Marc Cucurella

[Dax777]

When Salah is playing like that, the only left back that's handling him is also wearing a Liverpool shirt. From what I've watched of City, Cancelo is more of a midfielder in position and against a team that can break as quickly and effective as Liverpool, it's going to be an issue. Having a real fullback like Walker but on the left is obviously something that is missing in those big big games where the opposition have top class all over.

Today, albeit interesting, doesn't really change anything. Cancelo is still a top class player and in any game against a team without top attackers, he will shine as usual. Potter probably lied about the injury because saying "we left him out cos he might go city" isn't very good, his replacement Webster was great (friendly etc but still) and no doubt Brighton have someone in mind to bring in, hope this can get done relatively soon so that everyone can be happy and move on.

Who you got in mind? :)

 

[Dax777]

I watched Ait Nouri completely shut down Salah. He's a handful for any LB but against Cancelo its a mismatch.

I did enjoy the Viking absolutely running over the aforementioned LB BTW.

My 1st choice :(

 

[not my fault!]

I see City giving this until Wednesday. If he signs it’ll be agreed that’s it’s a fee undisclosed (until our accounts come out) so both clubs appear to of won the battle.
However if we don’t get any clear sign by Tuesday I see us putting a bid in for someone else and them flying in Thursday for talks/medical etc.
Either way, a deal is struck for closer to our fee for Cucurella or we buy someone else for half the price. Regardless of the “just pay the fee” brigade, there’s no way City bow down and pay that now it’s being made into a public panto. If you can’t see how just paying a high price effects us long term then it’s clear you don’t do trades, deals or are responsible for any financial decisions in business.

 

[Cobwebcat]

I think the mistake I made was to think City would not start the season with two first team squad full backs. I was looking at August 7th. I think City are looking at 1st September.

I don’t like it. Txiki doesn’t care I don’t like it.

 

[Bluewonder]

Disagree. City had to pay whatever clubs wanted when we were growing and we just had to accept it. That could not carry on forever and we moved to a position of sustainability. City have a lot to offer now and virtually every player wants to come here. We have no need to overpay anymore so now we move on. We have done this a lot recently and reputation is important in transfer dealings.

Exactly, we move on because Brighton aren't dropping their price.

Brighton don't care that we walked away from Kane last year and have no intention of dropping their price because of it.

That's what I just said.

 

[Bluewonder]

Mate - if you don’t think an analysis of previous buyer behaviour is a huge factor in any complex negotiation then you’re being very naive.

You’re talking about this in a case by case basis - in which I can see your logic - but the point I was making was reputational, which is cumulative and based on perception.

And that is absolutely part of the thinking in a seller setting their price.

Arguably we have created this problem for ourselves by paying £50m for Walker and Mendy. That’s created a perception that we’ll go to that level for a fullback.

So when Bloom set his price - I’d be amazed if he didn’t absolutely have our previous on paying for fullbacks in his thinking.

Brighton’s position seems to be citing the Ben White transfer as a precedent - which clearly demonstrates the central role previous behaviour plays in setting a price.

So why did we get Phillips for £42m after spending £100m on Grealish? Overall, those two are a very similar standard and were both at midtable clubs.

All these transfers are discrete of each other and dependent on unique factors.

 

[Great Kompany]

I think this miss is a folly on City's part.
I am amazed they let themselves got "Kaned" once again.

Also Zinny could have left three weeks from now also. Letting him go before confirming Cucu is a mistake irrespective of Haaland signing.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Exactly, we move on because Brighton aren't dropping their price.

Brighton don't care that we walked away from Kane last year and have no intention of dropping their price because of it.

That's what I just said.

I disagree with you on general reputation is not important. Brighton Is just one deal.

 

[jrb]

The player is worth far more than 50m to us.

Brighton DONT WANT or NEED to sell.

No he’s not.

Why? Because he won’t make of a difference to where Brighton finish in the league this season. If we’re talking about a top striker, midfielder, keeper, or even a centre half, you have a valid point, but not a left back. With or without him, with Potter in charge, Brighton will finish mid-table again, and won’t win a trophy. I’m not having a pop at Brighton. I’m just being honest. I’m sure you can accept that. Cucurella is not a game changer and never will be for Brighton. He was Brighton‘s best player ‘last season’. That‘s it.

 

[jimharri]

Exactly, we move on because Brighton aren't dropping their price.

Brighton don't care that we walked away from Kane last year and have no intention of dropping their price because of it.

That's what I just said.

Yep. Bloom is entrenched now, like Levy with Kane last summer. Can't see us getting Cucurella now.

 

[Ajm1985]

People saying just pay the extra it's only an extra 10m.
What if it was an extra 20m or 30m? Should we just pay that too?

