Martín Zubimendi

We aren’t getting Zubimendi. No way does he leave his boyhood club in January 4 months after agreeing to stay and see them over a transition season when Merino and Le Normand left. He is a summer option but even then it appears unlikely we will be in the CL, charges may be ongoing and the Rodri issue will be live. I imagine he will have many other options at that price and options which are a little more solid than what we can offer.
 
We aren’t getting Zubimendi. No way does he leave his boyhood club in January 4 months after agreeing to stay and see them over a transition season when Merino and Le Normand left. He is a summer option but even then it appears unlikely we will be in the CL, charges may be ongoing and the Rodri issue will be live. I imagine he will have many other options at that price and options which are a little more solid than what we can offer.

Agree he's not a January option but can see us making a move in Summer. I don't think lack of Champions League football is that big of a deal. Hasn't stopped us acquiring bigger names than him in the past and hasn't stopped our rivals doing so either.
 
Agree he's not a January option but can see us making a move in Summer. I don't think lack of Champions League football is that big of a deal. Hasn't stopped us acquiring bigger names than him in the past and hasn't stopped our rivals doing so either.
I think there are very few January options, but what we can’t do is fill the squad with stop gaps. If players like Zubemendi and other targets really aren’t available until summer we are going to have to wait.
Though we could really do with one or two of our summer targets agreeing to move in January if at all possible.
 
I think there are very few January options, but what we can’t do is fill the squad with stop gaps. If players like Zubemendi and other targets really aren’t available until summer we are going to have to wait.
Though we could really do with one or two of our summer targets agreeing to move in January if at all possible.

Totally agree. If it were a case of being a couple of points off the top and a certain player potentially being the difference between winning the league and not, then I think go all out. But I dont think overpaying for anyone or panic buying second choice options for the sake of it will change our fortunes as far as this season is concerned. In fact it it could be harmful to our longer term rebuild.
 
Agree he's not a January option but can see us making a move in Summer. I don't think lack of Champions League football is that big of a deal. Hasn't stopped us acquiring bigger names than him in the past and hasn't stopped our rivals doing so either.
fair point but Zubimendi will probably be able to pick from us, Liverpool, Arsenal have been linked and even Real should AT move on. CL will be part of the decision even if it’s a “toss up”. Think previously no cl was mitigated by us throwing money at player and selling club. Thankfully that’s not us. The no cl upside is the academy players will have more games in europa or conference league and keep them happy and let us see them. Means we will be in the Wharton, Eze market rather than Wirtz but maybe medium term that’s no bad thing.
 
Totally agree. If it were a case of being a couple of points off the top and a certain player potentially being the difference between winning the league and not, then I think go all out. But I dont think overpaying for anyone or panic buying second choice options for the sake of it will change our fortunes as far as this season is concerned. In fact it it could be harmful to our longer term rebuild.
100% - aside from loans - anyone signed in Jan has to be someone who is part of the plan over the next 3 seasons. Or we should leave it. Loans - can gamble a bit - give Juve a juicy loan fee and cover DLs wages makes sense for 6 months. Signing him for 50m less so.
 
Its tough that we don't have an understudy for the current ballon d'or winner, champion League' and Premiership conqueror.

When you read those words and they settle, you get a real realisation just what a task its going to be getting a temporary replacement who can fill Rodri's boots.


Who in their right mind wants to challenge a phenomenon like Rodri? It means they will be sat on the bench once he is back and fit. Probably playing the last 10 to 20 minutes.

I can't see what Zubidoo will offer us other than a direct replacement for Rodri? Zubimendi is too good for the second fiddle role and we can't play them both together. Its one or the other.

We're probably looking for a 21 year old at most who has 80% Rodri's abilities and potential, but is willing to play second fiddle until Rodri gets injured or retires. Besides it could take him 12 months to fully understand the Rodri role, thats not unfeasible, it took Rodri 12 months to master his role, and he's a switched on dude.

I dare say that Kev will be easier to replace because of his injuries and age, and theres very few players like Kev.

Its a tough one, its nowhere near the "plug and play" senario that folk are wishing for.

We'll need some luck and timing.
 
Its tough that we don't have an understudy for the current ballon d'or winner, champion League' and Premiership conqueror.

When you read those words and they settle, you get a real realisation just what a task its going to be getting a temporary replacement who can fill Rodri's boots.


Who in their right mind wants to challenge a phenomenon like Rodri? It means they will be sat on the bench once he is back and fit. Probably playing the last 10 to 20 minutes.

I can't see what Zubidoo will offer us other than a direct replacement for Rodri? Zubimendi is too good for the second fiddle role and we can't play them both together. Its one or the other.

