Tez500

The ITK who called Chambers out of the blue keeps suggesting that this one is likely 

2 minutes ago, Lord Willard said:

Anyone else feel like we've closed the cheque book by saying we've replaced him and ready for the new season? 

You can't say we are going to keep spending otherwise everyone puts their prices up. Better to appear to have spent the Grealish money in advance than say we still have £100m to spend.

Manchester City are currently looking for the Grealish receipt to return him so they can afford Messi!

£30m seems steep, would have stumped up the extra £10m for Tammy personally 

We will pay over the odds going for premier league players, especially now with £100m in the bank. We should be looking to take advantage of the Covid hit European clubs.

It's really weird this, why haven't they club formally announced Bailey? Is his dad that much of a control freak he insisted as part of his deal. I can't see anything but trouble from this in the future!

Just now, Rodders said:

In other football already?

Do the mods know something we don't?!

Just now, jacketspuds said:

As we don't want Grealish to go, but it's taking ages to announce what's happening, I can only imagine that there is a release clause.

However, we must be spending as much time as required to try to convince Grealish that staying is his best option despite the fact that the bid has activated the clause.

If a release clause was met he wouldn't be training. We couldn't stop him discussing terms. 

I'm far more relaxed about Jack now Bailey looks done, my biggest concern was how him "leaving" would affect new signings coming in.

Also, I believe we would be better playing a 4-3-3. We would have Bailey, Buendia, Traore, El Ghazi and Trez (although probably discount him) plus youth for the wings which is decent enough depth. We should then use the cash to strengthen central midfield especially a top class DM/holding mid who would walk straight into our first 11.

We all needed a bit of good news didn't won? Unusual for the club to announce before finalising personal terms so they must have thought the same!

Leon Bailey confirmed...

(Or at least hinted at - see initials)

56 minutes ago, eholm said:

I’ve been a fully paid up member of the ‘CDM general is essential’ club for as long as I can remember; it’s fundamental for a successful team, imo. However, I really don’t think Dean share’s this view. IIRC he has never had a physical destroyer type in any of his teams so I am starting to (very) reluctantly accept that this type of signing just ain’t gonna happen. 

As TRO said, some managers e.g. Rodgers, Moyes always like this type of player......Deano just isn’t one of them I don’t think. If this is the case I would love  to hear a tactical explanation from Dean as to why he doesn’t believe we need this type of CDM. Obvs never gonna happen but would be bloody fascinating to hear how his mind works. 

Still hoping though.......

I could go for this if it wasn't for the fact Smith played Nakamba a fair amount towards the back end of the season  and results improved. 

Also most other top teams play with at least 1, City brought back Fernandinho but also have Rodri, Liverpool's form picked up when Fabinho moved back into midfield, Kante etc.

23 minutes ago, ender4 said:

Sanson?

Different players for me, Sanson more in the McGinn mould.

A top class DM who can play under pressure would push us further up the table then any other signings we could make. 

I would be much happier if he was our number 2 DM. Find the lack of links to players in that position concerning, as for me it should be our priority!

I'm excited by the links to Bailey and over the moon due to Buendia signing, but I still think our weakest area is the central of midfield particularly a defensive player.

Nakamba doing well last year shows how effective having a player like that can help but we can and should massively upgrade on him. 

I feel like that spot should be priority, ideally someone who can play CB if none of the kids are ready to step up if needed.

You don't make a bid for a player without sounding him out through his agent first. Fans will cry it's tapping up but that's how modern football works and goes on all the time. If we have bid, there will be at least some interest from the player there, which his lack of commitment in signing a new deal probably shows too.

28 minutes ago, Lord Willard said:

Daka is an absolute baller. Wish we were in for him. He'd probably be the fastest player in the PL. Scary that he can finish too. 

I'd happily have Leicesters sloppy seconds for Eduardo though especially at the rumoured 15m 

 

100% we should move for Edouard, at that price it would be silly not to. 

Although if Leicester's talks have stalled it could be because of playing time which I imagine would be the same issue with us.

Tifo did a decent video on why Sterling could have been picked over Grealish today:

In short, we needed someone to run in behind not play in front like Jack does. It also highlights the importance of Mings and his long balls as well as suggest why Trippier was preferred to a LB (more defensive).

Embolo used to be really highly rated, especially on the Football Manager games. The lad has scored has scored hundreds of goals for me in previous games!

In real life sadly he hasn't come on the same way, every year he seems to get less and less goals. Used to be around 1 in 3 now 1 in 6(ish) in Germany.

10 minutes ago, barry'sboots said:

He'll never have a better stage to disprove this assessment though.   he can get through a tournament without an brain freezes.  If he can just keep his head on the game and not get tangled up with any opposition attackers, he could show them all that he has the lot.

If, and it's a big if, Southgate gives him the chance. For me he has to play 4 at the back, all the players play in a four for the club teams.

I hate this round peg, square holes thing he seems to do all the time. Was the same when he kept talking up Trent as a right Midfielder, if Klopp doesn't then Southgate shouldn't either!

8 hours ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

I just hope Jack and Mings dont get scapegoated for England's inevitable disappointment.

Ming's is already being lined up before a ball has been kicked. Apparently he is a Sunday League player with a left foot reading Twitter. 

All the journalists jumping in too saying we can't trust Mings, and have to play Shaw/Walker/anyone else out of position in a 3 instead.

All very frustrating, every CB we have taken is liable to a mistake, including golden boy Maguire.

We need top 6. Given the ambition of our owners I suspect Dean would be under pressure, if not let go if we didn't achieve this. 

Also getting European football is the only chance we have of retaining Jack imo.