Named Chelsea’s Academy player of the Year last season which is no mean feat amongst huge competition.
FULL BACKS/WING BACKS
We need a better option than Kolasinac and many including myself, think Bellerin is overrated.
Nathan Ferguson (WBA)
Ferguson is allegedly on his way to Palace. Smart move as he’ll play. Arsenal should take a look as he’s going to cost below £10M and has played both right and left back.
A fast, athletic, modern full back who at 19 has a very bright future.
Jayden Bogle (Derby)
Want your right back to be hugely confident on the ball? High technical ceiling? A huge attacking threat with the athleticism to recover?
You need to watch this video because people are starting to talk about Bogle.
Probably a better right wing back than right back.
Matty Cash (Forest)
A combative attacking right back who interestingly has the posture and profile of a defensive midfielder. Actually a converted winger who took advantage of Carl Jenkinson’s long term injury. Tough, quick and great in the tackle. Being tipped to get a call up to the Poland team through his grandparents heritage.
Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham)
Not the greatest video but you’ll get a little flavour of an emerging talent getting rave reviews at left back for Birmingham City. A tall powerful left back with a wicked left foot. Former winger, like Cash.
CENTRE BACKS:
The best CB in the Championship is Ben White but he is officially a Brighton player and I mentioned him in last weeks transfer blog.
Beyond Ben White there is one more worth your attention.
Pontus Jansson (Brentford)
A warrior. Arsenal fans pine for a Tony Adams type. Here he is. Not saying he is of this level but certainly a similar profile. Aggressive, strong, better on the ball than given credit for. This 29 year old Swedish international is worth a look.
STRIKER
Arsenal don’t need an unproven striker as they have Nketiah, Martinelli, John Jules and Balogun vying for this. What they will be interested in however, is the right profile of striker.
Arteta seems to like a willing presser. The ability to play with your back to goal, perhaps a false nine and I’m sure he’d love someone better in the air as in Saka and Tierney in particular we have good crossers but nobody great in the air.
So…
Ollie Watkins (Brentford)
To add to the list above, Watkins can create goals for himself off the dribble.
Tall, very fast and able to score in a variety of ways. Watkins will no doubt find himself in the PL with Brentford or somebody else, I’m sure.
VERDICT:
Firstly, I think it’s important that we don’t become snobby about this. The Championship truly has some gems. You’ll be aware that Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City) has just been signed by Dortmund. They play their youngsters like we do. A reminder that the most sought after creative player in the PL in Jack Grealish has played the majority of his minutes in the Championship.
I think Arsenal should take a close look at Bogle and Ferguson as wing-back options. Phillips would be a dream signing but it’s not happening yet.
We will need more than one creative force to finally connect the front and back. As Benrahma and Pereira will likely get promoted and be more expensive, I’d take a close look at Eze at QPR, who would no doubt need money and sell cheaper.
Follow me @Mike_Mmcdonald
CG,
None of the academy names you listed (including Bellerin and AMN) are renowned for their defensive qualities.
Emirates Stroller was not saying the players produced by the academy are crap, he was specifically saying that the academy has not produced a decent defender for a very long time.
mentality in the academy is the inner city youth problems more than anything tbh
Frimpong, JET those crops of youths
“Why are we even having this conversation? Zaha has scored 4 goals in 37 games this season. If Pepe is a useless flop having scored 8 in 38 where does that leave Zaha?“
Uhhh you literally just said this about Grealish….
“I am saying do you not think those stats would be greatly improved upon if he wasn’t playing for a team that is about to be relegated?“
Big Weng must be pleased watching Emi Martinez whom he always stated would be Arsenals’ long term number 1.
CG Arsenal’s academy under Wenger was substandard. He had an “abysmal record”over the 22 years, as ES quite rightly highlighted. Youngsters were cloned to perform a certain way, as were many of our recruits for the first team. Being technically gifted is all well and good but if you don’t have that inbuilt hunger and desire to succeed and fight, it’ll be evident when you perform to the masses. Willock is a prime example. Probably been mollycoddled since he was a kid. Now he’s 20 he should he showing so much more. You know, things like going looking for the… Read more »
ES “””””Considering that the manager was in charge at Arsenal for 21 years that is frankly an abysmal record and highlights his achilles heel as a coach and manager.”””” fair comment But this current daydreamer in charge thinks Luiz , Cedric and Mari are good defenders mind. Cedric and Mari as well as being inept – also physically incapable in being playing at this premier league level. Wenger had a limited budget most of his tenure. He favoured to spend it on attacking flair and forward players. Rightly or wrongly, He played to entertain and win. We don’t now. We… Read more »
My son, who is now 26, said to me many years back( when he was about 16) that Wenger no longer wanted anyone around the club that showed a fighting/winning mentality on the pitch.
