Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
He clearly has no shame
He clearly has no shame
4LEX
Well-known member
Rice will probably drop deeper in the big games but Bruno likes to sit and control. Skelly was brought in to give the midfield an attacking edge, he wasn't an anchor.
Think Arsenal will have another few landing before the window shuts.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
...and Jaissle is formally announced as Newcastle manager.
HampshireHog
Assistant Pro
It’s clear all the top teams need to have more depth to keep rotating players once Champions League kicks in. Not sure Guimares even walks into a spot as first choice, but clearly can do a job rotating in a number of positions, maybe has a bit more craft than Rice & Zubemendi to unlock the low press.
For me Arsenal still need another striker Jesus just isn’t a viable replacement and Havertz, who has probably done better than expected, isn’t either.
For me Arsenal still need another striker Jesus just isn’t a viable replacement and Havertz, who has probably done better than expected, isn’t either.
Seem to remember someone saying Rice played deeper earlier in his career. Sounds a decent plan to me.
Bruno is a quality player. He could fit into any team in the PL.
hairball_89
Club Champion
Exactly. Him and rice are both “proper” centre mids, in my mind. They can do it all rather than the attacking/defensive mid styles of the last 10/15 years.
I’d love him at Anfield. Proper player, just the right amount of snide and a leader, to boot.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Who knows.
When Liverpool, champions, signed Isak many said Isak, Wirtz, Salah and Ekitike are one scary attack, and Liverpool will make it work.
And then the 25/26 season played out the way it did.
But, he is obviously well rated, so going to be interesting how things play out. Will Arsenal maintain form? Will teams cope better with their set pieces? Will one or two of the bigger clubs come back stronger?
Now in August, and fans of all teams can dream. By September, most of us will be miserable again
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
He is a quality player that I thought would have left a while ago - thought City might look at him after the Paqueta stuff
Would swap him for McAllister
I just don’t think it’s who Arsenal need
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
nickjdavis
Head Pro
Not me....I feel a new dawn is approaching at Newcastle and am actually mildly excited about the changes.Who knows.
When Liverpool, champions, signed Isak many said Isak, Wirtz, Salah and Ekitike are one scary attack, and Liverpool will make it work.
And then the 25/26 season played out the way it did.
But, he is obviously well rated, so going to be interesting how things play out. Will Arsenal maintain form? Will teams cope better with their set pieces? Will one or two of the bigger clubs come back stronger?
Now in August, and fans of all teams can dream. By September, most of us will be miserable again
We might get off to a rocky start but if the fans stick with the team, and give the new manager some support, then as the season progresses, I have a feeling they may well be rewarded.
Jaissles Giants anyone?
(i'll get my coat)
Beezerk
Money List Winner
Oooh you think? I know a few Toon fans who...
A don't rate him highly
B glad to see him go
Me, I'm curious to see how he plays in a very good side
I genuinely haven't heard that from any that I come across. They all love him, see him as central to the side. Equally, all also have the view that if he wants to go then go but he would go with their support. There would be no bitterness towards him leaving.Oooh you think? I know a few Toon fans who...
A don't rate him highly
B glad to see him go
Me, I'm curious to see how he plays in a very good side
You can't please everyone
In terms of being in a very good side, there was a spell for a couple of years where the Newcastle midfield was as good as anything in the league. He worked very well in that, at it's heart. He'll slot in no bother in that Arsenal midfield (I'll have the custard ready for my humble pie if I'm wrong on this
)
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
I suspect we all knew that he would sign a new contract and any noise about a transfer to Arsenal was all to kick Real Madrid into action from the agent
Beezerk
Money List Winner
No bitterness, this is from match going season ticket holders who have been saying this for a long time, loses the ball very cheaply far too often etc etc. They’re more upset that Tonali has left, and they were very bitter about that
nickjdavis
Head Pro
I have some sympathy for the above sentiments.No bitterness, this is from match going season ticket holders who have been saying this for a long time, loses the ball very cheaply far too often etc etc. They’re more upset that Tonali has left, and they were very bitter about that
I found that Guimaraes desire to try to hold on to the ball in tight situations rather than play a simple pass to a team mate in space was regularly frustrating, and, on more than one occasion, lead directly to conceding goals when he was dispossessed. He also has a degree of latin fire which has seen him get red carded for certain poor challenges and perhaps should have been for others. That is not to acknowledge that he was a great footballer and leader of the team who has created and scored many great goals for us.
Tonali is a Rolls Royce of a footballer, silky smooth, with the ability to find team mates with passes of instant vision and accuracy.
Given their age differences if we had to have lost one of them then I'd have preferred it to be Guimaraes for £75m than Tonali for £100m. The fact that both have gone is especially sickening, even more so in the latters case, given how the club ad fans, supported him during his ban for gambling....to get just two full seasons out of him seems like a kick in the teeth.
Yes there is all the stats about never winning without Guimaraes....in the end those sort of things become a millstone around players necks (a bit like the old "cant win in London" stat from the early 2000's) and every time he wasn't on the teamsheet players must have psychologically felt that they were up against it before they even crossed the white line. Guimaraes has gone now so the players are going to need to find a way of banishing that particular monkey pretty damned quickly....but once it gone it will be gone forever.
In either case, there is no point in bleating about it...its all done and dusted and with a new management and training team no appointed we need to make do with what we've got left and bolster that with some astute signings in the next few weeks.
Swango1980
Well-known member
I'd have understood Tonali moving if he was signed up by a top club, hoping to challenge for the title and in the Champions League.
However, joining Spurs is an intersting choice. His contract went from £120,000 a week to £200,000 a week. So money probably played a part, although I'd imagine if other clubs further up the table (or big clubs elsewhere in Europe) could match what Spurs were prepared to pay. Perhaps he was sold by the idea Spurs were prepared to start investing heavily in the squad, and they believed they'd challenge the European positions this season. Therefore, he maybe felt that despite Spurs awful season last year, they'd still be in a much stronger position that Newcastle to challenge this season. Living in London might have been a factor as well.
I suppose if things go well at Spurs, it will feel like a fresh start for Tonali and it will do his reputation no harm. Whereas things may have started to feel really stale up at Newcastle, contributing to players (and Howe) wanting to leave.
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
Arthur Wedge
Well-known member
What a shock , the most corrupt football organisation backing the corrupt leader
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
He’s looked decent when I’ve seen him play.
But his stats in a poor league aren’t anything to write home about.
Crazy money imo.
