hendersonjones I think the 25million we’ve had to pay for augustin stopped any developments pre season
Mitaman Bielsa makes players better through coaching and had added value right across our squad. This, though, feels like rather a lot of money for him. That said, if it allows Rapha to play in the 10 role to show his true potential, his value could rocket from where it is now, so one could argue signing James will increase the value of a player who will leave anyway. In that context, it perhaps makes some sense. Or am I just trying to justify it?
albert_herbert_hawkins If James gets the Bielsian refit and Rapha takes to the number 10 role like we hope then who knows where we might finish. We get into Europe then maybe Rapha stays. Some of the quotes I've seen from him would suggest that he's shrewd about his game-time prospects, etc. With us, the team is maybe built around him, elsewhere not so. Anyhow... Meslier Ayling Koch Llorento Firpo Phillips Dallas Raphina James Harrison Bamford That looks defensively solid and full of attacking threat to me.
Mitaman albert_herbert_hawkins If James gets the Bielsian refit and Rapha takes to the number 10 role like we hope then who knows where we might finish Totally agree, he is wasted out wide imho . Let him do what he does.
king_of_the_slums Good signing that, can never have too many wingers, they change games and we're definitely levelling up on Costa. Price seems about right, 25m as a proven Prem youngster, he was 15m as a Championship player. Bielsa's gonna shine him up real nice, and he's got a chip on his shoulder about Man U.. what's not to like??
heyho Let's hope he continues down the line of decent Welsh players we have had through the ages. Charles, Harris, Flynn, Aizlewood, Stevenson, Speed, Curtis even for a season and ermm Vinnie Jones, Rush (hmmm maybe not), Probably best to forget Sprake.
Foxy_Dread Mitaman it's not an argument for not doing it but it would be the end of Klich, Rodrigo and Roberts, that would be seriously bad squad management, I like to think they arent so inept.
space Are we signing him because it's likely Rapha will get a big offer to go elsewhere by the end of the season?
space Harvest There’s planning ahead and planning ahead. I can’t see this been the case. I'm overthinking. I see Rapha serve defenders their own knackers on a plate and I wonder how the hell he ended up at a second string team like ours.
space king_of_the_slums Valencia in for Costa, season long loan though.. More game time is what he needs. I'd love it if he shined there.
Reggie_Perrin space love to see him increase in value so we sell him for more than we would have done.
Jon £30m seems like overpaying taken to the extreme. He’s not exactly been ripping up mature trees since they signed him. You’d have to think Bielsa is rock solid in his belief he can work his magic with James. Still,£30m? I don’t see how Ralph is wasted on the wing. He kind of wanders around the pitch anyway. He might be a better ten than the others but that doesn’t equate to wasted on the wing for me. Got to think if there’s £30m in the kitty there’s a CM out there who could do a job for us.
Bod Jon it looks like that is the going price now for these type of players, look at Willock, Newcastle, Buendina, Watkins, both Championship players, you might get a good deal from a foreign club, Raphinha, but English clubs, this is the price.