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He’s almost 2.5 years younger. 2.5 years ago, Ramsey had not yet gone on loan to Doncaster Rovers.

Darwin Nunez, if Arsenal goes with someone else. Or Patrik Schick?

Coutinho apparently triggered the reflexes so that Villa will be linked with every ageing star in Europe from now on. This summer is going to be painful.

A loan next season would probably be ideal. But while he’s on that bench I’d like to see him get minutes when there’s basically no risk, there has been opportunities for it.

They currently have a deal with authorities which allows them to spend one euro for every four they bring costs down. Signing all those players don’t seem like a way to bring costs down but I’m sure they’ll figure it out. My guess is a lot of it has to do with them wanting to be a major player in the market again. Whoever signs the most expensive players wins, actual football is secondary. The Mino Raiola and Fabrizio Romano era, where winning the summer window beats winning the league.

I will never understand Barcelona. A couple of months ago, they were about to go under. Now they’re starting to play better and suddenly want to sign every star player on the planet: Mbappe, Haaland, Lewandowski, Salah. Plus some minor riff-raff like Raphinha. The least they can do is give us Coutinho for free, they don’t have room for him anyway. And what about their recent signings Aubameyang and Ferran Torres, will they even make the bench?

I agree it’s a huge difference (from the outside that is, never played in the Prem myself) and will surely take time to get used to. But the only way forward as I see it is to actually play in the league, being pushed around and learn to realize how little time you have in each situation. Waiting and playing youth games won’t give him that hardness. I’ve seen people online calling for Tim to start games, that would be a really bad idea. Drip feeding from the bench usually works better, but it hasn’t been dripping at all for him lately.

Gerrard has been criticized by some for not playing Chukwuemeka enough, but imo he deserve it more for being slow to introduce Tim. After saying months ago Tim was more or less ready, he’s played a total of 8 minutes. Sat on the bench under games where we’ve won 3-0 or 4-0. I’m sure there was an explanation in each case but unless Tim has suddenly regressed in his development, it’s doesn’t seem nearly enough.

I just checked, Gerrard started them together against Man City, Leicester and Liverpool (the three last before Marvs injury). Difficult games of course but I thought it looked quite promising.

Then we almost have got our own Rodri, except for some muscle mass.

It’s Iroegbunam. Not easy to spell that name, neither is Chukmuewanka.

Our own Philogene-Bidace would fit right in.

There’s also an increasing tencency of opposition players from all teams being more aggressive trying to physically stop quick throws.

Nakamba worked well in the early Gerrard games where Villa focused on keeping a tight shape. He played much the same way as in his previous 60 games or so for the club, imo. Useful player and it’s good to have him back, but he may not play much next season if Villa upgrades in his position. What did work pretty well though was a couple of games, also early Gerrard, where Nakamba and Dougie both played. Nakamba as break-up guy and Doug more midfield playmaker. I don’t think Smith played them together often?

Pukki is better than Norwich, underrated player. He’ll be 32 any day but surely has a few years left.

Ramsey just scored. 2-0.

I don’t really mind this. But theoretically, if we played Liverpool and somehow managed to beat them, he probably wouldn’t celebrate at all. That would piss me off a little.

Pogba won’t even be on the bench when we sign him, he’ll be forever recovering from some long-term injury on an island in the Caribbean.

Juventus seem to have a reverse midas touch under Allegri, everything they sign turns to shit. Waiting for Vlahovic to stop scoring as well.

Just like Phillips and Bissouma will do when they’ve finally signed for us

Le Coq Sportif would be a dream tbf. Goosebumps thinking about it. They still make the odd kit, like this beauty for the France rugby team. https://sv.sportsdirect.com/le-coq-sportif-france-home-shirt-2021-2022-381994

Ok, we could stop arguing then because I agree with most of that. I don’t think there’s anything great about them or their model, and agree he would most likely be better off here. Going there he would take a risk because they would probably have less patience with him. But Dortmund still use the fact they’ve become famous for youth development to attract youth. Why wouldn’t they.

What is it you don’t agree with, are you saying Dortmund changed their business model? Below some more recent articles for your perusal. I don’t know if they’ll sign Carney, possibly not. And I’m absolutely not saying he should go. Are you suggesting they will sign him, refuse to give him game time but still keep him around for years? Facts: Dortmund have become famous for playing youngsters. The club is using this fame to attract players. Some players don’t fit in quickly enough and become disappointed. https://www.squawka.com/en/hit-or-miss-dortmund-replace-transfer-sales/ https://theathletic.com/3167608/2022/03/08/attracting-young-stars-is-part-of-the-bundesligas-identity-but-it-can-have-adverse-effects/ “It’s part of our DNA,” says Borussia Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer. “We won’t be able to sign the big stars, but we will educate them. Everyone knows that it’s the only alternative to be competitive. We don’t have much money, we are not owned by an investor or a government like some Premier League clubs. So we have to be creative.” https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/02/working-class-hero-jude-bellingham-gets-real-love-from-dortmund

Based on what’s happened in the past, but also what people from the club (sporting directors etc) have said in interviews about Dortmund’s model. Plenty written about it. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11899/12024035/jadon-sancho-to-erling-haaland-how-borussia-dortmund-land-the-worlds-best-youngsters https://www.ft.com/content/da604a8c-fb13-11e7-a492-2c9be7f3120a https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/borussia-dortmund-selling-club-wonderkid-factory-finishing-school-257237 https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/why-best-young-soccer-players-choose-borussia-dortmund-sancho-haaland-pulisic-11948

I have no idea if they think Carney is good enough to sign at all. But if they do, their ambition will be to get him playing relatively soon rather than slowly develop him out of sight for years. One of the main reasons players go there is the implicit promise of high-profile game time, and that’s also how they’re able to attract many players.