2023/2024 Forwards Rumours Thread

[IM21]

We wouldn’t have signed Pavard if we'd spent 20 million on Morata.

yea i know. I am just saying id rather have morata for more than whats he is worth than Arnautovic for pretty much anything.

 

[Alex de Large]

A dog crap sold for 2 euros is more expensive than a Lamborghini sold for 230 millions.

 

[Fitzy]

yea i know. I am just saying id rather have morata for more than whats he is worth than Arnautovic for pretty much anything.

All good mate, I was replying more to the chat above your post. Should've quoted it, but was feeling lazy. I pulled an Arnautovic.

 

[crzdcolombian]

We wouldn’t have signed Pavard if we'd spent 20 million on Morata.

In hindsight we would have been better off getting morata and not Pavard

 

[rfU]

In hindsight we would have been better off getting morata and not Pavard

Pavard is a long term investment. Morata would give us one good season then descend to his normal useless self.

We should look for younger. This kid Dovbyk. Nice player. Unfortunately out of our price range at this juncture.

 

[IM21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1744075935253504160

 

[Alex de Large]

 

[RickyMaravilla'sRightFoot]

Please do something here this winter. Sign Balotelli on a 5 month contract for all I care. I won’t be too picky.

 

[IL Fenomeno]

We wouldn’t have signed Pavard if we'd spent 20 million on

How do you know?

 

[Ffi201zi002tlis]

At this rate, signing fucking Balotelli on short-term contract is not the worst idea. We're not going to win shit with Arnautonic and Alexis on the bench.

 

[KevinB]

Limone coaching Balo.

Where could this go wrong

 

[IM21]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1744291108018934197

 

[Il Drago]

Please do something here this winter. Sign Balotelli on a 5 month contract for all I care. I won’t be too picky.

Balotelli had a knee surgery and he will be out for months.

 

[vex]

Lol balo, get real people.

We need to pull a rabbit out of our ass, like we did with some of these midfield and defender signings in recent years. I just can't fathom how lazy we were in terms of scouting regarding the attack. We didn't have two proper backup strikers in ages.

It's like we have decent ability to sniff out two main strikers, and then we just say fuck it, we will get someone washed or broken as two bench options.

 

[Gal]

Balo is as bad as those we got, also the way he behaved when he was here was unforgivable and unprofessional…

Lol balo, get real people.

We need to pull a rabbit out of our ass, like we did with some of these midfield and defender signings in recent years. I just can't fathom how lazy we were in terms of scouting regarding the attack. We didn't have two proper backup strikers in ages.

It's like we have decent ability to sniff out two main strikers, and then we just say fuck it, we will get someone washed or broken as two bench options.

It’s nothing to do with being lazy… attackers just happen to be incredibly expensive purchases and/or heavy on the payroll. You just don’t get very much for the money compared to many other positions on the team.

Look at the wages of those two, the highest net receivers.

A better sub likely would cost a decent sum and often require a decent wage. We paid 10m in total and these lads receive 2.5-3m in wages, it’s highly unlikely two better subs would be had for that and would accept a wage of 2.5m net.

If you look at prices for none injury prone attackers that are not above 30 years of age that are reliable we are usually talking in excess of 40m investment a piece and likely at least 4m net in wages. It so rare you can pull a Thuram out you ass, and when you do it usually is costly on the payroll and we can’t pay a sub that much

 

[Il Drago]

Lol balo, get real people.

We need to pull a rabbit out of our ass, like we did with some of these midfield and defender signings in recent years. I just can't fathom how lazy we were in terms of scouting regarding the attack. We didn't have two proper backup strikers in ages.

It's like we have decent ability to sniff out two main strikers, and then we just say fuck it, we will get someone washed or broken as two bench options.

It sounds ridiculous that ever since Moratti left we have had no serious backup strikers (apart from 2018/19 but this didn't last long because of Icardi drama) but the explanation is really simple. We have always prefered investing on quality starters which makes sense but it leaves us with no money left for backups. We also don't like taking risks with unproven players in attack. So when you have no money and you prioritize experience then of course you will end up with washed and broken forwards hoping they have at least one good year left in them.

Regarding this season backup options, i understand why everyone focuses on Arnautovic. Spending 10m on a 35-year old who has never contributed at a top club and had missed half a season with injury looked stupid from the start. But i get they wanted to sign someone who would add experience and would give guarantees (kinda) in attack as they weren't certain how Thuram would pan out. And after missing out on all their targets Arnautovic was the clear panic buy. So let's say i understand their logic. But their most bufffling decision was bringing back Sanchez AFTER signing Arnautovic. A player you PAID to leave a year earlier, a player coach was never a big fan of, and a player who often complained about lack of playing time. We knew exactly the player we were getting in Sanchez and we were offering him the exact same role as before. The only diffference would be that he would be one year older with everything that entails. Who thought it was a good idea to have two 35-year olds as backup forwards? It was a major management fuckup.

 

[Alex de Large]

Valentin Castellanos cost Lazio 15m. We paid 8m for Arna, i don't know man... strikers who score are expensive but we can do it a lot better

 

[NimAraya]

Valentin Castellanos cost Lazio 15m. We paid 8m for Arna, i don't know man... strikers who score are expensive but we can do it a lot better

Just sugarcoat shit business with "we have no money".

 

[vex]

But their most bufffling decision was bringing back Sanchez AFTER signing Arnautovic. A player you PAID to leave a year earlier, a player coach was never a big fan of, and a player who often complained about lack of playing time. We knew exactly the player we were getting in Sanchez and we were offering him the exact same role as before. The only diffference would be that he would be one year older with everything that entails. Who thought it was a good idea to have two 35-year olds as backup forwards? It was a major management fuckup.

For me, it's the complete opposite. I totally get sanchez move, we wanted to get rid of correa, he had more than decent season in france and most importantly we had a grand total of ZERO budget to spend and two positions to fill.

The baffling thing is having money and spending it on arna, to the point that I'm now genuinely starting to believe someone took money on the side to bring him here.

 

[Gal]

Just sugarcoat shit business with "we have no money".

We have some, but not enough to buy someone decent, your not going to get someone decent at 8m especially not on that position, you might pull a defender out with that sum in some minor team or league but an attacker that’s rather unlikely unless there some major question mark and even then we are easily at €20-30m investment.

It would have require no Pavard to upgrade on the attacking front and then you guys would complain over that instead.

Our lack of depth is caused largely by spending on Correa a few years back. That mistake is the main culprit for the lack of usable dept. Arna and Sanchez are a symptom not a cause.

If we look at over 20m investment since summer 2018 exclusive technicality, it shows how difficult this manoeuvre is. And on average we bought two plus 20m a season that’s just nothing in todays market!

Lukaku 75m
Barella 32m + 12m loan
Hakimi 43m
Nainggolan 38m
Pavard 30m
Gosens 27m
Correa 27m
Eriksen 27m
Politano 21m + 5m loan
Martinez 25m
Sensi 25m
Lazaro 22m