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[Albion] Marc Cucurella *Signed For Chelsea 05/08/2022*
- Thread starter Bring back Bryan wade!!
- Start date
Machiavelli
Well-known member
Agree with the thrust of your point about deifying our players but, to nuance it somewhat:
-- City have spent £50m+ on numerous defenders. Those that I can recall include Mendy, Cancelo, Walker, Dias and Laporte. Stones was c£48m about six years ago IIRC ...
-- ... and inflation has kicked in since then...
-- ... and I'm not so sure that many of those had played CL and PL football (just Walker?), the others had played one or the other. Cucurella has played a role in taking a club from 16th to 9th in the PL as a 23yo. He's as ready as the others were. He's also contracted for 4 years. I suspect approaching £60m sounds about right (it may well be that c£10m of that is in add-ons).
The problem we have is that we don’t have another Cucu. We had Dunk, Burn, Veltman, Duffy, Webster, Baluta, Clarke, Ostigard and Van Hecke when White was sold.
I suspect our recruitment team will be busy trying to fix that issue. It would be very hard to get another LWB at the value we normally demand if we’ve got £50m in the bank. We’d have the same issue as Newcastle who are quoted much more for a player than any other team because of their backers.
But that's not the Albion's fault.
This is very much the beast City has created, they can play all the 'games' they want but the bottom line they only have one rule:-
'Pep wants
Pep gets
monies no object'.
jessiejames
Never late in a V8
£101m take it or leave it.
macbeth
Dismembered
agree with your point but the players you've listed have all played extensively in european competitions prior to joining city, to the degree where they're seasoned pros at that level. it may be that that's the experience that city are willing to push the finances for
- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,909
My instinct (which is oddly good for some unfathomable reason in recent times) had his contract at £40-45m plus add ons. If Albion get more than that then that's just Mr Mustard doing Mr Mustard things. Explains his salary.
My hope is that we end up keeping him though. I didn't mind losing Biss. I would rather Cucu stays.
Thing is, I don't think he would be a regular there. But that's City. Grealish is an example.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Fair.
jessiejames
Never late in a V8
Clubs need to stand up to City and demand what they want for a player and yes expect them to pay the city Premium price.
- Apr 5, 2014
- 25,909
£45m+OAT (Oil Added Tax)
American Seagle
Well-known member
- Jun 14, 2022
- 897
The truth is we don't know what Potter thinks about it, so hopefully you're right and that he's enjoying himself here and would be reluctant to leave.
But like I say, this nagging feeling is based on a few things.
1. The England job is considered to be the pinnacle of management for a lot of English managers, maybe its lost some of its attraction, but it's still a big draw.
2. There is a trend and a desire amongst the fan base to appoint English managers, and Potter is the best English manager right now.
3. That could change over the next few years, because you never know what's round the corner, and he might not get another chance to take it.
4. It pays well, and he wouldn't have to up root his family to take the job. He could carry on living in Brighton and his kids could stay in their schools down here.
5. The FA like his style. They appointed Dan Ashworth , who then came to Brighton and appointed Potter. Also Southgate's style of bringing youngsters through and developing players and a team, is exactly what Potter does, except Potter is tactically more adept.
In my opinion it will come down to whether Potter wants it or not, because I think he'll definitely get offered it. Hopefully you're right and he'll want to carry on the journey with us, but I just can't shake the nagging feeling. I'll try not to think about it
Agreed. If I were the national team board I would have on the list for sure. But then so would a bunch of others. Personally I think club soccer is far more interesting than international soccer, hopefully he thinks the same!
Weststander
Well-known member
Exactly as I see it, also Caicedo and Welbeck. Specialists, EPL top 10 quality and we do not have a readymade replacements in the squad of that quality for that role.
That's why unlike many it appears, I don't get excited about the banking of huge sums. That's for TB and the Finance Director.
I'm interested in us winning EPL games and matching our league 2021/22 position.
To finish say 14th but be smug about transfer fees in, would be strange support.
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
You do realise that you support the Albion don’t you? Highs are normally followed by lows. Stop sounding like a Leeds fan
Free Cucurella?
dadams2k11
ID10T Error
Harry Kane......
They also spent £41m on Ake and he’s played about 25 games in two seasons…..def feels like £60m is needed
American Seagle
Well-known member
- Jun 14, 2022
- 897
14th would represent another good finish for us though. 14th and never in the relegation battle would be another step to becoming an established mid-table EPL team. We have only done that once (last season) so far.
jessiejames
Never late in a V8
OAT=£55Million
Not surprised that Potter’s name keeps coming up but at this stage i don’t think he’s ready. His strength seems to be working with players day in day out, understanding what makes them tick, building their confidence and trust, allowing them to express themselves, trying out new methods and playing styles, all within a framework of being versatile and playing attractive football.
Not sure this would work when he only sees the players once every few months, whose egos are so big that they think they know it all and will play as they want to and how their PL clubs want them to.
The “no dick heads” policy will go out of the window ….. and would he be allowed to pick Dunk as captain?
They'd leave it. Simples.
Blue Valkyrie
Not seen such Bravery!
Great news for the side that doesn't want a deal.