Increased Costa Living - The Transfer Thread

Ninjatend0 · Nov 29, 2017

truefan420 said: ↑

Rumors that Real, Barca and AC are monitoring he Luiz situation heading into January
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yea those rumors came on strong and fast, will be interesting to see what happens.

Blueallthru · Nov 29, 2017

Wouldn't be at all surprised if Luiz leaves. Question is then who is our cover? Clark-Salter is still around right? I think he's hurt be he'll be back so maybe he's our coverage.

Kazuma · Nov 29, 2017

Blueallthru said: ↑

Wouldn't be at all surprised if Luiz leaves. Question is then who is our cover? Clark-Salter is still around right? I think he's hurt be he'll be back so maybe he's our coverage.
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Rudiger?

Blueallthru · Nov 29, 2017

Kazuma said: ↑

Rudiger?
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Rüdiger isn't leaving though. We would need coverage for Luiz if he departs.

Ninjatend0 · Nov 29, 2017

but not so much in numbers but in position. we would need another central defender that can distribute.

Blueallthru · Nov 29, 2017

Ninjatend0 said: ↑

but not so much in numbers but in position. we would need another central defender that can distribute.
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Rüdiger is a decent passer, but nothing compared to DL. I see your point. However getting a CB who is competent as a passer isn't easy. There about as uncommon as can be especially one who would be willing to sit behind AC....

352klr · Nov 29, 2017

Blueallthru said: ↑

Rüdiger is a decent passer, but nothing compared to DL. I see your point. However getting a CB who is competent as a passer isn't easy. There about as uncommon as can be especially one who would be willing to sit behind AC....
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There's some kid at Bournemouth called Ake....

Brock Hannsen · Nov 29, 2017

Net spend past two seasons. Palace!

Man City: €331M
Man Utd: €291M
Palace: €85M
Arsenal: €81M
Everton: €76M
Leicester: €64M
West Ham,Watford: €57M
WBA:€56M
Bourn:€50M
Liverpool,Stoke: €35M
Chelsea,Burnley:€28M
Spurs: €22M
S'oton:€10M
Newcastle: -€14M
Swansea: -£21M

Blueallthru · Nov 29, 2017

352klr said: ↑

There's some kid at Bournemouth called Ake....
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Totally agree. Kills me we sold him.

Blueallthru · Dec 11, 2017

Barkley rumors are back.

Not the worst idea if we are sticking to a 3 man midfield. Cost should be low and he can get in with a goal or two.

Brock Hannsen · Dec 11, 2017

Blueallthru said: ↑

Barkley rumors are back.

Not the worst idea if we are sticking to a 3 man midfield. Cost should be low and he can get in with a goal or two.
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Not the greatest idea if* we want to push to be an elite club. There are a lot of creative/attacking/scoring midfielders out there. Barkley is certainly one of them.

* I know Roman loves the club but this is a big if.

Yahtzee · Dec 11, 2017

Lol'ing @ United's net spend

ComeOnChelsea · Dec 12, 2017

I'm surprised the media hasn't created a Mkhitaryan for Willian swap

truefan420 · Dec 12, 2017

ComeOnChelsea said: ↑

I'm surprised the media hasn't created a Mkhitaryan for Willian swap
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I'd do that in a second

Cris 09 · Dec 19, 2017

Brock Hannsen said: ↑

But Pulisic's price would be a lot less than the crazy 43m Juve is going to pay for Douglas Costa, who is just a left winger. Or maybe not. Pulisic is about the same player as Dembele and they have both put in the same amount of time at the top level. Dembele is at Barca for a gazillion dollars. Why? He's French. Pulisic is not.
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Dortmund don't give a shit if Pulisic is French or American. They won't let him go for cheap.

Brock Hannsen · Dec 20, 2017

Cris 09 said: ↑

Dortmund don't give a shit if Pulisic is French or American. They won't let him go for cheap.
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My point was more about why Barca chose to buy Dembele over Pulisic. Every club will want to get max dollar for their assets. But Barca won't buy an American player for the price they paid for Dembele simply because he's American.

Yahtzee · Dec 20, 2017

Brock Hannsen said: ↑

My point was more about why Barca chose to buy Dembele over Pulisic. Every club will want to get max dollar for their assets. But Barca won't buy an American player for the price they paid for Dembele simply because he's American.
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Says who exactly? If Pulisic somehow shows he’s Messi-tier it doesn’t matter what nationality he is, he will command the same sort of price. And given the sheer marketing power Pulisic would give a team like Barca, being an American, its possible that he is an even more attractive prospect.

Brock Hannsen · Dec 20, 2017

Yahtzee said: ↑

Says who exactly? If Pulisic somehow shows he’s Messi-tier it doesn’t matter what nationality he is, he will command the same sort of price. And given the sheer marketing power Pulisic would give a team like Barca, being an American, its possible that he is an even more attractive prospect.
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Says me, really. And the history of ignoring quality US talent in Europe. Coaches in Europe trust a track record of a French, German, Italian, Spanish player more than an American. It'll take forever, but it'll happen one day and Americans will be treated on equal ground as the rest.

There's a natural bias against American soccer in Europe, that's all.

