The midfield was so ravaged with injuries last year that winks and sissoko were getting no rest, lots more depth this year
Depending on the game will be 2 or 3 of ndombele, lo celso, sissoko, Winks, dier, skipp, with alli an option in a 3
Orny saying lo celso and sess are done is big, and I am really trying hard not to believe it but still a lot of smoke around dybala
Some say that Dybala is done and that it's his image rights holding up the finalized deal. His image rights are held by a Maltese company and they have to be negotiated separately (apparently).
Honestly though, just Lo Celso and Sess with Ndombele is a great window. I'm a little concerned with Eriksen leaving, but hopefully things come together.
Wow, apparently the deal for Lo Celso is a loan with an obligation to buy in a year. The loan amount is coming off the total purchase and that does two things. It reduces the sell-on fee that PSG gets and for Spurs it means less cash out the door on deadline day...AKA Levy time!
The Following User Says Thank You to Slava For This Useful Post:
Well on Twitter from a couple of journalists who might know, but Betis would do it because they pay less of a sell-on fee. Obviously, I'm not in the room! It's been out there in a lot of places though. As usual, no one knows what's true and not true, but it seems like Lo Celso is finally close and apparently it's a deal like that.
and they did. Not as much as I had hoped obviously.
hey, I get it. Pool can't repeat their sick season anyway, so might as well sit back this year, save money, finish 2nd and go crazy again next summer, hoping (like everybody else) that Pep leaves soon. It's smart actually, I'm just surprised you did nothing at all, apart from a couple of 17 year olds and a backup keeper.
United were 30+ off the pace. Who needs to strengthen?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
I guess we'll see. But if they 'got worse' they still have an enormous cushion over every team except City.
I don't know, when I see this I immediately think "mean reversion". How likely is it that Liverpool loses only one game this season? I wouldn't bet my house on that. And how likely is it for City to crack 100 points again? It's possible and they're the front-runners, but I couldn't say for sure that they'll do that either. And it's even less odds that both of them reach that level, at least in my opinion. So let's say they each wind-up with closer to 90 points.
And then you have Spurs who were way out of it. I think that they've improved. They're not winning every game either, and haven't fixed every problem. But they're good for an extra 2-3 wins here and there I think. Suddenly that 25 point gap is like 5-6 points, and it's not based on anything too insane I would say?
I mean you're right that Liverpool and City didn't really need to do anything because they won the CL and PL respectively. At the same time, Spurs made the final but my worry is that papered over some cracks. I don't think anyone could argue that while the win over City and Ajax were probably the most thrilling victories ever, they weren't exactly repeatable. So to bank on "well look at last year and it wasn't close" seems a little foolhardy.
A bunch of reporters had it, their motivation is to save money that would have to go to psg in a sell on fee, by taking some in a loan fee instead
Alasdair Gold
@AlasdairGold
Clever solution by Betis and Spurs as presumably loan fee will be deducted from eventual transfer next summer so PSG get smaller cut from their sell-on clause. It also frees up more Spurs funds for tomorrow and/or is less of a financial gamble if Eriksen doesn't leave this month
I guess we'll see. But if they 'got worse' they still have an enormous cushion over every team except City.
Agree - I think them and City are the top 2 teams.
But the goal for them should have been to surpass or at least keep up with City domestically.
Personally I don't even think they needed to make big moves but I do think they could have added coverage in the back 4 (specifically LB), and potentially some winger coverage in the front 3 in the case that Mane/Salah get hurt.
I don't know, when I see this I immediately think "mean reversion". How likely is it that Liverpool loses only one game this season? I wouldn't bet my house on that. And how likely is it for City to crack 100 points again? It's possible and they're the front-runners, but I couldn't say for sure that they'll do that either. And it's even less odds that both of them reach that level, at least in my opinion. So let's say they each wind-up with closer to 90 points.
And then you have Spurs who were way out of it. I think that they've improved. They're not winning every game either, and haven't fixed every problem. But they're good for an extra 2-3 wins here and there I think. Suddenly that 25 point gap is like 5-6 points, and it's not based on anything too insane I would say?
I mean you're right that Liverpool and City didn't really need to do anything because they won the CL and PL respectively. At the same time, Spurs made the final but my worry is that papered over some cracks. I don't think anyone could argue that while the win over City and Ajax were probably the most thrilling victories ever, they weren't exactly repeatable. So to bank on "well look at last year and it wasn't close" seems a little foolhardy.
Some good points, but remember, it isnt 'mean reversion.'
Liverpool spent heavily to shore up weak spots in the squad and are apparently confident in that. We spent big on Alisson and VVD as well as other positions.
Could we use some strengthening? Sure. But again, if we go out and buy more big name players for a lot of money who are they displacing in the starting XI? Would they be satisfied being squad players?
This is standard stuff with Big Clubs, Real Madrid and Barca have struggled with it forever by getting so many huge players and then they rot on the bench and then when called upon they're rusty because they get little to no playing time.
Klopp has been pretty consistent with his squad and his rotations as well as the versatility of his squad. Players that can play the wingbacks as well as CB as the case requires.
Injuries happen, no question. But then again, as you said the CL Semis were thrilling.
We throttled Barca at Anfield with no Salah or Firmino. Maybe the expectation of guys like Origi and others is to take a step to allow some players more rest.
What we're seeing is more faith in the players that we have without adding significant players that may not see the field enough to keep them happy.
Its a risk, surely.
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
If you are flammable and have legs, you are never blocking a Fire Exit. - Mitch Hedberg
Spurs definitely the winners of the window which I suppose doesn't mean much except on paper. But they should be closer to the other two and with a little injury luck their way we might even have a three horse race.
__________________
"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
