goodrobotusses

PSG might yet become an option if they don't go for Rafa Leao and Kvaratskhelia remains a no-go in Napoli's eyes. They seem like the frontrunners for Osimhen, which will be expensive, but even if they get him to placate the fans after losing Mbappe, they will only really have Barcola as an option on the left.

Think it'll be a combo of watching our games last season and what he saw in training. Shame, as I like Endo's pluck, but if he's not technical enough to play at the base of midfield for us in Slot's system, then there's little point in keeping him around.

Would seem mad to let the real journalists report it if it's not already far along, despite what's being written. Unless Hughes is from the Schmadke school of paying release clauses and then kicking back with a cocktail. You'd assume not though. Athletic have published an article about the player with the headline "Liverpool target Martin Zubimendi is the Gen-Z Sergio Busquets". I could handle The Athletic's unnecessarily long, windy articles and lack of proper sub-editing, but calling anything the "Gen Z" whatever makes me want to break things.

DESTINATION UNKNOWN ZUBI, ZUBI, ZUBI, ZUBIMENDI

Schrödinger's Winger. We haven't seen him be better than Messi, but we haven't not seen him be better than Messi. Does that even make sense? Whatever, get in the box lad.

I could read this info in one of two ways: Release clause needs to be paid in full if we can't negotiate, player needs to be convinced to leave Spain: If we get this lad in we've done well but now we've spent the bulk of our immediate budget on one player as we couldn't pay in instalments, any further players in is dependent on sales, don't be surprised if MZ is it for this summer. Player was convinced to leave Spain, we were able to negotiate around the release clause: Isn't Richard Hughes dreamy? Look at what he managed. Let's see what the rest of the summer brings.

You suggesting he's not already in the loop? Hopefully. And one for Carvalho when Spurs buy him at 26.

Not a DM though. Seems most adept at breaking forward into the box.

We can put one of those plastic dummies between the sticks.

Later in that Athletic transfer deal sheet thing it says "Liverpool are chasing a new No 6 from outside the Premier League", so I guess that rules out someone like Gomes (Joao) at Wolves, although he's not really a specialised No6 anyway. It also says the other Gomez (Joe) has other suitors beyond Newcastle, although we're "not actively looking to sell", which I guess means we'll sell if someone offers loads of money.

If he just blurts stuff out when he hears it, Romano-style, he won't get anything out of Liverpool again. He's a journalist, not a transfer influencer.

Can see Soler, if we get him, being a buy and loan job.

I don't see Arsenal sustaining it even if they do manage to win a league. Arteta is a really good coach, potentially a great one, but I think he's a level below Guardiola and Klopp. Once Pep f***s off, you'd assume the league opens up and more teams can win it without having to reach nigh-on 100 points, so I don't discount Arteta winning the league at some point. I just don't think he'll beat Guardiola.

There's still something about Arsenal that suggests they're gonna crest a slightly smaller wave than we did with the great Klopp team of 2018-20 and not actually beat City to the league. It's such a monumental ask to beat City over 38 games and I think that Arteta just has that tiny bit of Moyes DNA in him that means his teams will ultimately s*** the bed when it comes to crunch time. (He says as Arsenal go and do what we did in 19-20.)

Having seen the tiny spaces our midfielders are being asked to work in as we play from the back, I don't want Trent caught in that net. I want him free with space in front of him to do what he does best, and that will be from right-back.

Unique cannot have a comparative. Something is either unique or it isn't. Burn the witch.

Maybe this is just Newcastle playing silly buggers, trying to show they have options other than Gomez, so we shouldn't try to squeeze them over a want-away Gordon.

Only just realised from listening to this interview that Ian Graham is Welsh.

Athletic reporting that Newcastle want to offer Gordon a new deal when he returns from holiday. Could maybe be a prelude to, "He refused to sign a new contract so we were left with no choice but to sell him, the s***."

My username reference comes full circle.

Ah sorry! Wasn't 100% catching your drift. Yeah, Nunez. Salah and Jota can be pretty scruffy dribblers, but Salah's first touch is usually excellent and Jota's goal against Everton that time was a work of art.

And to introduce him to his own instep. Mad watching a lad scoop and backheel shots he can't blam with the laces, just to avoid passing it in with his instep.

To replace Nunez? I don't have one, assuming he'll stay. Like everyone, I'm hoping he just goes on a mad hot streak and scores 30 this season. Stranger things have happened, but I'm assuming we'll be having more of the same conversations about him at the end of the season. Don't think any coach can "fix" him, he's a wild stallion.

I wonder how Slot will react to our least technical forward.

If these deals get revived and Gomez does leave, I'd assume the mooted deal for Geertruida would end up happening.