Gianluigi Donnarumma | Done deal according to Romano

[SWP's back]

I can't wrap my head around how so many of you are willing to throw the baby out with the bath water because of one underwhelming season.

Eight years of hard work doesn't get written off because things didn't go well over one campaign.

And no we've not been "found out." People have been claiming that every time we've hit any rough patch of form throughout Pep's tenure.

The reality is we had a bunch of old and underperforming players and our squad planning wasn't good enough to sustain the level of success we were enjoying.

If playing out from the back had been "sussed" we wouldn't be witnessing every other top club in Europe insisting on playing out from the back.

Tell me, how did PSG play last season with a guy with apparently zero ability to kick a ball in net?

 

[Earlyriser]

Trafford must feel like he was drowning at sea and got rescued by the Titanic

I would say it's more akin to him being picked up in a lifeboat but then the lifeboat crew see someone wealthier and throw him overboard to save said individual

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

There are a lot of reports framing him as a player absolutely not fit for our system, so it is very strange that Pep and Hugo would be pursuing this deal

I’ll stick with the view of Pep and Hugo I think.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

We could let Eddie go and still be left with 3 goalkeepers, we should be concentrating on a RB :)

There is very little noise anywhere on a RB. Unfortunately, i don’t think that’s on the agenda.

 

[eyalluvitt]

He’s flying in for talks, apparently he’s going to have dinner with Gershwin

 

[mexico1970]

There is very little noise anywhere on a RB. Unfortunately, i don’t think that’s on the agenda.

Looks the case mate, but in other news at least we are looking at another winger :)

 

[Paulmcfc2703]

great post, so when he leaves for lack of game time will you give a shit then

So what do you think the plan would be next summer?

Ederson leaves for free, Trafford on the back of about 10 cup games becomes the number 1 here at 22 with no big game experience and we sign a cheap second choice keeper as cover? Maybe promote a kid from the academy and have Bettinelli as number 2.

 

[jamielowndes]

I don’t think many people are saying he should be a starter straight away, but your first point is what most people would expect ie a clear pathway to the first team and learn from Ederson.

If we sign donnaruma, Trafford would have no chance of becoming our first choice keeper. So a very different scenario

Yeah I definitely agree. If you're Trafford, you can't really be massively optimistic. Ederson had 1 year left and there's 2 years of murmurings about him going. Donnarumma at 26 is likely a long term starter unless he falls off a cliff performance wise.

 

[Salford_Blue]

Looks the case mate, but in other news at least we are looking at another winger :)

Back to the Keegan-era tactics.

Try and win every game 10-9

 

[Marvin.]

From a PSG supporting French football expert - I think the ideal scenario is Ederson sees out his final year.

You think Donnarumma will still be around then?

Clearly City will want Ederson to either extend his deal or go to Ederson so that we can make plans at the opportune moment. But if Galatassaray are not going to bid, then there is no deal to be done.

There is no point speculating about Donnarumma until Galatassaray bid for the player. Yesterday the speculation was that they had made a bid but this morning City have denied this.

 

[Mancini’s Pastilles]

Back to the Keegan-era tactics.

Try and win every game 10-9

Better than 109 passes back and forth going nowhere

 

[BringBackSwales]

We could let Eddie go and still be left with 3 goalkeepers, we should be concentrating on a RB :)

Don’t shoot the messenger but a source at the club has briefed me that we are earmarking Eddie as our right back this season. Just saying what I’ve heard

 

[Stoned Rose]

Yeah I definitely agree. If you're Trafford, you can't really be massively optimistic. Ederson had 1 year left and there's 2 years of murmurings about him going. Donnarumma at 26 is likely a long term starter unless he falls off a cliff performance wise.

Or indeed if he just falls off a cliff.

 

[Gumzy97]

From a PSG supporting French football expert - I think the ideal scenario is Ederson sees out his final year.

Yeah but from other French reports and Fabrice who’s the most reliable there is when it comes to PSG. Pep is a massive fan of Donnarumma and is pushing for him if Ederson leaves which is bizarre as he’s the opposite to what you think a Pep keeper is.

 

[aguerooo93]

Yeah I definitely agree. If you're Trafford, you can't really be massively optimistic. Ederson had 1 year left and there's 2 years of murmurings about him going. Donnarumma at 26 is likely a long term starter unless he falls off a cliff performance wise.

Agreed, but it's not like this was the plan all along. One of the world's best keepers being available at a discounted price isn't a situation anyone saw coming. Feel bad for Trafford, but the only question is "does this signing improve us and mean we are more likely to win now?" and I can't help feel but the answer is yes

Trafford has a lot of potential, Donnarumma is already one of the world's best. Only question marks is how his lack of distribution and on the ball quality affects our tactics

 

[salfordbluetrue]

Reeks of the Saudi league or Newcastle, maybe even utd, but we can not afford his wages, his mistakes, or his problem child tantrums. Still a fantastic keeper.

 

[jamielowndes]

I’ll stick with the view of Pep and Hugo I think.

Indeed. It's been reported that Pep is a huge fan of him. If that's the case then I'm sure he's well aware of Donnarummas strengths and weaknesses.

 

[oakiecokie]

It’s not been chaotic at all imo. It’s needed doing and Viana is a geezer.

I remember only a few days ago SR that one knob head poster asking what the fuck was Viana was doing still on his holidays and he hadn`t contributed to getting players in and out.
Obviously I gave the fucker a barrow load of fuck offs.
So far so good mate and what a transfer window if we pull everything off.

 

[mscenterh750]

T

Applying the converse logic why are Champions League winners letting him go if he is that good?

But he is good actually better than good so more fool PSG

 

[mexico1970]

Don’t shoot the messenger but a source at the club has briefed me that we are earmarking Eddie as our right back this season. Just saying what I’ve heard

I believe you mate, that'll upset a few of the Lewis fan club on here but it might just have some legs ;-)