Erling Haaland

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Well he’s the one who signed a contract until 2025.

Laporte won't be allowed to go anywhere.

He has to get his head down and accept he will still get plenty of games.

People seem to forget Ruben isn't even a left sided centre back - he's just that good.

Stones needs to stay fit and we have the luxury of Dias rotating with him on the right side pairing, just to keep everyone fresh.

Unless we have an injury crisis to Stones and Dias, we have Ake also providing the third back-up on the left.

It's a wonderful situation to have formulated.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Laporte won't be allowed to go anywhere.

He has to get his head down and accept he will still get plenty of games.

People seem to forget Ruben isn't even a left sided centre back - he's just that good.

Stones needs to stay fit and we have the luxury of Dias rotating with him on the right side pairing, just to keep everyone fresh.

Unless we have an injury crisis to Stones and Dias, we have Ake also providing the third back-up on the left.

It's a wonderful situation to have formulated.

It is a pretty astonishing situation, to have gone from a dearth of top class centre half pairings to this. I always thought our best centre half pairing — rock solid — was Joleon and Vin, especially in the 2011-12 season, until this crop came along. Now we have an embarrassment of riches. I don't say he's up there with the other three, but I suspect that Nathan Ake is going to surprise a few as well, when he finally gets past this injury.

 

[hgblue]

Laporte won't be allowed to go anywhere.

He has to get his head down and accept he will still get plenty of games.

People seem to forget Ruben isn't even a left sided centre back - he's just that good.

Stones needs to stay fit and we have the luxury of Dias rotating with him on the right side pairing, just to keep everyone fresh.

Unless we have an injury crisis to Stones and Dias, we have Ake also providing the third back-up on the left.

It's a wonderful situation to have formulated.

Yep, squad wise things are looking great. It’s not straight forward to replace club legends like Kompany, Yaya and Silva, but we’ve done that without having too major a drop off in performance levels whilst the replacements bed in. Just Sergio to go now....

 

[SWP's back]

if it’s true that he wants at least £300 grand a week to move on then I say fuck him the greedy bastard . Has not done knowhere near enough to warrant that money

Good to know.

 

[HelloCity]

I am wondering what the logic behind going bigger this summer @tolmie's hairdoo is it Aguero and Fernandinho leaving ? Or just there age / leaving the following year or is it just chance that Messi and Haarland being available. Is it Covid reduced prices or is it something else like off field developments e.g campus or is it natural progression of so long at the top with increased revenue etc ? Or some combination if so what’s the main factor or factors ?

Pretty obvious that we need a striker and to get a top one just costs a lot.

 

[oddfellows]

While we were showing Everton and the rest of the Premiership how to play football, Haaland had scored two against one of the best defensive pairings outside of us.

Kounde and Diego Carlos, two centre backs that we were linked with before Dias.

Thank God, oops see what I did there ;-) we went for Dias

 

[WRicko]

A small window of opportunity that exists, allied to finding long term on Sergio, whether he stays for another year or not.

By opportunity you mean right players plus reduced prices due to Covid

Just wondering why this window is seen as so much more important and expensive to replace Sergio than the windows in which we have replaced for example Silva Yaya or Kompany

Appreciate we have always spent but as we keep pointing out to anyone who will listen which is no one we have operated at with a strong squad but a level and price lower than it seems is being suggested this coming window

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

By opportunity you mean right players plus reduced prices due to Covid

Just wondering why this window is seen as so much more important and expensive to replace Sergio than the windows in which we have replaced for example Silva Yaya or Kompany

Appreciate we have always spent but as we keep pointing out to anyone who will listen which is no one we have operated at with a strong squad but a level and price lower than it seems is being suggested this coming window

More the fact has to be this summer or the ships will sail.

Not sure the Covid landscape will change the fees too greatly for the truly elite players.

 

[Mancity1980]

if it’s true that he wants at least £300 grand a week to move on then I say fuck him the greedy bastard . Has not done knowhere near enough to warrant that money

I understand your thoughts on this but I think with top level footballer it is more a pride thing than a greedy thing (if that makes sense). What I mean is it about relative status with their contemporaries, the real greediness is the agents, particularly the git that Haaland hires.

