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Transfers Summer 2022 Transfer Thread.

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Andy Sinton said:
May I ask how much you've watched of Zaniolo to make your prediction? That's ZaniolO, not ZaniolA.

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The lack of response suggests you have seen nothing of Zaniolo to make the assessment you have. Comes across as attention seeking. Much like Kulusevski is and was dismissed as a second rate signing by many who had never seen him play. I'd expect it from rival fans, but our own? Pretty poor.
 
Not sure about the worry for Chelsea? They haven't improved any position with their signings. Koulibaly isn't as good as Rudiger. Cucurella and Chilwell are similar standard. Sterling is overrated. They have no striker. Challenging Liverpool and City? Seems unlikely.
 
Andy Sinton said:
The lack of response suggests you have seen nothing of Zaniolo to make the assessment you have. Comes across as attention seeking. Much like Kulusevski is and was dismissed as a second rate signing by many who had never seen him play. I'd expect it from rival fans, but our own? Pretty poor.
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I like Kulusevski. This is what I said about him

Joan Thomas said:
Liked what I saw of him last night. A pal said his play reminded him of the legend Ricky Villa.

I'm now dreaming of a Dejan moment like this in the final

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Joan Thomas said:
Decent player and definitely underrated but I think / hope Dejan is a cut above.
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Really impressed with the difference he made last season. Definitely instrumental in our pipping Woolwich to a top 4 spot.

BTW, not sure how old you are, but watch that goal by Ricky. What a signing. What a night!
 
Andy Sinton said:
Not sure about the worry for Chelsea? They haven't improved any position with their signings. Koulibaly isn't as good as Rudiger. Cucurella and Chilwell are similar standard. Sterling is overrated. They have no striker. Challenging Liverpool and City? Seems unlikely.
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You don't have to rate Sterling that highly to see he's a clear upgrade on Pulisic or Werner at LW.
 
Sir Archibald Crooks said:
I remember the exact same thing being said in 2016 and 2017. You need to be able to replace very good players with other very good players. I still think we need two first team level players, 1 centre back and 1 creative attacking player to make it a truly successful window.
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If you have a model that doesn't allow you to replace key components of your starting eleven however, then it simply isn't possible.

Bringing in an attacking midfielder, whilst spending £50,000,000+ on doing so, when our formation isn't set up or suited in playing an attacking midfielder is spending for the sake of spending.

Just look at Liverpool. Over the years, they've focused more on improving their depth options to a higher standard than simply replacing their starting eleven, until it became clear they needed to. So over the last few years when it's been clear that in their system they cannot replace these key players:

Allison, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Mane, Salah and Firmino.

They decided to improve the depth behind these players by bringing in the likes of

- Diogo Jota from Wolves, who's a lot better of an option than Origi or Shaqiri.
- Tsimakis, who's a much better left back option to replace Robertson within their system
- Konate, who's definitely an upgrade on some of the centre backs they had previously and can actually push Matip for a starting spot.
- Luis Diaz, who was brought in again to add depth to attacking options.

But Liverpools system and starting line up pretty much remained unchanged and they went a few transfer windows over the last few years signing very little in terms of first team upgrades. Probably only Thiago before this window was a true upgrade on their starting eleven.

Nunez has signed this summer as a clear focal point in a bid to replace Firmino, who's slowly been phased out of that Liverpool team anyway. But they needed that. They needed a new striker and they got one. We don't need an attacking midfielder.

We do need a right wing back and a new centre back. Unfortunately, there's a lack of available top quality right wing backs in the game so Conte is going to try his luck at coaching the ones he does have into hopefully being somewhat productive and unfortunately the centre back option we wanted doesn't want to leave Inter, certainly not this summer anyway.

But we've certainly improved in that Liverpool sense of we have a system in place that Conte has implemented and I'd say we now have key players in position:

Lloris, Dier, Romero, Perisic, Bissouma, Son and Kane.

That's seven players of our starting eleven that I think over the course of the season will be the important players for Conte.

Last winter and this summer alone we've signed and improved our depth (in the same way Liverpool have meticulously done over the last few years.

