comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 18 minutes ago
All I'm gonna say is when we wanted a Van Dijk we went out and got ourselves a Van Dijk. When we wanted a Alisson, we got ourselves a Alisson.

Both players were identified as top targets by the club to push us to the next level.
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Have you forgotten the VVD saga? Had to overpay for him, pay a punishment and wait what? 8 months to get him? We didn't just go out and get ourselves a VVD. Also didn't have competition for his signature. Opportunistic.

Sounds like this Zubi business isn't over either if the new reports have any truth to them.

Remember Tchouameni saying he'd decide his move after the CL final, which we then lost. Man what a rubbish month or so that was for us

comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted about a minute ago
comment by Mamba - You hit us, We hit you. (U1282)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted less than a minute ago
comment by Mamba - You hit us, We hit you. (U1282)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Fred: Sign Someone!!!! (U3979)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Mamba - You hit us, We hit you. (U1282)
posted 38 minutes ago
If none of them wanted to join, then fine, but we didn't go in for them did we.
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Everything is just basic and simple for you Fred. Some things are a tad more complicated than you think perhaps.

We didn't go for them probably because our manager and transfer team don't see him as suitable for us. Ugarte was banded around since last year and we didn't go near him all that time. In the midst of it all, the only player we went for was Zubi. That says something.

You don't even work in football like our committee, and often offer the worst, least thought out opinions on football on here, so it's understandable if you that's how you see it.
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Why do you always need to get personal? No need, whatsoever. It's just diiiickhead behaviour tbh.

It's not like I have a massively wild opinion thinking we could have signed a 6 in the window. It was pretty much the leading opinion of 90% of pundits as well, who are a lot closer to the game than any of us armchair pundits.
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Nothing personal there Fred. Man the fack up FFS.

I didn't say it was a wild opinion. Would have been nice to sign a 6 that the manager and club want and that also wants to be at the club. IMO, it wasn't to be. A new player like say, Ugarte, is as much a risk as deciding to try out Grav at 6. Signings have to improve the team, that's the aim.

Early doors, but does anyone think we'd be doing better with Ugarte instead of Grav at 6. Genuine question too as it's a matter of opinion with ni way to confirm what would have actually happened. At the moment I feel it was the right decision to go with Grav after Zubi said no.

Revisit the issue in January, which might be a bkessiyin disguise as Slot will have more data and info to work with after 6 months on the job. Hopefully it will lead to better decision making.
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Also, let's not forget that when these conversations were going on in the summer, nobody expected Grav to excel the way he has in the role. That's been a huge asset to the team.

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Shouldn't we learn a lesson from that?

I knew something like that could happen. Not exactly as it happened of course, I thought it'd AMA, but as I kept saying all summer, Slot and the club will have a plan, we have other players that can play the position and we should only sign the chosen ones now.

Also said Diaz was perfect, just need the new manager to add goals and assists to his game, and he has started this season well enough in that department.

Long story short, we'll see how it goes but so far I am pretty happy with how things are going. That could change soon because we can't afford two defeats in succession in the league. Pressure is on Slot this weekend.
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Forest blip aside, it has been a fantastic start to the season. But we haven't had to rotate our midfield once yet. Once we have a far more pressing run of games, then we will find out how suited this squad is.
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It's pretty much the same squad we had last season.

Players are more bedded-in though, Gravenberch particularly. Our young squad of players are developing.

Also we have Chiesa now, can't wait to see him in proper action

we have spaghetti now

"This is guesswork obviously but I’d imagine we received some sort of encouragement that a lower offer would be considered. "

So you agree...Zubi is the 'only' one because there was the opportunity to sign him for less than his market value

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 2 minutes ago
Players are more bedded-in though, Gravenberch particularly. Our young squad of players are developing.

Also we have Chiesa now, can't wait to see him in proper action
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comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted less than a minute ago
"This is guesswork obviously but I’d imagine we received some sort of encouragement that a lower offer would be considered. "

So you agree...Zubi is the 'only' one because there was the opportunity to sign him for less than his market value
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No, because there was the opportunity to sign him. The deal fell through when he decided to stay at Sociedad, not when we failed to pay the required fee.

That means we were willing to pay it, otherwise why was the player having to decide?

