Are we dining at the top table or not?

[Lancet Fluke]

It was indeed a "fucking great post", considering you want to replace a player who didn't want to be here with a top level player who doesn't want to play CL football, who also doesn't want extortionate wages and therefore is rather unambitious with a pretty poor attitude, or is in the Scott Sinclair mould of being nowhere near good enough for us and therefore would be rather detrimental to us, who you incidentally have no idea who that would be.

All assumptions based on there definitely being nobody available in the world who would have been a decent 4th choice striker and doesn't come into the categories that you describe. Obviously there is nobody like that in the world and you definitely know. Just like you know a world wide scouting network would be of little use. Not worth discussing with you any further because you're a fantasist especially if you think your previous post was anything other than fucking drivel.

it wasn't fucking drivel, it was emphasising the point that it makes more business and footballing sense to save your transfer money for a proper replacement on the right terms, with the right mindset and a squad space for them, rather than buying someone "decent" for the sake of it, who then will take up that squad space until you can eventually force them out.

To replace a player like Negredo you need an excellent striker, and in terms of emphasising the character that striker would need (a la Falcao) to move to a club like us, in that role, my post was on the money. You don't buy Negredo calibre strikers who then are happy to play the odd Prem game, and you don't waste your money and squad space doing so, or on buying someone inferior who would hog that squad space.

Whatever mate, you keep fantasising about what Txiki "might tend to say" when he is looking for a squad member and then using it as an argument and carry on thinking that using your "update thread" gives people similar resources as Txiki in finding a player.

 

[BobKowalski]

You're missing the point. Four frontline strikers was and is extremely unusual. How many other clubs have that many?

I'm missing the point? Christ on a bike. We do. We have 4 top line strikers. It is a deliberate policy on our part as we play most games with 2 top line strikers. The squad is structured to have 4 top line strikers. Pellers wants 4 top line strikers. Txiki wants 4 top line strikes which is why he fucking made sure we had 4.

If we want to change to playing 1 top line striker and having 3 in the squad then fine. Do it. Plan for it. Practise it. It's what Ferran and Txiki preach. The reason why this sale and the timing of it looks odd is because it is contrary to what they preach.

I think it's because we're signing what they consider to be a "top line" striker on October 1st - Inehacho. I'm sure we'll manage for the next 3 weeks with only 3 strikers.

Possibly. And if that's the plan then okay I'm in. As I said earlier Txiki taking a calculated gamble is fine. Maybe Ferran has us on the downward curve of one of his cycles. Who knows.

 

[BillyShears]

You're entitled to your view that the club have dropped a bollock. However JMW makes a perfectly valid point. We needed a forward who basically was happy not to play in the CL, but have CL quality, and be available at a price which wasn't prohibitive with regards FFP. It really isn't such a surprise that in that circumstance the club have chosen not to buy anyone and pin their hopes at least until January on us not suffering a horrendous injury crisis.

Or we could have gone in for Welbeck.......

i saw the thread in the transfer forum last night but didn't dare click on it for fear that someone was actually advocating it.

And to be fair to WellHard I have mucho respect for any rag player who says "fuck you I want out of here permanently". He was apparently on upwards of 110k a week though!

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

All assumptions based on there definitely being nobody available in the world who would have been a decent 4th choice striker and doesn't come into the categories that you describe. Obviously there is nobody like that in the world and you definitely know. Just like you know a world wide scouting network would be of little use. Not worth discussing with you any further because you're a fantasist especially if you think your previous post was anything other than fucking drivel.

it wasn't fucking drivel, it was emphasising the point that it makes more business and footballing sense to save your transfer money for a proper replacement on the right terms, with the right mindset and a squad space for them, rather than buying someone "decent" for the sake of it, who then will take up that squad space until you can eventually force them out.

To replace a player like Negredo you need an excellent striker, and in terms of emphasising the character that striker would need (a la Falcao) to move to a club like us, in that role, my post was on the money. You don't buy Negredo calibre strikers who then are happy to play the odd Prem game, and you don't waste your money and squad space doing so, or on buying someone inferior who would hog that squad space.

Whatever mate, you keep fantasising about what Txiki "might tend to say" when he is looking for a squad member and then using it as an argument and carry on thinking that using your "update thread" gives people similar resources as Txiki in finding a player.

I'll have to put you in the agenda thread, with the amount of twisting going on in that reply, which of course you've done because you don't have a reasonable reply to the fact that we've maxed our CL squad places out and evidently haven't seen a target who is good enough who would have the right attitude, despite being happy to sit out CL, who would be good enough to replace Negredo yet not want extortionate wages (ruling out Falcao), otherwise I'm sure we'd have signed them, as we may have done with Falcao if he'd come asking for a sensible wage.

 

[Mancitybluemoon1]

You're missing the point. Four frontline strikers was and is extremely unusual. How many other clubs have that many?