- Richarlison is a clear upgrade on the outgoing Bergwijn and provides versatility.
- Lenglet adds depth and experience, is an upgrade on Rodon but also, quite importantly, suits the profile we need at centre half.
- Forster, whilst not the most glamorous, is most definitely an upgrade on Gollini and HG
- Kulusevski was an upgrade on Lucas and Bergwijn at the time of signing. Shown his quality.
- Bentancur was a massive upgrade on Winks.

That's without mentioning Bissouma and Perisic, who I've already listed as players I feel will end up being undroppable over the course of the season.

The next requirement for Spurs, either in the January transfer window, or next summer is continuing to improve that depth AND that first eleven if possible. Key term there being 'if possible' . So, bring in a top class right wing back (if available) to replace the hopefully outgoing Doherty and Royal. Bring in a top class potentially world class centre back to replace the outgoing Lenglet and upgrade on Ben Davies. And then bring in better depth to replace the likes of Lucas.

I trust we will get there.
 
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Joan Thomas said:
I like Kulusevski. This is what I said about him





Really impressed with the difference he made last season. Definitely instrumental in our pipping Woolwich to a top 4 spot
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My comment was about the period when we turned to him after giving up on Adama Traore. When many across the internet were saying he was second-rate signing because he wasn't first choice. I think everyone became aware after he signed how good he is, in the period you have quoted above.

What is it about Zaniolo you are apprehensive about? He's certainly built for Prem football and has the close control to escape the fast pressing of the league.
 
Raumdeuterz said:
Sure, I agree they won't challenge. They'll get third imo.

But you said they hadn't upgraded any position. They're significantly better at LW now.
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Maybe I'm blinkered, but I don't rate Sterling at all. Tap in merchant whose only trick is to get to the byline as quick as possible. I'm not sure Chelsea have the creative quality around him to see him bang the goals he did at City. Without goals, Sterling doesn't amount to much.

As for Pulisic and Werner. They scream KDB and Salah at Chelsea to me. More wasted talent.
 
Andy Sinton said:
Maybe I'm blinkered, but I don't rate Sterling at all. Tap in merchant whose only trick is to get to the byline as quick as possible. I'm not sure Chelsea have the creative quality around him to see him bang the goals he did at City. Without goals, Sterling doesn't amount to much.

As for Pulisic and Werner. They scream KDB and Salah at Chelsea to me. More wasted talent.
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His off the ball work is elite. As in some of the best in the world. You see the difference there when Grealish plays instead of him. He's also one of City's best dribblers statistically. Fast, top dribbler, and a nightmare for defenders to pick up.

He's not clinical & his end product in terms of passing & crossing is suspect. But he's a top player who will improve Chelsea.
 
Andy Sinton said:
My comment was about the period when we turned to him after giving up on Adama Traore. When many across the internet were saying he was second-rate signing because he wasn't first choice. I think everyone became aware after he signed how good he is, in the period you have quoted above.

What is it about Zaniolo you are apprehensive about? He's certainly built for Prem football and has the close control to escape the fast pressing of the league.
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I wouldn’t say apprehensive, just maybe a little sceptical.

We seem to have been linked with both he and Maddison throughout the window for the same spot, and for me, the latter ticks more boxes.

Home grown
PL experience
Better goals / assists performance etc, etc.

I just think if we could get either for the same price we'd be all over Maddison. Which tells me price, rather than ability, is the deciding factor. And we have of course travelled that road many times before.

If we sign Zaniolo though I will, as with all our players, give him my full support
 
Starks said:
If you have a model that doesn't allow you to replace key components of your starting eleven however, then it simply isn't possible.

Bringing in an attacking midfielder, whilst spending £50,000,000+ on doing so, when our formation isn't set up or suited in playing an attacking midfielder is spending for the sake of spending.

Just look at Liverpool. Over the years, they've focused more on improving their depth options to a higher standard than simply replacing their starting eleven, until it became clear they needed to. So over the last few years when it's been clear that in their system they cannot replace these key players:

Allison, Alexander-Arnold, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Mane, Salah and Firmino.