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 5 minutes ago
Remember Tchouameni saying he'd decide his move after the CL final, which we then lost. Man what a rubbish month or so that was for us
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That 21/22 season was so close to absolute perfection. Nearly winning the quadruple after nearly gong invincible and centurions in 18/19, almost winning prem and European cup double.

Klopp also losing in 3 champions league finals, might make him the unluckiest manager ever tbh.

comment by Mamba - You hit us, We hit you. (U1282)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted less than a minute ago
"This is guesswork obviously but I’d imagine we received some sort of encouragement that a lower offer would be considered. "

So you agree...Zubi is the 'only' one because there was the opportunity to sign him for less than his market value
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No, because there was the opportunity to sign him. The deal fell through when he decided to stay at Sociedad, not when we failed to pay the required fee.

That means we were willing to pay it, otherwise why was the player having to decide?
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Yeah we were ready to pay him the money to activate the clause but he decided against triggering it.

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 1 minute ago
"This is guesswork obviously but I’d imagine we received some sort of encouragement that a lower offer would be considered. "

So you agree...Zubi is the 'only' one because there was the opportunity to sign him for less than his market value
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What?! I'm not sure how you even inferred that from my post.

No, I don't agree. My opinion is that we identified Zubimendi because of his skillset, the way Slot wants to play and our need within the squad. Once identified I believe we most likely tried to sign him for either the best price or most advantageous payment structure.

Fwiw, I don't believe Zubi is/was the only DM that has the skillset and team fit to improve us and I would've liked to see the club move to other targets. I'm just not the kind of support to lose my sh*t about things like that.

The club obviously felt differently to me and that's fine. It feels like an illogical leap to take outcome and suggest it as evidence that we don't have a list of targets and that we work purely on opportunism.

People really have selective memory...it's actually crazy

We agreed everything with the player. He told us yes. All we had to do was pay the release clause but instead we tried to negotiate something with Sociedad...within 48hrs Zubi called off the deal

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted about a minute ago
People really have selective memory...it's actually crazy

We agreed everything with the player. He told us yes. All we had to do was pay the release clause but instead we tried to negotiate something with Sociedad...within 48hrs Zubi called off the deal
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All I remember is reading we were ready to pay him the money required but he had a change of heart.

After Sociedad convinced him to stay that is.

comment by Mo Salahhhhh 7-0 Egyptian King 👑 (U8829)

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That 21/22 season was so close to absolute perfection. Nearly winning the quadruple after nearly gong invincible and centurions in 18/19, almost winning prem and European cup double.

Klopp also losing in 3 champions league finals, might make him the unluckiest manager ever tbh.
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So glad for him that he did manage a CL and Title with us, would be so sad if he went down as a nearly-man

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 3 minutes ago
People really have selective memory...it's actually crazy

We agreed everything with the player. He told us yes.
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Eh?

Joyce article said we still needed to reach an agreement with Sociedad. To me that indicates we were confident of lowballing them out of the release clause

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 3 minutes ago
People really have selective memory...it's actually crazy

We agreed everything with the player. He told us yes. All we had to do was pay the release clause but instead we tried to negotiate something with Sociedad...within 48hrs Zubi called off the deal
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All I know is what I read, probably the same things you read.

We were told Zubi wanted to move, we tried to negotiate but Sociedad made it clear it was release clause up front or nothing, and we were willing to do that. But Zubi turned us down.

If any of that is selective then I'm happy to be corrected. It's just what I read.

The subtle detail is we weren't actually willing to pay the release clause...which to me is what Sociedad used to convince him to stay

It was widely reported that we were willing to pay the buyout clause

comment by Michael Edwards FC 2.0 loading…{Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 3 minutes ago
The subtle detail is we weren't actually willing to pay the release clause...which to me is what Sociedad used to convince him to stay
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FSG Out

comment by Peter O'Hanraha-hanrahan (U1217)
posted 2 minutes ago
It was widely reported that we were willing to pay the buyout clause
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Oops, FSG In again

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Peter O'Hanraha-hanrahan (U1217)
posted 2 minutes ago
It was widely reported that we were willing to pay the buyout clause
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Oops, FSG In again
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Can't believe people are waanking over Zubi again. His indecision might cost us this season even if we buy him in Jan.

They wanted to keep him, so his only option was to pay the RC himself, which isnt a small matter, its essentially forcing your way out of the club, ala neymar