When you add to this the current profile of this young lad I’m afraid £300 grand a week is the going rate. Having said all this for me the most important thing is does he want to play for us. Never buy a player who is only coming for the money (a good example is Blobbie Fowler). I am confident that Pep and co will do their due diligence.

 

[Deleted member 87819]

No one commented or even liked this, but it’s very cool. And could be relevant.

 

[blue oli]

More the fact has to be this summer or the ships will sail.

Not sure the Covid landscape will change the fees too greatly for the truly elite players.

Agreed, I also think we have been putting the funds aside for a bit hit on two incoming players knowing we need a new striker plus maybe one other.

I think the original plan was an overlap year with the little Argentinian but the injuries have put that in question, despite how well things have gone.

I also believe the flexibility of the defensive players mean we won’t see a left back signed; so we will actually only see a striker coming in (unless a Stella left back is suddenly available).

This of course is totally separate to the potential of Messi coming, in which case we will see Sergio sign a one year extension irrespective of condition.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

No one commented or even liked this, but it’s very cool. And could be relevant.

Might be cool but hardly relevant.
The local schoolboys team consist almost fully of Messi shirts that their parents got them in Kusadasi or Alicante.

 

[blueparrot]

Might be cool but hardly relevant.
The local schoolboys team consist almost fully of Messi shirts that their parents got them in Kusadasi or Alicante.

In the schemme of things not very relevant , but it wasn’t the only time he wore the shirt, and was he taken to watch us by his ex player dad. So no it won’t be top of his priorities but when chosing even sub consciously can’t do any harm.

 

[asahartford1]

Might be cool but hardly relevant.
The local schoolboys team consist almost fully of Messi shirts that their parents got them in Kusadasi or Alicante.

And mostly pirate ones off the market.

 

[LucahArchie10]

Laporte won't be allowed to go anywhere.

He has to get his head down and accept he will still get plenty of games.

People seem to forget Ruben isn't even a left sided centre back - he's just that good.

Stones needs to stay fit and we have the luxury of Dias rotating with him on the right side pairing, just to keep everyone fresh.

Unless we have an injury crisis to Stones and Dias, we have Ake also providing the third back-up on the left.

It's a wonderful situation to have formulated.

Pep's comment is obviously to him & anyone else who's not happy about rotating?

Laporte, Mendy, Mahrez, Jesus & then Aguero & Dino up 2 you guys except it or go see your agent & Tixi

Not saying its all of those could inc current starters as well

 

[oddfellows]

Don't forget we paid 49m for a 20 year old Raz in the Summer of 2015. Camel gob was laughing at the fee.
5 years on, and the return is there for all to see.
Haaland will be 21 in the Summer.
No brainer.

 

[Newman Noggs]

Whatever it costs and whoever it is we need a finisher.

 

[cjn]

The beautiful thing about how we're playing right now is that we could legitimately toss off the rest of the summer business to focus all of our efforts on Haaland if we wanted to. If he doesn't want to come, fine, but we can't get beaten on the financial package.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Haaland, any decent prospects similar to Torres, a left back (lol, always a left back), and a squad defensive mid, and we've got a squad for another five years. Haaland is key, I think, and obviously improves us.

 

[salfordbluetrue]

He could also go to Barca or Madrid on a free next year
My point stands it is where the player see himself
I personally would prefer Mbappé to Haaland however I suspect Haaland is more likely but again the player decides and there are some big club that require strikers soon , Madrid Barca City Bayern amongst others

Of course your point has validity, but those clubs mentioned are skint and may well be for years to come, Dortmund stand to lose £20=30 million and PSG £120 million if they do not sell this year, there are other option, Chelsea it is doubtfull the FFP will allow them to spend big twice on the trot, Bayern it is a 1 horse league where they have players in those positions, PSG could sign Haaland as they need a Cavanni replacement but Kane suits them better.