SpartyBlue

Even if you believe this to be true, it’s a pointless observation. Short of a Time Machine, we can do nothing to change our past. Best to focus on what we can do to improve the club going forward.

Yeah it’s a bit silly to think that other clubs with interest wouldn’t know.

Presumably Maupay is gone shortly. Simms wasn’t the solution he might have been. DCL is constantly injured. Not a bad thing to have a couple bites of the apple. While we can’t spend now resources should start to be freed up here going forward so I don’t think it will hinder us too much.

Depends what his goals are. If someone is ambitious about their career they might choose to play at the highest level in the Premier League.

If he plays and they don’t really want to sell then he’s likely to stay with them. As much as we don’t love to see it it’s an effective tactic and I’m sure it’s encouraged by agents etc..

I don’t think we do/will have a worse squad than last year. So often we just think in terms of additions. Players like Garner, Onana, McNeil, Patterson are very likely going to be better and that boosts the squad. It’s also likely we get more out of DCL. We have more stability in management.

Doesn’t sound like this has much to do with the club.

The money seems very unrealistic for us unless it’s structured in a way that we know the reigns will be loosened financially when the bulk of the payment is due.

Yep. Also, an injury is an injury. If you cannot perform better than the player behind you then you’re just hurting the team by being out there.

I imagine there were some on those same forums who weren’t overwhelmed by Lukaku, De Bruyne etc.. as well. Just have to trust our people to make good decisions with our incoming transfers. A big ask, I know

There is no chance that we would get to a point where we have agreed to a fee with a club without the player himself being aware of our interest. Just silly headlines to fill the space before the season starts.

A negotiation is two sides. What you’re essentially saying is we should have no hard limits on what we spend and we should always get squeezed if it means we can get the player. One might argue that sort of mentality is one reason we are in the financial situation we are.

I touched on that a bit but that is certainly the balance, yes. Ultimately you want the best team results and you do that by putting as many players as you can in a position to be successful. If you run into conflicts while doing that, well those are the decision managers get paid for. I will say that putting your striker in the best position possible to score is likely going to be where a manager leans as that’s going to be more important than ensuring some other players strengths are catered to.

I think if we know Maupay is a different player than DCL and we play the ball to him like he’s DCL then, yes, it’s a mistake. It’s not always that easy of course as you try to take the strengths of the whole team into account but we were very poor at putting the ball in the net last season. I think we can agree that continually throwing in crosses to a short striker who is more effective with the ball at his feet is a bad idea. At the least you tweak your system to fit the type of players you have. If you had a prime Baines/Coleman you’d never want to ask them to stay back defensively. You wouldn’t be getting the most out of them even if that’s the type of approach you prefer as a manager.

I get what you’re saying but I think it just depends. Sure, when you’re signing players you want to have input from the manager and bring in players that fit his vision. Totally agree. My point is more that ultimately the manager’s job is to get the most out of his talent and put them in a position to be successful. If you have a striker who is great in the air you’d want to play in a way where lots of crosses came into the box. We also see it a lot where a player gets played out of position or is asked to do things that aren’t their strength and suffers for it. To me, if you’re a great manager you find a system that works best for your players rather than forcing them into something that won’t get the best out of them. Adaptability.

This comes from the perspective of someone who has followed mostly American sports for 30 years but.. The best coaches/managers, in my opinion, adapt to their talent. Yes, they have philosophies they want to impart but they do not fit square pegs into round holes. If you can’t get production out of good talent because it doesn’t fit the system you most prefer how good are you really?

This is a strange comment. The player is not going on loan so we have no chance to sign him. Plenty to criticize at the club, but not this.

He can create. We don’t have many that can do that or that can shoot well from outside the box. He has certainly lacked consistency in between those moments of magic. We may simply have to live with that.

Worth noting that almost every game the commentators mention how much potential he has.

Yeah. I’ve never got the impression, even previously, that Iwobi couldn’t be bothered. Out of position, lacking confidence etc.. but for me he was always trying . The desire was there. Credit to him for sticking with it. If he can give us this level for the next 2,3,4 years he will be quite a cult favorite (or just a favorite) given his circuitous route to success.

I would say the issue comes when someone has played mostly very well for many many games and then gets hammered for one or two weaker performances, particularly when they come against better sides. At this point I think Iwobi has earned the benefit of the doubt.

I’m sure they feel the responsibility to replace Richie, especially without DCL. It’s easy to forget how young Gordon still is. Hopefully the maturity comes and he can consistently be the player we have seen in flashes.

Good post. It’s just curious to me as I think we have basically 4 box to box types in Iwobi, Onana, Doucoure, Garner. Who fills the Gana role If need be? Who plays farthest forward? Do we bring in a true attacking midfielder? I trust Frank to figure it out but it’s all a bit uncertain from the outside looking in.

Can confirm. The impression on the right, not the world domination.

Short but impactful debut. Here’s a question. Let’s say Garner pushes into the 1st team lineup this year or next. Whose place is he taking? What position is he now a backup for?