I think you're right, I suppose the "bigger" clubs scouting pool will be aimed at the ready made elite player. BHA's circumstances probably mean that they look to the £10-15m bracket players more than we do. Less of a risk for them than for a team challenging - perhaps even with a view to profit if they over perform.I genuinely think its just not our market.
We either sign ready to go first teamers that will keep us at the top or we sign youth players that can do 1-2 years in EDS or at a CFG club before selling them on for profit.
We don’t look at “bargains” because they are a risk no matter what. £15m is a bloody big risk to take if you arent certain they’ll be good enough. Put 2 or 3 in and the squad quality starts to drop off affecting training, reducing opportunities to EDS, filling spaces for future signings etc.
Brighton or similar can do it because a £15m player is likely to improve their squad or at least not weaken it and gives them upside if he delivers.
I wish we were! Seems one step forward (Haaland and Alvarez, finally proper strikers!) but one step back (only two full backs, one of whom can’t really defend)!
Walker and Cancelo are going to have to stay fit and play an awful lot of games this season. Stones is shit at RB and Aké not great at LB.
Hopefully the club is still looking for at least one pacy full back that can actually tackle during the rest of this transfer window. Can’t believe Pep thinks it’s a good idea going for four trophies with the defence so vulnerable to just one player injury.
A bit oversimplified - Brighton's primary objective is to remain in the Premier League and to sell their best players cheaply without replacements is not really on the agenda. Giving this aim the non-events unfolding was predictable and predicted by me in earlier messages. It did not take a rocket scientist to work out, just to ignore the fiction.
You wouldn't have taken a LB last year - especially with the Mendy situation? Cancelo was and is a fantastic player but we could have been an injury away from having Ake there long term.We didn't have a need for a LB last year.
I thought the refereeing was normal for us in Europe.
We should be used to it by now.
We had that game won without the ‘odd’ refereeing. We threw it away ourselves. I think we are mentally weak this season and have shown this in several games.
We cannot see out games like we used to.
Kev is only at about 70% levels we are used to. He constantly looks like he’s blowing and his radar has been off all season and last season when he was off, we had Gundogan to step into the breach. This season his legs look gone. We have no pace in midfield at all and Rodri good as he is, cannot do it on his own.
We lack the leadership to keep everyone focused like Vinnie used to do.
When we are good we are very good but when we step back down to 2nd or 3rd gear we cannot game manage and blow our advantage.
Add to that the fact we squander so many gilt edged chances and it makes it a long tough season with no let up. No breathers.
I think there are a few mentally weak players in the squad. I won’t single anyone out and kick them when we’re down but the squad is not as strong as it may have seemed.
Apart from that, we’re doing quite well.
Just win our next five games by hook or by crook and regroup.
Mustn’t grumble.
imagine my surpise that the man who held out for 50mil from people who were refusing to pay it, is now asking for more from the people who straight away said they'd meet it.
It's almost like txiki probably had the right idea by being obtuse in the negotiations
In fairness, he was happy enough to sign a contract for them so tough shit reallyI get the impression Cucu is gonna be stuck in Brighton the way mr Bloom is holding him for ransom