thunderball

Terrible. I dont think it’s over yet, could get worse. Bottom of the league at this rate.

The compact shape with triangles is non existent today, our midfield which is usually our strength, are all rotten today. You have to imagine that Emery has called it wrong, coupled with greater hunger. 3 goals shipped is a concern.

Wow, really not at the races today. We can’t cope with Newcastle pressing and energy.

We are cursed, that’s a terrible blow. A week ago we were brimming with confidence, in three days we are two important senior players down, we only just signed 3. What a set back. Poor Ty looked devastated.

Links that could still happen: Zaniolo, Doku, Chiesa, Goncalves, F Torres, Cellabos, Montiel, Fresneda Links that won’t happen: Felix, Kessie, Adams Other than F Torres, there is not many striker links there, and if Archer goes out it increasingly looks like we need one. It also occurs to me that we were looking and supposedly offered on Doku aswell as Diaby, so that’s a position we were looking to fill, similarly Goncalves, Adam’s and Felix, none of which are yet filled. All points to one or two players still being needed and possibly looking for the market to fall into place before we close deals. If Archer goes out that’s possibly one other too?

It was all going too well wasn't it? He was one of the brightest players in pre-season too. Thankfully we have headroom in the kitty but its a major blow.

Ollie would likely earn more at Utd, but he stands a very good chance of not ever being quite good enough and not being first choice. That didn’t suit him when he was playing with or in competition with Ings. Hopefully he sees that, but the big 5yr contract and Champions League would be very tempting…

Allegedly had received an offer from us last week, but has others and Chelsea are in the driving seat? Doubt he’s top of their list so likely we wait until their plan A lands or doesn’t. Who knows?

There is also the potential of going back for more money even if you don’t want or need him: Say he kicks on, in two summers time he becomes a £35m player, but our midfield is stacked or we are going for much higher level players, we threaten to activate the buy back with no intention of playing him, but to trade on for the difference (£35m - £25m clause figure = £10m FFP profit). We offer to erase the clause and our interest for £10-15m, Burnley keep the player and have “only” paid £22m-£27m for a £35m player, while we pocket another £10m+ clear profit. Every ones a winner , it’s the future for our academy conveyor belt.

I get what @Villatillidie95 is describing: as a youth product, there is no purchase capital being amortised, so it’s £20m straight profit. Man City use this receipt immediately to leverage a much bigger acquisition with very little immediate FFP impact as it’s amortised over a longer period. It’s £20m in and £20m straight out with nil impact ( other than wages). It seems that’s a similar issue with Ferran Torres, Barcelona want €30m now, not in stage payments, as that covers off his accounting liability and doesn’t present a loss for FFP. Maybe that’s why we are selling AJ?

Was going to post this, thanks for putting it up. My stand out from the match, he was superb. If he plays like this under Emery he could be a huge asset, he is on another level to most even if the legs aren’t quite there, but our system doesn’t need him to have the legs. I would say if we were offered £20m I would be content if we replaced him with Doku, who in many ways is similar to this, but younger and still improving.

Funnily enough at 30 minutes I did wonder if Emery was the sort who would hook Bailey as he was so poor, but given it was a friendly the intention was to play yourself into some form. It was interesting that we notably improved in the second half when we opened up a bit, I wished Diaby had played in that half. It was a decent run out, one which tempered my expectation for this season, but very reassuring that we have scored so many goals this preseason.

Comfortable, but a little disappointed on the back of the Lazio annihilation. We’ve played better, but another controlling game. I just wished we played a little more confidently and with a bit more ambition and urgency, we can carry it off. Hopefully that comes with more success and self belief. Very happy for Buendia and Coutihno who played well. Hope Coutihno stays, could be our little magician/wild card in this set up ( unless his sale buys Doku).

Diaby (and Watkins) have had virtually nothing to work with. Surprised Emery hasn’t switched things up to get them into play?

Villa TV vision has had me check my beer strength a few times. We need to up the tempo, we are playing their game. Haven’t really seen the slick interplay in their half we have shown earlier in preseason. Diaby not looking as dangerous on the LHS? Bailey looks a bit rusty still. Maybe swap the balance and impetus with Digne on for Cash and Buendia or more likely Tielemans on for Bailey? Watkins scored with a confident finish which is great to see.

It’s like a pawn shop, using the capital for something better to enable you to go back and repurchase your item in the future.

If the measure is on running a football club to make money they are arguably more successful at the moment. But that isn’t the measure. I guess the test is who gets Champions League, higher average league position and silverware over the next 5 years?

There was some rumblings of differing of opinion with Purslow/Suso? But I am sure there is a collaborative approach to targets currently: From that Marca interview: ”We don't have regular meetings, but we have breakfast together, we eat together, we have our offices next to each other. We get to know what Unai needs on a day-to-day basis. He marks the profiles and the style of the player and we give him names and he evaluates and we come to the conclusion and we sign.”

But you are not arguing with me, you are arguing with Emery?

Sounds like a decent deal for us if true, would be happier if it was £15m. Hopefully it enables an expensive incoming deal that otherwise wouldn’t be available to us. You wouldn’t complain if it enabled Goncalves for the here and now? If he kicks on we can get him back for a decent price.

But is it small percentages everywhere? His stats for breaking up play are some of the best in the division, like right up there, he is arguably a significant upgrade.

I am someone who can’t see where he would play, I.e. who he would replace in our midfield, but I guess it’s a different mindset now, building a squad of players with different skills for different opponents or phases of a game, using the bench, not just a set 11.

I have seen enough from people with better footballing knowledge than us really rate Adams, like really rate him, so you have to reassured that if Emery etc are targeting he fulfills a role they need better than what we’ve got? We would probably have said the same about Moreno before he arrived? Re passing, in our system he only needs to make short passes to team mates within our system, we don’t need defence splitting through balls. His role would be specific: break up play, let Tielemans/Luiz/McGinn/Pau be the creatives.

TBH I would be happy if our business was over, we look ready to go.

I dont necesarily disagree but I had Mings ahead of Konsa and Carlos, but I really couldnt call it. I'm not sure we will play a traditional back four under Emery unless we are forced to. I think Pau is the default defender in any formation, I think Konsa may become the #1 choice to partner Pau. We now a defence and midfield where you would struggle to name our best line up due to performance levels and competition. Great isn't it?