SORRY FOR NOT BEING THERE FOR YOU EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. Sheesh, you lot are so needy when the transfer window is open. I was gone, like, 2 days.
Anyway, I’ve been well and truly talked off the ledge about the Edu moves and I’m now VERY excited about what the summer can bring.
Firstly, I was told that the idea of having scouts in 50 countries is a shitty old school idea that offers very little value to the club. The thinking is that Edu has a few centralised scouts that he trusts in London, the analysts lean on elite technology to pick out players, if the brain trust likes the players, then the club invests in watching them in the flesh.
That’s the loose process. The watch out on this is Arsenal has always been a tech-forward club, they just haven’t used it properly. Jason Rosenfeld of StatDNA recently quit to go to FIFA, he’s a world-class data nerd, if he thought he was getting job satisfaction at Arsenal, he’d still be here. The idea that Edu has had some sort of visionary eureka moment that the future of football is ACTUALLY about data is off the mark, we had that ability in 2013, the question is… can Edu unlock the power of metadata with the people he has left at the club? Or is it just a nice media soundbite?
All indicators suggest no at the moment, but if we’re cool with pretending Kia and the super-agents were just a phase while he focused on a youth system for a year, then I’m game to SHUT UP AND BACK EDU. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled a nobody blogger is giving him permission to do his job.
I’m also slapping myself into getting excited about Willian. Like, what’s the point in not enjoying a new signing? I quite like all the data stories that are doing the rounds in the papers. Yes, yes, I remember when everyone thought Emery was a genius last season for signing Luiz because he played penetrating balls from deep, but this signing is different because there’s no baggage, bar the agent.
The wages seem to land on the lower end of the scale at £100k a week, though The Mirror had £150k a week. I can live with £100k, that’s good value. A lot of the papers seem to indicate that the expectation is Willian will be moved to the middle as an attacking #8, or a more modern #10. Willian played there when he was at Shakhtar, Arteta is hoping to reacquaint him with his 2012 game. A #10 position might give him a little more longevity as well because the role isn’t quite as dependent on pace.
Also, if we’re playing Saka at #10 in training, maybe the succession plan post-Willian is to have the left-back pick up that role. I could live with that. We’re also keeping ESR at the club next season, he can play in those pockets as well, so the future is youth however we cut it.
It was interesting to read Julian Nagelsmann talk about blending youth and experience in his interview with Rapha Honigstein.
“There are players who make teams better actively, through their performances, and those who do that but also improve the team passively, if you will, through the force of their personality and their character. Buying such a player wouldn’t fit into the RB concept 110 per cent but he could improve us as a group, with all these young guns. He wouldn’t be an investment in the classic sense, but would offset that with the positive effects he would have on the development of others.”
Willian is certainly a top professional with a winning attitude. Probably a good foil for the kids who will be looking to takeover.
The transfer stories haven’t really progressed. I’m hoping that our #1 target is keeping quiet because he’s still in the Champions League playing for Atleti whilst doing TikTok dances.
There’s an Instagram Story doing the rounds that shows Willy Auba and his family having an Arsenal party, one would hope in the name of the new mega-deal their main breadwinner has just signed. That really would cap a good end to the season.
… and that’s why I’m excited. Frank Lampard finished in the Champions League, but the loss in the FA Cup Final to a better young coach and the subsequent spanking from Bayern has him getting the same treatment as Unai Emery. No coach has conceded more goals than him under Roman Abramovich. He’s being called tactically naive. There are doubts creeping in. Super unfair when you consider he made 4th after losing Hazard, but that is the nature of this beastly game.
Mikel Arteta is in a different boat. His xG was suspect, no doubt, but he did a few things that gave him credit with the fans. He made us a strong team unit. He did that with players that make errors, but overall, the impact was very positive. Fans could see the shape. He gave weak characters a mental toughness nearly all of us doubted could happen. He delivered wins against Liverpool, City, United, Wolves (a), and Chelsea. Those are progress wins. Then, of course, he won an FA Cup final.
