Why Kenedy’s arrival could instigate big changes at Benitez’s NUFC – a new formation in the offing?

It isn’t the big name we wanted or a position on the pitch that urgently needed improving, but the arrival of Brazilian Kenedy finally signals the start of a much needed recruitment drive this month. On the surface it seems slightly odd that Rafa would chase a loan signing of a young player whose temperament has been questioned, but many at Chelsea feel he is a big talent who just need games.

As with any loan deal where the parent club are keen to see him develop and get his chance, he’s come to get played each week, so I’ve been wondering where he may fit into our team..

I’m wondering if his arrival may see Rafa trial the popular 5-2-2-1 / 3-4-3 system used affectively by Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs at present?

Here is what this could look like in reality and my thought as to why this might be the best thing for the team to pick up the points needed to stay up…

The potential line up

Kenedy in his favoured position

From watching him a little and from observing the opinions of Chelsea fans, Kenedy seems a talent, but one that must be nurtured. He has clear skill (see that sublime trick against Norwich!) but on the face of it doesn’t score enough goals, nor does he have the defensive instincts to be a left-back in a four man defence (why would Rafa drop Dummett on current form?).

With that taken into account, I don’t see him being used as a left winger (Atsu, Murphy and Ritchie all viable options at present) and don’t see him being used as an out and out left-back, but feel he could thrive in a left wing back role of a back five.

The likes of the more defensively minded Dummett playing left centre half and covering while the Brazilian can use his pace,  skill and attacking flair (which we badly lack) further up the field. Our current full backs, mainly Dummett and Manquillo, offer next to nothing going forward. Switching to this system would give us two pacey full backs in him and Yedlin, making assurances for both their defensive weaknesses. It also would allow a far more solid base than when we have been overpowered in midfield playing 4-4-2.

As this clip of him in a recent FA Cup game vs Norwich highlights, he looks ideal as a left-wing back role:

More support for the lone striker

The new system would mean four quick wide players on the field at once, which can only help the striker playing, whether it is Joselu or a new centre forward (hopefully.) It would also explain why the likes of Jorgensen and Slimani are being targeted, with both being more of a target man in style and not lightening quick.

Both could thrive with a quick and supportive supply line at hand. Whether it is Joselu still starting for us come February depends on how serious Ashley is in actually investing…

Gives us better balance?

As well as going forward it could give us more balance in midfield and defence too. Rafa appears hesitant to play Merino and Shelvey together and often likes to play Hayden instead as sort of defensive screen.  Having 5 at the back gives you an extra centre half who can help with that job and allows more creativity in the middle of the park, hopefully. As Chelsea showed in their title winning season under Conte, this system can allow you to have an array of attacking options and a comfort blanket at the back at the same time (if played correctly of course – but I’d back Benitez to make it work).

The players have also played this system already this season as well so it should be familiar to them. I think it would give us a far better balance between attack and defence, whilst giving us full backs who are comfortable going forward and perhaps less comfortable defensively. Maybe it could be the key to pushing us on at home? Something’s got to give to improve our wretched run at St James’!

Gets rid of the number 10 role…

Having looked at the benefits of this formation, the main drawback is that it doesn’t allow you to play a number 10. For top teams, like Chelsea and Spurs they have adjusted to this by playing this system but playing the likes of Eriksen and Hazard as one of the two wide men off the striker. After all, world class number 10’s like those two players are able to play anywhere across the striking roles.

This isn’t a drawback for NUFC particularly as this is a position we have struggled with since we sold Wijnaldum. We got promoted without having a successful attacking central midfielder/goal scorer. Rafa has used it as it offers a better defensive shape but going forward it offers us no real goal scoring benefit when it is the likes of Perez and Diame occupying the role. Until we sign a quality number 10, this formation switch could work well and would explain why Rafa has been so keen to get Kenedy on board.

What do you think of this potential line up? Where do you see Kenedy fitting into our plans?

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Simon Riddlesden

Lifelong Newcastle United fan and East Stand season ticket holder. Observations from a supporter who has followed NUFC during Champions League participation and through relegation, taking me from Milan to Scunthorpe.

