… but who needs him when you have Mo Elneny back in the side banging in goals from 30 yards?
Two BIG pieces of news in football yesterday were:
Harry Maguire found guilty of assault and BRIBERY. I absolutely love all the ‘he’s a good honest boy’ pieces doing the rounds. I don’t even need to have been there to know how that scene played out.
‘Oi, speaken sie English mate? Look, let’s do a deal. Do you know who I am?’
You can imagine it… it was me when I was 19 years old, waving around 30 Euros because I’d heard the foreign police were open to it.
Shocking form from a man who really should have taken his mates to a private island. He earns £190k a week and he’s taking holidays like he’s earning £9 an hour in First Sport in Lakeside.
The second major piece of news is 33-year-old Lio Messi has told Ronald Koeman he wants out of Barca. I liked one of the Spanish papers takes on it.
‘The meeting wasn’t friendly and Koeman insisted he’d be inflexible‘
Can’t knock that sort of attitude.
I think it’s a great thing for Barca. Sell Messi for £150m to one of the petro-dollar clubs, get 60m off your wage bill, the rebuild with Matteo Guendouzi and Lacazette as your centrepieces.
Joking aside, who the fuck is going to pay a massive transfer fee and £70m a year? It feels like a weird threat to make of Barcelona, unless he can argue his contract is null and void because of covid… but even then, who is ponying up £70m a year? Crazy money. Let’s see if he’s truly going to stay, or he’s just kicking up a stink to show who is boss.
The third BIG piece of news is that THE Arsenal went all hype culture on us and dropped a fresh friendly with the MK DONS.
I was half in the game half out, but it was a fairly pre-seasonish performance. A lot of our big names were missing and we threw a lot of kids at the game. Odd that AMN started, not sure what that was all about. No Hector. We saw Willy Saliba in an Arsenal shirt and he looked comfortable on the ball and more than capable of dealing with the physical side of England. I think he’ll be a class act for us and suspect he’ll have a big role, though maybe not immediately.
Two early goals from Mo Elneney and Saka set nerves at ease. MK pulled one back from a stunning Rob Holding own goal. The second half saw some new faces and one of them scored. McGuiness with a bullet header into the top corner. Then Reiss finished the game off with a penalty at the end.
My guess is that Arteta is going to give the Community Shield secondary attention. The players just had an exhausting season and I would imagine Arteta understands that the most important thing he can deliver in September is a fast start. This team switches off if there’s nothing to play for, so keeping them in the mix is what he has to deliver.
Still, it must be hard. Players aren’t settled yet and there could be a lot of coming and going over the next few weeks. Far from ideal, I just hope the comings arrive earlier in the month. It’d be ideal to have our major problems solved for day one of the season… namely, a functioning midfield.
Short one today, have a good one!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST👇👇👇
DM
Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Doh
Dunno why that double-poated, but I was never gonna win it with you lurking, DM.
*posted
Sorry Groovey! Technically wasn’t lurking, posted the first comment 🙂
Bollox – you’re always lying in ambush, waiting on that 3rd post…
True, but I would consider lurking to be when I don’t comment at all until the tr4phy, so no one knows if I’m around or not. I used to just do all 4 comments, but as competition got hotter, you gotta change your tactics. Wenger never understood that lol
Couple of things, Pedro “Shocking form from a man who really should have taken his mates to a private island. He earns £190k a week and he’s taking holidays like he’s earning £9 an hour in First Sport in Lakeside.” I have no idea if Maguire did or did not do the things he’s been found guilty of, but I don’t get the above sentiment. Why should he not be able to holiday wherever he likes? If he wants to go somewhere normal like you or I do, who are we to say he shouldn’t? Re Messi: from what I… Read more »
12th man
“Dani Ceballos, who spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Arsenal, has informed Real Madrid he wants to return to The Emirates, according to Defensa Central. ”
Not sure where Arsenal are on this?
Messi at 33 will be a short term statement signing rather than a real game changer for interested clubs. One for the likes of City or PSG maybe (Neymar wouldn’t like it) rather than any serious big club.
Actually I think that he’ll either end up staying at Barca or retiring. May last longer than Koeman though….