The momentum is with him. The owners, the fans, the players all believe in the journey he’s taking them on. He now has more say over players, he has more confidence to implement his ideas, and he knows he’s on the right path.
There’s still a lot of work to do with the squad this summer, but I think the hope is that if the club can raise £100m in transfer revenue, they’ll invest it right back in. It’s great that PSG are sniffing around a £40m Matteo G, I’m sure someone will offer for LT, Holding is young and appealing, AMN is a £30m player now… most of our players improved since December, so we might find the transfer wheel is a little more greased this summer.
If Edu and Raul can make some deals that shift the profile of the squad, we’ll start the season in much better shape.
I think the Community Shield is going to be followed by an international break, then it’s straight into the league where it’ll be catch up mode with 3 games a week again. If we get off to a good start and keep the momentum of the FA Cup game going, we could be top 4 contenders next season. A lot still needs to go right, but hey, we can dream again.
The key is always a good start with these players. As we saw before the FA Cup, if there’s nothing to play for, it’s hard to get a game out of them. However, when there’s a reason to focus, it’s pretty clear that we have the ability to give anyone in the league a game on our day. We’ve not been in a position to say things like that in a very long time. We have a genuinely top coach running things now and that makes things very different for us.
I’m excited… let’s see where the business goes this summer!
1st
Morning All…
Morning All…
Morning All…
Did I say morning? Site’s gone mad…
Long way to go on the transfer front. As Pedders suggests selling is going to be key to what we do and where Raul will earn his corn (or not). If he really does get £40m for MattyG and £30m for AMN then I’ll eat my hat though.
Frank Lampard = Tim Sherwood with A levels
I just can’t get excited about the Willian signing, even if I’m watching the Dillian Harper and Riley Reid lezzing off video, signing a 32yr old on a 3 year deal doesn’t do it for me.
Top10
Nice optimistic piece today. I like it.
Who’s going to be the mean fucker to burst Pedro’s bubble and tell him [for free] that Willian is a South American age cheat who is actually 39 years old?
Fingers crossed
Pedro
Halleluja
Some positivity rather than the constant barrage of negativity appearing from
the usual posters.
The scouting system at the club was rated poor by several people that I have
spoken to and knew the system. It does not mean that it will be better under Edu, but let’s at least judge it on performance and not the usual prejudices.
If Arsenal are to progress, we need to totally revamp our midfield. That means no Xhaka, no Torreira and no Guendouzi, and replace them with players on a higher technical level who are confident and willing to take the ball under pressure and release the ball between the lines. Our play under Arteta has been dreadfully restricted to playing out wide due to the fear of losing possession in central areas. This has worked to a degree against the stronger teams as it allows us to remain compact and disciplined and harder to break down . However, against the lower… Read more »
PedRo
“”””””I can live with £100k, that’s good value”””””””
Despite x 55 Arsenal employees being laid off to facilitate it?
(Some of whom have been at the club for 23 years)
Or players already taking annual pay cuts because the wage bill is too high in the first place.
Reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote:
“””””the price of everything and the value of nothing” “”””
Of fuck off and go get laid or something
Anyone recall Mourinhos comments about Samuel Etos age ?He signed for Chelsea when 32. Interesting age because he did ok at Chelsea over one year scoring 9 in 21 . Chelsea let him go after one seasonThe speed of decline in his performances after leaving Chelsea firstly at Everton who offered him a two year deal ( even though he left on a free halfway through the first season ) at the top level was quite dramatic . From Everton Eto moved on to Sampdoria on a two and a half year deal but was moved on again after months… Read more »
From that Arsenal Truth article:
“[re: Willian] clogging up the wage bill to the tune of £10m a season”
More like Arsenal Lies. Willian is not clogging up the wage bill to the tune of £10m a season, unless the author thinks we’ve just signed him on £200k a week.
