It's not but £100m plus for a 27 year old? I don't think they'd do that deal. Although I suppose if it was the missing piece of the jigsaw it would be worth it.

comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Szoboss (U6997)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t talk to me unless you can do ten (U6374)
posted 53 seconds ago
comment by Mo Salahhhhh 7-0 Egyptian King 👑 (U8829)
posted 2 seconds ago
Arsenal had Vieira.
Chelsea had Essien, Makelele, Kante, Matic.
United had Keane, Carrick, Hargreaves.
City had Fernandinho, Rodri.
We had Fabinho.

I’m sorry but to win this league or Champions League, you need a proper dm. End of Debate.
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Yep. It’s quite funny to watch the mental gymnastics some will go through to try and say otherwise.
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I don't think many (any?) would say we don't need a DM Robbing, it's more the type of DM we would want/need.

In the list of players above there are very different types of player. That's the point isn't it? A DM that suits Slot's style and modern football. I would personally argue we don't want a Makalele or Matic but would love a Rodri.
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Possibly, but personally I like options.

We lack power and pace and physicality in midfield, we just do, and I don’t see that as up for debate. We do not have a single player in the squad with that profile, who’s also good off the ball and I am certain there will be game where we need one.

There is a reason every elite team that wins the big trophies has one. Every. Single. One. It’s not coincidence.
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I’m not arguing that we don’t need a DM. Or that we need more legs and power in CM. I’m not arguing against the need for one to be competitive at the elite level (which is what EPL and CL are). I’m agreeing with the need and will do. Every. Single. Time.

The only real point of difference on this board is what sort of player we’d all accept as an appropriate DM. And that acceptance seems to define levels of frustration felt with the club for inaction over the summer.

Imo, the friction comes from people pulling things out of their ass and trying to pass it off as fact and then suggesting that people are mentally ill if they disagree.

There’s no-one available.
Slot doesn’t want a ball winning midfielder.
Players that can win the ball and pass are ‘extreme examples’.

All absolute bollox and made up, and I could go on.

We've been over this but the club has tried getting a DM several times but it's not worked out for different reasons each time. In one case, we tried going almost 50% higher than our previous record signing and it still wasn't enough.

In short it's probably a unique market when shopping for that position currently, and I'm happy trying Gravenberch there.

There have been an enormous amount of excuses given tbf.

It seems we are looking for a DM, aged 23-25, in the last year of his contract, with a complete skill set both with and without the ball, who wants to be paid less than £150k a week and it turns out there’s not a single player in world football other than 12 times capped Zubimendi that fits the bill.

comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t ... (U6374)
posted 24 seconds ago
Imo, the friction comes from people pulling things out of their ass and trying to pass it off as fact and then suggesting that people are mentally ill if they disagree.

There’s no-one available.
Slot doesn’t want a ball winning midfielder.
Players that can win the ball and pass are ‘extreme examples’.

All absolute bollox and made up, and I could go on.
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Yeah that's just Sun level paraphrasing and sensationalism.

Obviously the straight jacket thing is a joke based on your constant repeating of the same thing no matter the topic and I don't actually think you're mentally ill. A bit strange that I have to say that.

It's quite obvious there was nobody available in the role Slot wants, hence we didn't buy one and settled on Gravenberch and the ones that they felt were available and fit the system they attempted to bring in.

Yes Slot doesn't want just a ball winner. All of our midfield can win the ball. However he doesn't want a dedicated ball winner, he wants a player who is good on the ball. That's not made up, it's evidenced by the players the club went after and him settling on Gravenberch rather than Endo when the deals couldn't be done and not going after dedicated ball winners who were in fact available, like Ugarde.

Yes players who are great ball winners like Rice and Rodri are extreme examples as they are also great on the ball and therefore would fit. Where are all the other players like them?

This all stems from the fact you were proposing players during the window who didn't fit the system, just because they were ball winners. Again Slot is not looking for a dedicated ball winner, this is evidenced. He wants his deepest player to be good on the ball.

