I would be happy with this lineup, but I don’t think we’ll be able to keep the Kounde/Carlos pairing.
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What makes you happy about that midfield though? I’m sure you know for a 4-3-3 to work decently you need an energetic box-to-box and not a super-slow old player like Rakitic there as a DM.
Isco will never play that role in a 4-3-3. It would mostly become a 4-2-3-1, with Tolisso & Rakitic holding. I like Tolisso, but i don’t trust his injury record.
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New rumors added: Javi Galan (LB) of Celta and Luis Milla (CM) of Granada.
Javi Galan and Johan Mojica are rumored to be the replacements in case Acuna departs to Man Utd who have expressed strong interest to sign him in the summer window. In case Acuna stays, one of Galan/Mojica will join as a back-up. Ludwig is rumored to be sold or loaned out.
Also apparently, according to Fabrizio Romando we have asked Chelsea 80 million (clause) for Kounde.
I could see Monchi keeping the faith with him, and see this as an opportunity signing. Personally, it would be tough to pass up on, but there could be better options.
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Yeah what do you think? Really not the level we should strive for. I expected far more from Javi Galan (27) this year, in terms of contribution. He’s not bad tho. Same as Mojica (29), I like him and his workrate and attitude on the pitch, altho less finesse. None of them really having more growth possibilities and are just steady base players or good substitutes. We really need to be carefull to not become a mix of averageness. Luis Milla (27) gives me this vibe. What are we gonna put on the field soon, Milla, Oliver and Jordan? It won’t rescue Lope.
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Same here. I think the latest rumors in general are anything but exciting unfortunately. Most of them scream ‘average’ and not really an upgrade on what we already have. If we sell Acuna to get Galan and Mojica, that would be a mistake imo. Supplement Acuna with Galan or Mojica… it’s something different because both of them are better than Ludwig.
Luis Milla… terrible rumor, hopefully just that. Tolisso has not been playing regularly for Bayern and as Edi mention he’s too injury prone. Isco more or less the same… it would be difficult to accommodate him in the midfield unless we change the formation, system and the overall philosophy.
That 4-3-3 ‘envisioning’ from some amateur at VMS would not even work in Football Manager or the likes… considering some things don’t make sense in the virtual gaming world, like I was totally dominating in FIFA 20 with Marcelo in the midfield as DM - let alone in the real world of football. That midfield would get crushed to pieces in that formation with the Lope tactics. Probably could risk relegation.
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Lope has 2 more years. And the ‘growth’ of another 4th place, leads Castro to believe it is the right track. Reaching Europe, eventho performing like crap, the storyline continues. We will be enjoying some more Lope ball boys. Stay strong.
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I like the Origi call a lot, expiring contract as well. Really good. But with Diego Carlos and Kounde leaving, and midfield heavily needing rejuvenation and reinforcement. Prefer to look there and fix that. Before we buy more Strikers who are not the problem nor the solution of the team.
Besides that, Origi would probably be a better pick up than Brereton Diaz.
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Alfred Schreuder, current manager of Club Brugge (fighting for the league title in Belgium) is linked with us in case of Lope’s departure. He is a fan of total football and managed to finish 6th with Hoffenheim in 2019-20 before joining Koeman in Barca as an assistant.
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I’m really not sure, how realistic all these manager rumours are. After almost definitely cementing 4th and the words of Castro and Monchi lately.
