Milner was about as old when we got him, no? Sure he was free, but Thiago is more marketable and probably a significantly superior player.
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His age may not, but Alcantara's a really highly-talented centre-mid. If we discount more specialised roles such as defensive midfielders like Kante, or attacking midfielders like Dr Bruyne, you're looking at a very small list of centre-mids that are better that aren't in decline.
Veratti is really good. Kroos is really good. In terms of passing range and ability in the ball, Thiago is probably better than Saul, Wijnaldum, Henderson, probably Pjanic as well, Pjanic, Saul, Hendo and Gini are slightly below. Modric is fairly getting on in modern football terms, Rakitic and Vidal don't look what they were (though you wouldn't call then spent forces) and I prefer not to analyse Pogba as he has moments but lacks the consistency to be anywhere near the conversation and I still don't know what he does.
Thiago also permits us to play 4-2-3-1 which may not be a permanent formation change (why fix what has been such an effective 4-3-3 after all?) but gives us an option.
Our model does favour a younger player, but where there is "value" to be had, that works too. Let's say (for "talk's sake") that our data analysts have deduced that Thiago can provide to us what a younger alternative could do for, I don't know, £60m but we could get Thiago for 50-60% of that - I don't see our committee passing up on that necessarily and that might be what's going on behind the scenes for all we know, though we are unlikely to find out (if it even happens) until "aftet the fact" when the better pundits and analysts reflect on his contributions to our cause.
Milner was about as old when we got him, no? Sure he was free, but Thiago is more marketable and probably a significantly superior player.
Etiam si omnes, ego non
Well if we really wanted him we could easily raise the fee from the "deadwood" ones returning from loans etc
Or get close to it anyway.
you'd also expect another midfielder to leave if he comes in, unless we're loaning Jones out or something.
Grujic Phillips and karius, brewster are there i think? in austria, but where's wilson?
Is he off 100%? that'll go towards the fee. Yasser Larouci isn't there either another one that's 100% off probably I believe,.
Be interesting to see what happens to Grujic and phillips, I guess they'll be off, especially Grujic with a stacked midfield, and a possible thiago.
Seems like karius wants to stick around for some reason, surely he should be off so he can actually play? he's actually a half-decent keeper too, despite the horror shows before, he'd be better if knew how to catch the ball.
Last edited by Kev0909; 16th August 2020 at 05:09 PM.
Messi to man city?
Holy shite, what if he's the reason we're not spending money? Messi to LFC??
Etiam si omnes, ego non
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