Dumb.
“The owners, the fans, the players all believe in the journey he’s taking them on. ”
The owners ? It is supposed to be funny ?
Thinking without any evidence that all players with Black heritage are age cheats shows a shallow mentality. Use logic not prejudice. Every player declines with age no matter the ethnic origin.
Anyone any good on IT issue’s? My PC is suddenly make loud repetitive beeping noises.
Strange thing is it only does it on Le Grove – it’s fine on other websites.
It’s really odd. Hang on I know what it is – it’ Pedro in reverse.
I’m pretty sure that Arteta doesn’t shares his tactical plans with a Mirror Journalist. 100k a week for Willian is a great deal. He is in peak physical shape and just had his best season (numbers wise) in a Chelsea shirt where he was monumental post lockdown for Chelsea to get CL. Pedro is starting to realise thats Edu/Raul/Kia combo is just a fantasy and Edu/Raul only have the club’s best interest in minds. CG All the big businesses in the world have cut their staff due to Covid. How long are you gonna keep moaning about the people who… Read more »
The club is a business and if there is a part of the business that isn’t really efficient you change it. Arsenal are becoming more technologically sound with scouting analytics and also its digital streams (Blackbird) so maybe there are departments that are not needed. We are not a charity. It sticks in my craw that the club used the excuse of investing in the team for these 55 sacrifices but the bigger picture maybe efficiencies that we will never see or may never really appear on the spreadsheets but will help Arteta improve. There is nothing wrong with being… Read more »
Some Africana have lied about their age does not mean every African lies about their age. That is downright racist.
Not to mention Partey has been at Athleti for 17yo and there is much better technology to find a player’s age (approx).
Pierre, credit where credit is due, I actually agree with much of your last post. I just hope that ES doesn’t consider it to be part of the ‘barrage of negativity’ he refers to.
Stan is a waste of DNA though……lol
I think next year we will interchange between a 433 and a 4231 with willian being able to play the 8 and the 10.
Our main liability is Xhaka who cnt play the DM role properly. If we grt partey i suspect Artekerz will try to play saka lcm. I certainly wouldnt be against it as he has show he has defensive qualities.
I cnt remember the last time we had midfielders who can break through the lines.
“Jason Rosenfeld of StatDNA recently quit to go to FIFA”
Mmmm funny how context makes such a difference to things. Pedro’s mentioned this guy quitting before but never where he’s going although from Pedro’s tone it always sounded like he’d been forced out and was now working in McDonalds on minimum wage.
Turns out he’s gone to FIFA – what are the odds his salary has increased significantly?
Nobody has said all African players are age cheats, there are some who are suspect, and its usually true than false.
So now Africans are racist for point out African players who are age cheats.
I heard that here 1st!
Pierre I agree with most of your last comment but actually think it doesn’t go far enough. “Our play under Arteta has been dreadfully restricted to playing out wide due to the fear of losing possession in central areas.” We’ve actually been setting up in matches (other than the ones where we went backs to the wall) to protect Xhaka’s numerous deficiencies. A new CM like Partey when paired with Ceballos (assuming we get him back) will quickly show just how much Xhaka restricts us. Fully expecting a piece early in the new season on how Arteta stopping him leaving… Read more »
Make no mistakes fellas, the “owners” still don’t give a shit about our club, they just want more money – if that is possible. lol
Arteta must think that he was betrayed by the board. He was asked by the board to convince the players to take a play cut to save job. He was calling on the players to board his boat as a united force. Now the board wants to sell players against his wish. The players must feel that Arteta doesn’t have much power in the club’s decision making.
“Yea West Africa isn’t like the West End you melt, slightly different scale.”
Have you been to Ghana?
Actually a very close knit society
Im telling you for free!
