02 Sep 2026 07:59:28
What a mini saga the Camara and Balogun deals ended up being, with Monaco ending up with egg on their face.
In Fernandez, yes we've lost a starter and haven't replaced him with a genuine starter. But, we signed him for £100m and has he, at any point in his time with us, actually looked like a £100m midfielder? I think he's looked good, but not that good. City left it to the last minute in the hope of getting money off, threatening to walk away from the deal, whilst we stood firm. In the end they had to pay a British record fee and we couldn't turn that down.
I do feel like people are sleeping on Barco and how good he can be, he now has until at least January to get his mins up and show what he can do. I'm also not as low on James in midfield as some are, especially as we haven't seen much / any of him alongside Caicedo this season, in this system.
02 Sep 2026 10:47:55
J, I always enjoy your posts and thanks for them. Losing Fernandez without replacing him with quality was the problem. He, together with Cucurella and Joao Pedro, were surely our top 3 players last year, and two have left, and both could tackle and defend - even if EF, not very pacey, read the game quite well - and provide quite a few critical goals and assists. I had hoped we would get a replacement who could perhaps particularly offer defensive awareness and tackling strength. Camara's stats and physicality v impressive in these respects - and a bit of a Kante feel to him perhaps - and would have been hugely helpful, particularly as neither Rogers nor Palmer offer much defensively, and we need a very solid double pivot behind them to win the ball and keep some possession.
Kone very strong too in midfield. Either would have strengthened our strength in depth in the CM position, offering a lot both in defense and transition to our potent front three.
But yes, I did think Barco v Luton demonstrated a bit of what we need in this respect, though perhaps not quite the tackling strength, and he was dispossessed a couple of times. He may well be our best bet to fill in if one or other of Lavia or Caicedo not fit. James a better bet than Gusto. Yes, and possibility of planning to get in a reinforcement in January.
02 Sep 2026 11:04:51
Cucurella was definitely one of our better players, but where would he play in this system? I don't see him as either a WB or wide CB in a three. If Palestra plays LWB, there's an argument that he's an upgrade in this system over Cucurella. Some would argue that, as a WB, Pep Chavarria is an upgrade too.
Same with Fernandez, from a CM point of view he's at his best in a three. His lack of mobility is highlighted when playing the double pivot. He was at his best for us in a more advanced, inside left role, from which he picked up the important goals.
In that regard, you could almost consider Rogers as a replacement - personally I'd take that, especially as Rogers cost less than Fernandez.
We've upgraded at GK, CB, WB, AM, and Joao Pedro's ST support cast is much better. Yes, we need to find a top tier CM to partner Caicedo in the double pivot, but that shouldn't take the shine off a very positive window, at least not too much. We were never going to be the finished article after one window.
02 Sep 2026 11:40:19
You make some very good points, J, and I much look forward to seeing Palestra in the EPL as a wing back.
Do you/we know when he is likely to be fit?
One question to you is, who beyond Lavia and Caicedo - not sure when he will be fit, and we know Lavia's injury history, and Henderson not fit either - apart from Barco and James among our squad, who would you have play in that double pivot if, say, James has a recurrence of injury problems too? Would there be a CB who could do this if needs be in an emergency? If so, which one? Josh? Or...?
02 Sep 2026 12:08:26
Hato would probably be my first choice if I didn't want to bring a youth team option. One thing I don't want to see again is Gusto there.
02 Sep 2026 12:44:06
Would agree on all counts.