It's Quiet 17 - Glory Thread

crossbar said:
No more ”Raheem Sterling, he’s top of the league” chants…

People talk a lot about his contributions. Yes, in 17/18, even I (and I’ve been a harsch Sterling-critique) was impressed by him. He was really good and I wanted him to stay. But then he regressed and went back to his usual self again, what I’ve seen prior to 17/18. Undecisive, weak finishing, slow-thinking, bad passing. I could go on all night.

We have been blessed with some of the best players in the world this past decade. David Silva, Agüero, Yaya, and recent years Bernardo, Gundogan, Sané, all fantastic players. In this company, who wouldn’t look good? Who wouldn’t rack up goals and assists? Even Theo Walcott would have done that. Would we have called him world class? No, so why Sterling? Because he made a few very important last-minute goals during one or two season? We never reached very far with Sterling in the team. The one year that Pep decides to bench him in UCL knockout stages, what happens? We reach our very first UCL final.

Fact is, there’s no reason to feel sad about this. We will become a better football team without him. I asked for his departure since 2016, because his flaws are obvious and has been for years.

The reality is that something changed for Pep. I don’t know why it took so long, but Sterling had far less appearances last season and it must be because Pep ultimately had other plans for this club moving forward. I’m not worries about a lack of pace and we don’t need a replacement. Our ’new’ forward line have plenty of legs in them. And I rather have players with a finishing product than just Usain Bolt. Football is more than speed. We punished many teams on the counter in 16/17, but nowadays teams learned their lesson and sit back. Speed is not crucial.

To summarize: we will do Very well without Raheem Sterling.
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You asked for his departure since 2016-what a whopper (could go harder but may get a thread ban)
 
crossbar said:
No more ”Raheem Sterling, he’s top of the league” chants…

People talk a lot about his contributions. Yes, in 17/18, even I (and I’ve been a harsch Sterling-critique) was impressed by him. He was really good and I wanted him to stay. But then he regressed and went back to his usual self again, what I’ve seen prior to 17/18. Undecisive, weak finishing, slow-thinking, bad passing. I could go on all night.

We have been blessed with some of the best players in the world this past decade. David Silva, Agüero, Yaya, and recent years Bernardo, Gundogan, Sané, all fantastic players. In this company, who wouldn’t look good? Who wouldn’t rack up goals and assists? Even Theo Walcott would have done that. Would we have called him world class? No, so why Sterling? Because he made a few very important last-minute goals during one or two season? We never reached very far with Sterling in the team. The one year that Pep decides to bench him in UCL knockout stages, what happens? We reach our very first UCL final.

Fact is, there’s no reason to feel sad about this. We will become a better football team without him. I asked for his departure since 2016, because his flaws are obvious and has been for years.

The reality is that something changed for Pep. I don’t know why it took so long, but Sterling had far less appearances last season and it must be because Pep ultimately had other plans for this club moving forward. I’m not worries about a lack of pace and we don’t need a replacement. Our ’new’ forward line have plenty of legs in them. And I rather have players with a finishing product than just Usain Bolt. Football is more than speed. We punished many teams on the counter in 16/17, but nowadays teams learned their lesson and sit back. Speed is not crucial.

To summarize: we will do Very well without Raheem Sterling.
Click to expand...
The problem is we saw a lot less of Sterling because Jesus proved a better option. Now we have neither.

I think it's fair to say last Christmas if someone had said we were going go lose Torres, Sterling and Jesus and they were going to be replaced by one world class player and one excellent prospect most on here would have thought we were short.

We're still a winger and a full back light, and if Ake goes a CB too.
 
Really surprised we weren’t/aren’t all over neymar especially after loosing gabby ferran Leroy and Sterling and not really replacing them with similar players , might hear a few negative stories about him but he’s one of the best players of our generation and the type of player our squad really need, also mastered peps style of play at Barca
 
Damanino said:
if there is no one else coming in for the front line, then Grealish, Haaland, Alvarez need to put in incredible numbers imo.
we cant afford 12 month bedding in period for Alvarez, Haaland while Grealish needs to put in higher number of goals/assists than whatever his best was at Villa.

Alvarez is still a question mark, I have no clue how his performance in Argentina will relate to the style we play, the opponents we have and the general strength of PL football. he might click straightaway and hits the ground running, I can see that as well, but I also can see him being out of his depth and will need that first years just to get the hang of playing/living in UK.

Kun aint a good comparison as Kun had some real serious experience coming from Atletico which cannot be compared to River Plate at this point.

Alvarez not having any break whatsoever is a bit worry for a long season ahead bit strange we agreed to River Plate using him until the very last second.

We dont even know if Pep is panning to use him and Haaland at the same time or most of Alvarez's playing time will come in the cups and whenever Haaland is injured or maybe Alvarez is intelligent enough to play across the front line and can put in a great shift from the right.

Even if he is a complete flop (hopefully not) we still can move him on for about the price we paid for him, so its a great transfer either way probably but surely there is some good potential in there.
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i suspect Alvarez won't start many league games before October but rather be used sparingly as a sub. whilst he acclimatises to England, to our style, and recovers some energy. On the other hand i expect Haaland to be thrown straight in to it. Not rocket science know.
 
NQCitizen said:
The problem is we saw a lot less of Sterling because Jesus proved a better option. Now we have neither.

I think it's fair to say last Christmas if someone had said we were going go lose Torres, Sterling and Jesus and they were going to be replaced by one world class player and one excellent prospect most on here would have thought we were short.

