Been quite a while since I posted. Been keeping a close eye on both the team and the forum. Wanted to post at the end of the season but didn’t want to jump to conclusions that would backfire in a few months, and here we are.
As many have stated, this transfer window is pretty much a train wreck in slow motion. We sold perhaps the two most valuable assets, failed to get rid of other less valuable ones and generally failed to get anyone of note.
Might need a few more posts to get everything across but to conclude the team is seriously unbalanced position wise and age wise. We’ll see what the deadline brings.
Oh, and on free agents Dan Axel Zagadou and Ross Barkley are still out there, fingers crossed we touch neither of them.
As for the free agents that you mentioned, Ross Barkley has at least participated in the pre-season training with Chelsea compared to Zagadou who was released on 1st of July. No more rehabilitation patients please
Yes I read it earlier that they were only interested in a potential loan - no other details included like if there’s a buying option or not.
A loan with a buying option would be good as I think Ocampos will prove his worth in Eredivisie… hopefully he’ll shine there, at least!
However, that will also probably mean that no more players are coming. Januzaj is a replacement for both Tecatito and Ocampos, while Dolberg is a replacement for Munir.
That is if Ocampos finally signs for Ajax I believe?
In that case, it is reported that we’d go for a DM or another CB.
If Ocampos returns (which is a high possibility) no more transfers. Last rumor is that we are negotiating a loan of 4m in fees and 16m buying option at the end of next season.
It looks to be an underwhelming transfer-window, but to be fair we have also struck bad luck when we have gone for some more prestigious transfers (Rony, Ganso… off the top of my head).
Sometimes players get a new spark when they join a new side and maybe they will be a revelation. With that said I’m joining you all in feeling quite down… but we can still allow ourselves to have some hope for the season. Based on something…
Regarding Dolberg, as a Dane, he has been injury-prone, but I also feel like he would do some damage if given the confidence and plenty of minutes. Although, about that spark I mentioned earlier - he has been criticised for his, seemingly, lack of energy and motivation. I’m not sure how the fans will respond to that.
The only thing salvaging this is if Lope is sticking with this diamond formation. Then i could excuse us not having a LW, and having 3 CFs in the team.
I like the Dolberg signing. It could really work out. Reminds me a bit of Negrado in a way the way he scores. Poacher, with some skill. I have only seen highlights so who knows how that equates.
This got me excited again. The Jordán/Rakitic looks like the weakest position in my book, along with Oliver/Delaney. But all 4 of the guys can be miraculous in the right circumstances…is this their year, is the real question? I’m not counting on breakout from any of those guys, so I’m going to say “No”
Still, even in this formation the midfield is the weakest part. In modern day football, a weak midfield will guarantee mediocrity. We were too focused on CB and CF positions, even though still lacking a lot in those departments - yet didn’t prioritize the department where we mostly lack skill on.
Our best players are Acuna, Fernando and Bono - the rest are all replaceable so far.
It reflected in Muriqi at least, a very similar case. He was a Lazio player and after a good half a season loan in Mallorca but nothing too special, came back to Lazio and they wanted to finally sell him. Club Brugge was the most interested - agreed terms with the player and Lazio, nobody went to wait for him in the airport, the club managers didn’t care and he “failed” the medicals in Brugge. Lazio was shocked and angry, Brugge ended up asking for a lower price and it was then revealed that nothing was wrong with Muriqi but CB played dirty. Muriqi came back to Lazio, passed the medical exams without any issue and then got sold to Mallorca.
Now he scored 2 goals in 3 matches and counting… the best player of Mallorca so far - giving his all for the club.
Let’s hope that if Ocampos stays, he’ll be able to channel that anger to reaching new heights with Sevilla.
Lucky you. I really can’t get excited looking at that poor midfield quality. Only Fernando is worthy of a start in the 3-midfielders system, and especially in the system that Lope plays.
We never replaced the midfield maestro Banega (the old story) and never really cared about the midfield for more than 2 seasons now.
It seems that Ocampos will finally leave after all, but on loan with a buying option. Wise decision by Ajax, although with a dirty move at the end - but that’s all due to no proper planning at hand at the beginning of the transfer window.
Things can and will almost always go wrong when you leave these kind of decisions at the last minute.
