Isakly what we need

[MomoWASright]

We at the very least had 5 internationals playing there in their appropriate positions. Now we've got a 16 year old, an injury prone italian, a right back (frimpong) and an u21 striker that slot doesn't trust as our backup options. Thats a huge downgrade

Nunez was shite but scored occasionally and had muscle. Diaz was tricky but at least providing a different option to gakpo. Jota is absolutely the biggest loss, even though his form last season didn't show it (probably due to his lung injury). Our depth is atrocious up top now, having gone from a vareity of options

Wirtz is an excellent player with fantastic ball carrying abilities and an eye for a pass. In no world should he be playing as a 9; false or otherwise. Whether it be for 10 games, 1 game, or 1 minute, it's an absolute waste of his abilities and we have seen it the last 2 matches.

If we don't get any other forward this window, then it absolutely scandalous to let players leave; whether they wanted to or not. At the moment (and this is obviously subjct to change), we've focused on being Net Spend FC again

We’ve replaced Nunez with an absolutely massive upgrade in Ekitike. The difference between the two is huge. He will play 80% of the time. Jota looked like a player who has had way too many injuries and even that run of games in the final third of the season didn’t help him. I’m content having Chiesa there. Then there is Danns for the cup games.

We were never getting a full on right wing replacement when Salah never gets taken off and if he’s here will start unless it’s an early cup game. No way someone good enough would come to sit on the bench no matter how many times people say “they’ll get minutes”.

Gakpo posts serious numbers and like Ekitike, will play 80% of the time. Ngumoha will get games and is our future. I said it way early in preseason, I wouldn’t sign anyone who would stop his progress to the first team. There’s also nothing stopping us playing Jones or Kerkez there if we are in a pickle.

Wirtz as a Firmino will be a break in case of emergency thing. Slot has already shown us he is the front of the midfield three.

We are not a net spend FC. We broke our transfer record for one of the top 5 players in the world. Set our own record for a centre forward, bought the best attacking right sided player in the world and did the same for left back. We replaced someone who lost all confidence at CB with another prospect as (it seems) buying an England centre half. This isn’t about being net spend. It’s about getting rid of those who don’t want to be here and those who wont make it with players that will push us to titles.

 

[The Nomad]

We are still two short of an A/A+ window for me. Right now its B+

 

[Buddha]

I think no Isak = late Rodrygo move

 

[Fabio]

I think no Isak = late Rodrygo move

I don't think so. I think rodrygo isn't an option.

 

[rubans]

I don’t think we will get anyone else in. One of the reasons we were forced into a big churn is due to lack of any real activity previous summer.
I don’t agree with fact we couldn’t get a RW or even a LW because Salah always etc. That’s same excuse every year. We absolutelty have enough games for an additional player especially with Afcon, fa cup, league cup and loads of pointless CL games in Jan. The strikers all dropped off post Feb. We have enough games in front 3 with rotation to get someone in.

 

[The Nomad]

I think no Isak = late Rodrygo move

No. Rodrygo isn't leaving.

 

[Hansern]

Some rumours doing the rounds that everything is agreed, 135 mill £, and will be announced after the game, probably tomorrow.

 

[Buddha]

Some rumours doing the rounds that everything is agreed, 135 mill £, and will be announced after the game, probably tomorrow.

Where??

 

[Hansern]

View: https://x.com/Paul_Lfc4/status/1959840746942366201


View: https://x.com/Soilsum/status/1959897462082060680

Could be BS, of course. But makes sense.

 

[Fabio]

If it's true, great. Overpaid, but it's a striker in the door

Then we get guehi.

 

[Hansern]

If it's true, great. Overpaid, but it's a striker in the door

Then we get guehi.

Palace are after CBs at least. Interested in a player from Toulouse and Ordonez from Brugge.

 

[Fabio]

I still don't think we get Isak, and that's a concern

 

[peterhague]

We absolutely obviously need another forward. And that's before Salah goes off to AFCON, in which case we fucking absolutely obviously DESPERATELY need another forward.

If we don't we're basically one injury away from real problems.

 

[bluebell]

I still don't think we get Isak, and that's a concern

Stop panicking man, we have a game tonight we have to not lose at

 

[dmishra]

I've been lukewarm about Isak from the beginning. 135 million certainly does nothing to improve that. He'll probably do well for us, but it just is very strange to spend 200+ million on 2 players in the same position. We aren't that rich that we can afford to have an 80 million player be second choice.

Ekitike can probably do a job on the left, but he's quite clearly a striker who can drift wide (as opposed to a winger who can sometimes do a job as a striker).

The only way this makes sense is if this we are planning to completely revamp the way we play - with 2 strikers and a number 10 in a diamond formation perhaps. That would certainly suit Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz as well (probably Gakpo too). But where does Salah fit in this equation?

We're certainly forced to play a 4-3-3 for as long as Salah is getting paid 400k a week. All feels a bit too incoherent to me at the moment, especially for the amount of money we're spending.

Also worried we won't have enough pace, pressing and 1v1 ability in attack despite spending 300+ million.

 

[dee]

I've been lukewarm about Isak from the beginning. 135 million certainly does nothing to improve that. He'll probably do well for us, but it just is very strange to spend 200+ million on 2 players in the same position. We aren't that rich that we can afford to have an 80 million player be second choice.

Ekitike can probably do a job on the left, but he's quite clearly a striker who can drift wide (as opposed to a winger who can sometimes do a job as a striker).

The only way this makes sense is if this we are planning to completely revamp the way we play - with 2 strikers and a number 10 in a diamond formation perhaps. That would certainly suit Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz as well (probably Gakpo too). But where does Salah fit in this equation?

We're certainly forced to play a 4-3-3 for as long as Salah is getting paid 400k a week. All feels a bit too incoherent to me at the moment, especially for the amount of money we're spending.