135 thoughts on “Why Kenedy’s arrival could instigate big changes at Benitez’s NUFC – a new formation in the offing?

  1. Any decent research into Kenedy and you would realize that he actually played right wing during his early years in Brazil. It was Chelsea’s lack of a left back that led to him playing in that position, probably solely for some game time and that sweet left foot. The reality is Rafa will know best

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  2. Loads of players have changed position throughout their careers, some drastically.

    I think Rafa has signed Kenedy as a LWB, as described by Simon.

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  3. Hoots trying to splash the cash,had a bid for Mitro knocked back now a 6 mil bid for Flint knocked back

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  4. Icedog: Your right mate maybe that’s why he’s upend his bid to 15 mil for Mitro

    was thinking the same, if £15m is true I can’t see Jabba turning that down relegation rival or not

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  5. See the irony on Jabba being told the asking price is £20m and then bidding £13m. To think he’s complaining about Staveley… 🙂

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  6. Well, Chris Waugh is directly contradicting his Chief Sports Writers assertion from earlier in the day by saying the asking price for Jorgensen is 20 million EUROS. It has always been 20 million Euros but by confusing this with POUNDS you can write sensationalized stories about NUFC SMASHING their transfer record. In reality, if it happens, a deal is likely to be very close to our existing record and the amount offered is nowhere near as far away from Feyenoords valuation as Lee is making out.

    Good click bait even if it is an intentional exaggeration/lie. They all do it though. There’s enough transfer inflation without intentionally confusing Euros and Pounds.

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  7. Once Ritchie has a rest he will have a role to play because of his work rate. For the same reason, I think Perez will see plenty of playing time as I doubt Rafa would trust Atsu to screen Kenedy every game and Murphy is still a work in progress.

    With Simon’s chosen players you are essentially playing with 4 wingers as none of them are that good defensively. Rafa is firstly about keeping it tight so I doubt he would go with this particular group very often.

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  8. I am also not getting why Uncle Ed and The Chronic are pushing so hard for Slimani. He is 29, would Ashley really pay 20 million POUNDS for a 29 year old? He has not exactly lit up the league for Leicester who paid 29 million for him coming off a title and the possibility of losing Vardy. I therefore think his wages would be high as well. Maybe on a loan, but Leicester don’t want to do a loan. Lastly, he played for Sporting and the Portuguese league is as hit and miss as the Dutch League for transfers to the PL (Hugo Viana anyone?).

    I don’t know if Jorgensen will work out but I don’t get why some are saying Slimani is a better option. There really aren’t that many times a high priced overseas player has failed at one PL club and then made it big at another (someone can come up with a few exceptions, but in general this is the case). Usually, they move back to a European league where the pace is not so frenetic.

    And let me be clear, I am not talking about big name players who succeed and then move to a bigger club like Virgil Van Dyjk. I am talking big money transfers who fail to make an impact like Slimani or Juan Sebastian Veron.

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  9. I dont know where the Schurle stories came from but he is the only link thst would get me excited so far. Everybody else is a gamble .

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  10. I am sticking with my view journalists deliberately confuse currencies to add spice to their stories. How can they not understand exchange rates and that a player MIGHT be priced in euros or pounds and there is an important distinction.

    Oil is quoted in dollars, right. Let’s say it is $70 a barrel. I don’t go to an exchange and say I want 1 barrel here’s 70 pounds.

    I am in Thailand and the pound gets you 45 baht. On the menu of a restaurant its says a beer is 45 bhat. I don’t say OK then here’s 45 pounds. Lee Ryder and many other journalist would since they so often conflate the pound and the euro in their stories and it gets really confusing with 2 writers at the same paper saying 2 different things on the same day – Waugh says Jorgensen’s asking price is 20 million Euro, Ryder says it is 20 million pounds.

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  11. shamrock:
    I dont know where the Schurle stories came from but he is the only link thst would get me excited so far. Everybody else is a gamble .

