This thread neatly proves the maxim that the whole 'Legends' concept in football is completely overblown. If anyone and everyone gets called a Legend (which they do) it diminishes the achievements of true legends.
Have hard and fast criteria: 400 appearances and/or 100 goals. You have to prove...
I don't remember clearly the moment he signed, but that winner at LEEDS is etched in my memory bank as well as any in the last decade. It was another building block in our progress from also-rans to special-rans.
I voted Moises, would love him to stay.
However:
1)Our whole philosophy is based on a succession strategy for all the key people at the club. The idea that we wouldn't have someone earmarked to replace Moises is laughable. Delivering that player at a sensible cost will not be easy, but I'll be...
If you take a look at the reported Chelsea wage structure, you'd conclude he's been offered somewhere in the region of 200k per week. Say 5 years, that's 50m gross. https://www.spotrac.com/epl/chelsea-fc/payroll/
I reckon the most we could offer him without blowing our wage structure is around...
Completely agree that it's not a position(s) we lack talent or options in. BUT the only 'hole' Colwill got us into was qualifying for Europe, so that's really not a reason to say no if, and I think potentially he is, good enough to give us something extra.
He'd be trading a huge reputation and very decent salary in English football for mega petrodollars, a very odd lifestyle and association with a nasty regime. Personally, I would find it impossible to empathise if he went for it, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did.
Caicedo features in the video of yesterday's return to training
Also: Lallana, Dahoud, Lamptey (only on the treatment table, worryingly) and Colwill*
*just kidding
He is a lovely player to watch, smashing lad too. I was emotional clapping his emotion at VP.
But, I don't think he is good enough for City. Final ball and shooting not reliable enough. Can get caught in possession. Liverpool is a done deal. He may be good enough for them, but it's not...
Dahoud is an upgrade on Alzate.
He will also have Gross, Gilmour, Lallana (occasionally), Moder (god willing) and Buonanotte ahead of him in CM. Plus Ayari with arguably more potential. Plus anyone we choose to spend the Mac/Caicedo money on.
Defenders should be our priority this summer, IMHO.