Oh, and of course Maguire should be able to holiday wherever he wants BUT common sense dictates that he’ll come across some group of idiots in all the usual destinations and it would be better to go somewhere more exclusive and up market. I’m sure that the xenophobes will be out in force to defend him against those dodgy foreign types and their justice system, blah, blah, blah.
Pedders – since you mentioned the importance of players being fresh in September, one of the things I have been wondering about for a few years is the impact of preseason tours. Till a few years ago, Wenger used to take the squad to the Austrian camp, and we usually started the season well. Then the preseason tours started – for commercial reasons obviously. And we started flying all over. From US to South East Asia etc. If my instinct is right, we’ve never started well since then. I’ve often wondered how does that tour commercial gain compare with champions… Read more »
We could have stood a chance of signing Messi if Wenger was still at the club in any capacity,berate the man for losing in at the end but he’s still got a massive pull and personality
Wonder why the traditional big clubs in England have been mentioned and we’re not even grant the courtesy of even a clickbait link
Athletico Madrid must be having a laugh, offering 3 players for us to take any with Laca going the other way except not including the only one we’re interested in
Hopefully the club tell them to rightly fck off
….Sell Messi for £150m to one of the petro-dollar clubs, get 60m off your wage bill, the rebuild with Matteo Guendouzi and Lacazette as your centrepieces
You never know, football is a funny game!
“Wolves have seen their opening offer for Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles rejected, according to a report in the Metro. ”
Chelsea – Havertz
“According to The Sun , they will be paying him a whopping £80.6million over five years in SW6 – which equates to around £310,000 per week.”
Vic, for a man with the socialist wage structure the chances of Wenger signing off on a million dollar a week pay packet would be zero.
And to be accurate Wenger was a big draw maybe fifteen years back, but not recently. Remember how Messi’s best mate Suarez turned us down rather than force through a move back in the day?
Ya I d say Messi is playing the power game and waiting for the President to get the road before turning to Koeman and saying , careful or you are next . He got Eric Albidal sacked and he was an ex team mate so I think theres alot more to Mr clean blue eyed boy Mesi than is actually known . Cant see him moving anywhere expect Inter if anywhere . On our own front it was nice to see Saliba in action, he does look the part so be interesting to see what happen . RE the Chambers… Read more »
Nketiah scored the second not Saka.
andy
Suarez didn’t turn us down,Dippers wouldn’t do business because:
1)We were a direct rival
2)We triggered his release clause and they they were not chuffed how we managed to be privy of the exact figure
He wanted the move so much that he even went on strike and threatened legal actions
Mykonos is the in destination.
Lots of young Russians on private
Yachts.
Drinking all the best Champagnes
at exorbitant prices like it’s gone
out of fashion.
Valentin August 25, 2020 22:45:59 Luteo, Ronaldo is paid £26 millions BEFORE tax at Juventus. No other player is paid even half of Messi is paid. The club simply can’t afford to pay him that much. And that does not include the rest of the deals where Barcelona had to put some member of his family on their payroll. In the US sport, because of the salary cap, you can easily spot who is in it first for the money or who is interested first in title and then money. During their dominance, San Antonio Spurs players accepted lower wage… Read more »
Lol yea Wenger would sanction an almost 400k a week deal to a 33 yr old player. Good stuff
Still binned?
Charles Aouar is on Juve already bought Arthur who’s similar and they’re now buying Weston McKennie on top of possibly Locatelli. Just need his sister’s kid’s best friend’s cousin to follow his Instagram and we’re good
Well let’s flog whoever we can to the Barca bandits.They can’t resist a gooner we all know that.Screw them on the way down.Lets hope it’s for silly 💰 As for AM they are taking the piss.Three players we couldn’t give a rats arse about & wanting Gwen Dozy & Laca swap🤣Interestingly,perhaps there coming to there senses as appear to be buying Partey replacement,Marc Roca for €15 million.well see where this goes……
Wouldn’t it be nice to have Leo Messi go on strike all year long if Barca don’t let him walk away.
Barcelona have been using that tactic to sign players forever; That’s how Dembele got Dormund to let him leave.