I'm missing the point? Christ on a bike. We do. We have 4 top line strikers. It is a deliberate policy on our part as we play most games with 2 top line strikers. The squad is structured to have 4 top line strikers. Pellers wants 4 top line strikers. Txiki wants 4 top line strikes which is why he fucking made sure we had 4.

If we want to change to playing 1 top line striker and having 3 in the squad then fine. Do it. Plan for it. Practise it. It's what Ferran and Txiki preach. The reason why this sale and the timing of it looks odd is because it is contrary to what they preach.

I think it's because we're signing what they consider to be a "top line" striker on October 1st - Inehacho. I'm sure we'll manage for the next 3 weeks with only 3 strikers.

Have we got a pre-contract agreement with Inehacho? Do we have an insider at the home office who has already given the all clear he'll get all the permits needed to join the team?.....Has he shown he can do it on the big stage? (other than a few friendlies)

Respect your views and not trying to shoot down anyones comments, as you might be onto something......but too many "IF's" to count on him even being in the squad this season....

 

[Lancet Fluke]

It was indeed a "fucking great post", considering you want to replace a player who didn't want to be here with a top level player who doesn't want to play CL football, who also doesn't want extortionate wages and therefore is rather unambitious with a pretty poor attitude, or is in the Scott Sinclair mould of being nowhere near good enough for us and therefore would be rather detrimental to us, who you incidentally have no idea who that would be.

All assumptions based on there definitely being nobody available in the world who would have been a decent 4th choice striker and doesn't come into the categories that you describe. Obviously there is nobody like that in the world and you definitely know. Just like you know a world wide scouting network would be of little use. Not worth discussing with you any further because you're a fantasist especially if you think your previous post was anything other than fucking drivel.

You're entitled to your view that the club have dropped a bollock. However JMW makes a perfectly valid point. We needed a forward who basically was happy not to play in the CL, but have CL quality, and be available at a price which wasn't prohibitive with regards FFP. It really isn't such a surprise that in that circumstance the club have chosen not to buy anyone and pin their hopes at least until January on us not suffering a horrendous injury crisis.

This is even before you take into consideration the idea which is perfectly legitimate, that the club in fact always intended to sell Negredo and never had any intention of replacing him this summer. Again something which is a perfectly acceptable point of view - not least because it's what has actually happened.

I have no issue with people thinking it is fine that we have lost a striker and not replaced him, I don't happen to agree but I understand that there are different opinions on it. What I do mind is this implication that there isn't a debate to be had because the people running the club ie Txiki can never be questioned and if you do question him then you must be a "flapper" or as someone bizarrely tried to suggest earlier someone who "had a nervous breakdown about Mancini being sacked", "think the Spaniards are clowns" and "haven't got a clue." I also take exception to it being a reasonable defence of every decision Txiki makes to say, "well who would you have bought." That is just a bullshit argument quite frankly particularly when it is backed up with the imaginary thoughts of Txiki, the notion that a world wide scouting network is of no use and that an update thread on here would be of any value when trying to source a replacement for Negredo or anyone else for that matter. And I say all that as someone who wanted Mancini sacked, would personally prefer us to play one up front (ironically as that would make the 3 striker situation a non issue) and has a great deal of faith in the Spaniards but just think they have made a mistake on this one and think they would have made an even bigger mistake over Nastasic given half the chance.

 

[Shaelumstash]

I'm missing the point? Christ on a bike. We do. We have 4 top line strikers. It is a deliberate policy on our part as we play most games with 2 top line strikers. The squad is structured to have 4 top line strikers. Pellers wants 4 top line strikers. Txiki wants 4 top line strikes which is why he fucking made sure we had 4.

If we want to change to playing 1 top line striker and having 3 in the squad then fine. Do it. Plan for it. Practise it. It's what Ferran and Txiki preach. The reason why this sale and the timing of it looks odd is because it is contrary to what they preach.

I think it's because we're signing what they consider to be a "top line" striker on October 1st - Inehacho. I'm sure we'll manage for the next 3 weeks with only 3 strikers.

Have we got a pre-contract agreement with Inehacho? Do we have an insider at the home office who has already given the all clear he'll get all the permits needed to join the team?.....Has he shown he can do it on the big stage? (other than a few friendlies)

Respect your views and not trying to shoot down anyones comments, as you might be onto something......but too many "IF's" to count on him even being in the squad this season....

I totally get where you are coming from, and I've thought the same things myself. Personally, I think Txiki would have considered all of those things, and researched them to the best of his ability. Of course we won't have someone on the payroll in the Home Office, but I'm sure Txiki will have been thorough enough to have taken legal advice as to the likelihood of him getting a work permit approval.

If his plan was to use Inehacho as our 4th striker, and he doesn't get the permit, then I think it will be fair enough to criticise Txiki for not being thorough enough / not having a contingency plan. However, let's wait and see first. The guy isn't infallible, but I trust him that he's got this one right.

