Rachid Ghezzal signs.

[oadby.fox]

People are just disappointed.

 

We realistically had up to two years to prepare for Mahrez's departure and the closest thing we got to a replacement is a player with a potentially destructive attitude and less than impressive record, for an amount not much cheaper than Jahanbahksh/Ziyech etc. This Summer it was our priority to make necessary reinforcements at CB, RB and add a creative midfielder which we have done well, but we knew that we had to replace Mahrez's contribution (in some shape or form) and also clear out those who had become surplus to requirements. We managed to get rid of Musa but have we just added another individual who won't contribute much in Ghezzal?

 

Of course, most on here will want him to do well, me included, and I hope he goes on to score 15 goals and grab a few assists. That however, is unlikely. If he manages to get double figures in either assists or goals over the league campaign then I would deem his signing to be a great success. But to me it's looking more like 10 starts, 15 sub appearances and two assists and one goal. With how bloated our squad is already and the talented youngsters we have coming through, I would like (as others have said) to either invest money in players that are more likely to improve the squad/first team or give the opportunity to youth.

[Gerard]

24 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

its 10 mil right?

 

we're like the 13th richest club in the world these days, it's next to nothing

 

It really isn't and we're nowhere near the 13th richest club in the world.

 

We need to spend about £20m net on transfers per season to break even. 

 

Tell me who in the real world buys something for £10m that's worth maybe £2m? If I had a business that supplied Apple do you think they would let me get away with charging £10m for something that was worth £2m? If we repeatedly get bad value from our transfers because it's not worth the bother of haggling over a silly few million then at some point we'll be in the Championship and that few million will be a fortune.

 

I'd love to know the bottom price Monaco and Liverpool would have accepted for Ghezzal and Ward and what we actually paid as they're probably laughing at Leicester whilst they're counting our money and getting two unwanted players off their books.

[HighPeakFox]

If we're paying over the odds (and who really knows the truth of that), I would suspect that it's considered a price worth paying to get deals done and quickly, after previous experiences.

[CarbonVirtine]

Having skimmed those French comments (and my French is not street good), I'm actually a little more optimistic than I was before reading them.

 

Yes, there were negative comments but a large part of the conversations were about how well Monaco did in getting the money for him and how well they do as a club generally in the transfer market - and how daft the English market is! (and I think we'd all agree with that). There were comments more related to him not being worth that sum rather than him being crap per se - suggesting €7m - 8m was more realistic sum.  I read of Ghezzal having a "honeyed" left foot, of being underused at Monaco and suffering because of comparisons to, and the successes of, Mbappe etc (as someone mentioned on here). It was said that he was a free for Monaco only because he didn't want to stay at Lyon and refused the contract extensions that were offered. In short, it wasn't quite the damning I was half expecting.

 

I do like this though - I think someone referred to Ghezzal as "Rachon Ruzzle". I have no idea why or how widespread it is/was... but it is intriguing! 

[funkyrobot]

2 hours ago, Tuna said:

Has there ever been such a negative reaction to an LCFC signing?

 

It’s mind boggling, the lad clearly has some ability.

[CarbonVirtine]

3 minutes ago, funkyrobot said:

It’s mind boggling, the lad clearly has some ability.

I know, frightening thought isn't it. Years at Lyon, moves to Monaco, signed by us.... and nobody's spotted that he's complete carp! Beggars believe! 

[the fox]

@Redouane bro, What does "Rachon" means?

[Manwell Pablo]

54 minutes ago, Gerard said:

 

It really isn't and we're nowhere near the 13th richest club in the world.

 

We need to spend about £20m net on transfers per season to break even. 

 

Tell me who in the real world buys something for £10m that's worth maybe £2m? If I had a business that supplied Apple do you think they would let me get away with charging £10m for something that was worth £2m? If we repeatedly get bad value from our transfers because it's not worth the bother of haggling over a silly few million then at some point we'll be in the Championship and that few million will be a fortune.

 

I'd love to know the bottom price Monaco and Liverpool would have accepted for Ghezzal and Ward and what we actually paid as they're probably laughing at Leicester whilst they're counting our money and getting two unwanted players off their books.

