I thought it was about time we moved on from the Man city game and our somewhat disappointing end to the season and looked at better things.
So after getting Boubacar Kamara (on a free) in really early and Phillipe Coutinho (£17 million) even earlier, the club have just announced that we’ve now signed Diego Carlos from Sevilla for a rumoured £26 million.
Even better is the fact that AC Milan were also interested, but frankly couldn’t compete with what we’re supposed to have offered him in wages.
When you consider that Carlos’ supposed value on Transfermkrt is £40 million plus that looks excellent business on the face of it. The Spanish club have to comply with some FFP type rule by the end of June and we’ve obviously used it as something to beat the club down with and then offering the Brazilian defender no doubt sky high wages has obviously swung the deal. We all know how a player can sway a move if he really wants it.
It’s the same with Kamara. I’d love to know what we’re paying him, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s currently our highest paid player. £200K a week, or £40 million total, over a four year deal is pretty good business for example and hopefully he hasn’t even cost that much, which makes it an even better deal!
I’ve pretty much said all this in the replies section in the previous thread, so I kind of shot my foot in the foot there, but oh well, this is worth a new subject, I think.
I’m guessing we’ve probably committed to a £60 million spend for this season alone.
Are we spending the Grealish money, I wonder?
If so, we’ve bought an attacking mid, a defensive mid and now a defender. While I think I said previously that I thought we need 5-6 players in (or at least thought it), I think the most popular opinion from what I’d read was around four new players required.
Top players, I mean.
Squad players would be replacements for all those that will go.
So I’m guessing we are going to spend another £40 million on a striker or maybe another two cheaper players.
That’s without wages, by the way.
There’s lots of variables of course, as we could get good money for Ings, if he goes.
But whatever, it’s highly encouraging isn’t it?
We’re doing our business really quickly and even if we pause now, we’ll have players in that will do the whole pre-season. That can only be a good thing, although in all honesty, I don’t think it’s such a big deal. Almost everyone else does though, so I have to go with that, I guess.
What else is also impressing me is how this time, those that are usually totally speculating seem to be very on the ball.
I guess it makes a pleasant change from hearing the usual clickbaiters getting it totally wrong.
I’m also guessing that us paying wages that are blowing top clubs out of the water is hard to keep quiet.
I have previously voiced my concerns that we may be ending up with a “bomb squad mk11”, but I suppose what we’re doing is the right way to go if we really want to compete and get better.
You have to speculate to accumulate and I have to be appreciative of what our generous owners are doing.
UTV!
See Archer scored again for U21’s after coming on as a substitute in 71st minute although they ultimately lost 1-2
Bissouma gone to Spuds. Hmmm…
Given the rumoured fee, which is similar to what we’d offered in the winter window, I’d guess he didn’t want to come.
Hence, we move on.
You can’t win ’em all.
They finished 4th.
Champions League football next season.
Same reason Phillips will probably end up at Citeh…
What the devil happened to the (SG) “Sign Him And They Will Come” ??
Obviously …
(A) Being a proven winner as a manager
(B) Opportunity of CL football
(C) More money
are all more of draw?
To be fair Badger, why would Bissouma want a sideways move? Spurs are bigger than us at the moment with 60,000 stadium and European football. It’s been around 20 years since we were challenging the top 4. With the likes of Newcastle and West Ham joining the established top 6, we are unlikely to be reaching those giddy heights for a long long time.
IMO, it’ll take a while for the Saudi money to kick-in at Toon, and West Ham aren’t any better-placed than us (OK, they have a bigger stadium…), in fact WHam have pretty useless owners as far as I can see.
This is why Gerrard absolutely has to work miracles with whatever players he already has, or can realistically tempt this summer. And it has to be in the coming season, with at least a UEFA spot, if top-4 is completely unrealsitic.
Worst defeat sise 1928 what a shit team ..
Home defeat..
I totally agree chaps.
You forgot the pull of London too.
If I was a neutral, I’d choose Spurs over us too, if I have to be honest.
Although, Holte, don’t be so sure that Newcastle will have it all their own way.
It’s a funny old game, remember and we have to think positive (at least some of the time in my case 🙂 ).
Oops Ardent beat me to it.
But he’s right, imo. We have a window, albeit quite small.
I’ve said it Southgate lost it , I knew we would struggle against a team that knows how we play, one two quick football belongs in 5 a side ,football is what it is Football a player with brains and skills.
West Ham are currently bigger than us! That’s a fact. It hasn’t always been the case but our history means nothing except to us the fans. It didn’t take Citeh long to monopolise when the oil money came their way and it won’t take the Barcodes long either IMO. I reckon 3-4 years before they are top 6.
Shall we all just meet back here in 12 months time and save ourselves the aggregation?
Maybe.
This is going to be an odd season, with the joke of having the World Cup in the middle.
Anything could happen.
…aggrevation.
Is it wrong that I cheered when Hungary scored? That’s how much I despise Southgate and his dull tactics and if it takes defeats and fans to turn on him, all the better!
I’m laughing Holte.
I’ve never rated Southgate and can’t wait for him to be gone.
Such a boring none entity, it’s untrue.
Trouble is, the idiots that run the FA will probably only appoint similar as his replacement.
OMG, 3-0!
How embarrassing is that?
Told you…
Told red carded for a none foul. Joke decision, that.
“You don’t know what you’re doing” 😂 Taxi for Southgate?
Stones
Let’s face facts. England are getting smashed by a team which includes a Barnsley player. The most recognised club that a couple of their players represent is Leipzig! Oh and it’s 0-4!
Unfortunately his job will be safe because he’s an FA media puppet / muppet.
It’s taken 4 years, but Southgate has finally run out of luck.
Not that the FA are likely to remove him at this very late stage, howvever much the media will be calling for his head tonight.
Never mind, we’ll be the first team back from Quatar, and the domestic season can get back to normal a bit earlier than planned.
True Ardent Villian, Southgate has been lucky the day he walked into the Job, a player that missed a penaltyand shamed the nation and done it again today, he won’t be sacked until Wembleyhas a loss in seats.
The side Southgate put out today contains more egos than team players. Players who are stars at their clubs and used to having ‘domestiques’ – to borrow a phrase from the Tour – tidying up and feeding them. A national version of Manure 2022.
Plus total incompetents. I have said it for ages Ramsdale is a clown. The oddity is his run of good form for the Gunners – taking over from Pope as our #13 – you must be joking. Stones likewise, though he deserved his booking for the deliberate elbow – he often does it, the second card should be withdrawn and handed to the Hungary player for the fraud. Phillips and Saka = egos and sulky.
I spent the evening eating great fish and chips and drinking wine sitting in the sunshine by the water in the Lakes with a group of super friends.
England won the Test with a brand of cricket bordering on the ludicrous because the ECB finally woke up and appointed exciting, gifted people in the right places.
I had a brilliant day because I didn’t even think about English football once 🙂
Hitch that’s the future.
No one has the slightest interest in the English national side ( well none that I converse with)
too PC, too involved in politics and the ‘pièce de résistance” …
too fooking boring!
Well as I’ve said and totally agree to O.L.L. comments Southgate a clown and was in his playing days. He’s humiliated us again and no excuses fans should have to listen too. A Bloody Egotistical twat.
Listening to TalkShite on the way to work this afternoon and apparently the Wicked Witch Of The West (AKA Souhtgate) reckons this is the best England team for 50 years!
(God knows just how bad the worse one was)
at least nobody’s called them “The Golden Generation”…