William Saliba: Locked Up

Still, it’s a signing that will pay off, maybe, in 3-5 years. Wouldn’t have been better to sign someone who can do it today?

 

The transfer fee will be paid in 6 instalments. People are continually making this a bigger deal than it is.

 

No arguments from me.

Same could be said for requesting Zaha but getting Pepe instead.

Or asking for Nzonzi and getting Torreira.

Basically, the club prioritised younger signings with potentially more trajectory than guys closer to 30. It's yet to work out with one on the bench, one out the squad and one on loan with us hoping he doesn't come back. Another one if you add Guendouzi.

 

I backed the younger signings btw, but none have worked out.

 

They still can, it just won't be pretty.

 

It's a complete travesty. The group stages are the ideal testing ground for young players near the first team.

Not completing paperwork is incompetence. None of this is acceptable from the club.

 

I can't cry about this soz bro.

Saliba will most probably come good in the end, I wouldn't fret.

 

This is why we can't have nice things. You have ignorant knobs here questioning why a teenager may not be ready for PL football when just in recent memory we've seen more hyped prospects like De Ligt look hopeless in their introductory moments in worse leagues. The reality is that he's being protected from those same knobs foaming at the mouth when he inevitably makes a mistake or looks out of his depth as virtually all young defenders do. It's not a crime or scandal if he still needs some time to develop into what Arteta wants from a CB here.

 

Should have waited to buy him then
He was developing much better in the French League

 

He's not being protected from anything. People over estimate how much influence fans have, he's not being played because Arteta doesn't think he's ready. Going from first team to u23 is way worse for his confidence than some losers on the internet chatting sh*t.

 

We were trying to beat off other clubs who were circling. It was a snooze lose situation. Same thing with Pepe when Napoli and Bayern were chasing him.

These players’ agents just play big clubs off against each other to extort the biggest possible fee.

 

You dont spend 27 million for players not even in the team.

 

This situation is turning to a circus for Arteta. Holding out, Luiz out, and we even play Mustafi ahead of Saliba. Meanwhile Fofana who is just as young and inexperienced is bossing it for Leicester....

At some point we gonna have to question Arteta football knowledge. He is getting exposed for so many bad choices.

 

cant believe Fofana is better than Saliba

 

Doesn't like youth players, just like Guardiola.

 

Saka......

 

Honest answers here.

Do you think Saka would've broken through had Arteta been managing from the beginning of the 19/20 season?

Because surprisingly he seems even more conservative than Emery when it comes to bias towards experienced players.

Then again perhaps I'm not giving Emery enough credit in that regard.

 

One player. Who is an exceptional talent and at this moment in time the first name of the team sheet. He can't not play him.

Nketiah at a stretch but not really.

 

Fofana hasn't had a family tragedy...

 

Didn't Ornstein say he had a family bereavement? That might be holding him back but he plays U23 games so it seems he's in the right mind frame to play games.