Jas10

We should give Diego a chance… as long as he can keep getting fitter, stronger, sharper… he can actually bring what Ty did and more… Keep banging the drum… Pau and Carlos are being underestimate and underrated… competed and performed at the top level for many years… so much to offer… it’s just about settling and adapting… they should be afforded that time now. Go back a few years, and a CB partnership of Pau and Diego would be seen as one of the best around…

Sure. That’s the main difference really… we target a higher profile in stronger or less obscure leagues… with the intention of them sticking around and moving forward with them… Whereas Brighton have more obscure or unknown targets that are usually successful due to how proficient their scouting is and, a major point, they are able to integrate them and help them settle… how many of them have struggled in that sense? It seems like they’ve had less “failures” and not wasted as much money as us… They make big profits because other clubs hadn’t followed those players until Brighton “put them on the map”… But, as you say, they will have to adapt that moving forwards if they want to stick around in that top 6-8 and play in Europe consistently… I hope we can get ahead of them and find that stability and consistency…

Personally, I want to see us put faith in a Pau and Diego partnership. Konsa can compete and cover two positions. Unless Diego is not over his injury trouble? They both have a lot to offer though and have performed at the top level… being underrated and underestimated imo, particularly Pau… Cash has no competition, Digne is a big step down from Moreno…

Only way it makes sense is if we received a good offer for Digne? Would prefer younger players with longevity and potential/development in them… Dunno how legit the link actually is… We need a RB if anything for defence… Moreno shouldn’t be too far away but will need time…

Weird one… 31yr old left back?

Unai will take care of that…

They’re on the way…

Emi:

Yeah, it’s all fair. and we have to kind of make the most out of a “bad situation” now… look for solutions, not dwell on problems… But I don’t feel the need to go after another CB… Pau is and should be our main man going forwards (far too many doubts on him, under appreciated and under rated but will need some time). Our defence will be built around him going forwards. Let’s stop shifting him out to hybrid LB position now and let him focus on his favoured/best position - that’s how we see the best of him too. He’s is Unai’s main man… As long as Diego is fit and ready for the long season ahead… he could possibly be the Ty replacement in terms of leadership and physicality… Konsa is great but needs proper support and leadership alongside him… can learn a lot from the other two who have competed and succeeded at the highest levels of the game…

Feels like we are struggling to move them on… but maybe deals are “in the pipeline”… Hause still injured? Thought there would have been a bit of demand for Davis, in the Championship, but maybe our demands are a little too high?

Ok… maybe this is a bit of a stretch… I have been really distressed by this and long admired Ty… But.. trying to find the positive in such a dire situation… Maybe now… once again, we are forced to stop relying on an individual player so heavily? I mean, Ty has basically been our defence, at least led and organised it more than anyone else, for so long now. In the past, we have fallen apart when he’s not been there. Similarly to how JG was pretty much our attack…. Now… we have to become even more of a team… Unai has had us playing as a more compete team and not relying on an individual or figurehead too heavily in our build up and attack… Maybe the same sort of thing happens in defence now… Let’s get that Pau and Diego partnership firing… the hope is that this recruitment has lessened our reliance on Ty anyway.. and we wouldn’t have been so negatively affected when he had to sit out a game or two… It’s still really sad though

Is there any credence… to the idea… that there has been a lot of hype, attention and “noise” associated with Brighton? More focus on them? And that is why “big clubs” have targeted their players, manager, and spent so heavily? Or is that complete nonsense?

You’re right, we do deserve some credit. We have struggled with attacking signings as you have pointed out too though… We have probably built the best value midfield in the league considering the outlay We’re just not the finished article and need to address some deficiencies… as highlighted in the last game But many teams have a stumble, upset or shock result… Unai has shown he can recover us and move us forward… the “salvation job” he did last season was amazing… should give us a lot of hope for what he can do in this one…

We have to do it really… and buy back deals are very favourable… I do think we have a bit of an obsession and over hype and over rate our youngsters… it’s been a common theme for a long time but not all that many have made that breakthrough. If they’re good enough, they’ll be given the chances but in the meantime… go and develop elsewhere with significant game time.

I think we should keep Pau in his favoured position… focus on the Pau and Carlos partnership (potentially elite if/when both are fit and firing, look at their track records) with Konsa to compete and cover as well as being able to fill that hybrid RB role. Cash needs competition, far too comfortable. Digne is a big step down from Moreno. I’d rather we focus on full back areas than CB. Maybe we could do with a powerhouse option in midfield. Boost that attack too.

Yep… and nothing is being done about it. Saudi/Arab involvement and influence is a problem…

I get your point and noticed your comments on this subject in the past… all very fair and reasonable. I don’t expect or want us to replicate Brighton’s model to a tee but… they deserve credit imo. It hasn’t hit them negatively YET. Everything has pretty much worked out for the better/positive… losing (the overrated?) Potter and all of his team… bringing in (the superior?) De Zerbi… Replacing the players they have sold for relatively minimal outlay and actually kicking on by qualifying for Europe… It’s been pretty rosy for them but who knows how sustainable it is and for how long… As we are aware, it can’t be all sunshine and rainbows all the time there will be setbacks… But they can be used or looked at as some form of inspiration…

I don’t want us to be amongst the biggest spenders anyway or be known for splashing the cash but we have to strengthen and recruit intelligently… No doubt there are clubs that have an unfair advantage and are very corrupt… But I’d like to see us be more intelligent and savvy… while bringing in genuine quality. You just have to admire Brighton… but we can adopt an even better approach imo. Identify and sign impactful, high quality players and keep them, build around them and keep progressing… our ambitions are probably higher and more “realisable” than theirs… Our manager gives us so much hope, capacity and ability to continue improving and succeeding…

June 2021 to before Chelsea sign Caicedo and whoever else!

Since June 2021 but before the Caicedo deal and the potential Lavia one…

Brighton… wow… Wonder what they’re going to do with all that moolah! Credit where it is due. In no way is Caicedo a 115m player… lovely to see the big clubs get fleeced though… Chelsea think Brighton are their feeder club but they’re just ripping them off

Before Caicedo & Lavia deals:

https://x.com/simonlines/status/1690981958782738432?s=46&t=a1VZjtKAHTyjmI8pdQJOGQ Chelsea have spent 400m more than Villa since June 2021 after the Caicedo deal. They have spent more money in 26 months than Villa have in 20 years. Let that sink in. Eye watering stuff. Makes you realise how ridiculous FFP really is and how it only ever benefitted the top clubs.

https://x.com/avfctranstweet/status/1690986083381555200?s=46&t=a1VZjtKAHTyjmI8pdQJOGQ If #MCFC are facing multiple FFP breaches then what comes of Chelsea? Idiotic spending , ridiculous contracts and amortisation periods. It’s a joke and it’s just being allowed to happen.