It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[Gabriel]

I think we’re okay in the forward positions but would still profit from someone with genuine pace to cover in defence.

 

[spacecadet]

If we come within a mile of him, the ban talk will start up again.

Maybe I should change my username to 'CallMeCynical'!

You're right though, re ban talk.

 

[spacecadet]

We still short of two quality players to threaten a treble again. Haven't got a clue of who though? But we are short handed.

 

[Dialog]

I think we’re okay in the forward positions but would still profit from someone with genuine pace to cover in defence.

I have been sounding the Van de Ven bell

 

[JewelZee]

Bayern till Hansi Flick winning the Bundesliga doesn’t really paint the whole picture of how they wanted to be better and struggled with managers and identity after Pep. And Barca won with Lucho because that’s arguably up there with the best collection of attack ever assembled. Can’t really use that here given context. Both suffered long term. Bayern just hired Kompany to try and emulate what they had with Pep, so they’ve clearly been trying for years. Not just about silverware you’ll obtain solely off squad strength.

Prem is a different ball game however, it is only because of Pep why we keep winning, but even then the margins are getting closer and closer. Next manager I don’t think manages to have the success rate like him. And football always keeps evolving, Madrid never relied on a style of play or a specific identity because they kept switching it up. What pep’s done will keep us set for years to come, but it doesn’t mean the next manager should try the same thing, firstly because he isn’t Pep and secondly it’s as I said you have to have new ideas instead of copy paste or it doesn’t work.

I haven't made any reference to cut and paste or to emulating Pep. My point is we can absolutely continue to be massively successful after Pep leaves. We may not be, but it's not a given that we won't...

 

[richards30]

Nico will benefit hugely just training with the first team this season and maybe some league cup games but he’s not ready to step into our midfield with or without Rodri, same with Kovacic in that position? We need it sorting asap to be honest and it should have been done already. We could have been Sat here now with Bruno G and Savio signed and still in profit on transfers ?

 

[Gabriel]

I have been sounding the Van de Ven bell

Alas, unless there is some hidden clause in his contract, that’s a Dutchman that has flown.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Week from the start of the season and the major concerns still haven't been addressed in that we have no midfield cover for Rodri, We are short at the back and are also about to be critically short upfront once alvarez's exit is confirmed.

The obvious big offloads of the summer in Phillips and cancelo still haven't happened yet either.

fair to say Txiki needs to pull his finger out and get some business done pretty soon. Been an unusual window so far, We usually get our main business of the summer done early doors, yet the only thing we've done is a deal between a club we own. Wonder why thats the case this summer, perhaps main targets falling through? Still enough time to do what we want, no need to panic but lots of work for him to do.

 

[decmancity]

Week from the start of the season and the major concerns still haven't been addressed in that we have no midfield cover for Rodri, We are short at the back and are also about to be critically short upfront once alvarez's exit is confirmed.

The obvious big offloads of the summer in Phillips and cancelo still haven't happened yet either.

fair to say Txiki needs to pull his finger out and get some business done pretty soon. Been an unusual window so far, We usually get our main business of the summer done early doors, yet the only thing we've done is a deal between a club we own. Wonder why thats the case this summer, perhaps main targets falling through? Still enough time to do what we want, no need to panic but lots of work for him to do.

There is no cover for Rodri, I can't believe people keep saying this. You are not getting better than Kovacic, we should be thankful we have him.

Short at the back, where exactly because we have several players who are already going to be sat on the bench next weekend because our defense is stacked.

If there was any business to be done, we would do it. Our squad is already bigger than what Pep wants, there is no space for anyone else.

 

[Blue Smarties]

Week from the start of the season and the major concerns still haven't been addressed in that we have no midfield cover for Rodri, We are short at the back and are also about to be critically short upfront once alvarez's exit is confirmed.

The obvious big offloads of the summer in Phillips and cancelo still haven't happened yet either.

fair to say Txiki needs to pull his finger out and get some business done pretty soon. Been an unusual window so far, We usually get our main business of the summer done early doors, yet the only thing we've done is a deal between a club we own. Wonder why thats the case this summer, perhaps main targets falling through? Still enough time to do what we want, no need to panic but lots of work for him to do.

Who would you sign as a viable backup option to Rodri?