Rayan Cherki

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Already seen him against a PL team, albeit a shit one, the rags. He didn't really stand out in the home leg when Lyon were absolutely fucking dire but at the swamp he was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. No doubt about him handling the physical stuff for me.
I have no doubt about him up to the physicality of the Premier League. He's been playing since he was 16 in a very physical league (for how dire Ligue 1 is, it's very physical with a bunch of freakishly athletic players).

In my opinion, there are two things that he will need a little time to adjust. He'll have less time on the ball, especially when he drops lower on the pitch. With his anticipation and forward thinking capabilities, I have no doubt he'll have no real problem with that but it will be down to keeping the constant level of focus and commitment he finally displayed this season. He will also have to adapt to a very different style of refereeing. The old generation of referees in France love to sanction minor contacts. The new generation does a much better job at letting the game flow which is a very positive things for people watching the games (a dying species when it comes to French football). So Cherki will have to know that he will not get the soft calls hed is used to. This may take a bit of time and you will probably be first infuriated a couple of times by him going down too easily. But make no mistake, he has tremendous force in the upper body, he can't be knocked over easily. This coupled to his close control skills and his two-footedness make him a nightmare for every defender.
 
He was a bit soft in his first season. But developed into the player he became. The season where he went full skin head, he properly went for it physically. Getting stuck into tackles, and jumping for headers. That would have been unheard of when he was in Spain.

When I think of quality, skilful players that have talent that doesn't translate to the PL. I think of Jesus Navas. He was on floor most of the time. Running with the ball, he could beat people, he had tricks and pace, and he could could pick out a perfect cross. But in a tackle, he was always second best.

Looking at the Palace team from the FA cup final. They were big guys. Physically strong, and athletic, they could cover the ground and they got tackles in. I see this contrast where natural talent is snuffed out by stronger, quicker players.
Navas could pick out the perfect cross!!!

He hit shins, repeatedly.
 
Wirtz had a little nibble at Bernardo the other night. Felt very much like Bernardo had his City hat on going on the windup!

As for our business, I thought it telling Khaldoon said we have our first choice options and second choice options lined up. That was an open admission that we had done our due diligence and weren't putting all our eggs in one basket - exactly how a good club would operate. Wirtz was number one, Cherki number two but you'd anticipate we were discussing with both from the outset to ensure the club's position wasn't obvious.
Was that before or after Bernie body checked him into next week?
 
If it's the mini window you're referring to then that's fine. I'm hopeful that all 3 are done by Tuesday so we can bed them in early at the CWC.

Just checked when France play again; it's tomorrow. I thought it was Monday, so probably get done Monday, not the last day of the window now.
 
What is taking sooooooo long, the media is full ahead bigging him up and the Dippers aren't going to wait much longer on the Wirtz shenanigans
 
What is taking sooooooo long, the media is full ahead bigging him up and the Dippers aren't going to wait much longer on the Wirtz shenanigans
There are many reports that Liverpool have made a new offer to Leverkusen of £113m. They are pursuing that deal for the moment and I anticipate that Leverkusen will knock that back too. That's over-priced.
 
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