I don't want Eze going to Sperz. He's a Gooner - we owe it to him to help save him

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

from that fate.

Would we have to get rid of a forward? If Eze's not an out and out winger, could we really risk letting Leo go?

And if he's a no.10/inside left, we have Dec and Zubi in MF, and Kai could play there with Vik up front.

Jesus can play on both flanks, can't he? But is he back before Xmas?

I'd really like him because I think he'd offer us something different, a plan B or C. And he's one of the few players I've watched play against us who I liked so much I actually remembered his name.

And I don't want him playing for Sperz.

[Peter]

from that fate.

Would we have to get rid of a forward? If Eze's not an out and out winger, could we really risk letting Leo go?

And if he's a no.10/inside left, we have Dec and Zubi in MF, and Kai could play there with Vik up front.

Jesus can play on both flanks, can't he? But is he back before Xmas?

I'd really like him because I think he'd offer us something different, a plan B or C. And he's one of the few players I've watched play against us who I liked so much I actually remembered his name.

And I don't want him playing for Sperz.

The fundamental problem with Eze.... we'd be buying him primarily to play on the left, but he is more naturally suited to the central role where he is, currently, a better option than Nwaneri.

Signing him gets in Nwaneri's way, and Nwaneri knows it. We've already done that once with Madueke.

It isnt so much about pissing Nwaneri off (he's already signed up for 5 years) it is really about stunting his development.

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

The fundamental problem with Eze.... we'd be buying him primarily to play on the left, but he is more naturally suited to the central role where he is, currently, a better option than Nwaneri.

Signing him gets in Nwaneri's way, and Nwaneri knows it. We've already done that once with Madueke.

It isnt so much about pissing Nwaneri off (he's already signed up for 5 years) it is really about stunting his development.

I agree with that. But could Eze play LW? Then even if Leo went, we'd have Eze and Noni as options for LW after Gabby, and Eze aand Kai as attacking left 8 options when we wanted a goal. We'd still have EN covering Odin, as well as an option in other front 5 positions.

But I guess it is getting a bit crowded for him.

I just don't want Eze going to Sperz and he is a gooner at heart.

[Peter]

I agree with that. But could Eze play LW? Then even if Leo went, we'd have Eze and Noni as options for LW after Gabby, and Eze aand Kai as attacking left 8 options when we wanted a goal. We'd still have EN covering Odin, as well as an option in other front 5 positions.

But I guess it is getting a bit crowded for him.

I just don't want Eze going to Sperz and he is a gooner at heart.

If you were Eze, you would be worrying about where, and how often, you were going to play. He's at his peak, he doesn't want to be sitting out the majority of the games.

I really like him, and I think he would prove useful. I just don't think we need him.

I am SURE he can attract a better offer than Spurs...... he'd be crazy to go there.

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

If you were Eze, you would be worrying about where, and how often, you were going to play. He's at his peak, he doesn't want to be sitting out the majority of the games.

I really like him, and I think he would prove useful. I just don't think we need him.

I am SURE he can attract a better offer than Spurs...... he'd be crazy to go there.

Agree with the whole post, esp the start in a WC year. He wants to be playing all the time.

[Peter]

Agree with the whole post, esp the start in a WC year. He wants to be playing all the time.

All of that said, if Trossard does leave, we are a body light and have space for someone. I am still not convinced that Nwaneri is ready to play the Odegaard role for an extended period and arguably Trossard is the only other natural fit for it.

It it a tough situation, particularly as we clearly have some form of financial constraint in the continued absence of any sales.

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

All of that said, if Trossard does leave, we are a body light and have space for someone. I am still not convinced that Nwaneri is ready to play the Odegaard role for an extended period and arguably Trossard is the only other natural fit for it.

It it a tough situation, particularly as we clearly have some form of financial constraint in the continued absence of any sales.

Kai could play there but it would mean we don't have another striker to start or come on. Not 'till Jeez is back. I think we will give Ethan a go. He's only 18 and has just signed a 5 year contract. It's basically an investment in the future.