Also worried we won't have enough pace, pressing and 1v1 ability in attack despite spending 300+ million.

We had Jota and Nunez. We replace with Isak and Ekitike. Where’s the issue?

 

[peterhague]

Over £200m one one position does seem excessive so I can see the point. I've always wanted Isak and if we were just going to sign one forward in addition then I'd have thought the ideal candidate would be a LW who can fill in at CF rather than another striker...

... but then if Ekitike can also fill in at LW then I don't suppose it really makes a huge difference.

 

[The Nomad]

We had Jota and Nunez. We replace with Isak and Ekitike. Where’s the issue?

I have no issue with the fee per-se.

However the narrative will always be how he forced his move.

If he succeeds. It'll be just that narrative.

If he flops it'll be that plus the fee that the fans and media will pile on with.

There is no real 'win' here for us or Isak.

 

[MomoWASright]

I've been lukewarm about Isak from the beginning. 135 million certainly does nothing to improve that. He'll probably do well for us, but it just is very strange to spend 200+ million on 2 players in the same position. We aren't that rich that we can afford to have an 80 million player be second choice.

Ekitike can probably do a job on the left, but he's quite clearly a striker who can drift wide (as opposed to a winger who can sometimes do a job as a striker).

The only way this makes sense is if this we are planning to completely revamp the way we play - with 2 strikers and a number 10 in a diamond formation perhaps. That would certainly suit Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz as well (probably Gakpo too). But where does Salah fit in this equation?

We're certainly forced to play a 4-3-3 for as long as Salah is getting paid 400k a week. All feels a bit too incoherent to me at the moment, especially for the amount of money we're spending.

Also worried we won't have enough pace, pressing and 1v1 ability in attack despite spending 300+ million.

I think Salah will be sold next summer and we move into a new formation.

 

[Mystic]

I've been lukewarm about Isak from the beginning. 135 million certainly does nothing to improve that. He'll probably do well for us, but it just is very strange to spend 200+ million on 2 players in the same position. We aren't that rich that we can afford to have an 80 million player be second choice.

Ekitike can probably do a job on the left, but he's quite clearly a striker who can drift wide (as opposed to a winger who can sometimes do a job as a striker).

The only way this makes sense is if this we are planning to completely revamp the way we play - with 2 strikers and a number 10 in a diamond formation perhaps. That would certainly suit Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz as well (probably Gakpo too). But where does Salah fit in this equation?

We're certainly forced to play a 4-3-3 for as long as Salah is getting paid 400k a week. All feels a bit too incoherent to me at the moment, especially for the amount of money we're spending.

Also worried we won't have enough pace, pressing and 1v1 ability in attack despite spending 300+ million.

In this set up, surely both strikers will pull wide, and if it suits Gakpo, surely it suits Salah too?

 

[StevieM]

I have no issue with the fee per-se.

However the narrative will always be how he forced his move.

If he succeeds. It'll be just that narrative.

If he flops it'll be that plus the fee that the fans and media will pile on with.

There is no real 'win' here for us or Isak.

I truly don’t get this.

If he succeeds, no-one, least of all us, will give a fuck - the narrative will be … look at all these shiny new trophies we’ve won.

 

[peterhague]

I have no issue with the fee per-se.

However the narrative will always be how he forced his move.

If he succeeds. It'll be just that narrative.

If he flops it'll be that plus the fee that the fans and media will pile on with.

There is no real 'win' here for us or Isak.

Isn't the win getting one of the best strikers in the world and the goals that win us the title and the CL?

Doesn't seem like a bad upside.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I see it as win win for us, we get him, we get one of the best strikers in the league, and will lessen the pressure on the rest of our squad.

If we don't, then we haven't spent a fortune on a player, when we've already had a lot of change and having to integrate him after the season has already started.

 

[tombrown]

Yeah, if he comes & is successful everything about this summer will be forgotten.

Van Dijk refused to turn out for Southampton at one point ... if you don't remember that, refer to first sentence.

 

[refugee]

I have no issue with the fee per-se.

However the narrative will always be how he forced his move.

If he succeeds. It'll be just that narrative.

Just like VVD....

 

[rubans]

Gordon whom criticised Isak conveniently did the same at Everton, will be forgotten if all sorted.

 

[Frogfish]

Over £200m one one position does seem excessive so I can see the point. I've always wanted Isak and if we were just going to sign one forward in addition then I'd have thought the ideal candidate would be a LW who can fill in at CF rather than another striker...

... but then if Ekitike can also fill in at LW then I don't suppose it really makes a huge difference.

As can Isak. They can both play the 'Henry' role and so playing them both at the same time would absolutely work too.

Ekitike ------ Isak --------- Salah

-------------- Wirtz

That would frighten the crap out of most teams.

 

[Modo]

As can Isak. They can both play the 'Henry' role and so playing them both at the same time would absolutely work too.

Ekitike ------ Isak --------- Salah

-------------- Wirtz

That would frighten the crap out of most teams.

Spot on, Isak plays in a supporting role for Sweden, with Gyokeres in front of him on the pitch.

 

[Frogfish]

LW : Gakpo, Ekitike, Isak, Rio
CF : Ekitike, Isak, Gakpo, Chiesa
RW : Salah, Chiesa ..... Frimpong? Can Ekitike or Isak play there? I seem to remember Gakpo playing there once or twice even though not by preference of course.

EDITED to add Chiesa.

 

[Mamma Mia]

LW : Gakpo, Ekitike, Isak, Rio
CF : Ekitike, Isak, Gakpo
RW : Salah ..... Frimpong? Can Ekitike or Isak play there? I seem to remember Gakpo playing there once or twice even though not by preference of course.

Szob in a pinch