afrodoc2:


They will get them playing better than they are playing now but don’t deceive yourself that they will play good footy.

McTom for one won’t have even been promoted into the senior team by Pep and if Pep had met him he would have offloaded him. Klopp might have use for him though.

Fred would also be better but might still not make the grade. There is a reason Pep was initially interested in him but then left him to us.

The other player Pep left to us was Alexis Sanchez. That might tell you something.

elrony:


It's human nature, manager bias is actually a thing

elrony:


Why not play VDB with one of the twins?

TrebleChamp:
I think the bolded happened because we outbidded Pep for both, i agree with your submission on McTom though. How do you see VDB playing in a Pep setup?

afrodoc2:


What site is that? Whoscored says he has played DM only 11 times in the last 6 years and most of that was with another more defensive minded player. For instance they counted 2 UCL and 2 EPL games with us last season as part of the 11.

I am not sure VDB can work as the only defensive option with Pogba and Bruno. That midfield would be overrun and the defense would be too exposed. VDB is like Gundogan and even the ultra-attacking Pep is not playing Gundogan as the sole shield in midfield while Tuchel partners Jorginho (their VDB ) with workers like Kante or Kovacic.

Oasis007:
Saúl is set to leave Atléti. Chelsea opened talks for Saúl days ago. There’s official bid now on the table - loan with buy option.

Also Manchester United have asked for Saúl again in the last 24 hours, he’s in the list with Camavinga.

He’s ready for PL move.

- Fabrizio Romano

ChristineC:
I thought this Saul is also a CM.

Panther7:
plays in double pivot in Atleti sometimes as a wide midfielder.

Panther7:
plays in double pivot in Atleti sometimes as a wide midfielder.

ChristineC:
I thought this Saul is also a CM.

Oasis007:


"He [VDB] was playing as a No. 6 in the beginning, more defensively, because he had a decent pass and if you take the paradigm of the team had to win then every coach would put him at 6, because he's good there, he had good duel strength and he could intercept balls.

"But Wim Jonk especially said he had to go one line up, Wim saw he had this ability to see spaces, to create spaces for himself and for others, that was his ability, when is the right time to come as a midfielder into the box, in the half spaces his quality was very good."

- Ruben Jongkind [Ajax's former head of academy development]

afrodoc2:


That is youth football. AWB was a winger in youth football and Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a midfielder. I am saying that in senior football i have not seen him play significant time as the most defensive midfielder.

This might be Jongkind's kind way of saying he wasn't good as a DM so he was moved into center midfield. You still didn't tell me what website you got those stats from.

If Amaka tries it and it works i will be happy but IMO there is not enough work rate and defensive nous in a VDB, Pogba, Bruno midfield.

Oasis007:
Erling Haaland will be free to leave Borussia Dortmund in January, rather than next summer, when a £64million release clause becomes active.

- Marca

We shouldn't miss out.

Oasis007:
Offer Martial plus €30m for Haaland, and see the done with Dortmund.

Oasis007:




Here we go.

https://www.footballcritic.com/donny-van-de-beek/player-positions/52635

Oasis007:
Offer Martial plus €30m for Haaland, and see the done with Dortmund.

melodyogonna:
We should really be looking at Yves Bissouma tbh

melodyogonna:

Will you agree to such a deal if you're in charge of negotiations at Dormund?

afrodoc2:


We have his teacher Amaka. We have his friend Jadon. Over to Fletcher, Murtough, Judge and co.

If only the team can play well in order to sweeten the deal.

Oasis007:
Offer Martial plus €30m for Haaland, and see the done with Dortmund.

afrodoc2:


He is not sexy enough for the club hierarchy (management and coaching staff) and our scouts have tunnel vision.

Oasis007:
What's the Value of Martial?!

ChristineC:
perhaps because he has some years left on his current deal, but he's on £25k weekly. that's quite low by industry average.

melodyogonna:
We should really be looking at Yves Bissouma tbh

afrodoc2:

He has just 2 years left on his contract. We always prefer the shiny object rather than something functional.