[Albion] Marc Cucurella *Signed For Chelsea 05/08/2022*

[227 BHA]

We probably have an option to buy him for no more than £25m, even if he has a blinder of a season.

Are you serious??

 

[usernamed]

But please remember, we are not financial investment company in the City of London, we are a community football club in Sussex. A football club with a huge hole in the squad. We have no left back in the current squad.

I’ll celebrate this deal once Cucu has been replaced. The loan-child Colwill is not the answer by the way (for now).

The loan-child Colwill is clearly perceived as the answer for LCB otherwise we wouldn’t be loaning him. Agree we still need a LB/LWB and a longer-term solution at LCB.

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

But please remember, we are not financial investment company in the City of London, we are a community football club in Sussex. A football club with a huge hole in the squad. We have no left back in the current squad.

I’ll celebrate this deal once Cucu has been replaced. The loan-child Colwill is not the answer by the way (for now).

Time to get excited about potential left backs we'll bring in, I reckon.

I agree that if the window SLAMS shut without us signing a left back then that is pretty disastrous - but we are not in that place today

 

[Rambo]

Barber mentioned £60m losses due to covid. So this sale will cover that.

 

[nickjhs]

I was being facetious. There are people, some of whom post on NSC, who are disgusted that we have 'become' a selling club, with no chance of ever winning the EPL, and they are 'that close' to turning their back on The Albion, a club with no ambition.

Build a bonfire.....

Opps, chalk that one up to the aspergers. I have a great deal of difficulty discerning the likes of sarcasm and facetiousness

 

[chaileyjem]

Yes, but it also shows a lack of ambition to a degree because, despite the stupid amount of money coming our way, it will cost us league placings because Cucc was probably the difference last season and is probably the best LWB in the country.

Or if we hadn't sold him then you might argue when we're shopping for a new Caicedo, Biss, Cucu, Trossard in the next few weeks - we wouldn't be able to persuade them to come. ("you've a reputation for blocking my clients if they eventually want to play for Man City or Liverpool or the Champions League..."..and that will cost us league placings and ultimately compromise our long term future in terms of planning and recruitment. All clubs sell great players for multiple reasons - Are Borussia Dortmund showing a lack of ambition by selling Haaland ? etc etc

 

[Hotchilidog]

Happy with the fee we appear to have received for Cucurella, that is a decent price and I'd imagine he'll fulfil the criteria for the extra £7m too. Slightly perplexed by the loan for Colwill, unless it turns out that we have an option to buy. That said Levi does appear to offer a short term fix whilst we look to secure an alternative left sided player.

Anyway glad that nonsense is over. Let's get on with the season!

 

[SeagullinExile]

Yes, but it also shows a lack of ambition to a degree because, despite the stupid amount of money coming our way, it will cost us league placings because Cucc was probably the difference last season and is probably the best LWB in the country.

Rubbish.

 

[Bold Seagull]

When Biss joined we had Stephens, an experienced CDM. We now don’t have one. That’s all I’m saying, we don’t have a player who has really had a consistent amount of game time playing that position. I find that a touch worrying seeing as Bissouma was our best player and his absence is clearly going to leave a big hole in the midfield. I have no doubt that Potter will once again be expected to somehow turn one of our existing players into world beater, but in my personal opinion I’d feel happier if we had an experienced/recognised CDM.

Almost worth it's own thread on how the CDM position developed over time, and how it fits in with Potter's preferred tactics.

The average position map away to Spurs, you would be forgiven for thinking no.8 was a centre half in a back 4. In fact, you can go through various average position maps and Bissouma is often the 2nd or 3rd deepest outfield player.

https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/images/attach/png.gif

When Bissouma was unavailable and Webster was back home to Saints, our midfield was a flat 3, and even when Bissouma was back, again with Webster available, Bissouma was pretty much level with the rest of the midfield (granted I think he went off HT to WHU).

https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/images/attach/png.gif

I'd say it's pretty clear that Bissouma was essential in a CDM role when we went to a 3 and Webster wasn't available. When Webster was available, he reverted to a more conventional CM, or our midfield shared the duties. However, Webster unavailable home to MU, Bissouma returned to a position shielding Dunk as one of the deeper lying players.