Valentine When CR7 left Real Madrid, everybody thought that it was the end of the club. They have just won la Liga without him and financially they are in a better place. With a competent board, there is no reason why Barcelona cannot achieve the same thing within 2 years of rebuilding. Actually the situation at Real is a lot different Real were forced to go a different route from the galactico model when they lost out on Neymar. They spent the last 5 seasons buying up the best young talent in south America and Europe, while Barca were swimming… Read more »
Valentine “When CR7 left Real Madrid, everybody thought that it was the end of the club. They have just won la Liga without him and financially they are in a better place. With a competent board, there is no reason why Barcelona cannot achieve the same thing within 2 years of rebuilding.Actually the situation at Real is a lot different” Real were forced to go a different route from the galactico model when they lost out on Neymar. They spent the last 5 seasons buying up the best young talent in south America and Europe, while Barca were swimming in… Read more »
Also absolutely delighted that the club is seemingly about to sell AMN and likely Kolasinac and Bellerin among others. Ecstatic basically selling AMN more or less pays for Gabriel so we’re replacing a bit part squad player with a starter. It’s a no brainer despite the mental gymnastics from the usual types against the move. Special mention for Val on that front his embarrassing commentary on AMN yesterday was incredible to watch my particular favourite was when he argued for keeping AMN because he can’t hold down a spot in one position so he gets bounced around many positions therefore… Read more »
Messi and Ozil golfing with Bale for the 2021 season just doesn’t sound right.
Leo will find a way.
I really hope both managers respect the community shield.
You have to earn the right to play in it, and if you can’t get fans and players excited about a game at Wembley, and an early opportunity to lift a bit of silverware?
Then what’s the point?
Seriously how many midfielders do Juventus want?
Mckennie is a very good talent. How do these other teams do loan + option deals for good players so easily , especially the Italian clubs.
Locatelli is also someone who’s got a high ceiling but I think his game is similar to Mckennie .
Read somewhere yesterday that Messi’s shirt sales alone make up for his total wages.
Oh yeah what was the other really dumb thing he said something about Cedric NEARLY costing us a goal against Leicester therefore he’s shite while arguing for AMN but completely disregarding the fact that he cost us 3 goals in a European final not that long ago. Garbage player good riddance and wolves are only signing him because Jonny got a long term injury when he’s back he’ll be back to warming a bench at another premier league club
Vic, not strictly true. Sure Suarez wanted to move at first but then Liverpool offered him an improved contract and the option to move abroad a year later which he accepted.
The point being, Wenger wasn’t the big draw that you suggested (Suarez played under Brendan let’s not forget).
As he wasn’t when we were turned down a few years later by Vardy…..
Anyone thinking Messi is going to sit on his arse and collect a paycheck is deluded. He’s literally leaving Barcelona because they’re no longer a guarantee for success. The guy is a winner…an overpaid winner…
The Maguire case going to trial only days after the arrest is the most interesting part of the story for someone used to the American courts system. Here it would’ve been years with the right representation lol.
One of the officers called to the scene testified he was pushed by Maguire so hard he fell on his back and needed to be injected with pain killers………….probably by the Albanians.
andy
I remember an interview or a report which said Suarez wanted to join Arsenal that window but Gerrard convinced him to stay 1 more year at Liverpool and that a better team will come for him.
Which is exactly what happened.
I just cant remember the exact source but you’ll find it on google if you scout a little.
The Maguire case going to trial only days after the arrest is the most interesting part of the story for someone used to the American courts system. I mean it’s not uncommon especially when it involves someone rich and or famous and when it’s something fairly uncomplicated. I remember something not too dissimilar happened to Pogba or Lukaku a couple years back in LA and while it wasn’t quite assault it was something fairly serious but it got sorted out in the court very quickly. Maguire’s a fucking idiot it doesn’t surprise me and it also doesn’t surprise me that… Read more »
Thanks CT.
Shame it didn’t happen, we really needed a top forward to challenge at the time but ended up with a show pony instead. Unfortunately it’s still with us and only fit for the glue factory now.
Tom
You have to admit that that Greek justice system works like a bullet train
MaGuire was arrested 4 days ago, locked up same day and tried yesterday.
That was all so efficient, if only they collected their taxes with the same alacrity.
