5 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Agreed. We could probably get Toney for another 10m or so.

Although if Barcelona have genuinely cooled off on Alonso (probably because they are broke) where does that leave him? He could still find another club in Spain perhaps, but he has now fallen to 3rd choice at Chelsea so hard to see him getting much playing time.

He knows Aubameyang. I think Tuchel wants a 'sure' thing vs getting Toney which at this rate is a gamble. No one knows how he'll fair playing for a top side and under a progressive system. 

Personally, I'd be happy with either just to get Havertz out of the team. 

 

4 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He knows Aubameyang. I think Tuchel wants a 'sure' thing vs getting Toney which at this rate is a gamble. No one knows how he'll fair playing for a top side and under a progressive system. 

Personally, I'd be happy with either just to get Havertz out of the team. 

 

I can certainly understand that logic. Although that shouldn't lead us to pay crazy money for Auba. I did just see one tweet claiming we have now reached agreement with Barcelona - 18m + 4m in addons. Although hard to know which sources to believe.

I get your point regarding Havertz, at least as the CF. Question is whether we can find another spot for him in the team if we sign a CF? Or does this effectively mean we will be selling Havertz?

 

2 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I can certainly understand that logic. Although that shouldn't lead us to pay crazy money for Auba. I did just see one tweet claiming we have now reached agreement with Barcelona - 18m + 4m in addons. Although hard to know which sources to believe.

I get your point regarding Havertz, at least as the CF. Question is whether we can find another spot for him in the team if we sign a CF? Or does this effectively mean we will be selling Havertz?

 

No idea mate. This entire squad is completely unbalanced. 

5 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I get your point regarding Havertz, at least as the CF. Question is whether we can find another spot for him in the team if we sign a CF? Or does this effectively mean we will be selling Havertz?

 

I can see if we sign Fofana and Auba that will facilitate us moving to a back 4. If that is the case I think Kai will be played as the 'number 10'. That's what I hope anyway.

I actually had a discussion about Havertz on here a few weeks back with @Sconnie Blue where I said I think Havertz could do a job as the main man through the middle, and Sconnie wasn't convinced. Based on the first 3 games this season I might have to admit defeat on that one mate. Kai has been almost invisible playing as the striker so far this season. 

1 minute ago, drjonesy1994 said:

I can see if we sign Fofana and Auba that will facilitate us moving to a back 4. If that is the case I think Kai will be played as the 'number 10'. That's what I hope anyway.

I actually had a discussion about Havertz on here a few weeks back with @Sconnie Blue where I said I think Havertz could do a job as the main man through the middle, and Sconnie wasn't convinced. Based on the first 3 games this season I might have to admit defeat on that one mate. Kai has been almost invisible playing as the striker so far this season. 

I've always thought that Kai could do a job as the support striker. A bit like Guddy to JFH/Drogs, or going back further Speedie/Durie to King Kerry. Thing is that would require a different system and not one that we seem to have in consideration. So unless Kai could reinvent himself as either a winger or attacking midfielder, I don't think he would struggle to get a start (assuming we sign a striker). Remember start of last year when Lukaku joined, Kai was relegated to the bench most games.

- Kai thrives in a two ST system. We can't play that because we are weak in central midfield. 

- Mount thrives as an 8 in a 3 man midfield, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

- Gallagher thrives as an advanced ball winner in a 3 man midfield, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

- Playing Mount or Gallagher in their preferred systems makes Havertz redundant. 

- Pulisic and Ziyech thrive in a 4 at the back system, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

 

For every imbalance and issue within the personal of the squad, it always stems back to having a weak midfield. This for me is the bigger issue than attack. 

 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

- Kai thrives in a two ST system. We can't play that because we are weak in central midfield. 

- Mount thrives as an 8 in a 3 man midfield, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

- Gallagher thrives as an advanced ball winner in a 3 man midfield, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

- Playing Mount or Gallagher in their preferred systems makes Havertz redundant. 

- Pulisic and Ziyech thrive in a 4 at the back system, but we can't play a 3 man midfield as we are weak in central midfield. 

 

For every imbalance and issue within the personal of the squad, it always stems back to having a weak midfield. This for me is the bigger issue than attack. 

 

I wonder whether Casedei is going to be introduced in the next few games? He is supposedly physically strong and looked at as a longer term replacement for Kante. 

7 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I wonder whether Casedei is going to be introduced in the next few games? He is supposedly physically strong and looked at as a longer term replacement for Kante. 

Not for a while given he didn't even make a senior appearance for Inter. Both he and Carney will play Cup matches. 

Tuchel is a smart manager, but not addressing the midfield this transfer window will go down as the stupidest thing he ever did. 

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Not for a while given he didn't even make a senior appearance for Inter. Both he and Carney will play Cup matches. 

Tuchel is a smart manager, but not addressing the midfield this transfer window will go down as the stupidest thing he ever did. 

Between those 2 we have committed £35m+ and haven’t solved an immediate problem. Money we could have used to fix the middle of the park. Nunes went to Wolves for £38m, and he offers the forward passing we are desperately missing. If he wanted a DM there were loads that have moved this summer; João Palhinha went to Fulham for £17m & looks like a smart pick, part of the £62m we spent on Cucurella could have been spent on Caicedo instead, and Grillitsch presently is even available on a free.

I will be shocked if Carney or Casadei get ample game time this season, we know he has a hierarchy system in bench. Long term I just don’t see it as he will bin them at the earliest opportunity.

I really don't think Auba fixes our problems. Our midfield is woeful without Kante and Kova and they miss too much of the season to be relied upon.

4 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I really don't think Auba fixes our problems. Our midfield is woeful without Kante and Kova and they miss too much of the season to be relied upon.

