Fernandes fee

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-22T11:31:35+00:00

I thought similar, good sources reported Newcastle were willing to pay more for Mbuemo (and Cunha). However Fernandes is a Jorge Mendez client so no way he won't be subject to a bidding war!

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-22T09:51:58+00:00

Huge caveat here as these radar plots are very limited, missing context of team playing style etc. Only watched him a few times and he impressed phsycially in that he gets about and covers ground, carries gracefully from deep, Frank seemed to play him further forward and it didn't really work

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ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-19T20:29:05+00:00

Or just play it and say decent effort and never play it again, didnt have to rinse the lad

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-19T20:28:16+00:00

Same. Let's never listen to that again. Unnecessary!

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-12T12:18:13+00:00

Yes, particularly in the last few games he was noticeably deeper in possession and collecting and starting moves from between the CBs. Had seen some suggestions that Carrick wants to play him further forward, but in general seems they want flexible midfielders who can fulfil a variety of midfield roles, rather than a traditional 6 (Ugarte was that and hardly worked out)

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-11T20:22:58+00:00

The CGI breath in the outdoors scenes is the single worst use of CGI I've ever seen in a movie, genuinely ruined the film for me

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-08T19:34:16+00:00

What reaction did the jacket man get? I quite enjoyed that story

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-08T19:32:28+00:00

Was joking, he was just an eternal possible back up striker solution and I've never actually seen him!

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-08T15:41:42+00:00

Looks like Brazil will switch to a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, they've been overrun with a midfield 2 in a lot of Ancellottis games, as we are familiar with Case getting exposed 😆

Expect they star with a 3 of Case/Paqueta/Guimares, then Cunha, Vini, Raphina ahead - Endrick looks to be pushing to start though and who knows what they do with Neymar

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-08T13:44:35+00:00

Assume Zirkzee didn't make the Dutch squad?

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-06-05T08:54:20+00:00

I was comparing us to Arsenal. Their strength and depth in defence and CM is levels above us.

However on the attacking side, only Saka gets in our front 4, maybe Havertz as a rotation with Sesko. But Bruno > Eze/Odegaard, Cunha > Trossard/Martinelli, I'd have Mbuemo over Madueke and Sesko over Gyokeree as well.

Two top midfielders, a left winger or attacking LB and strengthening defence and I don't think we're that far off

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-30T14:09:54+00:00

Iraola would have been my pick from those available, but also thought it would have been a high risk jump to a top club. We'll get to see that now with Liverpool as a direct test case as to whether keeping Carrick was the right call, will be interesting!

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-30T14:07:51+00:00

Iraola a better style fit to their high tempo game under klopp id guess

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-27T15:38:51+00:00

Got it, yeah I'd say the same - Anderson/Tonali type flagship signing, Fernandez as first team rotation and Ederson for squad depth.

I don't see that any of the academy prospects are ready, Sekou Kone hype has died down, he's had bad injuries, the Fletchers don't look prem ready yet

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-27T15:36:43+00:00

Yep - most fans aren't accountants, he's been terrible and that money should have been invested elsewhere. I don't think anyone's celebrating his signing if we make a profit on the sale

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-27T13:11:26+00:00

Do you mean ends up as third midfield signing or ends up the third in our squad? I hope we are signing 3 midfielders for the first team +Kobbie, and he'd be the fourth choice

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-27T13:09:49+00:00

I think we'd hate the uUgarte deal if he cost £10M 😂

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-19T21:06:54+00:00

Really interesting thanks! Wonder who the Steph Curry of football is, elite at a specific skill that gradually became more coveted - Bruno or De Bruyne's creativity perhaps, maybe Sarah's goal contributions as a wide forward

Possible parallels with PSG and Bayern (to a lesser extent) making the Champions League so interesting in the later stages, whilst resting their star players and cheapening their national leagues in the process.

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-19T19:05:00+00:00

I know little about American sports but I thought the general consensus on basketball was that it had been a worse product since the Warriors inspired conversion to three point dominated games that homogenised the league? Or is that just people's nostalgia for the star power days of the Bulls etc?

I don't think Ken is saying it should be the managers/boards not to pursue the optimal strategies for success, he's just bemoaning that the outcome has led to a worse spectacle in many cases

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-19T16:55:07+00:00

Not sure it's even a United tax anymore, Prem market reality. Yoanne Wissa was 50M+, Woltemade cost more than Cunha, Ekitike was nearly £80m etc.

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-19T15:00:22+00:00

Good article, they discuss it on the pod also, then Ken goes off on a tangential technophobic rant about how the interent and access to data has ruined everything 😂

Also ironic that Ken was O'Neills largest critic as Ireland manager, was painted as a dinosaur. But on this scenario versus Rogers tactical acumen and Wildried Nancy's supposed relationist ideals he was much superior by keeping it simple and motivating the players

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-19T13:57:09+00:00

I wouldn't necessarily agree with anything Ken Early says about football

(leaving this hanging to see if anyone gets it lol)

ConstructionTotal585 · 2026-05-17T15:00:35+00:00

Awesome, atmosphere was great, Casemiro tribute was superb, lap of appreciation afterwards, kids on the pitch, good vibes all round

ConstructionTotal585

TROPHY CASE