    Me too Sham, I am totally underwhelmed by all we have been linked with but he would be a good buy/loan if he can stay fit. Won’t happen though I’m sure.

    Eric, I agree re Slimani and I have seen reports that his temperament is questionable too. He is said to have fallen out with manager and team mates more than once.

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  12. kimtoon: Me too Sham, I am totally underwhelmed by all we have been linked with but he would be a good buy/loan if he can stay fit. Won’t happen though I’m sure.

    Eric, I agree re Slimani and I have seen reports that his temperament is questionable too. He is said to have fallen out with manager and team mates more than once.

    Kimtoon: Slamani might succeed, might! But some sites are turning him from relative bust to best option for 20 million quid. How?

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  13. Slimani had an eye catching world cup and has done absolutely nothing since. A big £20m NO!
    Like that line up Simon but all depends on a new striker.

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  14. Shirley is available for loan so I think that’s why there’s a link. I also hear Dortmund are prepared to pay half his wage too. Get him in and also a Jorgenson

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  15. Must be a slow news day in the NE. Was reading an article in the Chronic about Jorgensen and noticed one of the links below it: Woman outraged after Greggs beef mince pie was not cooked. So this woman takes a picture of the pie and contacts The Chronic. Worse still, the Chronic do a story about it.

    Yeah I know I read it and linked it here 🙂

    I am expecting a follow up with Greggs giving a free pie a week for a year. The suspense is killing me.

    https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/woman-outraged-after-says-greggs-14197299

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  16. From what I’ve read BD want to send Shurrle on loan for up to 18mths & the preferred destination is the PL – I don’t know if that’s his, theirs or the fact that the PL club are most likely able to meet the wages.
    He’s currently on 150k pw but BD would cover half that – so we’d still need to cover 75k – which is top end our wage structure. Get rid of Mitrovic & there’s 60k covered though – if we can get rid of Colback & or Saviet and we’re sorted.
    Apparently Rafa wanted him at Napoli but couldn’t get him, so he may still be a fan & look to get him in.
    I’d be surprised if it came off, you never know – Rafa is a draw to players & regular first team footy in the PL could well be a big draw too.

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  17. Sharpy: I looked him up and he only played 15 games last year and 6 so far this. Do you know if he was injured or just out of favour? Dortmund have had 3 managers in that time, the previous one was sacked recently. There is also the question of Audumayang (sp?) and Arsenal. Would be a great move if we could get him on loan with an option to buy. If we establish ourselves as a PL team we may even be able to afford his wages. That is going to be the next hurdle and who will come to us if we offer to pay only 50% of what say Leicester or Everton would.

    But I am getting ahead of myself. We need a striker now and a least replacements for Mitro and/or Gayle if they leave.

    The other team supposedly interested is West Brom. Rafa or Arrogant Alan, difficult decision.

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  18. I’m pretty sure it’s injuries that have stopped him from playing Eric, that’s why I said if he can stay fit.

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  19. kimtoon:
    I’m pretty sure it’s injuries that have stopped him from playing Eric, that’s why I said if he can stay fit.

    Worth a punt on a loan then. Not much different to the Ings situation except Schurrle is a better player.

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  20. kimtoon:
    Eric, Andre Schurrle injury list
    4 injuries in 2017 and 3 so far this season
    https://www.transfermarkt.com/andre-schurrle/verletzungen/spieler/58205

    Wow. The German Andy Carroll. Loads of unrelated injuries. Still miles better than any player we have and worth a short term loan as his latest is only a knock.

    Now a Dutch paper is saying Feyenoord want 25 million Euros (repeated in the Chronic). By tonight Lee will be saying it is 25 million pounds! It is hard to know what to believe. De Telegraaf could be pulling that number out of their **** just like The Daily Telegraph does over here. They are both reputable papers but their journalists are not immune to hyperbole.

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  21. Eric Sykes: Wow. The German Andy Carroll. Loads of unrelated injuries. Still miles better than any player we have and worth a short term loan as his latest is only a knock.

