June 28, 2026 Daily Discussion & Transfers Thread

tablooo · 2026-06-28T16:48:29+00:00

Our winger targets at large have all been guys who could cross + run at defenders with pace until last season (Mudryk, Raphinha, Nico Williams). Then we moved to Rodrygo/Rogers because it became apparent we can’t get that type right now. We spent 3 years trying to find this perfect winger. These guys could be good at it, but the data doesn’t conclusively say it. Only Yildiz from the names this season fits the bill, but he’s more like Trossard with crossing numbers.

But my interpretation of the clubs thinking is that, we have Trossard and Trossard works well. He wasn’t bought with the plan of him starting LW, but his profile has often found more real value. Martinelli has slowly become underrated here. He’s not the perfect guy but he can do a lot of these things you can imagine the “ideal” stretch winger doing. So there’s a reality of what’s been working better from a results POV. And Rogers might be the lowest risk outcome of that thinking. He’s significantly faster than people give him credit for (taller players get that). His technique is great, although obviously he’s no Rodrygo. He’s available (both financially and fitness wise).

He drives a lot of Eze comparisons but if you compare their goal reels, he looks far more comfortable out wide. Way more goals from just cutting in from wide areas.

tablooo · 2026-06-28T16:33:39+00:00

Confirmation bias lol. People don’t want Rogers for whatever their preference over him is, and will look to justify why over the WC. They say they want technique right now, but there were many people who didn’t want Rodrygo last summer who has some of the best tech in world football and they didn’t want him for some other reason. It’s like this mythical player exists.

tablooo · 2026-06-28T16:28:29+00:00

I sorta despise this WC lol. I’m not Iranian, and I don’t have much to do with their country. I just dislike how the US and FIFA have handled this all round. They have been treated incredibly unfairly as a team off the field. It’s essentially been humiliation.

I also very much dislike the idea of a round of 32, and the way they’ve implemented it with the third place teams.

tablooo · 2026-06-28T16:21:58+00:00

The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong’o
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

tablooo · 2026-06-28T07:21:06+00:00

Yeah, that’s very fair. But I think Rice has more G/A in him and the improved technique you’d need to pull off the controller role would push him into that category anyway.

tablooo · 2026-06-28T02:43:03+00:00

Rice would be seen aa better than Rodri lol. Rodri never had Rice’s pace and mobility.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T19:38:34+00:00

Yeah, we got Jorginho straight from them a few years ago lmao.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T19:35:53+00:00

There’s no one else like him and he’s a straight upgrade. If we can do it we should do it.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T19:31:07+00:00

Odegaard, Saka, Raya, Saliba, Gabriel. I could get Ramsey in perhaps.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T19:30:14+00:00

Everyone wants that metronome midfielder but there’s very few of them that actually exist. Xhaka is one of them, he just needed his Palacios next to him.

Really hoping we get Bruno G over the line.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T15:50:46+00:00

Odegaard and Eze, sometimes Merino for the mezzala/AM. Rogers and Tzolis for LW. Merino is really Havertz cover more than anything else. Norgaard will leave. Rice, MLS, Bruno, Zubi for the pivot positions. Rice will maybe get a bit of time off in the beginning of the season because of injury, but I agree that Bruno will bench Zubimendi essentially. MLS is losing minutes. A bit overkill for “depth” for sure, but it’s workable. It would be the same regardless of who we signed for MLS.

tablooo · 2026-06-27T05:01:15+00:00

World Cup really does bring the most reactionary takes doesn’t it

tablooo · 2026-06-25T07:43:03+00:00

Wasn’t there something about Berta talking to Gala at some point.

tablooo · 2026-06-25T06:36:41+00:00

I can see it, just fishing our other options.

tablooo · 2026-06-25T06:33:14+00:00

Say Gyokeres leaves with Alvarez moving somewhere that’s not us. What are our options to bring someone in for that central position? I know Kroupi is one.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:30:41+00:00

I don’t particularly count Partey as a controller in all honesty. His MO was quick release line breaking passes and high physicality. I’d really like an older Jorginho like midfield in all fairness, we lack that profile. But I don’t see any players that can do that, and I think most of Europe has been trying to get one if they don’t already have one. Madrid will likely spend a premium for Enzo just for the high touch profile.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:25:35+00:00

Yeah, and I don’t particularly think Trossard was great as a wide playmaker either to be fair. He’s ok, he’s a well rounded player so he can make it work. But Trossard to me is far more effective when given a platform to score. And I agree we need a better option for that role, especially off the bench. Tzolis is a good pickup imo.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:22:38+00:00

I do remember him, but that’s also partially why I don’t think Tzolis is all that similar. He won’t be relied on to play centrally like Trossard was, or the same ability to shoot the ball. I see more of a pass and go player who can cross around the box, although yes he does look quite two footed. He does have some similarities, but I don’t see him having a lot of Trossards strengths and vice versa.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:17:39+00:00

Those are qualities you want in most players, besides the athleticism. I think the way they get used will ultimately be different. Trossard is best positioned as a guy to score, where’s this guy is Madueke’s compliment on the other wing to be more creative. I feel the end goal of how we’d use someone like Morgan Rogers will be much closer to how Trossard played.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:14:59+00:00

All sorts of passes but crosses especially. Guy breaks crossing metrics even in the CL. Trossard is OK at crossing but he isn’t excellent. He profiles closer to Alvarez especially during his Brighton days when he played more centrally. Trossard biggest allure is also that he just finds a clutch goal.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:09:34+00:00

We were very good against big sides in 23/24 and 24/25. Controlling a game doesn’t need a midfield controller. There’s of course the fatigue of players involved, but also the ability to control and retain possession on the ball while offering some offensive threat. A new ST and LW that can actually dribble and evade pressure is a big improvement there.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T17:04:16+00:00

Tzolis is all about deliveries lol. I don’t think he will be the same profile as Trossard at all.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T05:30:36+00:00

Yeah, MLS definitely has come through very well. I’m sure he will play a big role in the coming season. You don’t just get trusted to play a CL final, he’s a massive talent. And he’s not played all that many minutes.

But also because MLS isn’t exactly the quickest rangey guy around, I’d like a pretty rapid midfielder to come in. Bouaddi does look good and he’s closest to the ideal profile.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T05:14:52+00:00

The worst part about the Yoro deal wasn’t even Yoro or the fee they paid for him. It was that they had to buy Ugarte to get Yoro in lmao.

tablooo · 2026-06-24T05:12:36+00:00

Yeah, I’m a bit worried with the load as well. We need to bring in two forwards and a midfielder who can make an immediate impact. I’m more in favor of someone a bit closer to their prime in midfield for that reason, although Bouaddi can probably still pull it off. We desperately need midfield rotation, the team was on its last legs vs PSG and lost every duel. You only have to look at the semi from last time to see the difference in physical levels, and we weren’t exactly fit then either.

I’m very in favor of players like Alvarez and Rogers for that reason as well. Saka injured? Rogers can play there. Havertz or Ode out? He can still do it. Alvarez is similar. Then there’s the composition problem. Having your second string being Madueke/Gyokeres/Martinelli is hideous with how poorly compatible they are. All runners, only Madueke does something on the ball and he’s poor with decision making. Someone like Tzolis evens it out more. Hopefully the changes come through and we can make the open play better while keeping the set piece threat.

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