 

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-20-richest-football-clubs-in-the-world-2018-1/#15-inter-milan-2621-million-2252-million-or-3212-million-inters-owners-suning-commerce-group-has-overseen-an-increase-in-commercial-revenue-to-1118-million-137-up-on-the-year-before-6

 

14th apparently.

 

I'm quite happy with the Ward signing tbh.

 

This I do struggle with admittitldy but yeah, a 10 million is hardly a massive risk in modern day terms, give the lad a chance he may surprise you.

[MC Prussian]

1 minute ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-20-richest-football-clubs-in-the-world-2018-1/#15-inter-milan-2621-million-2252-million-or-3212-million-inters-owners-suning-commerce-group-has-overseen-an-increase-in-commercial-revenue-to-1118-million-137-up-on-the-year-before-6

 

14th apparently.

That's revenue, not net worth.

 

More clubs past the Top 14 may have had less revenue than us in 2016-17, but are in fact richer than we are overall.

[Manwell Pablo]

3 minutes ago, MC Prussian said:

That's revenue, not net worth.

 

More clubs past the Top 14 may have had less revenue than us in 2016-17, but are in fact richer than we are overall.

 

Argue semantics if you want, we are well off and are and have a lot of money 10 million is peanuts.

[HarryDee8]

We should have gone bought big, a proper tried and tested prem league player who can dribble and pass. I would have had a punt at martial. puel would get the best out of him.  We cant just buy good team players. Need a star name in there

[Itsthejoeker]

4 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

Argue semantics if you want, we are well off and are and have a lot of money 10 million is peanuts.

 

As Albert said in another thread, the owners have spent twice as much on race horses than the lad

[Gerard]

14 minutes ago, Manwell Pablo said:

 

http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-20-richest-football-clubs-in-the-world-2018-1/#15-inter-milan-2621-million-2252-million-or-3212-million-inters-owners-suning-commerce-group-has-overseen-an-increase-in-commercial-revenue-to-1118-million-137-up-on-the-year-before-6

 

14th apparently.

 

I'm quite happy with the Ward signing tbh.

 

This I do struggle with admittitldy but yeah, a 10 million is hardly a massive risk in modern day terms, give the lad a chance he may surprise you.

 

We were artificially high after winning the title and raking in more than Real Madrid did in the Champions League, that's all gone now and we're back amongst the rags.

 

You think we got a good deal for Ward at £12.6m? How high would you have gone for a player who has played one season in the Championship at 25 years of age and was statistically one of the poorest GK's in the division?

 

 

As for Ghezzal he is obviously not without talent and I've not given up all hope on him quite yet but we've overpaid for a player that Monaco just wanted off the books. We had the whip hand in those negotiations but allowed them to dictate the terms. Justifying it by saying "it's only £10m" is such terrible business practice, the shuddering feeling is though there may be people in our football club who have influence who have the same attitude as you do about millions of Pounds. 

Edited 6 August 2018 by Gerard

[Gerard]

Just now, Itsthejoeker said:

 

As Albert said in another thread, the owners have spent twice as much on race horses than the lad

 

Maybe they should have bought any old donkey, after all it's only £20m and they're billionaires. 

[drofmor55]

Seems to whip crosses in with a bit more speed than Mahrez,Gray or Albrighton...reminds me of Steve Guppy in that respect...we  just need someone to attack them though

The negative part is that he looks even more one footed than Chilwell

[OhYesNdidi]

21 minutes ago, HarryDee8 said:

We should have gone bought big, a proper tried and tested prem league player who can dribble and pass. I would have had a punt at martial. puel would get the best out of him.  We cant just buy good team players. Need a star name in there

Martial 

[waylander]

13 minutes ago, Gerard said:

 

Maybe they should have bought any old donkey, after all it's only £20m and they're billionaires. 

We’ve bought plenty of donkeys. But the jury is not even in the building on this one let’s wait and see . The arsenal fans wanted Thierry Henry out after 12 months. Ask them if there glad Wenger stuck too his guns . Give the man a chance close this whining thread . Being judged with out having a game for us . 