To correct the record. I’m not diametrically opposed to the Partey signing. I’m just not just not totally sold on the deal because Atletico are hell bent on making us paying a small fortune on signing him. The market is terribly depressed and it seems football clubs in the continent are in terrible shape. We have to try to take advantage if it, same way We stole Cazorla off Malaga. Is Partey truly a €50 million player in this market situation? I guess one would say yes because a buyer is willing to drop €50 million but I just don’t… Read more »
CT
“”””CG All the big businesses in the world have cut their staff due to Covid.””””
(I totally understand that,)
the word is cut,
If those employees were laid off and the playing and coaching side was also culled , I would not have a problem.
My problem is , that we are cutting the lowest paid but adding more high earners. Its also rampant cronyism with once again Kia/Edu involved.
That’s morally and ethically wrong.
Especially of a club of Arsenal’s class, traditions and heritage.
And apart from anything- its a huge PR own goal.
Agree Pedro that there’s an air of excitement. I may be going way over board but feels like 97-98. Signings of. Petit, Manninger,Grimaldi, overmars lets just hope there’s no Alberto Mendez. I think Willian is a great signing proper solid pro who’s a proven winner with desire and bit of bite to him. He can play no 10 and I think will can field a more defensive team for away games with serious counterattacking pace in Pepe Saka and Auba with Dani and Willian threading balls through. I think it’s hard to see Coutinho and Willian in same team but… Read more »
Dissenter
What do you expect? Of course AM are going to push to get the maximum they can for Partey – we’ve clearly shown interest.
If Sanllehi didn’t do the same with Guendozi, AMN, Torreira etc etc you’d go mental.
You need to show some patience.
Anyone that thinks we’re going to increase our player wage bill this summer is an idiot.
We lowered it last summer by culling dross and we will this summer too. Soon all of Wengers junk is gone and we can have a reasonable wage bill that matches the ability of the players for the first time in a long time.
It all depends on if we can get some of the wasters out of the club of course, a couple of them are worthless on the market so we’d be lucky if someone took them on a free.
Un
I don’t think we’ll sell him this summer – I think having other decent options for the 2 CM’s will make people realise how bad he is.
If Arteta does not pick up on this then any chance of getting top 4 will be directed related to how many appearances Xhaka makes.
Marc
I get that but they have us over a barrel as it stands by insisting we pay his full exit clause
Atletico is one of those Spanish clubs in dire straights, they over committed in the last 5 years and we shouldn’t be the ones to bankroll their crises.
This summer ought to be about smart buys because it is so freaking depressed. £50 million for Partey in this market isn’t the best value for money.
Just my reverent take on it, not trying to stir up shit like some think.
Dissenter “Is Partey truly a €50 million player in this market situation? I guess one would say yes because a buyer is willing to drop €50 million but I just don’t think that we should be the desperado waiting to be fleeced, not when there are cheaper players that can do whatever job Partey was required to do.” The greatest mistake Atletico made two seasons ago was not bumping his release clause. He is honestly worth more than €50 million. We’ve tried cheaper players and Xhaka still puts them on the bench. Sangare is very raw and who knows he… Read more »
CG
How do you propose culling the players and the staff ?
Just make the CB positions redundant ?
Or make the head coach job redundant?
Dissenter
They do not have us over a barrel – it’s a simple situation. They have a player we like who they value at X, we either pay that amount or manage to negotiate the price down (will take some time if they need the money and are playing hardball) or we look at another option.
This is beginning to look similar to the Tierney situation last summer.
Marc Yeah, if we’re selling both Torreira and Guen then Xhaka is staying, he won’t get much playing time if we get both Partey and Ceballos or similar so it’s alright I guess. He can captain the B side and slice oranges at half time. / Mhiki 180k Ozil 350k We get rid of those 2 which doesn’t seem impossible ( with us paying maybe half of the useless ones salary) we’re still 250k a week + after Willian comes in. That’s just 1 position. We have plenty of crap defenders near the 100k a week mark that needs to… Read more »
Soumare was close to Newcastle in Jan for around 35 mil. So he wont cost 40mil if we go for him now. Most probably the price will be near about 30mil.
