I think we have to be careful about taking what has been an exceptional run of form in a strange season and projecting it forward as the 'norm'. We have been exceptional for various reasons, but we haven't been perfect and probably the biggest weakness even in that run has been a lack of clinical finishing from the forward players.
In the Champions League for example where chances are few and far between the further in the tournament you go, the margins between success and failure get finer and those weaknesses can be exposed. That's not to say we can't win the lot this season, just that I think it's still very important to strengthen the 9 position for the challenges that lie ahead in the next few seasons.
Was good to see Pep rattle off the False 9 options in his squad yesterday. He isn't buying another one of those unless the player's name starts with Lionel and ends with Messi.
How do we know you're not winding us up TH ?
:)
Picture the conversation, "Hey Sergio, we're yarding you, we're not signing a striker to replace you and we've decided to tell you now, just for the fun of it."
Picture the conversation, "Hey Sergio, we're yarding you, we're not signing a striker to replace you and we've decided to tell you now, just for the fun of it."
I’d say the timing is exactly what you’d expect from a classy football club when the decision has been made that it’s time to part company with a club legend. As for telling him he’s making room for a top level striker I’d be telling him that regardless to ease the pain.Picture the conversation, "Hey Sergio, we're yarding you, we're not signing a striker to replace you and we've decided to tell you now, just for the fun of it."
I think that we’d have bought a striker even if Sergio stayed. I don’t think we are buying BECAUSE he’s leaving. He has not played much of a part in this season at all. In a way we had already moved on from him and we’re still in all competitions. Sergio has had practically zero influence on this season. For me it’s totally independent of him leaving. We are buying a striker because our finishing is gash in general, with or without Sergio.My take on Pep's comment yesterday was simply: we'll buy a striker if the price is right.
The bottom line is that you don't let Sergio go if you are not intending to buy a replacement. And we do need a top, top class finisher for the reasons you state.
Brilliant !!
Pissed myself laughing there tolm .
I use the word lightly but the glaring 'issue' with that is that if Haaland doesn't explicitly state "I only want to join City" then threatening to walk away means very little as the like of Chelsea, for example, won't be afraid to chuck money at them.We've been sending messages all week.
To Sergio, to Mino, to Dortmund and others.
Most importantly, to our own squad.
The first art of negotation is the other party being told you are willing to walk away.
If we’re not paying the fee for haaland we certainly ain’t paying for felix has that will be over £100 million .If the Spafia are good with paying £170m for Kane then this time we get our "top target"...
Okay fine! 2nd After Haaland, but Kane...
Even the somewhat oft injured 28 year old next season 'Arry...
Doesn't rely on pace, is more of a better in the air, stronger, poorer dribbling, aging Messi-like substitute signing who can create and score is a legit game changer in our side of a different kind.
Otherwise I'd expect Felix the next in likely to sign or try hard for.
Haaland 3rd in likely, 1st in effort.
Lukaku a distant 4th in both trying and desire.