BojanglesAugust 26, 2020 12:28:41
“Dani Ceballos, who spent the 2019/20 campaign on loan at Arsenal, has informed Real Madrid he wants to return to The Emirates, according to Defensa Central. ”Not sure where Arsenal are on this?
I doubt Ceballos will be dim enough to pull that stunt if we weren’t whispering sweet nothings. That will be an Odewengeish move.
The Lukaku case was nothing like the Maguire case.
A misdemeanor citation for a repeated noise complaint, where he was released right after his arrest. And even then his court appearance was scheduled a month or so later. Basically like an administrative hearing would.
Val “I did not mentioned Christiano Ronaldo, so you must have read somebody else posts or not pay attention to mine because the only Ronaldo I mentioned was the original one who played for Barcelona.“ Yea sure you didn’t mate, I made it up…. “Valentin August 25, 2020 22:45:59 Luteo, Ronaldo is paid £26 millions BEFORE tax at Juventus. No other player is paid even half of Messi is paid.” R9 must’ve managed to play for Juve without anyone else ever finding out, and the use of the present tense “is” suggests he’s still doing so. The Phenomenon indeed. Have… Read more »
Also , why was Maguire forced to spend two nights in prison? A shitty lawyer , or the local legal system ?
“Charles Aouar is on Juve already bought Arthur who’s similar and they’re now buying Weston McKennie on top of possibly Locatelli. Just need his sister’s kid’s best friend’s cousin to follow his Instagram and we’re good“
This makes me ITK I think, what a rush, where’s my 50 virgins and blue tick of verification?
If it’s a face/off at Barca, I fancy Koeman to go and Messi to stay.
Question is, while in jail for 2 nights, was Maguire tackling and positioning properly or did he let the opponent convert shots on target?
CC
Brings me to the question, what is you’re twitter handle?
Dissenter
Re Greece and taxation, a couple years back while vacationing there with my wife ,we were meeting up with some of my old friends who live in Europe for a dinner and drinks. At the end of the night the restaurant owner presented me with a choice of paying the legit bill, or one off the books which would’ve saved me about $150 for a party of eight.
In all my travels this was a first.
Koeman is kinda dense tbh
He should have handled Leo Messi with more tact, he deserves what he’s getting.
Barca needed a man manager, insted they appointed Koeman.
One question is Mkhitaryan still technically on Arsenal’s books?
According to Arsenal FC website Mkhitaryan is still out on loan to Roma.
Transfermarkt suggests that he is out on loan until 31st August and then
joins Roma on a free transfer from 1st September.
Can anyone explain the logic of this arrangement? It suggests to me that until
1st September Arsenal are continuing to pay part of his wages.
Barca trying to keep Messi because of a technicality in his clause would be a public relations fiasco of epic proportion.
June 12th was chosen in the contract as deadline for transfer request because it would be pre-season. COVID-19 pushed everything back and they can’t insist that he should have submitted his request by June 12th when La liga only restarted on June 11th.
It couldn’t have happened to a more slimiy club. All that Barca-DNA and no common sense.
Sal
I’m not actually on Twitter, I just abuse the ability to roam. My socials have been deceased since like 2015.
CC
“My socials have been deceased since like 2015.”
I’m not touching that after our deep dive with Dissenter.
Charles I still don’t believe that we can have Aouar and Partey this summer I just can’t see it. Even with all the potential sales and even if Atletico were to come along and accept a swap for Lacazette and Partey for example I just don’t see it it would be too amazing. Instead I always thought it’d be a case of one marquee and one so to speak not for example Partey and Sanson or Coutinho on loan. I still think Partey given the type of player he is should be the priority because he’s probably the single biggest… Read more »
‘The guy is a winner…an overpaid winner…’
Was with you until the end, how tf is the guy overpaid when he’s literally been the best player on the planet year in year out for well over a decade?
And is still the best player on the planet at 33 I may add.
Wenger Eagle
I don’t think Messi is leaving Barca to win elsewhere. He’s leaving because the workplace is too toxic for him at Barca. There are several board members there that are on his case and once Koeman came on board it was clear he had to go.
He was pushed out.
Had Barca appointed Xavi/Iniesta combo, he may have stayed to be a bridge between the current generation and whatever new players they bring in. Koeman’s tactlessness took that option off the table.
