thunderball

17 minutes ago, tinker said:

£40m+ and he's gone is my guess.

Wouldnt put it past Chelsea, but I think its a loan.

8 minutes ago, KAZZAM said:

A quick centre back makes a change from Pau and Lenglet.

Begs the question as to where that leaves Mings and Carlos? I am guessing Emery will play with 3 CBs more often than not so maybe Konsa, Pau and Hermoso would be first choice with Carlos and Mings rotating assuming Hause and Chambers will be leaving. Very strong CB department though, absolutely Champions League standard, and in depth too.

Only Dybala interested me this window, that seems to be non-story so if we are buying young talent as an investment then great. Hermoso on a free is another good bit of out-of-contract business if it happens, definitely improves the squad. We are really making moves in the market if you look at the quality since the grown-ups took over. 

Chelsea interested - surely this wont happen?

10 minutes ago, kurtsimonw said:

If this is indeed real they've absolutely knocked it out of the park. 

This is the same one that every one was disappointed about following the ™ leak (only more detail on the lion?)

8 minutes ago, duke313 said:

Zaniolo should be able to handle the physical aspect of that role, be interesting to see if he could play there in Watkin's absence?

I think he could and would.

We were away, and lacked that zip in our play, but we totally controlled the game. Its much easier top sit and defend with little intent of attack than try and break down an 11 man defence. As has been pointed out, the stats (and the eye test) illustrates a dominant performance which is ultimately what you want and hope the goals follow: 12 shots, 6 on target, 12 corners, 62% possession [away from home], 90% passing accuracy. On another day could have been 4 or 5 nil with better luck then everything looks rosy. 

Our performances are on another level these days, that was a second string but it made for comfortable viewing, we are in such a better place on all matters these days.

The biggest takeaway was minutes for Moreno and Ramsey, and I suppose Duran, but also the return of Kamara. The holy Trinity of Kamara, Pau and Luiz is the heart beat of this team, the sooner we get that back the better....

15 hours ago, Pongo Waring said:

Is he a reliable FFP expert tho? 

In the land of the blind....

This is useful thread on FFP. Suggests we actually have a fair bit of headroom to buy a decent player, above £30m if pushed. It also suggests this is predicated on finishing 7th so if we finish in CL positions, it is greatly improved.

58 minutes ago, BG_Villa_Fan said:

So, if true,  they way I understand it is that Sheff U have paid about 9 mil for Archer. If they stay up they pay another 9 mil and the Villa keep a buyback option of, say 30 mil for the duration of the contract. If they go down they don't pay the second installment and instead Villa pay them 7 mil to get him back, which would make it a glorified loan for a 2 mil fee.

Sounds like a clever way to do business.

Thats my take too, we win here, we keep the player, receive a "loan" payment of £2m, and he has a season of top level experience. However we cant sell him again straight away. If he goes on a 4 year contract thats tiny amortisation cost so little impact on FFP

The fella whose missus work for the club suggests we put an offer in for a “ huge” name player. 

"Average 200 unsold seats" sounds plain wrong. Anecdotally, people cant get season tickets nor can they get match day tickets as they are sold out weeks ahead? This just doesn't stack up.

The club could reasonably assert that "no plans to move away from VP", as they have no need to state something 5 years down the line. But there is no way the club is dumping £50-100m on something (with a 20 year pay back) is being pulled down in the medium term.

I reckon they are keeping their powder dry, seeing how the next two seasons go and reassess. If we get Champions League next season and invest in the squad to cement our place at the top end of the table, and it looks like its sustainable, we are in a completely different financial position to be making plans. Maybe the proposals are not big enough for where the owners want to be.

I have zero belief they wont invest in the revenue stream that is matchday income/spectator spend/corporate/merchandising as it is potentially a huge additional revenue opportunity if got right. Some are making out it the owners short changing the club or cheaping out. These owners have shown no sign of that so far, quite the opposite.

1 hour ago, Jas10 said:

 

Amazing stats! But means nothing to Southgate unless he plays for 'Pool/ManU/ManC

3 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said:

We can't loan anybody, Zaniolo & Lenglet use up our loan slots. We'll have to send one back to take another Loan

I thought it was two from the premier league but overseas loans were on top of this?

I think improvement on what we’ve got is the reserve of the Summer window, along with a reserve keeper.

sitting second, level on points with Liverpool is great advertising for January.  Champions League will open doors and increase our financial clout in the summer so keep the powder dry.

Zaniolo needs to display his value, but could be a solid signing,I hope we can sort a deal for Lenglet too,  but RB, Keeper, midfield and Forwards all need strengthening with good quality if we are to kick on.

Guendouzi would be a great squad addition, as would Dani Ceballos. Agree on Werner too. How many loans can we get?

Wow, this one is difficult.

Went with Luiz as he runs midfield and transitions so well, big improvement this season, adds the consistency (along with Kamara) and rhythm to our team. Set pieces, goals and penalties make the difference.

However, There is a big case for Konsa who is most improved, and a genuine all rounder whose game with the ball at his feet is improving game on game - for me, the best English CB at this moment; Watkins has solidified his importance to how we play, added crucial assists and looks like he might hit 18 league goals plus from open play.

Also big shouts to Kamara and Pau who add real quality and broaden our playing style and ability; and Martinez who is back to his best and adds so much authority and confidence to our defence.

This seems unfair on McGinn, Bailey, Diaby and Digne who have had excellent seasons so far.

The improvement wrung out of these players is astonishing.

Thought he was OK today, has some good range of passing.

8 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

POTS so far?

 Very possibly, certainly our most improved. He is twice the player from last season. Konsa and Pau are some double act these days. For me he is the best English defender at the moment, sure Southgate can’t see it though.

51 minutes ago, The_Rev said:

.Konsa is a total baller, he's been great at right back but I think we need him playing in the middle with Pau. 

Konsa has become a key player and the complete defender. Passing and vision not quite as good as Pau, but his all round game and defensive quality is supreme. Our most improved player, and that’s some accolade in this team.

The only thing Unai was to blame for was not shaking it up sooner - thought he waited far too long.

This is on the players: basic errors, not completing passes, being too casual, kicking long and blind clearances which we have rarely done so far this season. The % possession wasn’t too bad but felt far worse. We let them trigger their runs from deep to good effect. Carlos was the main culprit, silly fouls and sloppy play. But we just didn’t stretch them and they are a poor side - determination got them this result today, they wanted it more. 

Poor couple of games. We are great at full strength but really missed Pau and Kamara that give us that solidity to build our game around. McGinn or Luiz couldn’t get forward and had little to hit. 

Bailey had a brief look, but Watkins, Duran and Diaby saw nothing of the ball, we didn’t involve them. Ramsey a shadow of himself last season obviously further away than we hoped.

Suspensions, injuries and a great run has taken its toll. However we need a playmaker, someone who can shake it up and make things happen. 

Great run this far, but Spurs and City reeling us in. Utd still poor but may kick on. Maybe we do need some new blood. A win against Burnley a must.

Not sure why Unai is not making changes here? We have been on the back foot for 15 minutes

1 minute ago, AV82 said:

We've scored off two set-pieces and been battered the rest of the match.

Not my take, but we need to wake up a bit, definitely not at our best today. Haven’t worked Watkins once have we?

Feels like we need an extra body in midfield.

Konsa gone up another level today; Martinez has been world class recently, he is making a difference for us in a few games now.