5 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I just don't rate him very highly. His end product is terrible.

i disagree

Palace apparently accusing us of tapping him up.

31 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Palace apparently accusing us of tapping him up.

Reeks of them trying to keep the release clause a secret and then getting mad that we've found it out and want to pay exactly that. They want in on the crazy transfer fees. I can't blame them. Who wouldn't? But no one's forced them to set that release clause so they have to suck it up now. Nothing they can do about it unless we pull out. He's gone.

1 minute ago, Barrettinator said:

Reeks of them trying to keep the release clause a secret and then getting mad that we've found it out and want to pay exactly that. They want in on the crazy transfer fees. I can't blame them. Who wouldn't? But no one's forced them to set that release clause so they have to suck it up now. Nothing they can do about it unless we pull out. He's gone.

Agreed, back to being the most hated club in England, maybe Europe. Lovely jubbly  :)

13 hours ago, dan_cfc said:

Good player but we could really do with a goalscorer 

We have one in Nkunku ( will be a big miss). Finding a consistent goal getter from wide area is extemely difficult. 

 

12 hours ago, Argo said:

We signed two elite scorers last season and that didn't stop us having our worst scoring season in 99 years.

Sort out the system and the goals will take care of themselves.

Pep completely disagree. 

 

Spears need points. Where is Robben or Hazard when you need them

8 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Agreed, back to being the most hated club in England, maybe Europe. Lovely jubbly  🙂

Probably the most loved one as well.

When Abramovich started to spend a sh*t load of money on Chelsea, I remember that the Swedish Chelsea forum exploded with new people. Same when City started to spend unreal money and more recently Newcastle. When it comes to City fans, I remember how they saw Chelsea (and United, when the Glazers came in): "oh, happy it is not us, would not like to sell our soul like that and all these money shouldn't be in football" and whatnot, then it took about three days of UAE ownership before they considered everyone elses disgust "jealousy".

A lot of people are fascinated about money and get starstruck when someone has a lot of it. Big money, big names, big attention - all a bit glossy. surreal Hollywood-stuff, and people do watch Hollywood movies.

Then of course there will be a sentiment of people who feels that "I can't relate to this sh*t" or "as someone making £25k a year, my eyes bleed when we spend hundreds of millions on more or less w**k footballers", and they go watch non-league football or something instead. I'm sure there was a fair bit of old-timers that dropped out once Abramovich/UAE/Saudis (and Glazers, though they are in another category of owners) bought their respective clubs. But the majority of people in the world has been conditioned into believing that the concept of wealth, luxuary and obscene spending are beautiful things - and I imagine all these clubs got at least two new fans for each one who felt alienated and f**ked off.

So yeah, you're probably the most hated but also the most loved one.

Turnarounds and's underdogs are the essence of sport. As an Australian I have seen first the men’s team and now even more spectacularly the women’s team  go from complete unknowns to household names. It’s beatlemania here right now. It was the same when Mourinho mk 1 arrived and we beat I think Man U first game. 

Edited August 16, 20232 yr by ozboy

And of course the other thing is the eternal renewal via new young stars. This is why I’m a fan of the young star team we have. It’s intrinsically exciting and if there is enough talent results will follow. 

9 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Palace apparently accusing us of tapping him up.

Hilariously its because we fund about their "super secret hush hush clause" in his contract.....how pathetic is that.

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Ge is technically French so @BordeauxBlueover to you!

Never seen him play. 

 

Jk he's a great talent, needs to work on his end product a bit

3 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Pep completely disagree. 

 

And how much would he win in a team with the latter 3 as his front 3 at the same time?

On paper he'd get about 120 league goals from the trio alone but in reality it won't work like that.

Just like how us adding 30-40 league goals on paper (with Sterling and Auba) didn't turn out that way in practice.

14 hours ago, Argo said:

And how much would he win in a team with the latter 3 as his front 3 at the same time?

On paper he'd get about 120 league goals from the trio alone but in reality it won't work like that.

Just like how us adding 30-40 league goals on paper (with Sterling and Auba) didn't turn out that way in practice.

😅😅😅 Why do you want to play all 3 together.

You said just sort out the system and the goals will come. Yet pep disagree with you, he never mention that his system is the reason for his success, it is this crazy good goalgetter. 

Finishing is a skill, getting good shot is a skill. You don't just score goal magically because you play a certain amount of system. 

Pep's system has always been how to help his goalgetter to get goals. Cutback/low cross for kun, pump crossed for lewa+muller, crosses for Haaland, just give the ball to Messi. 

Sterling is not a elite goalgetter /finisher. He is pretty good at tap in though. If you have watched him play for City, it was obvious. Auba was already washed. 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Finishing is a skill, getting good shot is a skill. You don't just score goal magically because you play a certain amount of system. 

As much as finishing is a skill, the best skill the best strikers has is being in the right place at the right time.

49 minutes ago, dkw said:

As much as finishing is a skill, the best skill the best strikers has is being in the right place at the right time.

This is true. Getting chances is they most important skill but is not as easy as just reading the ball and have good movement. Can you move the defender away ( big cb will try to bully you), can you get to the spot faster, can you get good shot off before defender react. 

Let's forget Haaland who is just aphysical freak. Watch Kane ability to get shot off, simple movement but so quick to get very good shot. 

1 hour ago, dkw said:

As much as finishing is a skill, the best skill the best strikers has is being in the right place at the right time.

I think this is what Sterling is/was good at and lampard as well, although Lampard was of course an outstanding shooter. 

5 minutes ago, ozboy said:

I think this is what Sterling is/was good at and lampard as well, although Lampard was of course an outstanding shooter. 

If all you have is good movement then you need a Haaland/a lewandowski to distract defender or you need to flood the box. 

Other than few goals from set pieces where he is free (flood the box) . Watch how Kane need to push, pull, shove defender to get free and how quick he got a shot off. 

Edited August 17, 20232 yr by Bob stark

1 hour ago, dkw said:

As much as finishing is a skill, the best skill the best strikers has is being in the right place at the right time.

Absolutely. Which involves anticipation (not to forget instinct). First half v Liverpool, obvious even to Blind Freddy that a cross was coming in, Jackson was way too slow getting into the 6 yard box. 

rejected....

 

Ha ha, our bubble has burst 

6 minutes ago, evissy said:

rejected....

 

You have to admit we look comical. If the media is to be believed we are now looking at Brennan Johnson. Can anyone make sense of what we are doing?

Edited August 17, 20232 yr by ducavis

2 minutes ago, ducavis said:

You have to admit we look comical. If the media is to be believed we are now looking at Brennan Johnson. Can anyone make sense of what we are doing?

Obviously looking at Brennan instead of Olise. I’ll be very happy with Brennan anyway

Must admit I didn't see that one coming LOL.

I guess like Zaha his ambition is to have a career bumbling around in mid table - the big fish in a small pond scenario ... probably still sore that we let him go as a 14 year old as well.

Not convinced we even needed him to be honest. 

Anyway ... next ... 🙂