We're probably looking for a 21 year old at most who has 80% Rodri's abilities and potential, but is willing to play second fiddle until Rodri gets injured or retires. Besides it could take him 12 months to fully understand the Rodri role, thats not unfeasible, it took Rodri 12 months to master his role, and he's a switched on dude.

I dare say that Kev will be easier to replace because of his injuries and age, and theres very few players like Kev.

Its a tough one, its nowhere near the "plug and play" senario that folk are wishing for.

We'll need some luck and timing.

You dont have like for like understudies for players as good as Rodri. You have to have alternative systems and ways of adapting. The drop off in quality to someone who serves as understudy is just too steep when a player is that important to you.
 
He's missed 10 games in 4 seasons through injury and has a £51m release clause. Given the state of the market and comparable transfers, I'd say £51m represents very fair value given that Rice moved for over £100m.

Or are you going to tell me he'd be worse than Lewis/ Gundogan?
Current issues are with his back and has already suffered and Abductor injury this season. Missed Real Sociedad's game yesterday. He isn't worth the mid-season rush even with our current situation.
 
Don’t be stupid, obviously they aren’t doing nothing. Nothing may happen because of other factors we can’t control other teams and players. Doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. If nothing happens in January it doesn’t happen. Live with it, not like you have any choice.
That will be a disgrace if allowed…
 
Allowed by who exactly ? What would you do if the clubs selling or the players we want say they aren't for sale or moving in January. It's real life and people not some computer game.
You could say that at any point in time. Players will move. They always do!
 
You could say that at any point in time. Players will move. They always do!
Not always the right players and certainly less so in January. You still haven't explained what you would do if the players we want to rebuild for the next 5 years just aren't willing to come in January or their clubs refuse to talk in January. If you think it's a disgrace you must know the easy fix for this the club are ignoring.
 
This one is simple, if we want him, we should have asked him weeks ago. He has a release clause so there's nothing stopping us from getting him if he wants it. Get an answer from him prior to the window, if it's a yes, he's in 1st January no messing about, if it's anything other than a definitive yes, we pass and move on to the next option quickly.

There's no time to fuck around wooing targets and haggling over a few million or contract bonuses. Having to do business in january means you dont have the luxury of bargaining power or time, it's just the consequences of a poor summer window so you eat the cost and get the business done to fix the problems.

Not fixing the problem will cost us far more than whatever we might have to spend in January.
 
Not always the right players and certainly less so in January. You still haven't explained what you would do if the players we want to rebuild for the next 5 years just aren't willing to come in January or their clubs refuse to talk in January. If you think it's a disgrace you must know the easy fix for this the club are ignoring.
Few recent ish January signings, Van Dijk, Gakpo, Guimares, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Luis Dias, Laporte, Fernandes, Goncalo Ramos, Mudryk, Sels, Enzo Fernandes, Vlahovic. No ones saying its easy, but players do move. We have shafted ourselves since the treble. To do nothing now under the circumstances would be criminal and we will pay big time if we do nothing.
 
Few recent ish January signings, Van Dijk, Gakpo, Guimares, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Luis Dias, Laporte, Fernandes, Goncalo Ramos, Mudryk, Sels, Enzo Fernandes, Vlahovic. No ones saying its easy, but players do move. To do nothing would be criminal and we will pay big time if we do nothing.
Still no explanation, just more venting.
 
Don't think he's the solution. We don't need the archetypal pep player. We need someone with legs who can cover lots of ground, break through the lines and has positional sense. He has some of that but not all.
 
Its tough that we don't have an understudy for the current ballon d'or winner, champion League' and Premiership conqueror.

When you read those words and they settle, you get a real realisation just what a task its going to be getting a temporary replacement who can fill Rodri's boots.


Who in their right mind wants to challenge a phenomenon like Rodri? It means they will be sat on the bench once he is back and fit. Probably playing the last 10 to 20 minutes.

I can't see what Zubidoo will offer us other than a direct replacement for Rodri? Zubimendi is too good for the second fiddle role and we can't play them both together. Its one or the other.

We're probably looking for a 21 year old at most who has 80% Rodri's abilities and potential, but is willing to play second fiddle until Rodri gets injured or retires. Besides it could take him 12 months to fully understand the Rodri role, thats not unfeasible, it took Rodri 12 months to master his role, and he's a switched on dude.

I dare say that Kev will be easier to replace because of his injuries and age, and theres very few players like Kev.

Its a tough one, its nowhere near the "plug and play" senario that folk are wishing for.

We'll need some luck and timing.
Sounds like Adam Wharton you are describing, Rodri is his hero.
 
Still no explanation, just more venting.
What? Im showing you teams are able improve themselves in Janury. Which we need to do. Drastically!!

If we do nothing which you seem to be advocating for some bizarre reason, then the disaster that is unfurling infront of us all, will only get worse…
 

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