This may turn out to be a mistake and he revises it or he could hold out for the player he wants and we get exactly the right player in, making the decision not to simply get a ball winner in the correct one. We'll see. However at this moment in time this is what he has and there's no point repeating ad infinitum, no matter the topic, that we need a ball winner.

comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t ... (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
There have been an enormous amount of excuses given tbf.

It seems we are looking for a DM, aged 23-25, in the last year of his contract, with a complete skill set both with and without the ball, who wants to be paid less than £150k a week and it turns out there’s not a single player in world football other than 12 times capped Zubimendi that fits the bill.
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Oh dear. Do you hear the sirens yet?

Pretty sure I asked you not to post to me again

Oh. Must have missed that. As you wish.

comment by TheresOnlyOne7-0Reds (U1721)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by Robbing Hoody - keepy up arbiter. Don’t ... (U6374)
posted 2 minutes ago
There have been an enormous amount of excuses given tbf.

It seems we are looking for a DM, aged 23-25, in the last year of his contract, with a complete skill set both with and without the ball, who wants to be paid less than £150k a week and it turns out there’s not a single player in world football other than 12 times capped Zubimendi that fits the bill.
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Oh dear. Do you hear the sirens yet?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

tyler morton

Morton started against Milan last time, at the San Siro no less

Moving on from our midfield malaise, what are your predicted line ups for tonight?

I'm thinking we'll get a fair few changes but strong:

----------------- Alisson----------------
TAA --- Quansah -- VVD --- Tsimi
-------------- Grav --- Jones ---------
------------------- Szobo ---------------
Salah -------- Nunez -------- Gakpo

5 changes is my guess.

comment by Szoboss (U6997)
posted 4 minutes ago
Moving on from our midfield malaise, what are your predicted line ups for tonight?

I'm thinking we'll get a fair few changes but strong:

----------------- Alisson----------------
TAA --- Quansah -- VVD --- Tsimi
-------------- Grav --- Jones ---------
------------------- Szobo ---------------
Salah -------- Nunez -------- Gakpo

5 changes is my guess.

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Very good, but who’s going to win the ball for us ?

I would like to see Nunez start too. Hindsight obviously but he should really have started on Saturday given he was fully rested unlike Jota

comment by Be A Grizzly (U2206)

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Very good, but who’s going to win the ball for us ?
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Been rather disappointed with Jota so far this season, he needs to improve. I’d definitely take him out for tonight, although I’d probably go with Gakpo rather than Nunez and leave Salah and Diaz in.

Be tempted with Gakpo on the left and Nunez up top.

Depends how strong we want to go vs West Ham a bit too I guess.

I think Nunez is more suited to away games where he has space to play in. So tonight would be a good game for him to come in.

Need to see euros Gakpo aswell, he had a good tournament but hasn’t had much of a chance yet so far.

Would absolutely love a good old turn and twăt goal from Darwin tonight.

Also really hope we see Chiesa, convenient chance to play a club he knows

It's not ideal for me to start both Gakpo and Nunez. Gakpo needs a link up player to work off, like Jota and Nunez needs pace and directness like Diaz. It's been difficult for them to show what they've got off the bench so far and I think a lot of it is due to the partnerships they've had when they have come on.

Of course you could always play Nunez left and Gakpo central but that only solves a short term issue. For me we should be looking at getting Nunez up to speed and being our main striker.

Personally I'd start Diaz, with Nunez and if Chiesa is fit, try that out. Could be a good European away attack that. Gakpo can always come on second half for any of those three, preferably Diaz if everything is going well.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 53 seconds ago
Also really hope we see Chiesa, convenient chance to play a club he knows
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25 mins off the bench for Salah would be perfect. Gives Mo a rest, Chiesa some minutes and would hopefully indicate we're a couple of goals up!

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 1 minute ago
Also really hope we see Chiesa, convenient chance to play a club he knows
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Slot spoke on him a bit in the presser. Said he won’t start but will be in the squad.

Good to hear, I forgot to listen to it

Just realised Morata plays for AC so now I'm quite invested in us beating Milan and hopefully quite badly, actually