    Now a Dutch paper is saying Feyenoord want 25 million Euros (repeated in the Chronic). By tonight Lee will be saying it is 25 million pounds! It is hard to know what to believe. De Telegraaf could be pulling that number out of their **** just like The Daily Telegraph does over here. They are both reputable papers but their journalists are not immune to hyperbole.

    For Jorgensen, not Schurrle

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  22. Eric – I wasn’t sure the answer to your question but Kim has covered it – and yeah WOW, that’s a list and a half for a player who would still pick up £75k pw!!.

    Not sold on this €25m for the Danish lad either to be honest. Better for that money I reckon. I might be doing him a disservice but I’ve just got that lad from Arsenal in my mind – had a loan spell with Scum as well – can’t remember his name but he was Danish and *****.

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  23. See we are linked with a young un from Real Betis as well – reckon that one is more likely than a forward at the mo like.

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  24. Sharpy17:
    See we are linked with a young un from Real Betis as well – reckon that one is more likely than a forward at the mo like.

    like the idea of that lad I think you mentioned the other day from real sociedad , Willan Jose

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  25. Interesting piece out saying Gini has now scored 18PL goals – 11 for us and 7 for Liverpool, all at home. Apparently he has scored twice as many as the next player also not to have scored away from home. Strange really.

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  26. kimtoon:
    42 apps 19 goals Sharpy for that Jose lad

    Kim – I’d take him in a heartbeat mate, he looks like the type of forward who could handle the PL.

    Another one we’ve been linked with is Sandro at Everton, who fat Sam doesn’t seem to fancy. He was excellent at Malaga. Rafa could work the Spanish magic again. Mind he’d be down the list like.

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  27. Is there some sort of Ashley paralysis/stasis going on now where we all believe we will not sign anybody and will go out of the Cup in the 4th round again? We beat Luton at SJP though 🙂

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  28. TORPID, there’s another word to describe us.

    Honestly, I have not been on a thesaurus, these are just the words that are going trough my head.

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  29. £20m Carillo for Southampton. Last 3 seasons – 4 goals/15 games, 7 goals 19 games, 4 goals/31 games.
    And that is in the French League.
    Currently carrying an unknown injury.

    That’s what I meant the other day. £20m for a striker these days only gets you an average player.

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  30. It struck me also that we were also in Ennui. I goodled it and its said “NUFC”. But more specifically a Xisco state of mind with a bit of Emmanuele Riviere rolled in.

    I didn’t look up these words they just came naturally when thinking of where we are now, today, Thursday. Not even thinking about the FA Cup. Just not fukng up and staying up in the PL and waiting for the end of the season with 1 point or 1 + GD above relegation.

    Fitter, Happier, More Productive, Not Drinking Too Much…

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  31. Second bid for Jorgenson rejected. The selling club really in the driving seat here and they want £20m.

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  32. Any minute now feyenoord will issue a statement saying they are no longer selling to NUFC as the negotiations have been exhausting, frustrating and a waste of time.

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  33. kimtoon:
    £20m or 20m Euros ?

    Story came from Ryder so he is either still confusing Euros and Pounds or they put the price up. Him and Waugh should really consult each other. However, I have suspicion they have put the price up based purely on the fact that they know how desperate we are and how limited our options are. Player should put in a transfer request, that knocks a % off the fee that he and his agent get. If he is doubling his wage anyway it might work out – we know how Fatty likes a discount.

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  34. Maybe there will be an announcement in Rafa’s press conference. Or not. This is starting to look exactly like the last 2 windows. The only difference is that Rafa said he talked to Ashley, who says he understands the gravity of the situations and has sanctioned purchases.

    I think we should cave. I know that we are not Barca but they started at 80 mil for Coutinho and ended up at 140 (inc bonuses). It is a different world now. Thing is, none of us even know if Jorgensen is any good or not. I had not even heard of him until last week.

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  35. Nathan Ake £20m. That’s also where we are.

    Chris wood £15m

    Andre Gray £17m

    How many goals have they scored between them this season?

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  36. kimtoon:
    Any minute now feyenoord will issue a statement saying they are no longer selling to NUFC as the negotiations have been exhausting, frustrating and a waste of time.