 

[BobKowalski]

All assumptions based on there definitely being nobody available in the world who would have been a decent 4th choice striker and doesn't come into the categories that you describe. Obviously there is nobody like that in the world and you definitely know. Just like you know a world wide scouting network would be of little use. Not worth discussing with you any further because you're a fantasist especially if you think your previous post was anything other than fucking drivel.

You're entitled to your view that the club have dropped a bollock. However JMW makes a perfectly valid point. We needed a forward who basically was happy not to play in the CL, but have CL quality, and be available at a price which wasn't prohibitive with regards FFP. It really isn't such a surprise that in that circumstance the club have chosen not to buy anyone and pin their hopes at least until January on us not suffering a horrendous injury crisis.

This is even before you take into consideration the idea which is perfectly legitimate, that the club in fact always intended to sell Negredo and never had any intention of replacing him this summer. Again something which is a perfectly acceptable point of view - not least because it's what has actually happened.

I have no issue with people thinking it is fine that we have lost a striker and not replaced him, I don't happen to agree but I understand that there are different opinions on it. What I do mind is this implication that there isn't a debate to be had because the people running the club ie Txiki can never be questioned and if you do question him then you must be a "flapper" or as someone bizarrely tried to suggest earlier someone who "had a nervous breakdown about Mancini being sacked", "think the Spaniards are clowns" and "haven't got a clue." I also take exception to it being a reasonable defence of every decision Txiki makes to say, "well who would you have bought." That is just a bullshit argument quite frankly particularly when it is backed up with the imaginary thoughts of Txiki, the notion that a world wide scouting network is of no use and that an update thread on here would be of any value when trying to source a replacement for Negredo or anyone else for that matter. And I say all that as someone who wanted Mancini sacked, would personally prefer us to play one up front (ironically as that would make the 3 striker situation a non issue) and has a great deal of faith in the Spaniards but just think they have made a mistake on this one and think they would have made an even bigger mistake over Nastasic given half the chance.

I can double down on that irony as I too would prefer to see 3 strikers in the squad and play one upfront as a default...there has to be a moral in this somewhere.

 

[SWP's back]

Spot on, City where never on the lookout for Falcao, he was put up to us by his Agent and we would have been foolish to not even listen to terms requested, as it is there is no way on this earth that we would do the deal that Utd have with him and I suspect same could come out regarding Arsenal.

I doubt any of us actually know how serious or not we were with the Falcao deal. We do know that to make things happen with the Falcao deal we had to offload a striker and the Negrado deal started to hot up at the same time. We also know that Pellers wants/needs 4 strikers because he has said so. Now he has 3. We may buy in January, we may be pinning our hopes on a 17 y/o but we have taken justifiable satisfaction at how we plan our squad in terms of shape and balance so this deal does look at odds with that ethos. As for maximising transfer value with a last minute deal well that is poor planning given an earlier sale at a million or two less but securing adequate cover makes more sense from a footballing perspective. Leave the last minute crap to Daniel Levy.

I agree with Blue2112 that the Negrado deal went too far for it to be walked back and it made more sense for it to go through then kill it but it still leave Pellers short of his desired striker quota.

The Negredo to Valencia deal started to hot up a couple of weeks ago, it was always going to happen if the deal was right for both club and player, that question was answered last night.

I don't see the big issue with only having 3 strikers, everyone's favourites including mine (Chelsea) are only running with 3 strikers, Costa, Drogba and Remy, i know which three i'd rather have.

Ah good. Someone with sense.

 

[BillyShears]

I have no issue with people thinking it is fine that we have lost a striker and not replaced him, I don't happen to agree but I understand that there are different opinions on it. What I do mind is this implication that there isn't a debate to be had because the people running the club ie Txiki can never be questioned and if you do question him then you must be a "flapper" or as someone bizarrely tried to suggest earlier someone who "had a nervous breakdown about Mancini being sacked", "think the Spaniards are clowns" and "haven't got a clue."

To be honest you do sound like a bit of a flapper. I'm not having a go at you either just being honest about my opinion. Of course Begiristain can be questioned, him, Ferran, Khaldoon, they'll all make mistakes from time to time.

However right now the point is clear, we have a CL squad and financial restriction for the summer. On that basis if we missed out on Falcao and decided not to sign anyone else I don't think it automatically warrants a forum full of flapping with people making the asinine comments they have about Txiki (again not aimed at you). Someone in a thread in the transfer forum called him a prat. I've read him and Ferran are Spanish chancers. Seems a little excessive considering the job they've done in the last 12 months at the club in cleaning up other people's shit and moving the club forward.

Anyway I think we're going round in circles mate. I'm happy to agree to disagree. We're both Blues and we just want what's best for the club!