He was right.
Probably because he knew they’d be knocking on his door questioning his authority, demanding change and explanations
CG
Wenger’s Arsenal became a joke long ago.
You don’t see that though.
“Big Weng must be pleased watching Emi Martinez whom he always stated would be Arsenals’ long term number 1.”
He also said that Sanogo could be a £50m player so I wouldn’t take it too seriously…
Eze is a good shout, and he’s a Gooner. Was released by Arsenal as a teen. Still a Gooner and would love to play for us again.
Un
Getting drunk is fun being drunk is horrible.
And he also said Silvestre would be a good stop gap, but whose counting.
“Wengers Arsenal was a gigantic club.
Not now.”
Errm, I think that to be a ‘gigantic club’ you’d have to be more than just European whipping boys year in year out.
Big fish in a small pond for a while then perennial also rans at home and a joke in Europe.
Graham
“””””CG Wenger’s Arsenal became a joke long ago.You don’t see that though.”””””
The Arsenal supporters were the joke.
I actually prefer Spurs supporters than the entitled Arsenal ones.
He left 74 games ago.
There is at least x 15 decision makers at the club these days,
Still cant emulate him though,
Sure, they will keep trying: keep spending, keeping sacking.
But they will never emulate our Wenger’s achievements.
( most certainly not under Silent Stan)
CG
I agree, “The Arsenal supporters were the joke”.
Imagine, all those years of sitting back glorying in regression.
Cringeworthy.
andy1886
Yeh but winning 3 FA Cups in 16 years was far more important than proving ourselves against the elite of Europe.
An utter disgrace.
Comfirmed! this sid guy knows nothing about football and its free!
“Grealish is overhyped, so are majority of the above mentioned players in the championship.
Grealish is ceballos levels”
Just wrong! I’d have Grealish in a heart beat over Dani. Same sort of player but Jack all day long. Even though Ceballos has been really good recently.
Zaha’s stats would definitely be better if he played for Arsenal.
But it would never be more than 15 G+A.
Pepe has hit 11 G+A so far in the league.
Pepe should be able to go far beyond Zaha’s level in the future.
I want Arsenal to buy Coutinho but please no Willian.
I prefer ESR as back up RW.
Un
I’m Nigerian. Born in Nigeria did my Msc in the UK and currently live in Canada.
Why Arsenal?
Kanu and the fact that I hated and still hate Man Utd. Arsenal was the only club that could challenge UTD back in the day.
I rate Ejaria but he’s not close to Jay Jay yet.
Azed,
Montreal Canadiens?
Andy “”””Errm, I think that to be a ‘gigantic club’ you’d have to be more than just European whipping boys year in year out.”””” Another fair comment. But except these days instead of humiliations to Bayern or Barca in the CL- we loose 4 zero to Chelsea in Baku or most outrageously eliminated by the likes of Olympiakos in The Loosers Cup. Arsenal fans for the most part of the last decade spent decrying top 4 was not good enough for them will now spend the next decade begging and praying for top 4 finishes. oh, the irony…. Arsenal supporters… Read more »
And he also said Silvestre would be a good stop gap, but whose counting.
Signing Silvestre put me firmly in the Wenger out camp.
Especially after announcing he had a surprise for the fans.
Sal
I’m not into hockey. Football and basketball for me.
Grealish over Ceballos all day long.
No comparison.
Interesting didn’t realize that was possible in Canada!
@Azed –
“Especially after announcing he had a surprise for the fans.”
Were you or were you not surprised??
CG
Once again, I agree.
Just imagine where we’d be if Wenger had left the building when he was supposed to.
Oh well, never mind.
Wenger 1996-2006 = 8/10(could have been more with European success).
Wenger 2006-2012 = 6/10.
Wenger 2012-2018 = 4/10( yep, even though we won 3 FA Cups).