If Webster is fit and stays fit then think we'll see more of that flat 3 average position in midfield and the need for an outright CDM won't be missed as such, but it is when we want to play a 3 that absolutely need that shield, and that is perhaps where we saw Mac Allister start to operate. Bissouma certainly gave Potter options in terms of shape for his defence. My guess is he will go with a back 4 against MU on Sunday with 3 strung across the centre midfield replicating the Southampton shape. Then again, what do I know!


https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/images/attach/png.gif

 

[scooter1]

I think we have to trust Barber and Bloom to keep the project evolving. We can’t be dependent on any one player.

This.
We're a selling club. One of hundreds in order to remain financially sustainable.
I suspect 1, 2 or even 3 of our players will have good seasons this year and more than likely they'll generate serious interest. It's the way things are.
We just have to hope we can keep picking up players we can improve, who will help the team and the we profit on.
Our business model is not going to change.
I'm still interested to know who might be our first £100,000 a week player will be though....

 

[SeagullinExile]

Looking forward to breaking our transfer record at least once in the next few weeks.

 

[OzMike]

Has he actually gone now ?

 

[Commander]

Yes, but it also shows a lack of ambition to a degree because, despite the stupid amount of money coming our way, it will cost us league placings because Cucc was probably the difference last season and is probably the best LWB in the country.

**** me. Brighton showing a lack of ambition. The club that went from playing in front of 1,000 people at home games 70 miles away from Brighton to finishing 9th in the Premier League and having some of the biggest teams on the planet scrapping over paying us £50 million for our players in less than 25 years. We've probably shown more ambition than any other football club in the country.

You are just another short-term thinker who doesn't understand the model and why it works, and will continue to work.

 

[Triggaaar]

If we get £56mill upfront and £7mill in add-ons then we have absolutely rinsed Chelsea for Cucurella's maximum worth and that is a fantastic piece of business by the club.

I think that’s a fair price. I don’t think Chelsea have been rinsed. I’d rather he stayed but understand every player has a price.

Particularly as even his own agent thought we were being "unrealistic" after we knocked back City's £35m offer!!

The agent was just being an agent.ie, lying. Their job is to get the deal done to get paid. They don’t care if one club is underpaid or the other is rinsed. Same as an estate agent (there are rare exception).

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Yes, but it also shows a lack of ambition to a degree because, despite the stupid amount of money coming our way, it will cost us league placings because Cucc was probably the difference last season and is probably the best LWB in the country.

Part of the ethos of the club right now is develop and dont stand in the way of talent if the valuation is met.

If were in the ECL i think this would pan out differently.

 

[RandyWanger]

Twitter is a toxic place. So many armchair ultras who have probably never been to England, let alone Stamford bridge being very aggressive and threatening towards the club. State of the world.

Would we have wanted to keep him another season and beyond? Absolutely! But there's no doubt even when Tony's hand was forced, he won. Amazing from a business perspective. On field, who knows but in Potter we trust.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I think that’s a fair price. I don’t think Chelsea have been rinsed. I’d rather he stayed but understand every player has a price.

The agent was just being an agent.ie, lying. Their job is to get the deal done to get paid. They don’t care if one club is underpaid or the other is rinsed. Same as an estate agent (there are rare exception).

Agreed, but surely he's on some kind of percentage?
I assumed a higher sale price would get him a higher cut?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I think that’s a fair price. I don’t think Chelsea have been rinsed. I’d rather he stayed but understand every player has a price.

The agent was just being an agent.ie, lying. Their job is to get the deal done to get paid. They don’t care if one club is underpaid or the other is rinsed. Same as an estate agent (there are rare exception).

There aren’t..
Your point stands without caveats.

 

[227 BHA]

Am I right in my understanding that when a player puts in a transfer request they forfeit some of their bonus rights?
So in effect this deal could be worth even more than the £63mill as the club have saved themselves some hefty contract fees had he been sold under contract without him forfeiting what could have been a fair chunk of cash?

 

[Springal]

Am I right in my understanding that when a player puts in a transfer request they forfeit some of their bonus rights?
So in effect this deal could be worth even more than the £63mill as the club have saved themselves some hefty contract fees had he been sold under contract without him forfeiting what could have been a fair chunk of cash?

I don’t it was more than couple of million quid all in with 4 years left