It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[RayCTID]

The issue is if we sign in January we won't have much wriggle room for next Summer. We have a few players who can temporarily cover for Rodri's lengthy injury without panic buying mid season.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Kovacic and Gundo can't play every game and Gundo definitely doesn't have the legs to play DM alone, so it's either just Kovacic or Kovacic and Gundo. But I would say we need another midfielder with that defensive edge to his game. Maybe a loan

theres enough in there for me, unless someone stupid becomes available. dont see many short term options better than what we have anyway,

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

There's absolutely no way we don't sign someone in January.

 

[Kamaro011]

Don't sign anyone for the sake signing anyone in January, there's no guarantee the replacement will be half as good as Rodri and the price will be outrageous not worth for it.

 

[Vester]

There's absolutely no way we don't sign someone in January.

If Txiki thought a Rodri backup was needed we would have signed someone by now. Since we haven't we can only assume Txiki is of the opinion the squad can handle his absence and no replacement is needed.

 

[Skrastins]

Most likely scenario for DM till january is a double pivot.

Rico/Kova
Rico/Gundo
Rico/Stones/Bernardo

There's also Nunes and O'Reilly

another one who could play there is Gvardiol who i can see as a DM, i believe he has the quality

Is there a deal to be struck ie Larsson, Locatelli, Zubimendi who have cheap prices then yes.

 

[ScottSinclair]

One of Wharton or maybe even Zubimendi

 

[skillman]

Kovacic and Gundo can't play every game and Gundo definitely doesn't have the legs to play DM alone, so it's either just Kovacic or Kovacic and Gundo. But I would say we need another midfielder with that defensive edge to his game. Maybe a loan

I can't agree with that. A lot of teams come to our place trying to minimise the scoreline - not every team comes at us - and I think Gundo would be fine for that.

The Leeds game at home in 22/23 was the perfect example. He ran the game because they didn't even bother trying to attack.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Can I be the first to make this (probably very stupid) suggestion...

Rabiot on a free?

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Can I be the first to make this (probably very stupid) suggestion...

Rabiot on a free?

signed for Marseille last week.

 

[decmancity]

If Txiki thought a Rodri backup was needed we would have signed someone by now. Since we haven't we can only assume Txiki is of the opinion the squad can handle his absence and no replacement is needed.

Pep, not Txiki.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

signed for Marseille last week.

Totally missed that. Quite a team of, shall we say, problematic players they're putting together.

 

[Turner92]

Well we don’t need a Rodri back up we need a replacement now acl at 28 won’t be the same player when he’s back

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Well we don’t need a Rodri back up we need a replacement now acl at 28 won’t be the same player when he’s back

if the player we want is available to move for, 6 months earlier. Just depends who it is and how much of a project they are/were looking at. Might need someone slightly more ahead in development than we were first expecting with this.

 

[Vester]

Pep, not Txiki.

If Pep didnt want a Rodri backup then why did Txiki sign Phillips and Nunes?

 

[Gabriel]

If Pep didnt want a Rodri backup then why did Txiki sign Phillips and Nunes?

A question well worth asking irrespective of Rodri.

 

[117 M34]

Well we don’t need a Rodri back up we need a replacement now acl at 28 won’t be the same player when he’s back

That's cheered me right up

 

[decmancity]

If Pep didnt want a Rodri backup then why did Txiki sign Phillips and Nunes?

What pep wanted then and now I am sure has changed.

The entire club will be burnt by Phillips but don't see how Nunes is in anyway relevant to Rodri.

 

[Alexia_Ko]

I can't agree with that. A lot of teams come to our place trying to minimise the scoreline - not every team comes at us - and I think Gundo would be fine for that.

The Leeds game at home in 22/23 was the perfect example. He ran the game because they didn't even bother trying to attack.

Leeds also got relegated that season (I think), against well organised, lower-half teams I think he would struggle

 

[thelostoasismember]

If Pep didnt want a Rodri backup then why did Txiki sign Phillips and Nunes?

We didn’t need these two players. We needed a guy who actually can play with Rodri. We needed someone like Ruiz or Bruno G in 2022 and we did nothing. The board has to answer some questions to themselves because they think they are perfect. They are not. Right now we look devastated because of no plan B.