I don’t blame Wenger.
Gazidis and the owners had every opportunity to usher him out gracefully with a cup in hand and failed. Missing out on the best managers working in the game today.
Sal
I’m not sure anyone sensible does, it was always such a bore hearing about how he should’ve resigned etc. Like fuck off lol that’s a blatant stain on the business model if that’s your argument.
Sacking Emery at least offers some comfort that there’s a degree of accountability being held. Time will tell if that also extends to those a bit higher up the tree.
@Emiratestroller
I’m sure you remember Mathew Upson who was good enough to start for England at the World Cup
CC
To be fair it nearly played to perfection for Weng had we got the away goal vs Atletico then rode thru a shootout it would of been Marseille in the finale.
@Emirates
There was also Djorou and Senderos who were good enough to be in lineups that beat Barca at home and Madrid at the Bernabeu and start for the nation
Speaking of the Athletico Madrid game … they were totally Battered by Arsenal where we somehow conspired to miss every sitter possible and Oblak made inhuman saves.
And only God knows what madness possessed Koscielny to give up a howler at the end to Griezmann …
So sometimes you wonder
Joke Friday –
A man walks into a bar. Upon sitting down a busty blond waitress pours him a drink and asks if he would like some food. He looks up at the menu above the bar it says:
Hot dog – $2
Cheeseburger – $5
Hand job – $10
He asks the waitress, “Miss are you the one who gives the hand jobs?” She winks and replies, “why yes I am.”
He says, “Well wash your hands, I want a cheeseburger.
Godfather
I’d take any side over Atletico in Europe so difficult.
Were you or were you not surprised??
Jim
I was flabbergasted.
Interesting didn’t realize that was possible in Canada!
I’m the step child Sal.
CG when will he release that book of his again? How many copies will you buy?
so the main topic is about academy then steered off to Wenger again sure he tried to mould the kids too much on his favoured attributes
with Mertesacker I think the defensive side will have more focus on in the academy so watch out for next 5-10 years down the line
Summer of 2015 would of been IDEAL, bashed Villa in the cup.
Hand the keys over to Klopp on a high.
Azed, Kanu is a pretty elite reason to support Arsenal. Never seen a player like him. One of the most innovative players the game has ever seen.
Sal
Yea I’ve little idea how Atletico got that much a rub to make it through in that tie, they were the hardest side in the comp and we tooled them. Pity Auba was cup tied, fine margins ultimately.
Kanu – a joy to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eJlBsw_QcM
Pedro
Lots of Nigerian Gooners started supporting Arsenal because of Kanu.
I hated UTD and supported any club playing against them. When Kanu joined, Arsenal became my home.
Godfather Upson did not come through our Academy. He was bought from Luton Town. I classify him at same level as Holding. Djourou and Upson may have been good enough to sit on our bench, but were never good enough to be starting X1 players in a top 4 side. Top class Centre Backs like Adams, Bould and Keown had long careers at the top level and that applies to many other players in England and Europe such as Kompany, Ferdinand and Terry. That was the problem at Arsenal. We bought always budget players in defence. Wenger never had a… Read more »
Azed
“”””When Kanu joined, Arsenal became my home.””””
That’s Wengerism.
Wenger made Arsenal a global club.
No one else.
Azed/Pedro
Kanu was a fantastic player and great servant of Arsenal in the 5 years at club.
I was fortunate to be at the game when he score the hatrick against Chelsea,
which was one of the most remarkable performances in any game.
Kanu was an icon of African Football probably only exceeded by George Weah.
Lets agree to disagree the Spaniards would prefer Ceb
The Brits would go with Grealish
Which player, food, music the list goes on, would the rest of the world go with?
ES
“”””I was fortunate to be at the game when he score the hatrick against Chelsea,””””
Arsenal used to beat Chelsea regularly, until Roman come along.
I suppose that was Wengers fault as well.
I really want us to get this deal for sarr over the line I don’t any of those championship guys apart from calvin phillips but I’m entirely open minded. We need to buy smart rather than big. You could probably buy 2 players to noticeably improve the first team and 2 to improve the bench for less than 40m if you are smart and decisive enough in the market I don’t want to hear any excuses. Bargains happen every year, just very few for us. How have leipzig Dortmund Ajax Monaco previously spurs etc amongst others all had some extremely… Read more »
Un yes Kanu was a glorious player and a fabulous human. He spends all his time now on his charity for African kids with heart problems
What a hero. Literally a hero.
