Next week and signings

[PSRB]

Nico Williams isn't coming that's for sure (not that I ever thought he was). 10 (Ten) year contract extension and 50% increase in his release clause. His agent's done well but not sure it exactly shows ambition.

[Peter]

Nico Williams isn't coming that's for sure (not that I ever thought he was). 10 (Ten) year contract extension and 50% increase in his release clause. His agent's done well but not sure it exactly shows ambition.

10 years?????? ****ing hell......

[PSRB]

10 years?????? ****ing hell......

The Bilbao Le Tissier

[7sisters]

Nico Williams isn't coming that's for sure (not that I ever thought he was). 10 (Ten) year contract extension and 50% increase in his release clause. His agent's done well but not sure it exactly shows ambition.

You have to wonder if Arteta remains keen on Vllahovic, now that David?s off to Juve ?

[Peter]

You have to wonder if Arteta remains keen on Vllahovic, now that David?s off to Juve ?

I'm not convinced that Arteta is really that keen on any striker.... this could drag on all summer. And may not get resolved.....

You have to hope this is not some stand off between him and the new guy. That relationship is far more important than any individual signing.

[7sisters]

I'm not convinced that Arteta is really that keen on any striker.... this could drag on all summer. And may not get resolved.....

You have to hope this is not some stand off between him and the new guy. That relationship is far more important than any individual signing.

Arteta needs to embrace change if he hopes to go beyond next season. At the least that means greater squad rotation amongst the key players.

[Peter]

Arteta needs to embrace change if he hopes to go beyond next season. At the least that means greater squad rotation amongst the key players.

I fear this is the biggest hurdle. His approach to coaching makes regular rotation quite disruptive. Very precise, very planned, almost restrictive. Consistent selection worked fairly well when we only had the Europa League to worry about. With the Champions League, it is just too many games.

You have to wonder whether last season's injuries were in part the cumulative effect of overplaying key players for several years.

[IUFG]

You have to wonder whether last season's injuries were in part the cumulative effect of overplaying key players for several years.

without a doubt.

Man City, at their best, would leave a player out, who'd previously started the last half-dozen matches, for 3 or 4 games.

Squad depth and trust in that depth. It's the trust thing with Arteta imo.

[Peter]

without a doubt.

Man City, at their best, would leave a player out, who'd previously started the last half-dozen matches, for 3 or 4 games.

Squad depth and trust in that depth. It's the trust thing with Arteta imo.

City also regularly shuffle their defence, moving them around to different positions and bringing other players in. Our centre backs simply do not shift, at all.

The irony is that Arteta seeks defenders who can play multiple positions but then ends up using them in only one. Ben White now never plays at centre back. Calafiori still hasn't played there......

A Saka or an Odegaard are rarely going to get rested, and that is understandable. City do have key players who will play every game (eg Rodri).

[PSRB]

City also regularly shuffle their defence, moving them around to different positions and bringing other players in. Our centre backs simply do not shift, at all.

The irony is that Arteta seeks defenders who can play multiple positions but then ends up using them in only one. Ben White now never plays at centre back. Calafiori still hasn't played there......

A Saka or an Odegaard are rarely going to get rested, and that is understandable. City do have key players who will play every game (eg Rodri).

and that one player, Rodri, was the one that broke.

[Ganpati's Goonerz--AFC's Aboriginal Fertility Cult]

I fear this is the biggest hurdle. His approach to coaching makes regular rotation quite disruptive. Very precise, very planned, almost restrictive. Consistent selection worked fairly well when we only had the Europa League to worry about. With the Champions League, it is just too many games.

You have to wonder whether last season's injuries were in part the cumulative effect of overplaying key players for several years.

Have you seen our CL ranking for next season? We only just scrape into the 2nd seeds. Though a good run and the year after we might be a first seed.

[redgunamo]

So maybe the improvement we need must come from Arteta?

Excellent point. You posted a decent article awhile ago in which Unai Emery talked about the different leadership roles within clubs. He quoted Jorge Valdano talking about the two big Madrid sides and Barcelona; three organisations, three different chiefs. At Real it was Florentino Perez, at Atletico it is Diego Simeone, while at Barca it was Lionel Messi; so a president, a manager and a player. If these individuals do their jobs well, the team/club will be successful.

Emery noted his own experiences at PSG where, while as head coach he wanted to be in charge, he could never really come to terms with the truth that, in fact, Neymar was the anointed one, the de facto boss expected to lead the club to glory. He found that a problem.

As for us, our leader is Mikel Arteta, it's all on him.

[Peter]

Excellent point. You posted a decent article awhile ago in which Unai Emery talked about the different leadership roles within clubs. He quoted Jorge Valdano talking about the two big Madrid sides and Barcelona; three organisations, three different chiefs. At Real it was Florentino Perez, at Atletico it is Diego Simeone, while at Barca it was Lionel Messi; so a president, a manager and a player. If these individuals do their jobs well, the team/club will be successful.

Emery noted his own experiences at PSG where, while as head coach he wanted to be in charge, he could never really come to terms with the truth that, in fact, Neymar was the anointed one, the de facto boss expected to lead the club to glory. He found that a problem.

As for us, our leader is Mikel Arteta, it's all on him.

If today's rumours are to be believed we are about to pay an awful lot of money for a chelsea player who would exist solely as cover for Saka and an obstscle to Nwaneri.

If this is true, I am frankly astonished. I can't think of anything we need less.

[7sisters]

If today's rumours are to be believed we are about to pay an awful lot of money for a chelsea player who would exist solely as cover for Saka and an obstscle to Nwaneri.

If this is true, I am frankly astonished. I can't think of anything we need less.

I also find that rumour a bit disturbing. He?s a decent enough winger but clearly he?s had his run at Chelsea and not nailed that position down. He?s arguably gone too far down the road to play back up to Saka, so what?s the point.
Nwaneri is looking like he?s stalling on his own contract extension, although, he also won?t play support to Saka indefinitely either.
I?d prefer us to take a punt on either Eze or Rodrygo (unused again at Real tonight ) as Martinelli?s form has been indifferent at best.
I?ve no idea what?s happening at CF. The rumours are exhausting and I?ve got a bit bored with the same two names.

[Peter]

I also find that rumour a bit disturbing. He?s a decent enough winger but clearly he?s had his run at Chelsea and not nailed that position down. He?s arguably gone too far down the road to play back up to Saka, so what?s the point.
Nwaneri is looking like he?s stalling on his own contract extension, although, he also won?t play support to Saka indefinitely either.
I?d prefer us to take a punt on either Eze or Rodrygo (unused again at Real tonight ) as Martinelli?s form has been indifferent at best.
I?ve no idea what?s happening at CF. The rumours are exhausting and I?ve got a bit bored with the same two names.

I can't think why on earth we would be looking for a left footed winger. Unless Nwaneri is leaving..... but then we do tend to surprise people most summers and focus on areas we thought were sorted. Surely we have reached pur limit.on chelsea players now....

I know we take our time confirming things but they seem to be running out of excuses over this Zubimendo thing. The striker stuff will go on all summer.