So it really happened. Now we've brought in three starters - two are young but have a lot of experience playing at the highest levels. Still room for another defender! Please! Also, from what I've seen, Simons may be better than both Eze and Gibbs-White and younger, too. Five year contract with an option for two more years. In a weird way, it might be good that we didn't get either of those other guys.
We are being linked with Nathan Ake and Akanji of Manchester City. Ake would be a good signing because he can also play LB and is good on set pieces at both ends. Both players are 30 years old.
I said don't be too despondent about missing out on Eze.....remember? I think we've done better and with another marquee signing we'll be ready for the CL. I've already forgotten about Eze.
I definitely like the trend of getting established players rather than just youngins with potential. Since we just passed the 10th anniversary of signing Son, people have reminded us that he was a second choice after failing to get Saido Berahino.
I think a lot of that comes from Frank. He gave an interview in the New York Times where he basically said Johan Flange and his team didn't understand the kind of player he was looking for. Translation: No more shitty youngsters, I want men! Plus he is a much better judge of player than his predecessor, who wanted Werner (twice), who wanted Tel, who wanted Obodbert, who wanted Gray...and turned down Eze. Hopefully once Paratici starts, Flange and his useless team will be dumped.
I knew it! The love's finally shining through. Mealwaysdidthinks he dost protest too much about those two.
You need 8. We have 8 but that includes Scarlett and Maddison. If Scarlett goes out on loan, I suppose they could register Gray as homegrown (which is a waste because he does not need to be registered as a senior player). Or maybe they just leave the spot empty, as with the UCL roster. See the squad thread.
Atalanta have made it clear they will only accept a permanent deal for Ademola Lookman. This is the kind of quality player we need on the left side of our attack. Reports from Romano. We desperately need help in that area, when Johnson is not scoring he offers nothing, and the other left-sided options that Pook, Jum and Funk rate, Odobert and Tel are Championship level.
Looks like we are getting Randal Kolo Muani on loan. This comes two days after Frank said we don't need a third striker. Just saw a whisper that Solanke's injury may be long term. If true, this loan move staves off disaster. If not, Richy can play out on the left and that's an upgrade over the not ready for prime time players. Still some confusion over whether there is an option or obligation to buy - probably because it takes weeks for Levy to negotiate a fee - but if Muani likes life at Spurs, a permanent deal can probably be arranged. Will there be a French mafia?
Wow, Ali Gold is reporting that we are selling Bryan Gil to Girona. What you are hearing now is probably the sound of heavenly choirs. I really wanted him to succeed at Spurs, but just too scrawny.
Ornstein is saying Muani is a loan with no obligation to buy. Gil is being sold for 8.5 million to Girona so we lost about 15 million on a player we hardly used. Typical of the terrible scouting and recruitment at the club. Meanwhile, Liverpool are having the mother of all deadline days by adding Isak and Guehi.
Would like us to add another Palhinha type player in midfield, the way Bournemouth overran us in the middle was concerning. Would also like a proper left winger. That would let us play Muani through the middle, Simons in the 10 and Kudus on the right.
OK, Kolo Muani is official. And apparently Solomon is being loaned to Palace. No deal for Bissouma, though there was supposedly interest in Turkey and their window remains open until the 12th. So it looks like 4 starters (or potential starters), 3 with UCL experience, plus a youing CB who we haven't seen play. It seems like a crazy mix of players thrown together out of desperation, but maybe Frank can make it work. I can't help but wonder how last year would have turned out if Ange had gotten the same level of support (4 proven players instead of 1). Probably better than 17th. But no point in dwelling ln the past.
Remember, Ange wanted shit players like Odobert, Tel, and Gray, and didn't want Eze. So he was backed. Levy spent 400 million on transfers in the 2 years Ange was here. Plus he was a shit coach.
Guehi to Liverpool deal collapsed after Glasner pulled a Conte and threatened to resign. Which means that they will get nothing for him now as he is in the last year of his contract and teams can negotiate with him staring in January. Steve Parish just threw away 35 million pounds to keep his manager happy. They don't seem like the kind of club that can afford to do that.
Yeah, and it will be thrown away, as he's in the last year of his contract. Still, as you say, it's a tough call. I think if I were a Palace fan, I'd approve of appeasing Glasner. Maybe Jum's Croydon pals will provide some local insight.