The Deportivo dummy he scored was an absolute career ender
Imagine having that done to you as a keeper live on tv in Europe in front of so many fans. Savage
Apparently, Juve have taken concrete steps towards Lacazette.
Price should be set for at least £40 million. These are the type of deals we should be making.
Kanu so legendary, I somehow ended up at the 2008 FA cup final where he found net giving Pompey the cup.
Dullest cup i’ve been to let along final.
… jeez auto me girl.
Dullest cup tie, ive been to let alone final.
Un
I am, have also lived in London.
Un
I believe he is just saying that to the media, he can’t just say yeah I want him out.
But, if he truly doesn’t want to sell him then God help us.. He is 29 years, we sell now or extend his contract. I hope the executive wouldn’t listen to him on this.
“Who knows?? This is the first summer in my time watching arsenal when literally anyone could go. I think saka and Martinelli are safe but anyone else is fair game.”
Agree, 100%
Tony Adams:
“”‘Pat Rice told me that anybody could play with me. But even I’d struggle with Luiz!” “”””
Great to see Arsenals Greatest lucid and on fire today.
Also, stating ( rightly) Ozil should be brought back into the team.
Don Auba is older, is on higher wages and doesn’t have 2 years left of his contract so even if he’s the better player he’s probably worth less on the market right now, not much less though. Macey is moving on this summer so we only have 2 keepers at the club, only reason we should sell one of them is if they absolutely doesn’t want to stay and fight for a place, nice change of pace to have 2 top goalies for once. Can’t see anyone paying 35 for Guen, maybe 25-30 in this climate. Get Sarr in and… Read more »
Yeah, Adams comparing present day Ozil with Bergkamp and calling him a game changer is about as lucid as it gets, smh.
Great leader on the pitch and CB in his day but not the greatest analyst the world has ever seen that’s for sure.
Well i am Nigerian but for me it wasn’t Kanu, it was Henry. Fell in love with the elegance. Wenger was a big draw too such a classy man. Thought I would give it all up if Henry ever left but then Fabregas was there, loved that Spaniard, hurt me more than Henry when he left. Now I am just here, Once a Gunner always a Gunner, I take the banter for all our failures like a champ, enjoy the victories when they come, that first FA Cup after so long was such a joy, i think i cried a… Read more »
Yea used to be a big Ozil fanboy too until i realized dude was semi-retired and the inventor of spin.
Still remember the exact moment i heard over the staff bus radio back then that he signed for Arsenal, actually screamed out loud.
Auba has a left on his deal right?
No one is giving you 40m for him
Since there looks to be no Partey how we feel about the young Sandro Tonali, can’t escape the Serie A at moment.
@Emirates: Hey I’m not trying to get one over or say gotcha, you’re wrong. I’m simply amplifying this comment below. “ CGThe only Academy defenders who came into the first team squad during the Wenger era were Ashley Cole, Gibbs and Bellerin. Cole and Gibbs were converted Wingers and Bellerin arrived from Barcelona Academy.Not a single Centre Back has managed to make the grade during his era.” Upson came to Arsenal as a teen. Now if you want to split hairs over what constitutes “coming through” then I really can’t summon up the time and energy for that. I also… Read more »
Hate to burst the bubble but KAnu only had a decent season and a half run with Arsenal. After that his legs were gone and he strolled around the field far more than Ozil.
His brain was quick but his prime was at Ajax … Arsenal got him on the downside.
This summer will be a summer of bargains. Mikel should sell fast and buy slow. The later, the cheaper.
EVERY Arsenal player should be up for sale at the right price. The number I would truly miss can be counted on one hand: Saka maybe, Leno maybe, the Brazilian boy, Nketiah possibly, Tierney – that’s about it. And lest we forget, it’s about sensible wages as well as low transfer fees.
‘But except these days instead of humiliations to Bayern or Barca in the CL-
we loose 4 zero to Chelsea in Baku or most outrageously eliminated by the likes of Olympiakos in The Loosers Cup.’
CG,
Naked fact!
But it’s of no use to Graham and his gang.
They have their Wenger hate set in stone.