I'd rather have too many bodies than too few. Last year we ended up with a 3rd choice CH and a MF up top in CL semis. Would be nice if things balance and we get no injuries this year. But as it stands our 2nd choice front five is Noni-Ethan-Kai-MnM {or Kai}-Leo.

Could we fit another body in there or not?

[Rich]

The fundamental problem with Eze.... we'd be buying him primarily to play on the left, but he is more naturally suited to the central role where he is, currently, a better option than Nwaneri.

Signing him gets in Nwaneri's way, and Nwaneri knows it. We've already done that once with Madueke.

It isnt so much about pissing Nwaneri off (he's already signed up for 5 years) it is really about stunting his development.

We just need to sell Trossard (which today seems more likely than ever) and buy a left winger that replaces him and provides us a bit more than Trossard did (not in terms out output as he did OK there - more sylistically).

Now I don't know if that's Rodrygo (could a loan work - we did have a good relationship with Madrid pre-Berta), Barcola or indeed the little fella from Lyon.

What I know is that we cannot go into the season with Martinelli and an out of position Madueke as our only options on the left. Maybe if Zinchenko stays then he could do a job there?

[Peter]

Kai could play there but it would mean we don't have another striker to start or come on. Not 'till Jeez is back. I think we will give Ethan a go. He's only 18 and has just signed a 5 year contract. It's basically an investment in the future.

I'd rather have too many bodies than too few. Last year we ended up with a 3rd choice CH and a MF up top in CL semis. Would be nice if things balance and we get no injuries this year. But as it stands our 2nd choice front five is Noni-Ethan-Kai-MnM {or Kai}-Leo.

Could we fit another body in there or not?

I'd think of it in terms of a front four rather than five, particularly watching the way Rice and Zubimendi dovetailed against Bilbao.

So we basically have two players in each position across the front four. One of them is 18. You could argue there is space for one more (I am not counting Jesus, or the likes of Nelson and Vieira).

Not convinced there is room for a 65 million quid player, particularly as several of those existing ones cover multiple positions.

[Peter]

We just need to sell Trossard (which today seems more likely than ever) and buy a left winger that replaces him and provides us a bit more than Trossard did (not in terms out output as he did OK there - more sylistically).

Now I don't know if that's Rodrygo (could a loan work - we did have a good relationship with Madrid pre-Berta), Barcola or indeed the little fella from Lyon.

What I know is that we cannot go into the season with Martinelli and an out of position Madueke as our only options on the left. Maybe if Zinchenko stays then he could do a job there?

Definitely not Zinchenko.

[WES]

Definitely not Zinchenko.

You think he was serious, Peter?

I assumed he was taking the p1ss

[Rich]

You think he was serious, Peter?

I assumed he was taking the p1ss

Well what other choice would we have? I suppose we could keep Nelson (who looked good in pre season).

I really don't see much value in us signing Eze. Especially as he has no resale value.

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

I'd think of it in terms of a front four rather than five, particularly watching the way Rice and Zubimendi dovetailed against Bilbao.

So we basically have two players in each position across the front four. One of them is 18. You could argue there is space for one more (I am not counting Jesus, or the likes of Nelson and Vieira).

Not convinced there is room for a 65 million quid player, particularly as several of those existing ones cover multiple positions.

In which case is it an Eze or an out and out LW? And if the latter, do we keep Leo? We know he works from the bench, he knows the team, can score and assist and I'd love it if we won something with him.

[WES]

Well what other choice would we have? I suppose we could keep Nelson (who looked good in pre season).

I really don't see much value in us signing Eze. Especially as he has no resale value.

Our current options on the left Rich are Martinelli, Madueke, Trossard and Nwaneri. Zinchenko is not and has never been a wide left player, furthermore it would be a surprise to many, including me, if he was still with the club for the rest of this season.

Martinelli, if you can think all the way back to May of this year, was one of our best players against the best team in Europe, he tore Hakim apart. We can very much go into the season with what we have now on the left. If you offered me Rodrygo instead of Trossard I would be very happy with that.

[Peter]

In which case is it an Eze or an out and out LW? And if the latter, do we keep Leo? We know he works from the bench, he knows the team, can score and assist and I'd love it if we won something with him.

It is all too complicated

We just have to trust the gaffer on this.