Christian Pulisic

[SpartanSpur]

And for those that suggest Eriksen and Alli would automatically be moved back into the CM roles, that just feels like fantasy football style team building to me where you sod the defense and just shoehorn as many attackers into the side as humanly possible. We've only seen it in one or two games, and both in a 5-3-2 when we were playing on the counter, so even there there's no room for all these forwards. There's also been suggestions that Poch could be switching to a 4-3-3, but it's a big financial risk to be taking on an entirely untested formation. I can't see it happening.

I remember thinking we'd smash City the season before last when they started with Yaya in DM and De Bruyne and Silva in front. They destroyed us and we were lucky to take a point. Dele and Eriksen are better tacklers than KDB and Silva, and Dele was a CM at MK Dons.

Fantasy football is a bit of a push as it has worked in the PL with City. Liverpool's midfield is pretty lightweight too.

I'd love us to sign a top quality CM and not worry about dropping them back outside of in game changes but I can't agree it's not an option.

 

[Hans Gruber]

I remember thinking we'd smash City the season before last when they started with Yaya in DM and De Bruyne and Silva in front. They destroyed us and we were lucky to take a point. Dele and Eriksen are better tacklers than KDB and Silva, and Dele was a CM at MK Dons.

Fantasy football is a bit of a push as it has worked in the PL with City. Liverpool's midfield is pretty lightweight too.

I'd love us to sign a top quality CM and not worry about dropping them back outside of in game changes but I can't agree it's not an option.

Difference is Guardiola already had a decade of experience playing with a 4-3-3, and to my knowledge Poch has never really used one before. Or at least he hasn't with Eriksen and Dele in the middle, so all I'm saying is this would be a big financial risk to take if that's his plan for it (the combined Martial/Pulisic purchase).

 

[Univarn]

Difference is Guardiola already had a decade of experience playing with a 4-3-3, and to my knowledge Poch has never really used one before. Or at least he hasn't with Eriksen and Dele in the middle, so all I'm saying is this would be a big financial risk to take if that's his plan for it (the combined Martial/Pulisic purchase).

For me it is less of a "we should" do this and more trying to undersrand the transfer strategy at play. Heavy links and ITK saying maybe 2 AMs in this window and the floating Sess question and ever expensive de Ligt leaves little in the kitty for a quality CM to replace Dembele. So I think the theory that a 433 or 4141 is on the cards comes out of that. If I had it my way our summer would be LWB, CB (replace Toby and Jan deputy), and CM but so far our strongest links have hinted otherwise.

 

[Hans Gruber]

For me it is less of a "we should" do this and more trying to undersrand the transfer strategy at play. Heavy links and ITK saying maybe 2 AMs in this window and the floating Sess question and ever expensive de Ligt leaves little in the kitty for a quality CM to replace Dembele. So I think the theory that a 433 or 4141 is on the cards comes out of that. If I had it my way our summer would be LWB, CB (replace Toby and Jan deputy), and CM but so far our strongest links have hinted otherwise.

Yes, good point. I suppose I'm saying I'll believe it when I see it (re our transfer targets) as it makes little sense to me right now. The Sessegnon rumours would suggest Poch is favouring a wing-back system, but then that leaves little room for attacking mids, and would also suggest we're looking to offload Rose but all the ITK on that seems to have gone cold. The De Ligt rumours seem to confirm an Alderweireld departure, and yes the lack of proper links to established CMs is a bit surprising and could suggest he's looking at a change of system, it just all seems a bit bizarre and scattergun to me. Pretty intrigued to see how it all plays out.

 

[yankspurs]

This guy looks fabulous on You Tube. Fair amount of highlights also. Is he a consistant performer, does anyone know?

Not really. Also didnt have that good a season at all. I personally have my doubts about his readiness for this league. He should stay in Germany or go to Spain or Italy. Much better fit, IMO.

