M_Afro

33 minutes ago, lexicon said:

Well no, not with the purchase being optional. It's pretty low risk tbf. 

Has it been confirmed that it’s optional? 

This feels like the riskiest of the signings made by Unai so far. Hopefully the purchase option will be optional and we can try before we buy.

This guy certainly has the talent though so overall it’s pretty exciting. He looks as though he can operate in a number of positions too which will allow more options to our attack. Welcome Nicolo.

3 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

New manager bounce was always going to be the case 1st few games

Maybe. We will see. They are coping well without Kane. They are such a physical team. Very similar to Newcastle in that regard. We still look at bit lightweight in comparison. I would love to see Bissouma in our midfield.

Spurs are looking really good second half. Much better than last season.

Really tough day today. Everything went wrong for us and the momentum allowed them to run away with it in the end. Unai will sort it out though. People need to chill out.

Maybe he is on his way? It’s not impossible.

29 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

Would be absolute madness to sell with Moreno injured. I don’t buy the rumour right now. 

The rumours of interest seem to be fairly solid to be honest. That doesn’t mean that we would consider selling but I think we would.

I think most people think that Digne is ok but he is a big hit to our FFP that “ok” probably doesn’t justify. Moreno will be back soon and we have other options in the meantime, possibly a back three with Jaden at wing back? A few uncomfortable weeks compared to another 3 years of a very expensive and diminishing player.

I can see where you’re coming from but I would take the short term pain if the offer for Digne was good. People thought that selling Ings was wrong but in hindsight, that was a brilliant deal for us. I think this could be too. I don’t expect that Digne will be interested though.

I like Ollie. I think that he’s a really good player and a top lad too but I don’t think he has looked himself in pre season so far. He looks a little bit disinterested. I wonder if the contract discussions are unsettling him  or whether he’s had his head turned by another club! Hopefully I’m reading too much into it and he’ll sign his new contract soon and then go on to smash 20 plus league goals this season.

9 minutes ago, Villa 59 said:

Now that Unai has spoken how about we stop speculating and start getting behind him. Unai has improved other players and maybe he has done likewise with Olsen!

This 100%

I’m pretty sure my mom and dad had that wallpaper in our lounge in 1989.

Just now, mykeyb said:

Age, injury....do you think we might look to get money for him?

I thought the same to be honest. I suspect we won’t proactively look to sell him but if there was the right kind of interest, we may consider it. He’s a very expensive fourth choice centre back. Ideally you want that position filled by a young player who can become first choice in time.

5 minutes ago, Farlz said:

The striker market is awful. I'm gonna say there's absolutely no chance we go near it. 

I agree. It almost presents more of a threat as opposed to an opportunity. There’s always the chance that a desperate club, ie Man U or Chelsea, offer us something very difficult to turn down for Ollie. With only 2 years left on his contract, the club would maybe be forced to consider selling with very little prospect of finding an adequate replacement. Unlikely scenario admittedly but not impossible.

50 minutes ago, Monkeypuzzle said:

Cash is not a weak link in our team. I have no idea where you get this idea that he is nervous on the ball and can't pass the ball. Utter rubbish! He has been a solid player for us since his arrival, is rarely responsible for conceded goals and is quite capable going forward. Nothing he has done makes me concerned about him as a player for us. No he isn't our best player on the pitch but the idea that he desperately needs to be replaced is nonsense. What we need is another right back to compete with him who can offer different strengths to give us options.

A bit aggressive for a Sunday afternoon mate. Anyway, I didn’t say that he can’t pass the ball. I do however think that when he receives the ball in tight areas he struggles. He either loses possession or plays the ball down the line into the channel. This is not what Unai wants. 

Having let Young leave, we must be in the market for a new right back. I know that Chambers and Konsa could fill in there but neither are anything more than an emergency fill in. I also think that Cashy is the obvious weakness in our first eleven in terms of technical capability. He is so nervous in possession and although we tend to focus attack down the left I’m sure Unai must want a more technically assured player at right back.

The links to alternative right backs do seem to be a bit thin on the ground. There have been a few mentions in the media but nothing with any traction. I would think that we’ll try and move some players on before returning to right back in a few weeks. Maybe a loan with option to buy. Anyone got any ideas? Someone who is comfortable in possession, quick, physical and fairly tall would be the ideal.

I genuinely think that second is achievable. City will probably finish top again, unless something unforeseen happens. After that, the gaps between the squads starts to get much closer. Fortune and injuries will play a big part in where those teams finish but the other key factor is the quality of the coaching team. Ours is the second best in my view, behind City. That could be the difference that gets us higher than anyone expects. In Unai we trust.

I still think we will move for Brennan Johnson. He can play anywhere across the front three and gives us even more pace and energy to the attack.

Whatever happens I suspect the focus will shift to off loading some players now. We will need to free up some wages at some stage. The three players bought in so far will be on massive wages compared to the rest of our squad, with a few obvious exceptions.

I wonder if our 3 new signings will encourage Ollie to sign a new contract. All 3 have abilities that will improve the number and quality of chances that he will get each match. If he stays fit, he really will have the chance to get 20 plus league goals this season. That will put him right in the mix for the next Euros even with Spudgate in charge.

Hopefully this will get sorted before too long. He has his weaknesses Ollie but he is still really great for where we are right now.

7 minutes ago, nick76 said:

But they’ll be living in the more liberal Bahrain and only going to Saudi for games and I’m sure the lavish tax free lifestyle combined with being treated like superstars wherever they go….they won’t be seeing the normal Saudi that you refer to.

Probably but we can live in hope. If a couple of high profile football players come out and condemn the experience in any way it could snowball. I don’t know how a father of a daughter could have anything to do with a state that treats women in the way that Saudi does.

34 minutes ago, nick76 said:

What makes you think future windows are going to be better? If anything they will be a continuation of this window and may even be worse as Saudi’s target younger players and more players in their prime.

I’m hoping, maybe unrealistically, that the reality of playing/living in Saudi will hit some of these early movers hard. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a mass exodus this time next year when people realise what they’re actually signing up to. You take a year of insane wages and then try to come back to a more established and liberal country. I don’t care what anyone says, Saudi is a barbaric state. Surely most reasonable footballers will see that once experienced up close and walk away.

1 hour ago, Anything11 said:

Johnson has that "it" factor that i think we all see as lacking in someone like Bailey. Even in a struggling side he always seemed to be on the front foot and has an air of confidence about him. Reminds me a little of Bowen in that way.

I think he has a bit more class than Bowen, although I do like Bowen. Maybe it’s the Welsh thing but Johnson reminds me a bit of Craig Bellamy. I always rated Bellamy as a player and I think Johnson can be a classier version of him.

18 minutes ago, villan-scott said:

Feels like Monchi has got to work this week!  

Maybe he’s had to wait for his work mobile to be delivered! No matter how often you call our procurement department at my work, I don’t think they’ve ever managed to get a phone for a new starter, on their first day, yet.

Getting seriously close to “Agent Villa at the back post” territory! Assuming they’re allowed to use their phones at playtime.

12 minutes ago, Zatman said:

Romano confirmed it with a HERE WE GO

Here we roe?