thunderball
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Everything posted by thunderball
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I have to say I agree, I also had that view on Grealish - its very hard to turn down that level of wealth for the sake of your family and long term. It may well mean that players in Saudi get overlooked for their national teams, or accept they wont get to play in the Champions League (for now).
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I don’t doubt it, and I think you are right he is probably targeting 2nd as we were 3rd best after his arrival! Two or three at the level we are looking at and we are massively improved over last season. Our challenge will be so many competitions. It’s also good we are keeping who we want to keep this summer rather than losing our best players.
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I'm a big fan of JPB, watched him quite a bit for Cardiff last season, but not a chance in our first team squad this season, just can't see him being trusted and it would waste a year of development, he needs another decent loan in the Championship, Cardiff was good for him but these youngsters need to take their chances at this stage. I think Ramsey and Iroegbunam area ahead at this point.
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Maybe we should lock the thread to comments then?
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"All about fitness today"
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Depends on who you ask! He is no worse than anyone else (other than Dougie who is head and shoulders above everyone). No one looking to impress the Emery though.
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But 80% of the time he receives the ball and stands still not knowing what to do next. He used to be such a clever player
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He is slowly playing his way out of the club, doing himself no favours in front of the boss today. I thought he stood the best chance of our youngsters two years ago
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I was going to give this one a miss and just pay for the two international friendlies. I knew it would be a stroll around. I have wasted £2. I hope to see Archer second half but at the moment there is no service whatsoever ever.
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Luiz looks like he is very serious about kicking on this season, he has a lot of competition but he looks very sharp indeed, no one is on his level today.
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Exactly @TRO, its the next step for us - we have developed a possession based holding game in our own third, but to kick on we need to learn to push up the field and maintain possession and control. This is what I expect Emery and co are recruiting for. Man City do this exceptionally well, they pin team into their own third, which is actually more difficult to score from as you usually have 9-10 opposition in the same zone defending. This is another incremental season building on Emery's work last season, I expect the have earmarked a serious tilt at the top 4 the season after this.
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Its not so much about what they have done in terms of goals/assists, but the sort of player (intelligence, tracking, closing, defending, covering ground, acceleration etc) that the coach sees as being useful in the way he wants us to play. We have to trust the process. Not many would have looked at Moreno on paper and thought he was a better option than the expensive and decorated Digne, some thought it madness, but Emery knew exactly what he was getting and how that piece of the jigsaw fitted into how we play. I suspect that Diaby excels in making breaks or turning his man, running into space. We will play on the break: controlling the ball amongst the back 4 and DM's then look to break into any spaces that appear when team push or press and their shape opens up, like Mane used to. Interestingly, from the little I have seen on the highlight reel, De Ketelaere looks to have similar "turning play and creating gaps" ability in his locker that might put quick players like Diaby away.
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He's like a midfield Peter Crouch who looks a bit like Bamford. He uses his crane legs well, but everything will be coming at him much faster in the PL. If we land him I reckon it would take a season to adapt to its speed and hustle.
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I thought Emery managed Digne and Moreno well. We are going to need a big squad with depth in quality. Everyone will get playing time and a chance to impress. I can see Torres, Mings and Carlos playing together too. Whilst I don’t expect CBs to be subbed off, this is now a 16 player game and phases of games where a third CB may be needed at some point.
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Arsenal hold a close interest, supposedly why we are pushing hard to close out before their pieces of transfer jigsaw dictate they have to up their interest. Interesting that Romano says the player wants the move. That’s golden…
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Thing is people will pay it. If I was closer I would buy two, possibly more, through my company, and would guess they will find plenty like me who will feel the same.
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I think we are pitching: Williams is dead so Diaby or failing that Johnson Gonclaves is likely dead so Felix (on loan) or failing that De Ketelaere F Torres (possibly on loan but if the funds are there then buy) and that would complete the forwards.
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I just can't see Johnson AND Diaby? Both right sided wingers? and if reports are true, then its circa £80-90m for both? Surely not
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....according to AGENT VILLA, we agreed personal terms a while ago. If accepted it might move quickly (unless its all BS)
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That's no reason to not try though, we can't just never pay for the CL level players for fear of failure. Looks like this is the level of player we are pitching for now so they can't all turn out bad. You have to expect sometimes it just doesn't work out, but that shouldn't be the expectation.
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It's on twitter, but can't be bothered with the drama that goes with posting twitter links up. Who knows its validity, but sounds plausible.
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Suggestions he has agreed terms with a Saudi side (assume Gerrard's?).
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A lot of noise around this. Forrest fan base been saying this will likely happen for a while apparently. As others suggest, it's not the great value or sexy foreigner with European experience, but I guess you are buying potential and speed always hurts opponents. We have to trust the process, but I hope its aswell as Diaby and not instead of, as Diaby looks the business.
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I seem to recall Dendonker, Olsen, Bailey and Traore all on big money. And Coutihno.
