43 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Squad overhaul. We are one of the lowest scoring teams this season, our attack is appalling. Mudryk is a replacement for Ziyech hopefully, Madueke replace Pulisic and so on…

But what I don't understand is that many have said that this could be the end of CHO. Now whilst many, including me, are still on yje fence over CHO, I don't see how this would be that much of a step up in any department.  Just seem a waste of just shy of 30m. It's nothing against Madueke, I hope he is a great success, but we already have a player that appears very similar and we need players elsewhere (Frimpong or Dumfries at RB, Lavia, Bissouma or Rabiot maybe at DM). Whilst these funds wouldn't buy any of them it would go towards it.

Oh and we were looking for this kind of profile player I probably would have gone for Olise from Palace. Soon it will be too late as he will be priced out.

Edited January 20, 20233 yr by WhiteWall

5 hours ago, Nick05 said:

We sign a mostly injured 21 year old from the dutch league for 35 mill. At the same time le arse get PL proven Trossard for 26 mill. 

Why do we want trossard? 

We are trying to rebuild our offense, we need player who has the potential to be a star not rotational player. 

Our transfer dealings are more depressing than our results and performances.

We look like we're collecting young potential with the plan to be suddenly unbeatable one day in five years time. Like that will work out! Will any of these players ever actually play back to back starts for us? Or is it more FA Cup third round match benchwarmers with one lucky one getting 75 minutes from the start at home against Sc**thorpe?

2 minutes ago, Snedger said:

Our transfer dealings are more depressing than our results and performances.

We look like we're collecting young potential with the plan to be suddenly unbeatable one day in five years time. Like that will work out! Will any of these players ever actually play back to back starts for us? Or is it more FA Cup third round match benchwarmers with one lucky one getting 75 minutes from the start at home against Sc**thorpe?

10 minutes ago, Snedger said:

Our transfer dealings are more depressing than our results and performances.

We look like we're collecting young potential with the plan to be suddenly unbeatable one day in five years time. Like that will work out! Will any of these players ever actually play back to back starts for us? Or is it more FA Cup third round match benchwarmers with one lucky one getting 75 minutes from the start at home against Sc**thorpe?

Mudryk - Kai - Sterling 

Nkunku-Mount - Madueke

6 players for 3/4 position sound reasonable. 

 

Daves analysis:

1. We haven't been scoring goals for the last 12 months.

1b. Is it because the forwards are not good enough ;

 ------ We don't have a proper no 9 and haven't had since Costa left. Havertz doesn't even claim to be the main striker

---------- Our wide players have never scored many goals;

***** Conclusion: the forward line needs a refresh and it also needs a system that gives them the opportunities

1c we cant give the forwards the supply they need ;

----- The wing backs have been crap since James and Chilwell were injured. Those guys were both scoring goals and creating. 

------ We really don't have any No 2 right wing back/full back. Dave is way past it at this level.

------  Centre midfield is lacking class without Kante's energy, both Jorginho and Kovacic are great deputies but neither can run the show.

------- But we have enough midfielders that can just about do the job for the rest of this season. Zakaria and Gallagher can provide the energy and kovacic can add value when the time comes and there is a system that suits him/partner he can trust.

******* Conclusion midfield needs to be improved but we can manage with what we've got short term. If the forwards provide more of an attacking threat there will be more opportunities for the midfield. I know its generally the other way round but this season its the forwards that have to provide the impetus .

2. The team lacks confidence because the goalies have too many mistakes in them and the central defenders are old and slow.

---- Yet our defensive record is not that bad and Badiashile may be the missing link.

So despite the fact that I have been calling for midfield and defensive reinforcements for two seasons I can see why management thinks that changing the forward line might be the most important thing to do. We need to score two goals a game average and if we do we will get a lot of points. Our season is not even half over and despite the domestic cup exits and the 10 point deficit to 4th there is still a lot to play for.

 

Edited January 20, 20233 yr by ozboy

12 hours ago, dennisbutnotwisey said:

Pace, power, two footed, good shot, What more do you ask for in a wide man?

Looks clumsy with his dribbling in a weak league, fairly average goal return and a horrific injury record.

Really hope I'm wrong but looks just like when we signed Cuadrado from Italy.

3 hours ago, dkw said:

At last, people are starting to realise!!

14 hours ago, BordeauxBlue said:

Pretty damning for Hudson Odoi if this goes through. 

Still not addressing the glaring issues in midfield and in the striker position though. 

500 million soon spent and I'm not convinced the team is significantly better. Insane really

Agree, and the question is whether Madueke is demonstrably better than CHO to warrant the outlay, particularly as there don't seem to be any noises atm about CHO leaving.