I think Gallagher was the only promising midfielder against Leeds. He almost scored in the second half.

5 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I really don't think Auba fixes our problems. Our midfield is woeful without Kante and Kova and they miss too much of the season to be relied upon.

It doesn’t completely no, but it helps as we are wasteful in front  of goal 

4 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

It doesn’t completely no, but it helps as we are wasteful in front  of goal 

Won't matter if the midfield can't transition the ball to them. 

1 hour ago, forbzy said:

Agreed. We could probably get Toney for another 10m or so.

Although if Barcelona have genuinely cooled off on Alonso (probably because they are broke) where does that leave him? He could still find another club in Spain perhaps, but he has now fallen to 3rd choice at Chelsea so hard to see him getting much playing time.

There's absolutely no chance we could get Toney for another 10m.

Brentford would want 70m+ for their clear best player right at the end of the window.

They can't replace him and have absolutely no reason to sell.

Edited August 22, 20223 yr by HazardousChoice

11 minutes ago, TheGermanOne said:

I think Gallagher was the only promising midfielder against Leeds. He almost scored in the second half.

Did you watch it? He was lost for most of the game! 

14 minutes ago, TheGermanOne said:

I think Gallagher was the only promising midfielder against Leeds. He almost scored in the second half.

If he had Essien alongside him sure. Not Jorgi, does not work.

Auba I think is a medium term disaster. Maybe, just maybe he does something this season but once his pace is gone we will be stuck with a high earner who will offer nothing, especially if TT goes.

Rumours gathering looks like a fee has been agreed,  €22m with €5m in addons.   Good news is he doesn't seem to like the number 9 shirt.

 

 

27 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

If he had Essien alongside him sure. Not Jorgi, does not work.

Auba I think is a medium term disaster. Maybe, just maybe he does something this season but once his pace is gone we will be stuck with a high earner who will offer nothing, especially if TT goes.

I think Conor could work with Kante or even Kova alongside. But like you say not Jorgi. If Jorgi and Conor are in the same team then Conor should probably be more in Mount's current role.

Regarding Auba (as it looks increasingly likely this will happen now) I see this more of a short term signing anyway. Would potentially provide a source of goals while Broja develops.

Still a good player and at a similar price / age Giroud come in and that turned out to be a shrewd signing. But no striker Scores in this System, no Fabregas type player to play defence splitting passes and the early ball in behind. 

4 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I think Conor could work with Kante or even Kova alongside. But like you say not Jorgi. If Jorgi and Conor are in the same team then Conor should probably be more in Mount's current role.

Regarding Auba (as it looks increasingly likely this will happen now) I see this more of a short term signing anyway. Would potentially provide a source of goals while Broja develops.

Where will Broja develop thought; On the bench? I am confused as to why he left it so late in the window, we now have 3 players for 1 position. We had an offer for Havertz in the summer which we didn’t entertain, and Broja had demanded a permanent move away earlier in the window. Won’t be surprised if Aubameyang is given a 3yr deal, which I reckon will push Broja to demand a transfer. 
The manager is very confusing; earlier in the window he highlighted a concern about an ageing squad. Against Spurs we had 5 starters over 30yrs, add Aubameyang and it becomes 6. I am not sure those legs will be able to press all season long, Pep & Klopp haven’t signed a 30+ player at their respective clubs since they took over. Maybe it’s because both managers have Sport directors, while we have a manager & owner playing football manager in the market.

 

7 minutes ago, dan_cfc said:

Still a good player and at a similar price / age Giroud come in and that turned out to be a shrewd signing. But no striker Scores in this System, no Fabregas type player to play defence splitting passes and the early ball in behind. 

Giroud was 31yr when we signed him I think, and he was signed as an option not a starter.

34 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I think Conor could work with Kante or even Kova alongside. But like you say not Jorgi. If Jorgi and Conor are in the same team then Conor should probably be more in Mount's current role.

Regarding Auba (as it looks increasingly likely this will happen now) I see this more of a short term signing anyway. Would potentially provide a source of goals while Broja develops.

Short term with what a 3 or 4 or 5 year deal?

16 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Where will Broja develop thought; On the bench? I am confused as to why he left it so late in the window, we now have 3 players for 1 position. We had an offer for Havertz in the summer which we didn’t entertain, and Broja had demanded a permanent move away earlier in the window. Won’t be surprised if Aubameyang is given a 3yr deal, which I reckon will push Broja to demand a transfer. 
The manager is very confusing; earlier in the window he highlighted a concern about an ageing squad. Against Spurs we had 5 starters over 30yrs, add Aubameyang and it becomes 6. I am not sure those legs will be able to press all season long, Pep & Klopp haven’t signed a 30+ player at their respective clubs since they took over. Maybe it’s because both managers have Sport directors, while we have a manager & owner playing football manager in the market.

 

I could see Broja going on loan again if we sign Aubameyang. I doubt we will sell him though. Not sure about Havertz though. He would likely be the player most impacted if we sign an experienced striker, and would almost certainly be resigned to the bench. Unless he can successfully used in a different position I don't really see much a future for him here. He isn't the right player to lead the line.

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Short term with what a 3 or 4 or 5 year deal?

Lets wait and see the details first. I think we would be crazy to offer him any more than 3 years.

I know we desperately need a striker, but Auba is 33. I would far rather we sank a few quid up the road at Brentford, for Ivan Toney. His team mates call him "Drogba" because in training he shows the same characteristics as our Legend.  If that is true, then please let it be Chelsea that give him the platform to prove himself in The Prem and the Champions League.

Edited August 22, 20223 yr by coombsie