Partey is worth 50mil even in this depressed market. There are very teams in the world where he would be an automatic starter.
Wasi
What CG doesn’t realise – and I know this is harsh – but the lower paid members of staff don’t generate revenue or income that supports all of the staff.
Players do. If we lose / cut back on players (current dross being the exception) it would actually put more jobs at risk.
Orny says Juve do hold interest in Laca.
35 mil in cash or no deal.
Honestly , I would only take Dybala, De ligt, Bentancur , Demiral and Ronaldo from that team.
None will be made available.
very few*
Re: Second last comment.
back pass
Respectfully, I’ve watched Partey as much as anyone here and I don’t understand the exaggerated clamor of him here.
I place the isolated stardom he gets here with the crazy celebration of Draxler, Morgan Schneiderlein, Seir Aurier and Christopher Samba.
Don’t get me wrong, he/s a technical player who will make us better no doubt. My point is the value for money in this market situation.
Marc
He just needs a reason to moan and groan and criticize the club.
Terraloon
Hard to take an article seriously when it’s entirely speculative and written clearly from a negative gaze.
Got a kick out the “scientifically proven” decline part of over 30 footballers and no citation – which I have since found. Reason for omitting such an article is because within the piece already there’s several remarks that clash with the overriding sentiment about Willian being a ‘waste of 30 mil’.
It’s here if you’re curious, I’m sure you’ll see why it was left out:
https://barcainnovationhub.com/the-influence-of-age-on-footballers-performance/
“He can captain the B side and slice oranges at half time.”
The rate Xhaka seems to do everything it looks like most of the squad will miss out on their half time Orange!
Who are the top DM in the world presently?
Rodri
Casemiero
Fabinho
Partey
Ndidi
Kimmich
Rodri cost mancity £63 million, Fabinho £50 million. If the remaining do leave, it would be more than £60 million, and you believe Partey for £45 million would be a bad deal?
Dissenter
What do you think is Parety’s value in today’s market ?
Because you certainly dont think its 50mil.
“Who’s going to be the mean fucker to burst Pedro’s bubble and tell him [for free] that Willian is a South American age cheat who is actually 39 years old?“
You’re such an idiot at times I swear. It’s West Africans that are older, Brazilians are younger.
Willian is 19.
Freddie the 12.5 % wage reduction will have distorted things but based on just what’s in front and what we know of us such as Luiz on lesser wages, Saka contract increase, Soares on a free, Mari on a permanent, Willian if he as expected signs on a decent wedge plus signing on fee, Saliba 100% on Arsenals wage costs, even with a couple of outgoings I cant see the wage costs reducing if any of the names being banded around do get transfers in. Getting the likes of Ozil or come to that Mikatarian to tear up their contracts… Read more »
Pierre
August 11, 2020 09:38:57
If Arsenal are to progress, we need to totally revamp our midfield.
Oh my, is Pierre finally for binning ozil?
Backpass
Rodri and Ndidi are not one of the top Dms in the world as far as I am concerned.
Gundogan usually gets the nod over Rodri in recent times.
Ndidi is good defensively but lacks in offensive contribution. He is a better Coquelin.
And anyways Partey is not a DM. But he would still start for City over Rodri , Leicester over Ndidi and maybe even Real over Casemiro
I thought we’d reached agreement with Miki and let him leave on a free and in return tearing up the last year of his contract.
Freddie
You need to come to terms with reality.
Xhaka is one of the lynchpins of the Arteta era. He’s not going anywhere.
Xhaka occupies the same wavelength at Auba, Luiz and probably Ceballos in whatever Arteta is trying to do.
Have you ever wondered why EVERY manager that Xhaka has had values him so much?
Fans may not like him so much but the managers see it differently.
Sid
Can you illuminate all us with all these West Africans who are ITK in ages and what they’ve specifically said about Partey please?