We're still a winger and a full back light, and if Ake goes a CB too.
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Holding midfield is covered with Rodri and Phillips, meaning no more Gundogan in holding midfield role. Gundogan now more available in attacking midfield with Bernardo, Grealish and KDB, with KDB starting pretty much every game.

That won’t leave a lot of midfield-room for Grealish, competing with KDB, Bernardo and still very-much-fantastic Gundogan.

So in attack, we have:
• Grealish
• Foden
• Mahrez
• Alvarez
• Haaland

How is that short of options? It’s not!
 
TheBlueCat said:
Is Bellingham available? I haven’t heard this..
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Blimey! I find it hard enough to figure out who may come in/ go out this season, let alone next season. Think it’s a little premature to say Bellingham is coming in then. We don’t even know if Pep will be here.
 
uwe rosler 28 said:
Why is everyone so obsessed with pace? The way teams sit so deep against us pace is not really a weapon we can use. Our team will be alot more about skill and guile to open teams up
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Speed is massively important in a football team. The lower leagues are full of good ball players who aren’t fast enough. We don’t need any Lee Trundells.
 
TheBlueCat said:
Speed is massively important in a football team. The lower leagues are full of good ball players who aren’t fast enough. We don’t need any Lee Trundells.
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Of course speed matters but it shouldn’t make up the basis of a football team. Sterling offered plenty of pace but how did that help him when he constantly freezed or failed a 1v1 against the opposition goalkeeper? Nothing.

We won’t have any problems with pace.

I find it genuinely funny that some people really think a young and possibly future front three of Alvarez, Haaland and Foden wouldn’t offer sufficient pace to counter attack the opposition.
 
Mcfcbing said:
Really surprised we weren’t/aren’t all over neymar especially after loosing gabby ferran Leroy and Sterling and not really replacing them with similar players , might hear a few negative stories about him but he’s one of the best players of our generation and the type of player our squad really need, also mastered peps style of play at Barca
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Couldn't think of a player LESS suitable for us than Neymar

Guy peaked when he was at Barca, he cant even keep hismelf fit....and hes gonna be expensive....very expensive

One of the most naturally gifted footballers of the last decade but a HARD pass, guys a prima donna
 
crossbar said:
Holding midfield is covered with Rodri and Phillips, meaning no more Gundogan in holding midfield role. Gundogan now more available in attacking midfield with Bernardo, Grealish and KDB, with KDB starting pretty much every game.

That won’t leave a lot of midfield-room for Grealish, competing with KDB, Bernardo and still very-much-fantastic Gundogan.

So in attack, we have:
• Grealish
• Foden
• Mahrez
• Alvarez
• Haaland

How is that short of options? It’s not!
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It is. First off, Fernandinho was available at DM/CM last year just as Philips is. So really nothing has changed for Gundo, has it?

Then, you've counted Grealish in AM (as well as FW) but that never worked. It's along shot.

Now consider that Sterling and Jesus could play in any position in the front three. Alvarez...maybe he can. But he hasn't any experience in Europe, none at all.

The other new player is a specialist CF. Who has injury problems. They are backed up by our best winger as false 9.

And even after all that fudging, we've got five players covering three attacking roles. With a lad backing them up.

To say it's safe, requires.... "positive" thinking. Pep and Txiki are capable of saying that's how it is. Look how long it took to buy a striker, any striker! Just like how long it took to get a leader at CB. Or for him to play a proper CB and put Fern back in defensive midfield.

Now, it might even work perfectly. It could also go wrong. We've seen both outcomes in the past.

My view is I thought Pep bringing his old mentor into the coaching department and getting Diaz meant we had moved on from his idealistic extremes. Because they are his - he did something similair at Barca, refused to buy the right players for position, beyond any reason. Sometimes to great success. Sometimes, just excruciatingly drawn out failure.

Having said all that - I recognise, neither side here is ever gonna persuade the other.
 
crossbar said:
Holding midfield is covered with Rodri and Phillips, meaning no more Gundogan in holding midfield role. Gundogan now more available in attacking midfield with Bernardo, Grealish and KDB, with KDB starting pretty much every game.

That won’t leave a lot of midfield-room for Grealish, competing with KDB, Bernardo and still very-much-fantastic Gundogan.

So in attack, we have:
• Grealish
• Foden
• Mahrez
• Alvarez
• Haaland

How is that short of options? It’s not!
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Its short on quality, which is down to Grealish being shite
 
as long as we have more depth next year I don’t mind the departures. Pep probably has something in mind (youth?) and can rely on if he’s not pushing for a replacement. Pep wanted Kane badly and we went for it, if he wanted a winger I’m sure we’d go in for it too. Ima enjoy this Net spend 2022 trophy :D
 
SebastianBlue said:
Yeah, they can definitely afford Bernie…


I still remember being called a KFA on here by a few when I first began alerting everyone to how bad Barca’s financial troubles actually were.
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Just coincidentally watched that transfer documentary Sky did with Garry Cook a few years back on YouTube, he talks about the shambles and financial struggles we had under Frank but how it all changed when we were taken over.

At the time, Barcelona were the biggest force in world football and the best run club.

Since then, we’ve nabbed their CEO, director of football, manager and the best player in their history handed a transfer request in to join us all while they’ve gone to absolute shit financially through poor decisions on and off the pitch.

Sometimes have to sit back and pinch myself at how good we are and how lucky we are. Long may it continue!
 
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