Don't understand this, see he has played for England U-21 and see he has Nigerian Ancestry could it be he is looking to play for Nigeria as a senior and so anticipate us getting revenue from Nigeria and other parts of Africa, Nigeria alone has 225 million people about 4x UK population. 

If that is how they look at it Pulisic will be staying.........

6 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Why do we want trossard? 

We are trying to rebuild our offense, we need player who has the potential to be a star not rotational player. 

Our attack is crying out for players who can put in solid consistent performances. We are not a club known for turning unknown players into stars like Leicester and Brighton are. Maybe 10-12 mill would've been ok. But to spunk 35 mill on an injury prone player who is yet to play in any of the top leagues and when there was no competition for him is too much. We could've easily found better players for the same price in the summer.

Hmm thought this thread would would merged with @Zetaone by now as clearly he is coming. @coconot had his morning coffee and rum?

33 minutes ago, Nick05 said:

Our attack is crying out for players who can put in solid consistent performances. We are not a club known for turning unknown players into stars like Leicester and Brighton are. Maybe 10-12 mill would've been ok. But to spunk 35 mill on an injury prone player who is yet to play in any of the top leagues and when there was no competition for him is too much. We could've easily found better players for the same price in the summer.

Our attack is crying out for quality. Signing a good 28 year old will bring us nowhere.We don't need floor raiser, we need ceiling raiser. 

I won't judge Madueke until he play for us. 

 

5 hours ago, ozboy said:

Daves analysis:

1. We haven't been scoring goals for the last 12 months.

1b. Is it because the forwards are not good enough ;

 ------ We don't have a proper no 9 and haven't had since Costa left. Havertz doesn't even claim to be the main striker

---------- Our wide players have never scored many goals;

***** Conclusion: the forward line needs a refresh and it also needs a system that gives them the opportunities

1c we cant give the forwards the supply they need ;

----- The wing backs have been crap since James and Chilwell were injured. Those guys were both scoring goals and creating. 

------ We really don't have any No 2 right wing back/full back. Dave is way past it at this level.

------  Centre midfield is lacking class without Kante's energy, both Jorginho and Kovacic are great deputies but neither can run the show.

------- But we have enough midfielders that can just about do the job for the rest of this season. Zakaria and Gallagher can provide the energy and kovacic can add value when the time comes and there is a system that suits him/partner he can trust.

******* Conclusion midfield needs to be improved but we can manage with what we've got short term. If the forwards provide more of an attacking threat there will be more opportunities for the midfield. I know its generally the other way round but this season its the forwards that have to provide the impetus .

2. The team lacks confidence because the goalies have too many mistakes in them and the central defenders are old and slow.

---- Yet our defensive record is not that bad and Badiashile may be the missing link.

So despite the fact that I have been calling for midfield and defensive reinforcements for two seasons I can see why management thinks that changing the forward line might be the most important thing to do. We need to score two goals a game average and if we do we will get a lot of points. Our season is not even half over and despite the domestic cup exits and the 10 point deficit to 4th there is still a lot to play for.

 

Superb analysis...  I don't think we were in for Trossard at all. He is 28 and won't fit in to the 6-7 years contract length style we now operate. I see Todd trying to build a team with a coach known to have done it in other clubs for the future. I expect our financial outlay on transfers to drastically reduce after next summer cos by then we would have a complete  new young team with a coach set for the long haul. This is not a 100m race.... More like a marathon 

 

I can only assume most of the people on here don't watch our games if they're asking why we need to sign wingers. We are absolutely terrible up top both in chance creation and goals.

Is he available for our game against Liverpool?

18 hours ago, BordeauxBlue said:

Pretty damning for Hudson Odoi if this goes through. 

I don't really get this. CHO may or may not leave but if this season has taught us anything it should be that it's a squad game these days.

 

Love the mentality he wants to play football not just sit on the bench at a big club.

13 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Why do we want trossard? 

We are trying to rebuild our offense, we need player who has the potential to be a star not rotational player. 

Official.

Wondering what shirt number he’ll be as the options are really limited now.

Damn it feels really nice that we have a proper winger now. None of the inverted wingers bollocks, I want wingers who will hug the line and pull defenders away.

I’ve had enough of wingers trying to be clever such as Pulisic and Ziyech. Now we have Mudryk and Madueke, it seems we are moving into right direction… Could even be as fun as the days of Robben and Duff!

5 hours ago, timetowaste said:

I can only assume most of the people on here don't watch our games if they're asking why we need to sign wingers. We are absolutely terrible up top both in chance creation and goals.

I think the issue is that we don't need another injury prone player. This is our treatment room as it is