Dissenter
You want Hojberg-type value for money?
Wasi
“Soumare was close to Newcastle in Jan for around 35 mil. So he wont cost 40mil if we go for him now. Most probably the price will be near about 30mil.”
I said 40 million Euros not pounds, Lille was said to accept €25 million for Gabriel but it is now €30 million plus…. Also, the price quoted for newcastle would be different from the price quoted for Arsenal. If Arsenal had made a bid for saint Maxim, we probably would have shelled £35 million for him.
Terra Soares, Mari, Saka, Saliba won’t be on crazy wages. That shit stopped when Wenger and Gazidis left the building. Auba on 250k is the exception because he’s by far our most important player so it’s actually warranted. The deal with Roma for Mhiki isn’t supposed to cost us anything, they take over his salary in full and any agent fees etc. If we pay Ozil half his salary to fuck off it’s expensive but still saves us half of his remaining 16m salary. Laca is likely to leave too, he’s on high wages, Bellerin is a possibility, also high… Read more »
“Have you been to Ghana?
Actually a very close knit society.”
Complete nonsense.
Backpass I dont know. Raul reportedly has good relations with Lille. And Gabriel is a far more developed player than Soumare. I said at the beginning of Arsenal-Gabriel links that Lille won’t settle for 20-25 mil who is being chased by ManU, Napoli , Everton , Arsenal and maybe Psg. He definitely is more valuable than that and Lille know how to do business. Also there’s a lot of interest in Gabriel but not so much in Soumare. If he moves I believe it will be around 25-35 mil range. Re-Maximin. They would have quoted us a larger price sure… Read more »
Terraloon
I think as much as reducing the wage bill one of the things we need to do is get better value for money out of it. We have too many player’s who were bought as first choice who struggle to make back up.
Sok
Kolas
Toerriera
Miki (is he still on our wage bill?)
Ozil (stuck with unfortunately)
etc etc
I mean what do their wages add up to £800k per week? Over £40 million a year on 5 players who just aren’t required.
“I place the isolated stardom he gets here with the crazy celebration of Draxler, Morgan Schneiderlein, Seir Aurier and Christopher Samba.
Don’t get me wrong, he/s a technical player who will make us better no doubt. My point is the value for money in this market situation.”
But you are championing Hojbjerg, and he isn’t even better than Schnerderlein (at soton)
Dissenter
We didn’t have many other options this season, do you think Arteta wants to play a low block with 2 midfielders sitting in the lap of our 3 CBs just to mask how slow and error prone they are?
If not then Xhaka is the first name out of the team if we get both Partey and Ceballos.
Like I said I don’t think he’ll be sold.
CC
I’m good with buying a £20 million Hojberg and a £25 million attacking midfielder for the outlay on Partey.
That’s what I would do in this market
Hojberg is a very good player…in my estimation anyways. You obviously disagree.
“Willian is 19.”
Look I want to believe you, I really do. But that Arsenal Truth article pointed to some elite science to back up Willian’s true age as being closer to 40.
His level will drop 12-24% year-on-year. Just look at what has been scientifically proven in that article, ok?
back pass
Re; the Scheniderlein vs Hojberg contrast
I was never sold on Schneiderlein from the get go, got called names here for that too.
Hojberg looked like he belonged in a big team….from the moment I saw him. He reminds me of Arteta at Everton. You just knew he was too good for Everton back then.
Will Hojberg make a difference ..not really.
He’s about Xhaka’s level.
You are willing to risk the progress of your team by signing a cheaper player and the board gets to save an extra £5-10M? No wonder they refer to Arsenal fans as accountants lol.
What do you we think about Ramsey being sold by Juve.
Read about it in BBC. It does sound like an easy, cheap news.
But what if Pirlo doesn’t see him in his Juve side? Do we bring our boy back?
I honestly don’t think Arsenal are as fixated on Partey simply because of the price tag I hope it’s a distraction to get us other targets.