Is there a more transformative figure in sport than Messi? For me its King James, CR7 and Messi in no particular order.
Time for Messi to move to another club to put all the nonsense to bed that he can’t do it in another league within another club.
Really hoping thats the Prem.
Fulham are reportedly pushing very hard to sign ESR on loan.
Personally I wouldn’t be against this move if 2 conditions are met –
1- We are given assurances that he is going to be a starter
2- Arteta allows Ozil back into the side and adds another creative midfielder
Sal
I bet Roman’s people are looking into it right now. Say what you will about the Russian( or is it Israeli now?) and his ill gotten billions but he’s a proper football fan.
Kroenke on the other hand , if presented with the option of signing Leo ,would probably ask “who’s this Massier person and is he any good?”
Wasi, Don’t try to be funny, you just embarrass yourself. Just keep changing moniker thinking that people will not have notice your flip flopping. No need to have somebody in the know, just rewatch Dembele initial interview at Barcelona. During Dembele Barcelona presentation, he admitted that Messi personally as have other players called him before the move and that was hastily cut by the press manager, because that could have been construed as tapping up. Dortmund had complained about it before (the move was acrimonious as Dembele went on strike to get his move) and Barcelona had denied having any… Read more »
Dissenter It’s both reasons mate, it’s because of the club toxicity and also because the guy’s a winner and he wants to enhance his legacy with another CL win and at 33, he knows that Barca are literally years behind Bayern, Liverpool, Man City, etc and won’t win it again while he’s still a top player. Their famous La Masia academy is garbage and hasn’t produced a top level player since Pedro and Busquets in 2008. They have sunk all of the Neymar money and more into depreciated assets in Dembele [injuries], Coutinho [age] and Griezmann [age] that were all… Read more »
“I’m not touching that after our deep dive with Dissenter.“ 😂😂 I’ll retcon my statement to include that it is in no way related to a hermaphrodite stalker, and simply down to my distinct apathy and laziness in using them. Marko I’ve long been told Coutinho was “ours” if we wanted to pull the trigger on the deal. Only reason we haven’t (logistics aside) is our hopeful pursuit of Aouar. I think you’re probably right, that Partey and Aouar is a bridge too far for this window…..but….momentum changes quickly and if we get 2/3 deals wrapped up (AMN, Torreira, Laca)… Read more »
‘Koeman is kinda dense tbh He should have handled Leo Messi with more tact, he deserves what he’s getting.’ Lol, it’s nothing to do with Koeman and their ‘meeting’. More to do with the unprecedented 8-2 CL SF ass hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich to show just how far behind they are as a club and what a shambles they have become. And Bartomeu dissolving them from being the best club in the world to a laughing stock of Europe over his presidency. He’s never been humiliated like that before in a single match. In 2013 he wasn’t… Read more »
Emirate Stroller,
I would love to be able to blame Raul on that one, but it is more likely that when the extension was signed nobody was exactly sure when the seasons were going to finish.
Any covid resurgence could have pushed the Italian league end by a week to a month.
The real question is has he really be given a free transfer, because nothing has been officially announced about it.
Val
“No need to have somebody in the know, just rewatch Dembele initial interview at Barcelona.During Dembele Barcelona presentation, he admitted that Messi personally as have other players called him before the move and that was hastily cut by the press manager, because that could have been construed as tapping up.”
Does this mean Messi requested Barca buy Dembele?
Rudiger must be calling the shots for calling Harvertz and Werner and telling them to join chelsea.
David Luiz must be our messi for calling Willian and telling him to come. You are just full of shit.
WE it was sarcasm in reference to Val. There’s very few athletes in sports history who’ve earned their coin and Messi is certainly one of them
‘Don’t try to be funny, you just embarrass yourself. Just keep changing moniker thinking that people will not have notice your flip flopping.’ Lol 😂. First thing I did was announce I am actually Wasi. ‘During Dembele Barcelona presentation, he admitted that Messi personally as have other players called him before the move and that was hastily cut by the press manager, because that could have been construed as tapping up. ‘ Players talk with each other. Especially when they are looking to move to a new team. You dont have to be a genius to know that. But saying… Read more »
Wenger eagle
It’s not the first time Barcelona have been humiliated with high score beat downs though,
I knew he was going the moment Luiz Suarez was treated shabbily. He would have related better with Xavi as manager.