[PaulW]

11 hours ago, Master Fox said:

Can’t wait for relegation 

Keen fan then.

[Manwell Pablo]

33 minutes ago, Gerard said:

 

We were artificially high after winning the title and raking in more than Real Madrid did in the Champions League, that's all gone now and we're back amongst the rags.

 

You think we got a good deal for Ward at £12.6m? How high would you have gone for a player who has played one season in the Championship at 25 years of age and was statistically one of the poorest GK's in the division?

 

 

As for Ghezzal he is obviously not without talent and I've not given up all hope on him quite yet but we've overpaid for a player that Monaco just wanted off the books. We had the whip hand in those negotiations but allowed them to dictate the terms. Justifying it by saying "it's only £10m" is such terrible business practice, the shuddering feeling is though there may be people in our football club who have influence who have the same attitude as you do about millions of Pounds. 

 

 

I work in statistics and the old you can prove anything with them line is very true, He is very highly rated by a lot in the game and in goal keeping terms still very young, as I say I'm quite happy with the purchase a proper under study to Kasper instead  of having a dosser like Ben Hamer as back up. Fully think he could make a go of taking over from Kasper when he inevitably goes somewhere in the future. 

 

They aren't just going to let him walk out the door for nothing though are they, and if they know we hold on interest in actually purchasing the player they are going to want what they value him at. Now 10 million is a little high but realistically what are we saying is acceptable. 6? 7? so we are quibbling about 4/3 million quid, of course in an industry where the kind of money that is being turned over every year those working in it are not going to view these sums of money as massively significant, millions are a lot to an individual but to a Premier league football club not so much.

 

Just seems pointless moaning to me you don't always get the best side of the deal, we absloutley pulled West Brom's pants down for Evans for example. You win some you lose some this is hardly a massive loss.

Edited 6 August 2018 by Manwell Pablo

[MC Prussian]

21 minutes ago, waylander said:

We’ve bought plenty of donkeys. But the jury is not even in the building on this one let’s wait and see . The arsenal fans wanted Thierry Henry out after 12 months. Ask them if there glad Wenger stuck too his guns . Give the man a chance close this whining thread . Being judged with out having a game for us . 

Juve had already paid a terrific sum for him prior to his move to Arsenal, which obviously indicated his own worth and talent.

Monaco got Ghezzal on a free a year ago.

And for every Henry, there's more than one Slimani. The amount of Premier League players costing more than they're actually worth is increasing with each new season.

I find that tragic - not that I can do anything about it, really.

 

Now, comparing Ghezzal at age 26 to Thierry Henry at age 21.

 

I've heard it all now.

Edited 6 August 2018 by MC Prussian

[waylander]

1 minute ago, MC Prussian said:

Juve had already paid a terrific sum for him prior to his move to Arsenal, which obviously indicated his own worth and talent.

Monaco got Ghezzal on a free a year ago.

 

Now, comparing Ghezzal at age 26 to Thierry Henry at age 21.

 

I've heard it all now.

Ban him ban him ?

[waylander]

1 minute ago, waylander said:

Ban him ban him ?

In fact I’m banning myself till after we win Friday gazelle out shines Henry on debut., Lenny Henry ?. 

[HarryDee8]

zaha better then Ghezzal, proven prem player and goal scorer,  Makes much better sense

[UPinCarolina]

13 minutes ago, HarryDee8 said:

zaha better then Ghezzal, proven prem player and goal scorer,  Makes much better sense

He’d cost far more than we can or are willing to pay.

Edited 6 August 2018 by UPinCarolina

[Kitchandro]

16 hours ago, Pete from the USA said:

Here's a better Ghezzal compilation. Looks to be a capable winger:

 

 

 

Let's face it folks, these days squad depth is as important as quality. We need capable players who can come on when there are injuries. Seems a decent signing.

 

This is nonsense, doesn’t matter how many players you have if they’re all shite.

 

We won the league with basically no depth at all because the first 11 was on fire.