They would rather shut down their brains than use them for fear of seeing their Wenger hate for what it is.
The godfather
Djorou came as a 17 year old and Senderos at 18. Hardly counts as academy products, just like Cesc wasn’t one.
Wouldn’t class either as top class defenders either, Djorou earned his bread on the .com though.
Godfather,
Were in a very weak moment, let us all have some revision you dirty bastard!
We didn’t ‘loose 4 zero’ against Chelsea in Baku.
Naked fact.
Azed
“I hated UTD and supported any club playing against them. When Kanu joined, Arsenal became my home.”
Kanu has a lot to answer for then…
Jamie
Loose 4 zero is CG imaginary pilots name. Don’t spoil his dreams.
Jamie,
Yeah, 4-1.
Big big difference…naked fact.
@Freddie
Is it the reading or the comprehension?
Where did I say they were top class?
And what constitutes “coming through” the academy?
Does the player have to start at birth?
@
salparadiseny:
I hear ya Bruv … 😂😂😂carry on🚶🏿🚶🏿🚶🏿
Ejaria must have an agent on here posting, he was awful for Rangers, lived off moments at best. He’s 22 and if this is being touted as his breakout season I’ll firmly skip that one no problem.
Good goal Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe scores…finally
ESR just scored for Hudderfield. He is helping the team to stay up.
Nelson
“”””ESR just scored for Hudderfield. He is helping the team to stay up.””””
Another potential first team player from
Wengers failing academy.
The godfather Well, you responded to Emirates who said there hasn’t been any top defenders coming through the academy except ashley cole and you served up the swiss chuckle brothers as examples. They were neither top class nor came through the academy. Coming in their late teens and having a year or 2 of u21-23 football isn’t coming through the academy. Cesc came at 16 and might have been classed that way at a stretch if he was a normal player but he went almost straight into the first team. Maybe not rag on other posters reading comprehension when you… Read more »
Classy goal from Smith Rowe , good movement , good technique, great first touch ( important) and great composure in front of goal.
Pierre
“””Classy goal from Smith Rowe , good movement , good technique, great first touch ( important) and great composure in front of goal.””””
Dont think ESR is an Arteta player then.
ESR sends Leeds back to the premier league
Bielsa has done it.
Un
You wouldn’t feel that way if he was here, incredibly frustrating player. Bags of ability but just doesn’t do it enough. One to enjoy from afar he is lol
I do like this Bowen lad at West Ham
Said Benrahma is outrageously good.
I really want to see him in Arsenal colours but also dont want to hinder the development of Saka and Martinelli. Its a real dilemma.
Really looking like we’ll have the chance to relegate Watford.
Such a shame the fans can’t be in the ground to ask Troy Deeney what happened to his cojones?
Quality goal from ESR repping Grealish style socks and shin pads.
Head and shoulders above Willock imo.
@Freddie,
Why do you keep doing this to yourself?
Go and check the post that I quoted from Emirates. Where did it say “top” defender?
Again I don’t know whether it’s your reading or comprehension issues!
But carry on and enjoy this on yer own
There are almost no Arsenal fans born in the mid 90s onwards because by the time they could understand football Arsenal had become a mediocre club.
Sid
My nephew who was born in 2010 – fuck you!
Osama Bin Laden was reborn in the 90s does that count.
Sal
Funny!
Can you imagine if he’d been been watching the Arsenal and wearing a shirt on the night of the raid!
“Classy goal from Smith Rowe , good movement , good technique, great first touch ( important) and great composure in front of goal.”
“Dont think ESR is an Arteta player then.”
Literally made me laugh out loud
Wasi
100% in agreement.
ESR so much better than Willock.
Actually thinks on his feet.
Godfather Context, try to understand it, and if you’re unable to do that, which seems to be the case, here’s another post from Emirates where he expands on his first post. “Upson did not come through our Academy. He was bought from Luton Town. I classify him at same level as Holding.Djourou and Upson may have been good enough to sit on our bench, but were never good enough to be starting X1 players in a top 4 side.Top class Centre Backs like Adams, Bould and Keown had long careers at the top level and that applies to many other… Read more »
“I do like this Bowen lad at West Ham”
He’s not half bad, is he? But I really like Soucek. Wonder if West Ham would do a straight swap for Xhaka… but we’ll probably have to pay like 50mil on top.