Messi’s legacy is 100% secure. It wont change an inch if he decides to finish his career in the Saudi league for 1 million per game.
Although I’d had him pencilled in as part of this season’s squad. The Idea of a year long loan to Fulham for Smith Rowe does sound very tempting. Especally as they are now in the PL.
I’d only sanction it if we were adding another creative player (Aauor pls)to the team. If not I’d keep him for squad depth
We’ll see, I’m just excitable at pretty much all possible outcomes honestly. The idea our plan B summer is Partey and Coutinho on loan is a big W for me.
Same. Seems to be a far more ambitious tone to the summer (I would argue as well with last summer) with Edu and Mikel on the same page. Bodes well
Koeman has been hired to do the nasty. Get rid of all past it players. Re energise the team. He may have been less than diplomatic with Messi, but that clash was always going to happen. The fight between Messi and Barcelona is going to turn ugly. But I can’t see any European club able to afford his wage and the £200 millions fee that Barcelona will want for him. Even assuming that he still have 4 years in his legs, £200 millions equates to an amortisation of £50 millions per year. Add his salary and there is no amount… Read more »
Also I very much want Coutinho signed. His productivity at his last two clubs is impressive despite the fact that they were never keen on him which leads me to believe or hope that if we were to get him and show some belief in him that he could help transform this team creatively.
Dissenter Nothing like that, the Liverpool tie ended 4-3 on agg and Roma 3-3 on agg, even PSG they won the second leg 6-1. Bayern pulled their pants down and had their way with them to an international audience, if it had been a two legged affair Christ knows how many more they would have racked up. And of course his legacy is secure, it’s been secure since he was 23 years old when he won the CL again in 2011 with Pep. He’s like Ronaldo, he’s obsessed with being the greatest ever and smashing all of the records. He… Read more »
This Partey shit will keep going on and on….
need to move on from him…. season is starting soon.
Who is plan B? Get that player in…
We still need to sell, and bar AMN its not looking good on that front.
I know we have time after the season starts to move players but ideally its best to get them out pronto and not hang around…
I mean Barca are clinging onto a technicality re Messi’s contract due to Covid extending the season past the June opt-out deadline. How will that sit with the supporters, the team, Koeman himself to have an enraged and disinterested Messi on the books earning the highest wage in football. Clearly nobody is going to pay massive fees for a 33 year old even if it’s Messi to the tune of hundreds of millions. Ronaldo at that age went for 100m. So that leaves Barca with a massive problem, this isn’t any old player this is Lionel Messi the most important… Read more »
Marko
Just took the comment in isolation, bravo for the skillfully laced sarcasm caught me out.
I told you that it was possible that we could get rid of the deadwood didn’t I? Schalke want Kolasinac and Wolves are after AMN for an actual fee. Happy days if we can get more and more out the door.
Marko
Have recently read about that lad Juve have brought in on loan with an obligation to buy. Same agent as Aouar and could very well be one of those agent favour type signings we can’t have at Arsenal so they land Aouar..
Anyone else see that Atleti story rehashed again re Lacazette in a swap for money and one of Lemar, Vitolo, Correa?
Wouldn’t be interested in any of those besides Lemar and given how bad he’s been at Atletico, they’d have to offer a pretty decent fee on top of him. Still think there’s an excellent player in Lemar though, Atletico are just literally the worst environment for a skilful attacking player to flourish.
Wasi,
So you can’t see the difference between a friend trying to lure a player to their club is different from the club organising phone by their own stars to a complete stranger to entice him to go on strike is different.
I am assuming that Ashley Cole meeting Mourinho in a hotel room to trash a deal when he was still under contract with Arsenal was just dandy then.
Good thing you are not in charge of Arsenal recruitment then. It would a free for all.
Weagle
I like Lemar, would entertain that swap for Laca in a heartbeat. See much more utility and value in having Lemar in the squad than Auba/Laca pissing over CF.
He’s 24 years old, being wank at Atletico as a forward thinking player doesn’t put me off any. Only need to watch half a dozen of their games the last few seasons to appreciate its a VERY niche environment for a player to flourish.