He’s a good tactical coach, lots of players of the national team have been speaking highly of him during his time as assistant manager. It’s a big step to a head coach position, which he’s doing well so far. Ajax are after him as well. Total football, is basically the modern football, that you can see in City and Liverpool. Almost all of the players can do more than their job, everywhere on the pitch. While still having certain main jobs. It takes certain qualities ofcourse, I think Joao Cancelo, or Gundogan or Alexander Arnold are prime examples of this, put them controlled, possesion and defensive, put them high up, always a treat and creative. Going forward, taking over unusual positions, insane shooting abilities. This is what’s hard to defend and makes their football so dynamic, which is what you should strive for. So the idea is great, I don’t think our current management embraces this idea neither do they like sudden change and the involved risk. The management is too traditional ‘spanish’ and as long as it gets us the results and the bare minimum of necessities and CL placement. They are satisfied. Which is understandable from a business point of view. But you think the pressure is high now on Lope? It will only get higher next year. And we’ve seen enough that we don’t endure it that well already. Well enough so far, yes. Partly because failures of competitors, not due to ourselves. Which is really what it comes down. We should strive to improve ourselves. He will get a newly reconstructed team, and will be talking about new adaption problems and getting used to the players next season. Not leaning on Kounde, Carlos, Bono and Fernando anymore. Will be an actual test. And I’m curious what will be the build by our managing visionary, and how the building will or will not stay strong. It seems, we really want to see how much load it takes for the bridge before it breaks I guess.
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Florian Grillitsch of Schalke (DM/CB) and Jerry St. Juste of Mainz (CB) added to the rumor list.
Cavani still an option, but do we really want him next season though?
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I am gonna fold on Cavani at this point. We shouldn’t go as low to let them just do their thing until they age to the point where they go to the highest playing club interested in them.
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Just read that the new release clause for Bono is set at 50 million Euros. It was 30 million before the renewed contract (until 2025).
It’s a decent clause, but this still means that we will be easily able to lose our best goalkeeper to a big money team if they want to go after him. With 50 million they could get a world class goalkeeper in their team. Lucky for us, most of the big money teams already have awesome first choice goalkeepers, so 50 million for a second choice is unnecessary for them and Bono would most likely refuse as he wants to play, but you never know in football.
MATS is not performing well at Barca, in fact he has been a shadow of his former self for the last 2 seasons and they are getting fed up with him - so they could potentially have a go at Bono. I wouldn’t say so about RM or Atletico as they’re good. But there’s always a Newcastle or some club there with big money who could sniff around our main GK.
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Another rumor added for the left back position - it’s Javi Galan of Celta Vigo. All these rumors of left backs with Espino, Mojica and now Galan mean that we are getting rid of Augustinsson for good and looking to supplement Acuna with a better LB there.
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Thoughts on Pepe? What do you think would be a fair price? I’m a gunner but a big Pepe fan and want to see him land somewhere competitive. I think he has a lot to offer in the right set up. He’s great on the counter and clinical inside 20 yards. He’s not a possession player and he’s not super clean technically. He also makes poor decisions sometimes between the boxes. I think some of this is due to him being pretty reserved from a mentality standpoint. He needs a team and manager who get behind him and don’t undermine him. I think $15MM seems reasonable considering his somewhat high wages. Maybe even $10MM. Interested?
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Nicolas Pepe? Yeah he’s quite good and would be a decent addition to the team I believe.
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Hey @Rob_Bears1 thanks for posting! It looks like Arsenal are ready to move on from him, but do you really think they would sell him for that little? They paid what 80 million euros for him?
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@ChrisLail We paid about 80 million euros for him. That said, it was a really bizarre transfer and it was amortized over five years in a strange payment plan if i recall correctly. It was when Raul Sanllehi was running our club behind the scenes. It was very sketchy to say the least. That number has hung over Pepe’s head his entire tenure here and unfortunately clouded his good moments. He also just doesn’t fit Arteta’s control-heavy system.
I think they’d sell him at a bargain price due to his wages. He’s on 160,000 euros a week or so. Therefore, unless Newcastle or some other Prem club comes in for him, I think they’re going to either have to cover some of his wages or take an enormous hit on the transfer (likely both). It’s possible I’m wrong but I don’t see a non-PL club paying too much for him.
Arteta has got enough clout with the Kroenkes at this point to take a hit on Pepe I think. Especially since he wasn’t there when Pepe was brought in. It’s not his player.
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