goodrobotusses

Michael Owen hamstrings. A shame, but you wonder whether he'll ever be able to last a season if he's so reliant on his pace.

He's one of the closest things to a Modric replacement they could find, I'd say, yeah.

Feel a bit bad for the lad. Was obviously made up to get a move here, and even having barely played he was still getting involved with celebrations with his teammates after games etc. But he just looked a bit embarrassed to be there on Sunday. Kind of wild he's hardly had a sniff given the level he was at a few years ago and the fact he's ostensibly fit, but seems we're just gonna flip him back to Italy in summer. If we succeed in making a profit on him, then fair play, but a big ask given how broke Italian clubs are. Maybe Napoli will throw some of the Kvara money at him.

Spurs have individually talented players whose true level and potential is probably masked by what a s***show Ange has turned them into defensively. Bergvall and Gray could become world class for all I know, but they're not going to fulfil their potential if opponents are allowed to sprint through the team every game.

After Salah and Van Dijk, has been our most important player this season. Can't remember which game it was, but there was a match earlier this season (maybe the Spurs 6-3) in which he was subbed off with us in complete control. As soon as he was off the pitch, it felt like the midfield lost all coherence, and the game tilted out of our control. Gravenberch and Jones have in large part had impressive seasons, but neither can do what he does in terms of knitting the entire team together. He basically performs the same function for Argentina too. An absolute gem.

Have been resigned to him leaving for a while but would be delighted if he stays. Not arsed about the rest, will judge him on the pitch. Still think he'll go though.

Was excellent yesterday, aye. Spurs were almost the perfect opponent for him (or for us more broadly). Two assists, shame he couldn't get a goal of his own.

Displaying the same kind of intelligent he shows on the pitch.

This content is not viewable to guests.,This content is not viewable to guests.

Yep. They'd have been interested, sure, but we'd have priced him beyond what Madrid would pay if he had more years on his deal. His only way out then would have been to kick up a Coutinho-style fuss. This is his chance, now. If he signs a new deal with us, it won't come again. Madrid did the same with Alphonso Davies. Bayern got him to sign a deal in the end, but it's costing them some €15m-€20m a season plus a €22m signing-on fee. Penny for everyone's thoughts when he did his ACL a few weeks later.

No solid links to players in either of these positions so far. Simons is a No10 who can play wide and Frimpong is a wing-back who can play in a front three, but seem more like "Swiss army knife"-type signings rather than specialists. Haven't seen any significant link to a deeper CM and I think we need a fourth option alongside Grav, Mac and Curtis, especially if Endo gets sold. Not convinced by the idea one of the young lads (Bajcetic, McConnell, Nyoni) is ready or guaranteed to reach our level, although all have shown promise. Edit: Guess we've been linked with Semenyo (thanks for the reminder, Case), although how much Bournemouth is too much Bournemouth?

Interesting if true. We shouldn't change that policy for anyone, least of all a rookie CB.

Ah, seems quite illuminating. Thanks for checking!

Romano has been rabbiting on about Huijsen moving for the last two months, think he's being paid by the agent to drum up the auction (not on fee, but probably on wages). See this from March: Correct, he's more your garden variety clown.

By this point I feel like any player who chooses Chelsea is so badly advised and/or thick that they're probably best left well alone. Guess we'll see if this is all just bluster in the end.

Could that be something in Bournemouth's style of play? Honestly no idea because I don't watch them enough, but my impression is Bournemouth are very direct and tend to bypass midfield quite a bit. Are Huijsen's passing stats maybe compromised by the number of high-risk passes he's hitting? Genuine Q. Also, on him not being aerially dominant, I would say not many teenage centre-backs have the nous, timing and upper-body strength of a seasoned CB. What made Quansah stand out from the various academy CBs we've seen break through (Rhys Williams, for example) is that he actually wins headers once in a while. Think the PL is a pretty unforgiving place for young, developing CBs, which might explain why Arsenal kept Saliba on loan so long. Huijsen is very tall but still needs to fill out. I think I read he has something like a 60% aerial duel success rate, so not great, not awful. You'd expect that to improve with time, though, for the reasons mentioned. Guehi has something like a 50% success rate, apparently (although I think when I heard that, that was based on last season's stats).

Think he'll be more the Grimaldo.

Frankfurt smell blood in the water because everyone wants a No9 and he's on a hot streak.

Reckon the race for him will be between Arsenal and Man Utd. I still feel Alvarez would be really good for us, especially now he's scoring a few more. Works his a*** off, links play, facilitates Messi for the national team better than other strikers in the squad, which suggests he would link up well with Salah. But just don't see how a deal for him gets done. Isak is pretty clearly the best No9 in the PL, but price, injury record and the fact Newcastle probably get into the CL suggest that's also unlikely. Some of the younger, unproven lads who get linked (Ekitike, Sesko) feel more like punts. Don't think we'd want to risk another Nunez scenario, although they could yet prove to be world beaters. Very curious who we get, because we're clearly after someone.

That line in Joyce's recent piece about Nunez "not responding to Slot's coaching" can't have come from Joyce's imagination, you'd think. Edit: Just seen this is mentioned elsewhere in the thread, sorry.

Thankfully Man Utd gazumped us on wage offer to get Mason Mount, meaning we got Szoboszlai instead. Another bullet dodged. Been those on-off links to Xavi Simons, but he's a No10. Think we need another option for the deeper midfield slots if Endo isn't trusted and probably leaves. Can't rely a whole season on just Grav, Mac and Jones again; Grav in particular is running on fumes. Wharton would be exciting but think the numbers would be bonkers to get him out of Palace.

Said he was taking a year out before he cut off his sabbatical to join us. Also, don’t think he actually said he was giving up coaching, more that he needed a break to recharge. Here in Germany it’s widely assumed he’ll eventually replace Nagelsmann whenever he leaves the national team. That said, despite my personal distaste for the club and it going against Klopp’s general “plucky underdog” schtick, I can imagine Madrid would appeal to him on some level. It’s the biggest gig around, Klopp is known to admire a bunch of players in the current squad because he tried to bring them here, and he, like all Germans, loves Spain.

The fact he isn't really being linked anywhere since those stories about him and Slot being in contact could suggest maybe something is already in place.

I've convinced myself it's gonna be Frimpong, who will be primarily an option as a winger but also backup/rotation for Bradley at right-back, with probably Curtis/Quansah as the smash-glass, we're-injury-f***ed third and fourth choices.

The best I've ever seen. When he's at his best, it's like having a cheat code. Love the man.