Would I scoff at Felix too because he’s been gash? As if.
Messi joining Citeh would be wild.
On the one hand it would be amazing watching him destroy PL defenders but it’d be pretty scary how good he makes that City side. Then again we’re years away from competing and I’d much rather City win the league than Liverpool going back to back.
He will put up 25+ PL goals in his sleep even at 33.
Charlie And what I love about Lemar is his versatility. Very good playing wide left which is a position we’re short in outside of Saka and he is also very good as a LCM as he’s shown for the France NT. He would add creativity, pace and running to our tepid and once-paced CM. If we’re in any way smart though we’ll utlisise the fact that he’s been SHIT at Atletico though in negotiations. He failed to put up a SINGLE goal or assist last season ffs. Lemar + 30 million for Lacazette imo is a fair deal. Good one… Read more »
Valentin ‘club organising phone by their own stars to a complete stranger to entice him to go on strike is different.’ Whaaat? Why would Barca need Messi to call Dembele and go on strike? Their interest in him is already enough for players to demand a transfer. A manager speaking to the player is different than Messi trying to convince Bla bla players to please come to Barca to help him win games. Get a brain. Manager’s job is to sign players , player’s job is to play. And even if there was contact ( there could easily have been… Read more »
“Lemar + 30 million for Lacazette imo is a fair deal. Good one for both parties.”
Ha how about Laca + 20m for Lemar and Partey?! 😆
Weagle Think that’s a stretch to quote money like that, would be surprised to see any coin at all associated given the respective ages of the players. We bought Laca for shy of 50 mil aged 26, at 29 he’s a 35 mil player in this market and Lemar at 24 is easily 25 mil from his 70 mil fee they paid. Think an absolute touch would be to swap them straight and soften the fee on Partey. I agree though, Lemar of Monaco was a glorious player and very comfortable as a wider leaning 8 or tucked winger. Would… Read more »
Jim
Throw in Kolasinac and wipe the fee clean, an even Laca-Kola swap for Partey-Lemar sounds fair doesn’t it?
Just show Simeone the Kola murking the moped knife-wielders and he’ll be erect.
Is there a more transformative figure in sport than Messi? For me its King James, CR7 and Messi in no particular order.
________
Good list Sal,
For me it’s MJ23 , Tiger Woods, Mohammed Ali, Messi, Pele, and Wayne Gretsky. In that order I think.
@WE –
“Throw in Kolasinac and wipe the fee clean, an even Laca-Kola swap for Partey-Lemar sounds fair doesn’t it?”
Would take the hand off you for that deal!
This window has been oddly quiet so far, its like everyone is waiting for someone else to make the first move!
MJ bigger than Ali? Don’t know about that.
Woods is a great shout though, incredible how iconic he was for such a mind-numbingly boring sport to the masses. Highest earner in sports for many a year ahead of even money Mayweather.
On the subject of players that need a move that could reignite or save them…..
I still maintain Draxler is a player at 26 and in his final year of his contract at PSG. Playing second fiddle to Di Maria and Neymar and losing your way isn’t criminal to me. Gifted, gifted footballer that is one right move away from being a top class attacker again at CL level.
20 mil and Draxler for Bellerin ta.
Have recently read about that lad Juve have brought in on loan with an obligation to buy. Same agent as Aouar and could very well be one of those agent favour type signings we can’t have at Arsenal so they land Aouar..
In all seriousness let’s not read too much into the agent stuff I think in this case it’s more of a case of another opportunistic loan I think McKennie on top of Arthur and possibly Locatelli means that we have a better chance of Aouar than Juve honestly.
Can’t beat Tiger in these debates, he is an entire sport. Moves the viewership some 40%
That. Isn’t. Normal.
Charlie
Yeah that’s fair although they overpaid for Lemar at the time and he has no doubt massively depreciated in value in the years since. He’s a 25m player now imo, certainly wouldn’t see Atleti turning that down.
Laca fetches 35ish in the open market so yeah, maybe a straight swap + little cash.
Eagle-Yeah I think MJ gave every sports athlete the power of fame to create huge wealth. For good or bad.. The Air Jordan brand is massive.