    Ah, now I get it. Quoting the fatman 🙂

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  37. Personally I think £15m is a fair offer for this player. I understand that the selling club want more, but this lad is a big risk imo.
    I we had no other option then I would say needs must. But for me, I’d sooner take the risk with Mitrovic who is already with us & save the £20m.
    If I felt the lad was a better quality I’d say go for it. But I’m not convinced he’s any better than what we have in Mitrovic.

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  38. Sharpy17:
    Personally I think £15m is a fair offer for this player.I understand that the selling club want more, but this lad is a big risk imo.
    I we had no other option then I would say needs must.But for me, I’d sooner take the risk with Mitrovic who is already with us & save the £20m.
    If I felt the lad was a better quality I’d say go for it.But I’m not convinced he’s any better than what we have in Mitrovic.

    It is not a question of whether he is better than Mitro because Rafa will not play Mitro. It is is he better than Joselu?

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  39. That’s the way I feel Sharpy – the kid was bought for £3m and scoring in Holland is not that difficult. Leave him alone and play Mitro or look for someone much better. Defoe?

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  40. Eric Sykes: It is not a question of whether he is better than Mitro because Rafa will not play Mitro. It is is he better than Joselu?

    Eric – then that’s a case of Rafas stubbornness costing our club, and I can’t say I’m ok with that personally.
    Mitrovic isn’t a **** player, and Rafa is a world class coach. He should be able to get what he needs out of him rather than spending £20m on what I personally see as a big risk.

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  41. georgio:
    That’s the way I feel Sharpy – the kid was bought for £3m and scoring in Holland is not that difficult. Leave him alone and play Mitro or look for someone much better. Defoe?

    Georgio – he’s 27 now, I just think if he was that good, he’d already be in a more competitive league by now imo. I may be wrong, but i just don’t see it as a good move – but I also wouldn’t see Defoe as a good move either mate.

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  42. To clear up his £3m original price tag lads. He had just 10 months left on his contract which is why Feyenoord got him at such a sweet price.

    Now from my point of view there are two question here, namely is he Rafa’s first choice ? it would appear that he is. If that’s the case then Ashley should be backing his manager after failing to do so for his first choice players the last two windows.

    Secondly, Is he worth £20m and I’m assuming it’s £ here. Well none of us know but it’s relative peanuts in this day of crazy transfer fees. You would hope Rafa see’s something in this lad , we need to trust his judgement here I think.

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  43. Even more important is the fact that yet again we are spending the last few days of the window chasing one player again and it looks like another stalemate is on the horizon here.
    If they fail to land this guy it matters not to me since I do not see his potential but it will matter a hell of a lot to Rafa and therein lies the biggest problem with not getting this lad.

    In his shoes I would be fuming at being shafted yet again and loyalty or no loyalty to the fans I would be off come the summer if not earlier. Then again maybe that is our owners aim .

    Why are there no other options being worked on? Why all the eggs in one basket ?
    There has to be some decent guys we could loan, how about trying to get one of the championships prolific strikers ?
    There is no desire to bring anyone in imo no matter what the fatmans PR machine says.
    A 4 month loan of a Chelsea player does not cut it for me, no sir, not one fecking bit.

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  44. How about making Derby a decent offer for Matej Vydra ? 16 goals in 25 apps so far and Championship top scorer. He’s only 25 too , quite tall at 5’11, just as likely to do it as what we have .

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  45. Give Rafa his striker and his goalie and then see where it goes. Rafa can have no excuses if we get relegated.

    I agree with Sharpy that Mitro might be better but not when he is left on the team bus. There has to be more than meets the eye between the two of them so we have to accept it. The only way Mitro plays is if Rafa gets desperate and none of us wants that. So sell him, not to reduce net spend but to maybe make a last minute signing of a midfielder to give us an option besides Shelvey, Diame and Hayden and also as insurance for Merino’s back.

    I also think we could sell Gayle so stop quibbling over a couple of million if this is Rafa’s 1st choice.

