LUFCTALK

Polkadot wrote:Firstly, both De Paul and Cunha went to Atletico Madrid. We can't expect to compete with a club like that when it comes to signing players.

Secondly, Lang would've been a very interesting signing of course and he will end up in the Premier League or La Liga very soon, but it was never likely that he would be sold in the summer, given that Brugge in 20/21 season had him on loan with obligation to fulfill the transfer July 1st 2021. To believe in summer that Brugge would move him on just weeks after they fulfilled the transfer was naive.

This is the problem with modern football and all rumours in the press is that it gives us the impression that it's quite easy to sign the good players, then it's obviously not that easy, especially for us as we are nowhere near the top of the food chain of European football.

Well said.

There seems to be a lot of confusion on two points

1) Press rumours are just that, press rumours, there are very few reliable sources out there (Phil Hay and ...err... Phil Hay?) and most of the noise is created by agents trying to move their players so they get another fat commission cheque. We were not, are not and will not be in for 99% of the players we are linked with. It seems strange in this day and age to have to remind people not to believe everything you read on the internet but apparently it still needs saying. Also even if a player is technically brilliant and would fit our system, we still have to recruit for attitude and whether he'll fit in with the rest of the squad so just because the press link us with someone who looks good on paper doesn't mean we should go buy them (I hear their are question marks over Noa Lang for this very reason).

2) Buying players is easy. I'm not sure how many people actually have experience trying to buy multimillion pound assets that the other party doesn't necessarily want to sell but I can tell you for nothing that it's not like popping down to Primark for a new t-shirt. It doesn't matter how much research we've done (evidence suggests we do LOADS) or how quickly we start negotiations once the window is open (evidence suggests we must have been on it day 1 of this window because we had that u23 lad over the line almost immediately) or how much we are prepared to pay - we're still reliant on the other club wanting to sell, the player wanting to come, other clubs not outbidding us (and not necessarily due to money, see Connor Gallagher, just wanted to be nearer to home) and a host of other reasons. Not to mention like buying a house there's often a chain, we might want to sell Rodrigo but judging by posts on this forum we shouldn't do it until we have reinforcements, well every other club is thinking the same. Not to mention the fact that we're mid-campaign and every other club has their own priority to achieve whether thats avoiding relagation or trying to win the Champions League (Salzburg & Aaronson). It isn't easy and we really need to manage expectations better.

2a) How come every other club manages it and we don't then? They don't and haven't been, the entire prem is quiet barring two or three active teams with a ton of money (Villa and Newcastle).

Feeling a bit preachy after typing that but sod it

Polkadot wrote:

The last Waltz wrote:made a panic buy in James

Given Bielsa has wanted James for many years, I think that transfer was anything but a panic buy...

Have to agree Polkadot

CheeznOnionPasty wrote:

Polkadot wrote:Firstly, both De Paul and Cunha went to Atletico Madrid. We can't expect to compete with a club like that when it comes to signing players.

Secondly, Lang would've been a very interesting signing of course and he will end up in the Premier League or La Liga very soon, but it was never likely that he would be sold in the summer, given that Brugge in 20/21 season had him on loan with obligation to fulfill the transfer July 1st 2021. To believe in summer that Brugge would move him on just weeks after they fulfilled the transfer was naive.

This is the problem with modern football and all rumours in the press is that it gives us the impression that it's quite easy to sign the good players, then it's obviously not that easy, especially for us as we are nowhere near the top of the food chain of European football.

Well said.

There seems to be a lot of confusion on two points

1) Press rumours are just that, press rumours, there are very few reliable sources out there (Phil Hay and ...err... Phil Hay?) and most of the noise is created by agents trying to move their players so they get another fat commission cheque. We were not, are not and will not be in for 99% of the players we are linked with. It seems strange in this day and age to have to remind people not to believe everything you read on the internet but apparently it still needs saying. Also even if a player is technically brilliant and would fit our system, we still have to recruit for attitude and whether he'll fit in with the rest of the squad so just because the press link us with someone who looks good on paper doesn't mean we should go buy them (I hear their are question marks over Noa Lang for this very reason).

2) Buying players is easy. I'm not sure how many people actually have experience trying to buy multimillion pound assets that the other party doesn't necessarily want to sell but I can tell you for nothing that it's not like popping down to Primark for a new t-shirt. It doesn't matter how much research we've done (evidence suggests we do LOADS) or how quickly we start negotiations once the window is open (evidence suggests we must have been on it day 1 of this window because we had that u23 lad over the line almost immediately) or how much we are prepared to pay - we're still reliant on the other club wanting to sell, the player wanting to come, other clubs not outbidding us (and not necessarily due to money, see Connor Gallagher, just wanted to be nearer to home) and a host of other reasons. Not to mention like buying a house there's often a chain, we might want to sell Rodrigo but judging by posts on this forum we shouldn't do it until we have reinforcements, well every other club is thinking the same. Not to mention the fact that we're mid-campaign and every other club has their own priority to achieve whether thats avoiding relagation or trying to win the Champions League (Salzburg & Aaronson). It isn't easy and we really need to manage expectations better.

2a) How come every other club manages it and we don't then? They don't and haven't been, the entire prem is quiet barring two or three active teams with a ton of money (Villa and Newcastle).

Feeling a bit preachy after typing that but sod it

Good sensible posts from both of you

Hope no truth in this - Raph a target for West Ham who want the deal done at the 11th hour - Even if true, it has to be squashed - Nothing coming in to LUFC as far as I can see and no time to find a 'replacement' - There was talk about an extension to his contract - I believe that is surely just a move to be able to achieve a higher sell on value as/when he moves on - I think it is inevitable he will move to another club, one day, surely in the Champions League slot etc but now - And if he moves on surely he will want to be at one of the current 'elite clubs' with guaranteed CL places

No way Raphinha goes to West Ham. They are just above us in the pecking order. When he goes it’s for a top 4 club or one of the international giants.

Even if the West Ham rumour is among the 1% of rumours that appear on various media sites that are based on any real fact I doubt very much we would sell in this window.

Selby White wrote:Even if the West Ham rumour is among the 1% of rumours that appear on various media sites that are based on any real fact I doubt very much we would sell in this window.

That West Ham rumour is ao absurd that it's not worth talking about it.

Might be just agent spreading rumors to get better deal for contract. I remember reading some news that there are talks for new contract with Raph

For the money that would need to be involved in any transfer of Raphinha, there is very little chance of that happening in this window. In the summer yes, but now highly unlikely unless Raph himself somehow forced the move and he doesn’t seem the type.

Hamburg are among clubs interested in signing Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville. Negotiation on, Leeds will make a decision soon.

Leeds need to find a replacement to let Summerville leave in January - with Liverpool’s Minamino in the list [once Luís Diaz joins Reds].

Fabrizio Romano on Twitter.

Be interesting if it happens.