29 May 2025 20:52:39
I believe the squad will look like this next season, for a bit of fun, fill in the gaps;
GK: Alisson and marma (sorry, not even going to try for the rest)
DF: Bradley, Frimpong, Konate, Vvd, Gomez, Robbo
New left back and new CB.
MF: Endo, Grav, Mac, Szobo, Jones, Wirtz and maybe Bajcetic
FW: Salah, Diaz, Gakpo, Jota or Chiesa.
New striker.
So left back, CB and centre forward - who we going with?
29 May 2025 21:05:17
Who I think we go for? Kerkez, Guehi, Ekitike.
Who I want? Kerkez, Murillo, Osimhen.
29 May 2025 21:13:47
Who I want: Estupinian, Alvarez and Murillo.
Who I think we will get: kerkez, Retegui, Scalvini.
29 May 2025 21:41:03
I'm just going to go with 1 list:
Kerkez, Kane and Araujo (as part of a deal taking Diaz to Barca)
29 May 2025 21:47:34
Who we buy: Kerkez, Hato and Thuram.
Who is want: Kerkez, Hato and Alvarez.
29 May 2025 21:53:48
Thuram is bad news. Gobbed on another player in the Bundesliga and there was that domestic abuse thing he was wrapped up in. Sounds like a bad egg. Not even as if he’s that good to be worth putting up with his dickheadedness.
29 May 2025 22:04:56
Who would be your 3 choices, Victor?
29 May 2025 22:05:19
It sounds like he wouldn't pass the much vaunted Vikvaughan dickhead test, then.
29 May 2025 22:23:51
Would Viktor pass the dick head test?!
29 May 2025 22:57:43
Vik doesn't get three picks because he reckons we'll only sign one or two players.
29 May 2025 22:47:39
Seems kerkez is a good choice for all.
Murillo is an interesting shout, definitely ready for the prem, but will he be interested in being third choice to start and fighting for his spot. I personally think hato would be perfect - given he has the time to adapt to the league, I feel Virg would mentor him well.
Striker I really don’t know. I don’t want Diaz or Gakpo to leave, I don’t think we can buy better. So happy with Diaz in the backup CF role too. I’d want someone with height and good link up play. Etikite looks raw, but could be that guy - but the numbers look crazy for a gamble. Sesko the same for me, never been that impressed when I’ve seen him, feels like a Darwin regen. Haven’t seen anything of retegui to comment, and I just don’t think Alvarez wants the move, else he would be my dream choice.
30 May 2025 01:18:14
I really think Osimhen would be a great fit for us footballing wise.
And I’d prefer that we bring in an experienced striker ready to go.
30 May 2025 05:03:29
Looks like Juventus are trying to offload Dusan Vhalovic.
Mateo Retegui seems to be in demand now with Juve and A Madrid looking at him. Hope we are also lookning into him.
30 May 2025 05:56:35
Perhaps a. madrid looking for an alvarez replacement ?.
30 May 2025 06:15:01
Off loading Darwin who was a untested PL player on the back of 1 good season with potential to become great with another player who is PL untested on the back of 1 good season with the selling point they have potential to be become great is surely a gamble.
30 May 2025 06:50:18
I'm trying to think of the sort of center forward that would be deadliest in what we are building and my answer still remains isak, though isak would have to do more with less of the ball and would have to adapt his game to do a lot of selfless work occupying the defence, making dummy runs, drawing defenders, plus he would have to show that he can press consistently. Given all of that even if we somehow manage to get in the conversation of moving for him I don't know that he would want to move.
It looks to me that we want something like psg have, with very technical and versatile players up front who can switch positions and who excel in one on one situations, with two overlapping full backs who can cause havoc on the flanks and can beat their defenders, with two 8s who can carry the ball through the lines and are themselves a problem when they get in the half spaces or arriving into the box, leading to a situation where the defence simply doesn't know who to mark.
This looks like the template in modern football now against teams with organised low blocks, being able to generate unpredictability in individual battles. With that in mind I think a lot of the 9s listed might not be what we are looking for, purely based on guesswork, and ekitike seems like a more viable option as an alternative to isak.
Ekitike is the best among the others on offer in terms of the chaos he can create with the ball at his feet and his ability to take up wide positions throughout the game. However his finishing is not any better than Darwin, he is fast but in terms of raw pace Darwin is clearly superior, he is also not great in the air and his passing is not a standout feature of his game. That being said he is a very willing and very capable presser, likes to drop deep to occupy defenders, runs non-stop and isn't a static lamp post in the box. If he isn't expected to be the main source of goals he can be a very useful player and fits a bit better than Darwin would.
So the answer to the question here, realistically, might be kerkez, lukeba, ekitike (if the price can be got to 50-70 mill)
30 May 2025 09:40:37
CB and LB are easy, Hato and Kerkez would be my choice like most others.
I don't rate Ekitike, flopped at Newcastle and flopped at PSG. I would also be dubious of buying a striker as the Haalands and Lewandowskis are rare. He also ain't going to score more goals than Jota averages a season.
Isak would be number 1 but like Alvarez that deal will be hard to complete. Gokoyres, pass. We know what happened last time we brought a striker in who was scoring for fun from Portugal.
Retegue after what has been a breakout season, won't be moving here. he's more likely to go to another Italian side.
That leaves the likes of Oshimen, Vlahovic whom both would be available for around the £60m mark. I would prefer either if we can't get Isak.
30 May 2025 09:58:11
Firmane has 15 overseas players in his squad. We are only allowed 17. This means only 2 of the 3 spaces can be filled with overseas players.
30 May 2025 10:39:08
Ekitike never played for Newcastle, what are you on about?
30 May 2025 10:39:42
I like oshimen but I don't think he would suit us in terms of build up play. He doesn't get involved with it at all, which would be different from how we currently play. I really think wirtz will end up playing on the left or as false 9 a lot aswell.
If wirtz was playing left dropping into the half space on the left while szob does same on right.
Would allow salah to be inside forward on the right which would mean we would want our striker to be more favoured drifting a bit left and attacking from there. Which to me would be absolutely ideal for Isak.
Now seeing as we most likely don't get him I think alvarez would be good but don't think he will be attainable either. I think we will end up most likely with Ekitike with the way things look but wouldn't be my main choice. Haven't seen him much in the last 12 months when apparently has improved a lot so can't comment too much on that.
So I think we will get Kerkez Hato and Ekitike.
I would obviously love Kerkez Hato and Isak.
30 May 2025 13:42:43
PB, brain fart. I always get him and some other fella that played for Newcastle mixed up ?.
30 May 2025 13:56:24
Would never sell Diaz if it was my call; versatile enough, plays with a motor and for the team, low wages, and can beat defenders 1on1 like anyone else in the squad
Kerkez seems all but done, so I guess it's okey
Would bring Loic Bade at center-back if Konate has to be sold, plus Samu Orodion as the number 9: power to run at defenders or hold the play, and a pure poacher at 21 for Slot to work with.