There just has to be a litany or comparable options for less money.
Wasi “BackpassRodri and Ndidi are not one of the top Dms in the world as far as I am concerned. Gundogan usually gets the nod over Rodri in recent times. Ndidi is good defensively but lacks in offensive contribution. He is a better Coquelin.And anyways Partey is not a DM. But he would still start for City over Rodri , Leicester over Ndidi and maybe even Real over Casemiro” Rodri started 29 times in the league and 6 subs while Gundogan started 21 times and substituted 10 times. Casemiero and Ndidi are similar, both aren’t fantastic on the ball, screen… Read more »
So if we don’t sign Partey, we’re expecting his performances to drop off a cliff next season at Atletico, yeah?
Dude is mid-30s easy. Simeone should move those tired old legs to CB, mitigate against all the pending age-related deficiencies we so commonly see in African players claiming to be 5 years younger than they are.
Bonaroca::- I am a regular critic of the handling of the Arsenal Teams due to the fact that I am an Arsenal Supporter since 1946. My point is this.and I have to be very honest on my critism and this goes fro every manager in the trade. Now, everyone was happy that Mr Arteta was appointed Manager because of the reason that he served his what I would say his apprenticeshilp with ManCity and a good period playing for Arsenal. Obviously, it is clear that at least Mr Arteta has has shown enough by winning the FA Cup, but what… Read more »
Dissenter
Re Hojberg, we can actually get Coquelin cheaper since they effectively do the same thing…
“I’m good with buying a £20 million Hojberg and a £25 million attacking midfielder for the outlay on Partey. That’s what I would do in this market Hojberg is a very good player…in my estimation anyways. You obviously disagree.” Yea see, I’m going to have to push you on this one so try not to scamper off this time… But just how good is Hojberg exactly? And explain who we get for 20 mil and 25 mil as you put it? Also do tie in with how Partey is a shiny thing in the same manner as Schneiderlin, but Hojberg… Read more »
The backpass If you look at Partey’s numbers and just watch his overall play you’ll get that he is not a specialist Dm like an Ndidi or a Casemiro. If you ask me I’d say he is a defensive B2B player. He’s got the defensive Instincts and ability to play Dm for many(any?) of the top teams and he’s also got the energy and ball progression of an elite B2B but not the attacking output of a good B2B type midfielder. I remember reading somewhere he is top 3 in dribble completed % in Europe for players above a certain… Read more »
‘Dude is mid-30s easy.’
Is it only me who doesn’t have the ability to correctly judge a player’s current age just by looking at them or their race or are there a few more?
“I’m good with buying a £20 million Hojberg and a £25 million attacking midfielder for the outlay on Partey. That’s what I would do in this market Hojberg is a very good player…in my estimation anyways. You obviously disagree.”
Okay so you just want to add more average players to an already average squad?
raptora
The Ramsey exit from Juve was predictable though.
Other than maybe Paulinho and few others, most people didn’t think he would last at Juve. His wages will complicate his move back to England.
Maybe Everton pays half of his wages and Juve pick up the rest.
Welcome back, and no need for apologies. All fans jump to conclusions, that’s what makes us fans.
Willian has been an outstanding player for Chelsea. If he plays for us the way he played for them he is a great signing but, at 32 years, that must be a doubt. Chelsea considered two year max.
Let’s hope Mikel ad Edu hold their nerve: sell early, buy late. By early September clubs will be stuck with decent players they can’t afford.
But, there again, I may be jumping to conclusions..
Højbjerg £20m fee + VAT + agent backhanders which don’t appear on any financials + wages x 4 years + National Insurance + Pension + liability insurance =
£95 million.
The quality of fan on here is a joke.
Anyone who knows anything about football can tell Willian is in his 90’s. The zimmer frame is a dead giveaway.
What about Martinez?
Suddenly the club has a 40 million windfall.
If Leno is fit and ready to play again, can the club afford to have Martinez sitting on the bench.
