Transfer in's and out's rumours etc.

[WTF11]

Not sure how any of us can criticise Bielsa - in terms of players coming in some were on loan such as Brown whom you refer to but loan players can be notoriously hit or miss. Look at White - huge hit or Lewis Baker - big miss. With the EFL rules we had no choice but to loan players in or breach FFP etc.

I have been fairly impressed with the signings we have made since MB came in both in the youth ranks and to the first team.

Costa
Harrison
Douglas
Bamford (for all we wish he had more Shearer in him)
Casilla
Meslier

All improved the squad even if we wish we could have got better players sometimes - they were good with what we could afford.

This season will be a continuation of that gradual improvement of the squad. We also have no idea of which players are ear marked as being ready to step up from the reserves.

For me Bielsa is as good as any manager since Wilko and may prove to be even better. The football at times is sensational and on others frustrating. Under Warnock and his ilk it was largely frustrating, rubbish and no fun to watch.

We have made real substantial progress but for some it is still doom and gloom.

This season will an exciting challenge - bring it on.

I'm suggesting that despite his unquestioned coaching capabilities (look at what he did with a middling squad in both 2018/19 and 19/20), he isn't entirely successful in terms of either loan players or permanent signings, the record would support that.

You mention just about the only successes achieved since he arrived at the club since June 2018 (although how you can put Casilla in that list is beyond me). There are literally scores of players that have been brought in never to be seen again before being transferred out, or played once/twice and then discarded (go to TransferMarkt, they are all there).

As always, when I post something critical of the club (in whatever area of its operations) I am accused of suggesting all is "doom and gloom", rather than voicing scepticism about the ability of our DoF to identify and acquire real quality additions to the 1st team squad, and of the coach to either challenge what Orta proposes, or identify the weaknesses in those proposed, the record in that area simply doesn't come close to the magic that Bielsa has worked with the squad he has.

[OldWhiteTaff]

As always, when I post something critical of the club (in whatever area of its operations) I am accused of suggesting all is "doom and gloom", rather than voicing scepticism about the ability of our DoF to identify and acquire real quality additions to the 1st team squad, and of the coach to either challenge what Orta proposes, or identify the weaknesses in those proposed, the record in that area simply doesn't come close to the magic that Bielsa has worked with the squad he has.

No I get what you're saying, there have been numerous iffy transfers, and also questions regarding MB's use even of those that looked like they could have contributed more given more opportunities (Nketiah + Brown top of that list), and that doesn't go away just because his world class coaching has got us into the PL against pretty high odds. The point I was trying to make was that overall Rodrigo is considered a top echelon attacking player - he's a Spanish international, which is a level of transfer we've not seen since the O'Leary days, even if his goal-scoring record doesn't look great in isolation. So I wouldn't judge him purely on his goal scoring record. That doesn't mean we've haven't still got a goal scoring problem to solve. I'd suggest we still also have a CB problem to solve at least.

[Jezleeds]

Confirmation from his agent that White will not be moving this summer TO LEEDS.

Clearly he'll be moving somewhere, probably Man City or Liverpool, so i guess the John Stones option might come back on the table. Speaking to a work colleague Arsenal fan, Holding is more of a stopper than a ballplaying defender, so if we get him perhaps we are going to get a second CB, because two Coopers aren't going to stop two thirds of the strikers in the PL.

[ozleeds]

No I get what you're saying, there have been numerous iffy transfers, and also questions regarding MB's use even of those that looked like they could have contributed more given more opportunities (Nketiah + Brown top of that list), and that doesn't go away just because his world class coaching has got us into the PL against pretty high odds. The point I was trying to make was that overall Rodrigo is considered a top echelon attacking player - he's a Spanish international, which is a level of transfer we've not seen since the O'Leary days, even if his goal-scoring record doesn't look great in isolation. So I wouldn't judge him purely on his goal scoring record. That doesn't mean we've haven't still got a goal scoring problem to solve. I'd suggest we still also have a CB problem to solve at least.

What WTF is saying is he worth the money we will pay and are we going to get anything out of him on the park and they are legit questions. What the player has done in the past eg play for Spain is simply the past question is after are not so great year can he get his form back.
You know I was brought up amongst some of the most talented kids in au that ended up representing Australia and in fact, the coach that won the Japanese title was a star player and I destroyed him in the park. My club at the age of 15 after my first game the manager pulled me over and said you are going straight to the reserves. Cut long story short poor family had to work and was too stuffed didn't want to train And what could have been a great carrier was cut short at 18 cause family was more important than say breaking a leg or something similar.
Sorry for the long post but what I was getting back would I have achieved what I think i could have if things were different and the answer is I Don't know the circumstance change and like ROD no one knows yet. Are we going to win the premier league? finish mid-table? relegated? no one knows.