And no one will be Messi tier. We're very lucky to be living in a time of Ronaldo and Messi, no matter how much I hate them.

Messi has never scored against Chelsea, but this definitely happened.

Brock Hannsen · Dec 20, 2017

Also, Pulisic probably isnt going anywhere unless it's a top top club. I honestly would love him here at Chelsea and he would certainly fill a need, but I doubt Conte or Chelsea fancies him.

Kerry Dixon's Boots · Dec 20, 2017

Brock Hannsen said: ↑

Says me, really. And the history of ignoring quality US talent in Europe. Coaches in Europe trust a track record of a French, German, Italian, Spanish player more than an American. It'll take forever, but it'll happen one day and Americans will be treated on equal ground as the rest.

There's a natural bias against American soccer in Europe, that's all.

And no one will be Messi tier. We're very lucky to be living in a time of Ronaldo and Messi, no matter how much I hate them.

Messi has never scored against Chelsea, but this definitely happened.

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Interesting perception. Football is pretty indiscriminate when it comes to origins. With such an open market and so many teams there' always someone willing to take a punt.

In looking back the last 20 years or so what elite talent has been overlooked exactly? Goalkeepers are hugely well regarded in Europe but what outfield talent never had a chance?

Donovan had chances and never stepped up. Dempsey was fine for a couple of EPL but not world class. Altidore was an absolute disaster in the epl but really good in Holland. Reyna was given chances in multiple countries and played for clubs right for his level. McBride scored goals but was never big 6 quality. Bradley had a number of euro clubs and again at the level in line with his ability. In none of these cases were bigger clubs conspiring to keep them away, they simply weren't good enough.

As a non American I know my take is different but that is that the US national team always were always better than the sum of their parts. Now living in the US I see a large focus on youth soccer that train the fundamentals and most American players abroad I can think of always played a solid game. What the youth levels here don't seem to focus on (and the same is true in the uk) are things like individual flair. Also the top grade athletes have far more lucrative alternatives in the U.S. so far fewer commit to soccer. Elsewhere soccer is the only money making career and is often committed to at a really early age, all of which pushes forward the elite talent that comes through.

So overall, the reality is there just hasn't been the same pipeline, rather than any collective bias.

Could honestly say English players are perceived even worse abroad given how few ply their trade there but again there's a rational counter in that English players earn bank in England and so are less incentivised to make the switch. That' the driver more than bias.

So whilst a chip on the shoulder is understandable there is no grand conspiracy from clubs/nations that have no reason to conspire. It's simply that the talent hasn't been there.

Pulisic is exciting because he is such a raw talent but that he is already being talked about as one of if not the best us player ever makes my point. He's a mold breaker for the US, there has been no one like him in our generation and the fact he is playing for a top euro club shows that if you have the talent, regardless of nationality you will have chances.

This is certainly a case of ymmv, but having spent decades now in both Europe and the US I see no particular bias against us soccer players and no lack of opportunities there for those good enough to play there.

Kazuma · Dec 20, 2017

Brock Hannsen said: ↑

Says me, really. And the history of ignoring quality US talent in Europe. Coaches in Europe trust a track record of a French, German, Italian, Spanish player more than an American. It'll take forever, but it'll happen one day and Americans will be treated on equal ground as the rest.

There's a natural bias against American soccer in Europe, that's all.
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No, there really isn't. The US has never produced a top tier level player unlike those countries which have generations of top players across the pitch. Landon Donovan failed at Bayer Leverkusen, any of the American players in the big clubs youth systems have ended up going elsewhere and usually end up at their level.

Pulisic has that potential to be great, but there's so many years ahead that I'm withholding judgement on how he'll turn out.

truefan420 · Dec 20, 2017

Brock Hannsen said: ↑

Also, Pulisic probably isnt going anywhere unless it's a top top club. I honestly would love him here at Chelsea and he would certainly fill a need, but I doubt Conte or Chelsea fancies him.
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Idk he fits the model or buying players with sell on value. Conte likely doesn't want him and Chelsea likely doesn't want to pay what it would cost to get him so there's that but I think he'd be a smart buy.

Ninjatend0 · Dec 20, 2017

and there are actually quite a few good young US prospects playing in Europe and specifically Germany right now. clubs are willing to give you a chance if you are good enough i think.

call me crazy but i actually do think Pulisic is deserving of the discussions of getting a top transfer in the next year or two if he wants it. and if chelsea were that location i'd be all for it. he's an upgrade on Willian right now and probably even Pedro (but with a tip of the hat for Pedro's ability to score pretty important long range goals for all of his weaknesses). he'd be a smart buy and i don't really see any reason Conte wouldn't want him. he's a hard worker and has a good attitude.

truefan420 · Dec 20, 2017

Ninjatend0 said: ↑

i don't really see any reason Conte wouldn't want him
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He likes battle tested. While Pulisic has played in champions league and big games he's still young and can be inconsistent.

Ninjatend0 · Dec 20, 2017

that's perhaps true. however, he's also the first to say if someone is good enough he doesn't care about age etc. Pogba and Christensen being the first two examples. i think it's fair to say he'd evaluate any potential interest in him on it's merit though. and if he decides against he'd probably have a decent reason. probably would also come down to who he'd be up against as far as potential targets go too.