TRO

3 hours ago, nick76 said:

Ederson was immense

that's the sort we need.

21 minutes ago, David-Copenhagen said:

Duran is great as an impact sub, not as a starter. He plays better when we are looking for a goal, not when we are trying to be balanced and the game is going back on forth. If he an stay around the penalty area and create havoc then all is good. 

 

but that's the learning process....he has to add things to his game.

5 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

Gallagher is on 50k a week. Lots of Chelsea players aren't on mega bucks wages especially the long term contract guys

love Gallaghers industry and effervescence.....should have gone in, when he was at Albion.

Back to Ross....if he can give us what he gave Luton, it's a no brainer.

1 hour ago, Jas10 said:

He trained or is training with us at least… 

 

 

There is another John Montano aged 27

.

47 minutes ago, lexicon said:

Well that's it - he wouldn't be coming here as a starter, so it should be fine. 

We have to think squad, not team, now we have entered the big boys group.

I love the free signings.....takes all the pressure off the manager....and ffp.

one of the easiest ways to lose your job, is signing big money players, who don't fulfil their value....we don't need him to be worrying about that.

Sure, it can't happen all the time, but if we limit the big money signings, all the better imo.

It's all about, what additional value they can bring to the squad, not how much they cost.

also it dampens any chance of Primma Donna's......our culture of humility, is precious.

3 minutes ago, thunderball said:

....or it could be like when Fred West met Rose?

do you mean a match made in Hell?

3 minutes ago, thunderball said:

Could be the real deal, but undoubtedly very high maintenance. Probably a very high ceiling (£70+) but can we keep him happy enough to sign a new contract before he reaches that, and can we realistically offer him enough meaningful development minutes given the single striker system and jeopardy of every game we play?

I am really excited about just how good he could become and how much of a handful he is for opposition, so for £14m think he is someone we keep and develop.

However, given the maintenance and risk that he forces a move on  his terms if a decent offer transpires an early sale makes sense. I would hope we could realistically get £40-50m given the precedents in the league (Hojlund  - 21y.o. £74m; Palmer - 22y.o. £42m; Gordon - 22y.o. £45m)?

Only Unai will know, whether its worth, trying to develop him or let him go.....We don't really know the behind the scenes issues, he does.

I trust the Boss, to do what's best.

5 minutes ago, lexicon said:

As you got at here, his lack of patience is his biggest problem. He's clearly not ready yet, as we've seen when he's started games and not been particularly impactful - so he needs to put his trust 100% into his world-class manager and get his head down. 

I think when John McGinn said he's a nightmare....he was referring to him not Listening to UE and doing his own thing.

He scores some great goals, technically gifted striker of the ball, but you have t be a team player, too...... not sure he is.

So many things we are not privvy to.....I just trust the manager.

On 02/02/2024 at 23:01, Leeroy said:

Chelsea and Man City will get what’s coming to them. 

A league title and maybe a cup.

12 hours ago, Made In Aston said:

It depends whether Duran was a signing pushed by the club or pochettino. 

from what i can gather, it's one of the reasons Poch is going.....no control over transfers.

1 hour ago, CVByrne said:

I think we would see a lot of control with Luiz, Barkley and Tielemans in the side. Barkley is big a 6'2 and Tielemans dropping off into midfield from s/s.

That's all I need to know.

7 minutes ago, HolteExile said:

I hope it's more a case that we've discussed with his people what it would take to do a deal - as we have with other players out of contract or with low release clauses. 

It would be a prudent thing to do. 

If Barkley is our fourth or fifth choice for that position and we're just waiting on the final sign off from better options then fair enough. 

If he's higher on that list it would be a concern to me.   

 

Trust the process.

58 minutes ago, thabucks said:

Linked with a player called Albion …

https://www.glasgowworld.com/sport/football/rangers/rangers-scouting-19-goal-attacker-with-ps6m-price-tag-amid-transfer-interest-from-aston-villa-and-napoli-4637040

Knows where the net is......6'2 , 23 

worth a punt at the price.

not sure of the standard he has scored in.....but Monchi's boys will know.

2 hours ago, Philosopher said:

He plays for Barca. They spend most of their time in possession even against Real Madrid. The defensive stats are always going to be lower for Barca players. The reverse applies to the attacking stats. 

However the only defensive stat noticeably lower is clearances. Also his aerial stats are huge, which is what we need. 

yep....Austin MacPhee, will be pleased.

There is some impressive low hung fruit out there.....and Monchi is a past Master at picking it.

6 minutes ago, duke313 said:

They are, that’s why they’re considered elite, they can do both. If Barkley signs or not, we still need a Kamara type DM. 

I agree.

33 minutes ago, avfc1982am said:

You want to try and dismiss players that Unai didn't sign to suit your own narrative as players nobody can improve, including Unai himself. Yet somehow Barkley who was pretty shocking when here previously and well known for being slow and a complete lazy bollocks will now turn into a top player again after years of being totally shit, just because its Unai signing him. So my point is/was if he can't improve Dendoncker or a young lad in Tim to get the best out of them then how does anyone know for certain he can get the best out of 30 year old injury prone Barkley, who from what I've seen has had one apparent "good" season in half a decade and more. At a shit Luton Town might I add.

Time will be the judge I guess, however this idea that Ross Barkley is going to come in and be fantastic, well we've been here before. At the end of the day it is what it is and if he comes in and does well then great, however, I don't think it's for other posters to judge the opinions of others who have already seen Barkley look absolutely shit when wearing the clubs colours previously. You only have to go back through the thread to see how people felt during his previous stint at the club. Absolutely nobody was begging for us to sign him then under Smith. 

I'm not being salty at all, I'm just not enthused about the signing and why should I be after the previous experience with him. 

you have a point, I'll grant you that.

It does appear he has had a very effective season with Luton, not sure why, but your assessment of him , when he was with us, is accurate..

I trust unai, if he sees something, because if we can get him playing to his best, he is an effective player, in so many ways....maybe Unai's demanding ways is what Ross needs.

Some folk was calling for him for International duty, so he must have had a good season.

I'm well and truly on the fence, with this one.

3 hours ago, duke313 said:

I do.  There are different types of defensive midfielders in the modern game, the ball wining type (Kamara) and the deep playmaker type (Luiz).  They are both DMs, they just have different instructions on the pitch.  

I thought Pau was the deep lying playmaker....they can't all be deep lying playmakers.

But Kamara is out for a considerable time, so who's going to win the ball?

So, what are Rodri and Rice then?.... they look like both to me.

PS That Rabiot, is some link too.

1 hour ago, PaulMcGrath_5 said:

Defence does need a major overhaul, to be fair. 

yep.

3 minutes ago, Tayls said:

Why not? Window hasn’t even opened yet! 

I just don't think we will.

22 hours ago, duke313 said:

I think you’re getting two hung up on the term “DM”. Luiz and Kamara are both DMs for example, but completely different. You rightly compare Barley to Youri, who has played quite a bit for us in the pivot, so no reason why RB can’t play deeper in certain games.

I don't believe Dougie is a DM, just because he is played there. He plays there, because we have no one else. I agree with the view that alongside Kamara, he looks better, but that burdens Kamara, in my view.....Dougies skill set, lends it to an 8 for me.

I don't see us laying out any big money transfers fee's.