They decided to improve the depth behind these players by bringing in the likes of

- Diogo Jota from Wolves, who's a lot better of an option than Origi or Shaqiri.
- Tsimakis, who's a much better left back option to replace Robertson within their system
- Konate, who's definitely an upgrade on some of the centre backs they had previously and can actually push Matip for a starting spot.
- Luis Diaz, who was brought in again to add depth to attacking options.

But Liverpools system and starting line up pretty much remained unchanged and they went a few transfer windows over the last few years signing very little in terms of first team upgrades. Probably only Thiago before this window was a true upgrade on their starting eleven.

Nunez has signed this summer as a clear focal point in a bid to replace Firmino, who's slowly been phased out of that Liverpool team anyway. But they needed that. They needed a new striker and they got one. We don't need an attacking midfielder.

We do need a right wing back and a new centre back. Unfortunately, there's a lack of available top quality right wing backs in the game so Conte is going to try his luck at coaching the ones he does have into hopefully being somewhat productive and unfortunately the centre back option we wanted doesn't want to leave Inter, certainly not this summer anyway.

But we've certainly improved in that Liverpool sense of we have a system in place that Conte has implemented and I'd say we now have key players in position:

Lloris, Dier, Romero, Perisic, Bissouma, Son and Kane.

That's seven players of our starting eleven that I think over the course of the season will be the important players for Conte.

Last winter and this summer alone we've signed and improved our depth (in the same way Liverpool have meticulously done over the last few years.

- Richarlison is a clear upgrade on the outgoing Bergwijn and provides versatility.
- Lenglet adds depth and experience, is an upgrade on Rodon but also, quite importantly, suits the profile we need at centre half.
- Forster, whilst not the most glamorous, is most definitely an upgrade on Gollini and HG
- Kulusevski was an upgrade on Lucas and Bergwijn at the time of signing. Shown his quality.
- Bentancur was a massive upgrade on Winks.

That's without mentioning Bissouma and Perisic, who I've already listed as players I feel will end up being undroppable over the course of the season.

The next requirement for Spurs, either in the January transfer window, or next summer is continuing to improve that depth AND that first eleven if possible. Key term there being 'if possible' . So, bring in a top class right wing back (if available) to replace the hopefully outgoing Doherty and Royal. Bring in a top class potentially world class centre back to replace the outgoing Lenglet and upgrade on Ben Davies. And then bring in better depth to replace the likes of Lucas.

I trust we will get there.
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We don't specifically need an attacking midfielder, or a 10. Whatever you want to call it. We do need more craft in midfield. Liverpool themselves saw the need for this and went out and got Thiago, and they're the team with the most creative wing backs in the world, and one of the best systems out there. They also spent 50 million on Keita years before.

We have functional midfielders. The myth Conte has won stuff with just these before is just that, a total myth. His Juventus midfield was elite, his Chelsea midfield relied hugely on the ridiculous star that is Kante & Fabregas to come in when creativity was required. His Inter team had Eriksen as an option with Barella, Brozovic, Sensi etc.

The man loves versatility, that's clear from his past midfield options. We don't have a versatile midfield, we have a stable midfield. It will cost us in numerous games this season if it isn't addressed, as it has done in the past.
 
As for Chelsea paying for players that City won't - is it possible that City are actually nervous about FFP?
They've come close to being kicked out of the Champions League twice.

City have vastly more wealth than Chelsea in terms of sugar daddy owner. But Chelsea are throwing it about quite a bit more.
 
Joan Thomas said:
I wouldn’t say apprehensive, just maybe a little sceptical.

We seem to have been linked with both he and Maddison throughout the window for the same spot, and for me, the latter ticks more boxes.

Home grown
PL experience
Better goals / assists performance etc, etc.

I just think if we could get either for the same price we'd be all over Maddison. Which tells me price, rather than ability, is the deciding factor. And we have of course travelled that road many times before.

If we sign Zaniolo though I will, as with all our players, give him my full support
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Um no. Conte is the deciding factor. If he wants Maddison, we'll go for Maddison. If he wants Zaniolo, we'll go for Zaniolo.

It's really simple with Conte in charge. We get who the manager wants. And we take punts on younger players, if the manager gives the ok.
 
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