Nicolò Zaniolo

[fishhhandaricecake]

I just realised the PL kicks off in two weeks. I really hope whoever we plan on bringing in we do it soon.

Yea would be good although with the 6 we signed we should for once be in perfectly good shape to kick off the season strongly and if our final 2-3 signings go into the final few weeks of the window once the season has started that’s not the end of the world this time.

Think most of us agree we still need a 6th attacking option and another top CB, ideally we tie both of those deals up next week but realistically we now need to get some sales sorted and some pieces of the domino effect need to likely move before we pull the trigger on another hopefully 2-3 signings

 

[mil1lion]

I just realised the PL kicks off in two weeks. I really hope whoever we plan on bringing in we do it soon.

Not sure how important that is now. We've filled all the key positions this window. We just need extra cover at centre back and attacking midfield but they don't need to be signed before the season. We signed Bentancur and Kulusevski midway through the season and had no issues integrating them into the team.

 

[WiganSpur]

I just realised the PL kicks off in two weeks. I really hope whoever we plan on bringing in we do it soon.

I was relaxed about further signings until Davies came off injured. But i'd rather we directed our attention to another centre half at this point, far bigger priority than an AM surely? AM can happen on deadline day for all I care and it seems like there is no plan on the AM front anyway. How can you lurch from Tielemans to Maddison to Zaniolo? All of them couldn't be more different. Makes you wonder if Zaniolo has been seen as much more of an opportunistic punt because we think we can get him on the cheap.

Regardless, I can't see us doing any more incoming business until players are out the door. The squad right now is bursting at the seams with numbers. The wage bill must be huge and Levy won't want us taking the risk of a couple more signings until some are gone surely. Players are getting offered out everywhere by the sounds of it, so I think Paratici is struggling to shift a few of them.

As long as we get another good CB in though, i'm absolutely delighted with the window.

 

[mil1lion]

It's no bad thing with Moura gaining some versatility by learning the RWB position. He's 30 next month, and just one year left on his contract, so his transfer value to move on is probably worth less than the value he offers our squad/bench by being able to cover multiple positions. He's also been a great mentor/peer for the new Brazilians coming to the club.

Really don’t think Moura is going anywhere as we need 6 as cover up top, we add e.g. Zaniolo and that gives us 6 so why get rid of Moura, he’s a good character, he won’t make a fuss, he can come on as our 6th attacker and he can occasionally play RWB if we need to really attack a team.

Fair points and I'm happy for him to stay. My main concern was the number of non homegrown we have now but we may not be as bad as I thought. Now with Bergwijn gone and assuming we let Lo Celso, Reguilon and Ndombele go we should have the space for Moura and 2 more incomings. I'm not convinced with him as right wing back but he will always do a job for the team wherever he plays.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Not sure how important that is now. We've filled all the key positions this window. We just need extra cover at centre back and attacking midfield but they don't need to be signed before the season. We signed Bentancur and Kulusevski midway through the season and had no issues integrating them into the team.

Personally I think it’s still very important not because we are necessarily short, I agree that we are pretty well set for the first few games, but because it will delay their adaptation to Conte’s tactics and fitness requirements. As we know pre season is when Conte does most of the hard work and missing it does no favours to a player especially if they are coming from abroad and need time to settle in a new country.

Obviously I’m not saying we should compromise our targets and it seems we are locked in to negotiations with Zaniolo so that’s good if we can get that sorted soon, assuming it’s Conte’s pick.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I was relaxed about further signings until Davies came off injured. But i'd rather we directed our attention to another centre half at this point, far bigger priority than an AM surely? AM can happen on deadline day for all I care and it seems like there is no plan on the AM front anyway. How can you lurch from Tielemans to Maddison to Zaniolo? All of them couldn't be more different. Makes you wonder if Zaniolo has been seen as much more of an opportunistic punt because we think we can get him on the cheap.

Regardless, I can't see us doing any more incoming business until players are out the door. The squad right now is bursting at the seams with numbers. The wage bill must be huge and Levy won't want us taking the risk of a couple more signings until some are gone surely. Players are getting offered out everywhere by the sounds of it, so I think Paratici is struggling to shift a few of them.

As long as we get another good CB in though, i'm absolutely delighted with the window.

I meant more in general, not just AM.

 

[mil1lion]

Personally I think it’s still very important not because we are necessarily short, I agree that we are pretty well set for the first few games, but because it will delay their adaptation to Conte’s tactics and fitness requirements. As we know pre season is when Conte does most of the hard work and missing it does no favours to a player especially if they are coming from abroad and need time to settle in a new country.