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  46. Blimey Jose banging on about bloody oranges at the top and middle of the tree in his presser, does that mean we are the ones on the ground with a touch of mould just starting to grow with the slightly soggy feel to them. 🙄

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  47. What is it with foreign coaches and players and foodstuff analogies .
    Cantona and his seagulls, Carvalhal and his sardines not lobsters and now Jose and his big juicy oranges. 🙄

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  48. kimtoon:
    What is it with foreign coaches and players and foodstuff analogies .
    Cantona and his seagulls, Carvalhal and his sardines not lobsters and now Jose and his big juicy oranges.

    “little horse” in his 1st year back at Chelsea 🙂

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  49. Cheers Olly for the piece on how much Feyenoord want according to Sky. If they want 20 million pounds then surely we can compromise at about 18 mil.

    Just glad to have Sky involved so we know the new figure is pounds and not euros. It may sound trivial for me to go on about it but how many of our previous transfers have fallen through for the sake of a couple of million? According to some Abuwayang (sp?) and Lacazette were two of them. This is the way the Fat Man works, he would rather walk than make a deal he feels is not fair. You don’t always get that with January transfers, everybody knows that you overpay.

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  50. Whether he’s worth £20m is an irrelevance now. Look at the likes of Nathan Ake – a centre back. He was £20m. Full backs are £50m these days and the lesser clubs like Palace paid £28m for Benteke last season. Burnley paid £15m for a striker who’s never played in a top division in any country.

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  51. And before anyone says a seagull isn’t food, try telling that to the one eyed bobcat on BBC’s big cat mini series. 🙂

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  52. This may be flawed logic but here goes. If Rafa believes this player can fire us to safety and is better than our current options then the additional cost is now 5 million. We have offered 15 already so that is water under the bridge. The cost of safety is now 5 million. Who in their right mind would not spend 5 million with the specter of losing 150 million due to relegation.

    That assumes this guy is any good and doesn’t get injured.

    I know it is flawed logic but I just thought I would throw it out there in case we get nobody.

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  53. Stuart79:
    Whether he’s worth £20m is an irrelevance now. Look at the likes of Nathan Ake – a centre back. He was £20m. Full backs are £50m these days and the lesser clubs like Palace paid £28m for Benteke last season. Burnley paid £15m for a striker who’s never played in a top division in any country.

    You missed an obvious one – Sissoko. Just think of it as 2/3rds of a Sissoko who Spurs fans are really getting annoyed with now, They get annoyed that he is even on the bench.

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  54. And another thing…

    You have to trust Rafa regardless of how you see some of his transfer decisions. The bottom line is that he got us promoted with changing half the squad regardless of how individual deals worked out. Manquillo for example might not be a world beater but we have needed him in a few games so far. We didn’t have 55 million for Kyle Walker.

    You have to look at the big picture, the whole as maybe bigger than the sum of the parts (and other clichés 🙂 )

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  55. Stuart79:
    Whether he’s worth £20m is an irrelevance now. Look at the likes of Nathan Ake – a centre back. He was £20m. Full backs are £50m these days and the lesser clubs like Palace paid £28m for Benteke last season. Burnley paid £15m for a striker who’s never played in a top division in any country.

    Stu – I have no issue with spending £20m, but it’s that risk v reward thing for me. B’mth had Ake on loan before buying him for that money so the risk was less having seen what they are buying. Your £50m full back in Kyle Walker had years of PL experience and was a consistent performer, so whilst it was high, Pep was pretty much guaranteed a quality player.
    Benteke had been scoring at Villa. I’d have no issues with that.
    There will still be ones that don’t come off – like Sissoko or Torres (in his Chelsea days) – there is always risk in any transfer.

    I just can’t help thinking this is an unnecessary risk when Mitrovic is there. I know Rafa doesn’t like him & should get the players he wants – so ok, we go with it. But I’m uneasy coz I’m not sure this lad has the PL quality needed.

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  56. I think it will come off mind, mainly by the way their manager is speaking. He seems resigned to loosing the player when he’s been asked about it.

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