 

[Monkey boy]

I’m on the fence on this one. Is Pulisic good enough to sell Lamela for? I’m not asking if he is better, just whether he is developed enough to warrant selling a player we already know can contribute to the team.

Considering Lamela is complete pony I’d say yes but please don’t let this turn into a Lamela thread, we have enough of those.

 

[Hoopspur]

Personally I would prefer we put the money towards Zaha. Fantasy v reality I guess. I kind of know He would frighten the fuck out of opponents in our team, whereas I’m just not sure about Pulisic. But then again it’s not my money (directly!)

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Considering Lamela is complete pony I’d say yes but please don’t let this turn into a Lamela thread, we have enough of those.

Pulisic is not currently better then Lamela. Maybe in a few years, but if you find Lamela frustrating then you won't like Pulisic.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Certain supporters...

"Fucking Levy, only cares about money & profits for shareholders"

Followed by

"If we signed this fella our marketing in the States would go through the roof"

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

If we are able to sign Martial, I would much rather us spend the next chunk of our budget on a top quality CM. If we fail to sign a top CM we have failed in the transfer window IMO.

 

[S17PUR]

I've not seen a great deal of Pulisic. He'd be an exciting signing for sure, but whereas I'm pretty confident Martial or Zaha could have an immediate positive impact, there are more question marks over Pulisic. I think the most likely outcome is that we don't sign any of those three though.

 

[willcpt17]

I've not seen a great deal of Pulisic. He'd be an exciting signing for sure, but whereas I'm pretty confident Martial or Zaha could have an immediate positive impact, there are more question marks over Pulisic. I think the most likely outcome is that we don't sign any of those three though.

Totally agree, Martial and Zaha would both hit the ground running. I like Pulisic but we can't afford to wait half the season for him to settle in. I also agree with many of you that we need to make finding a Dembele replacement more of a priority than it currently is.

 

[Hotspurious]

Pulisic is not currently better then Lamela. Maybe in a few years, but if you find Lamela frustrating then you won't like Pulisic.

That’s a little simplistic and unfair. They are completely different players. Pulisic does things Lamela can’t do but is not nearly the defensive menace that Lamela is. I like them both but they are not the same type of player and they pose different problems for opponents.

 

[double0]

Lamela >> Pulisic .

Lamela needs stay fit and he's in the team imo....and if he managers to add goals well.

 

[robertgoulet]

Lamela >> Pulisic .

Lamela needs stay fit and he's in the team imo....and if he managers to add goals well.

Until Lamela proves that he can stay fit there’s no reason to believe he will.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Lamela >> Pulisic .

Lamela needs stay fit and he's in the team imo....and if he managers to add goals well.

Until Lamela proves that he can stay fit there’s no reason to believe he will.

Umm, I agree with both of you

 

[Qualsonic]

Lamela >>Pulisic

Careful, you’ll upset our colonial cousins

 

[SpartanSpur]

Difference is Guardiola already had a decade of experience playing with a 4-3-3, and to my knowledge Poch has never really used one before. Or at least he hasn't with Eriksen and Dele in the middle, so all I'm saying is this would be a big financial risk to take if that's his plan for it (the combined Martial/Pulisic purchase).

I can agree with that. I fully agreed with Martial and Pulisic being overkill anyway but was just the other point.

I do think there'll be a temptation to drop Eriksen back regardless of formation unless better (and achiveable) targets come out of the woodwork.

 

[yankspurs]

Lamela >> Pulisic .

Lamela needs stay fit and he's in the team imo....and if he managers to add goals well.

There is zero doubt about that. Lamela is definitely the far better player at the moment. Pulisic is getting better but he is just not there yet. Give him another year or 2. I really hope he doesnt come to England yet.

 

[Hotspurious]

For those interested in seeing him, the USA team plays Bolivia on Monday evening (23:30 in UK). I believe he is in the team and they may very well play him as a 10. The game is on the fox network here in the states.