There has to be a cut off point for every player.
City will decide what that point is.

Which is completely fair enough and they are right to do so. However, they seem to have misjudged Bloom's willingness to drop the asking price and have effectively wasted time in underbidding that.

As it seems they aren't willing to stump up the cash (fair enough), they should just move on to one of the other options.

 

[chesterbells]

Mate - if you don’t think an analysis of previous buyer behaviour is a huge factor in any complex negotiation then you’re being very naive.

You’re talking about this in a case by case basis - in which I can see your logic - but the point I was making was reputational, which is cumulative and based on perception.

And that is absolutely part of the thinking in a seller setting their price.

Arguably we have created this problem for ourselves by paying £50m for Walker and Mendy. That’s created a perception that we’ll go to that level for a fullback.

So when Bloom set his price - I’d be amazed if he didn’t absolutely have our previous on paying for fullbacks in his thinking.

Brighton’s position seems to be citing the Ben White transfer as a precedent - which clearly demonstrates the central role previous behaviour plays in setting a price.

Although those 2 signings were 5 years ago now, and there’s been a fair bit of water under the transfer bridge since then, fully agree with the general point you’re making about perceptions.

 

[jrb]

After getting involved with Levy last season, City must have known Bloom is cut from the same cloth. They knew what to expect. Yet they went in with a low ball offer, which everyone on here agreed was, so what City were thinking and hoping for only they know.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

So why did we get Phillips for £42m after spending £100m on Grealish? Overall, those two are a very similar standard and were both at midtable clubs.

All these transfers are discrete of each other and dependent on unique factors.

You have no idea how the negotiations with Leeds panned out, but they were clearly more open to finding a compromise than Brighton.

I very much doubt it was simply a case of Leeds saying ‘we want £42m or nothing’, and us paying their price straight off.

I’d absolutely expect they had a higher price in mind - and I’d also expect that was in part informed by previous deals we’ve struck for midfielders. Grealish included.

But look - you think every deal is a stand alone and operates in isolation, I think sellers look at a broad range of factors (some internal, some external) in setting their price - previous buying behaviour and buyer reputation included.

Happy to disagree with you in this one.

 

[Keeper!]

How much do you think grealish has made for his club commercially? I would imagine it’s a hefty sum on shirt sales and merch. He needs to play with more freedom or he will not reach the heights he should be .

dream on

 

[blueparrot]

You have no idea how the negotiations with Leeds panned out, but they were clearly more open to finding a compromise than Brighton.

I get much doubt it was simply a case of Leeds saying ‘we want £42m or nothing’, and us paying their price straight off.

I’d absolutely expect they had a higher price in mind - and I’d also expect that was in part informed by previous deals we’ve struck for midfielders. Grealish included.

But look - you think every deal is a stand alone and operates in isolation, I think sellers look at a broad range of factors (some internal, some external) in setting their price - previous buying behaviour and buyer reputation included.

Happy to disagree with you in this one.

Maybe Leeds also had a better relationship with the player, and also saw the benefit of a good long term relationship with us in the future.

 

[Keeper!]

Send your cv to the recruitment department, they're clearly missing the radical tactic of just paying what clubs want ;)

we in a vast majority of cases have had to pay what the clubs want.

 

[Keeper!]

No he’s not.

Why? Because he won’t make of a difference to where Brighton finish in the league this season. If we’re talking about a top striker, midfielder, keeper, or even a centre half, you have a valid point, but not a left back. With or without him, with Potter in charge, Brighton will finish mid-table again, and won’t win a trophy. I’m not having a pop at Brighton. I’m just being honest. I’m sure you can accept that. Cucurella is not a game changer and never will be for Brighton. He was Brighton‘s best player ‘last season’. That‘s it.

You don't know that, he was a major part of a great last season for Brighton is is probably their best player, so he is a huge part of their team.

 

[Kamaro011]

I think this miss is a folly on City's part.
I am amazed they let themselves got "Kaned" once again.

Also Zinny could have left three weeks from now also. Letting him go before confirming Cucu is a mistake irrespective of Haaland signing.

He wants to go, he doesn't care whether Cucurella coming or not. By then Arsenal will look another option and Zinchenko will be mostly on the bench again for next season.

He doesn't want to do that again, he wasn't happy sitting mostly on bench again and Pep doesn't want to see a sad face on locker room. It better to sell him as soon as possible when the opportunity arises.

 

[razman]

I still can't get around how we have let Zini go without cucurella or an alternate LB sorted out

There was never really a rush to get Zini out and with his attitude I know he would have given 100%

Yes , he would have wanted game time - but if we are not going to get an LB , pretty sure Zini would have gone ample game time