Obviously I’m not saying we should compromise our targets and it seems we are locked in to negotiations with Zaniolo so that’s good if we can get that sorted soon, assuming it’s Conte’s pick.

There's definitely a benefit to getting pre-season under Conte but 6 new incomings already and a team that's had several months under Conte makes it less crucial
I would even say that if no more signings were made it's still a strong window anyway

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

its worth pointing out - we will be short of attacking options off the bench v. Soton - with Richarlison suspended.

If we can find the right player - it would at least give us an option off the bench - besides Lucas.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

its worth pointing out - we will be short of attacking options off the bench v. Soton - with Richarlison suspended.

If we can find the right player - it would at least give us an option off the bench - besides Lucas.

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

 

[Pebble Dash]

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

Hence why bringing in an ACM and Depay would make sense.

We’ve had a fantastic window so far but I can’t see us finishing in the top 3. 4th would be very achievable and expected as would finally having a chance of winning a domestic trophy.

We’re still short of a quality centre back, ACM and another goal scorer before we can push Chelsea for 3rd.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

Isn't Perisic cover for the front three, too?

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Isn't Perisic cover for the front three, too?

I'd say so - for the record, I don't think we need another goal scorer

I'd like an ACM, but we don't need another striker

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Hence why bringing in an ACM and Depay would make sense.

We’ve had a fantastic window so far but I can’t see us finishing in the top 3. 4th would be very achievable and expected as would finally having a chance of winning a domestic trophy.

We’re still short of a quality centre back, ACM and another goal scorer before we can push Chelsea for 3rd.

I think this is too much personally

CB and an ACM, absolutely. I think another striker would be over kill.

If we bought an ACM, we'd only need another striker in an emergency - that's what you have the likes of Parrott and Scarlett for. They're not ready, sure, but we don't want a bloated squad.

 

[djhotspur]

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

Exactly. We’ll have Moura, perisic, Gil (maybe), can bring on more attacking fullback in spence, rotate midfield, rotate fullbacks to keep energy high and a fresh Kane son an d Kulu should be able to do the job against Southampton, against them last season didn’t we have winks in midfield and alli at right wing? It’s a much better starting 11 and options from the bench now.
Same as chelsea, we had massive injury problems against them, so much so Doherty played right midfield in a 4 4 2

 

[TheHodFather]

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

Depends a bit on what happens with Gil, Parrott and Scarlett. Personally I'd be surprised if any of them were seen as genuinely viable first team options this season (especially Scarlett), but I guess it's not totally out of the question that one of them might end up as our sixth attacker.

 

[Pebble Dash]

I think this is too much personally

CB and an ACM, absolutely. I think another striker would be over kill.

If we bought an ACM, we'd only need another striker in an emergency - that's what you have the likes of Parrott and Scarlett for. They're not ready, sure, but we don't want a bloated squad.

For me we’re still a goal scorer light.

Kane, Son, Kulusevski can’t play every game for a variety of different reasons.

That leaves us with just Richarlison as a genuine goal threat.

Moura offers very little these days and Bergwijn who was equally ineffective has since left.

Not just for a serious push to break into the top 3 but to also consolidate 4th place and to challenge on all fronts we need a 5th player who will contribute both assists and goals.

An ACM may do this but it depends who we manage to bring in.

 

[JCRD]

Really don’t think Moura is going anywhere as we need 6 as cover up top, we add e.g. Zaniolo and that gives us 6 so why get rid of Moura, he’s a good character, he won’t make a fuss, he can come on as our 6th attacker and he can occasionally play RWB if we need to really attack a team.

Lucas staying is important. He is a utility player who can do a job in a variety of positions. He can also add that unpredictability in breaking the lines when games are tight. I know he is inconsistent but the pros far far outweigh the cons.

Also we talk about players who care for the club and he clearly does... definitely keep him.

 

[WiganSpur]

If the point is: when we're one attacking player down, we lack options...then it's a much bigger point that just Southampton

True, but that's a much bigger problem at the back right now.

 

[rawhide]

We aren’t going to buy an attacker just because Richarlison is suspended for the first game.

Also, we aren’t going to buy one just because you think we’re short there. We’ve had little to no ITK that we are looking at this type of player, but strong links to Zaniolo and Maddison, which clearly shows the type we are interested in.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

We aren’t going to buy an attacker just because Richarlison is suspended for the first game.

Also, we aren’t going to buy one just because you think we’re short there. We’ve had little to no ITK that we are looking at this type of player, but strong links to Zaniolo and Maddison, which clearly shows the type we are interested in.

Well put