Can Martinez at 27/28 pas up this opportunity to find starting position.
The present value to both the player and club is not something that will retain value if he has to sit behind Leno. One or two bad outings can send that value right back to where it was before.
I think that Martinez has to move/be move in Jan latest.
Jamie
Looks like we’re signing Højbjerg then.
Sanllehi loves a bargain!
Captain Tierney
Keep throwing out words like ‘average‘ all day long.
I think there’s a very good player in Hojberg and I don’t think Partey is anywhere near the spectacular central midfielder that and your ilk are describing.
My points are made in previous posts so no need to repeat them again.
Let’s agree to disagree, shall we?
Good afternoon le grove
Flicked through the comments , we’ve got west Africans and Brazilian ages being questioned and I found myself reminiscing about that 62 year old Chelsea player – something drogba was it ? Done ok didn’t he ? Was picking up his pension and still scoring against a young fresh arsenal defence. Can’t believe Chelsea kept the old codger on 🤦🏽♂️ ( I use a darker shade of emoji because I’m half black half white is that ok to do here ?)
Raptora,
Start a movement on Twitter.
#BringbackRamsey
“I think there’s a very good player in Hojberg and I don’t think Partey is anywhere near the spectacular central midfielder that and your ilk are describing.“
Stick your neck out Dissenter, you can do it.
Yesterday you had Hojbjerg down as one of Denmark’s crop of very good young players. Man is 25 getting the Lingard treatment.
Jamie,
£95m sounds fair for Hojbjerg….I’d better brush up on his YouTube highlights.
Quick question: job did you calculate the VAT on his fee?
And did you use Tolkien’s Fantasy Accounting System to calculate the invisible (imaginary?) agent backhanders?
**How did you calculate the VAT
I don’t know if Partey is any good?
The concern is at 27 and available for €50million, that no other club has moved.
We definitely need to add a bit of quality, tactical nous, and dynamism through the centre of the pitch.
If we sign him? Hopefully he’s a significant upgrade of Torreira/Guendouzi
CC
My neck isn’t stuck out enough for you.
I’ve made my point already, unpopular as it may be. You want my head on a guillotine?
Freddie The point particularly about Mari, and Soares they are additions not in place of. Saka, well we have no idea what his wage increase will have been and as for Saliba no agent worth their salt would have agreed to a fee in the high £20 millions without a wage in the area £50k to £100k As for Miki then we know there was a preliminary agreement in place but as far as I can see nothing yet firmed up. Interestingly there were reports that Miki departing was financing the Willian signing. I agree that the overall wage costs… Read more »
Words
Am I right in thinking that VAT on players isn’t calculated at the standard 20% but a special “They’re coming they’re coming” rate of 120%?
Dissenter
No you haven’t, you’ve said you think there’s a player in Hojbjerg and Partey is massively overrated.
So I’m asking very simply how they compare to you in ability. Who is better? How much do? Etc.
Also curious how who you’d spend 20 & 25 mil respectively on in CM in your preferred manner?
Dissenter You have the habit of labeling players you haven’t seen. You were Labeling Tierney as average before the Covid Lock down. Hojbjerg is a decent player. But he wouldn’t get us moving forward. I think you haven’t seen Partey play too. He is definitely in the Top 10 DMs in the world right now. It’s not about the money, More about the quality of player. Last summer I wanted us to get Hakim ziyech and we got pepe. Eventhough ziyech cost 25 mil back then It wasn’t about the money but purely because Ziyech was the better player. Getting… Read more »
Pierre/Andy 1886
I most certainly agree with what Pierre posted. Our midfield most certainly needs improvement particularly in in creativity, assists and goalscoring department.
Last season’s performance level was exceedingly poor as I said on many occasions.
When I discuss negativity by certain posters it relates to those who find fault in everything that the club does even when we win the FA Cup.
Prime examples are CG and RT when he is not binned.