23 Aug 2026 13:14:52
If we swap Gyok for Alvarez, we must be absolutely mad, 5 league goals is all he scored, but yet some people on here are demanding a proper striker and naming a player who scored 5 league goals in a league with only 3/4 teams.
{Ed014's Note - During his two seasons at Manchester City, Julián Álvarez scored 17 goals in the 2022–23 season (across 49 appearances) and 19 goals in the 2023–24 season (across 54 appearances), totaling 36 goals for the club.
Prolific?
Maybe if we plan on playing him on the left wing alongside Gyokeres then those goals would be a great addition.
23 Aug 2026 14:22:22
We do need a striker & I'd say Osimhen Dublin.
{Ed014's Note - not one big club has been near him but you want him.
Has he played in a competitive league yet?
23 Aug 2026 15:03:13
Is that our yardstick? If any big club has been near a player, we might be interested in? Okay.
I'm also unsure how anyone on here could possibly be "demanding" anything. We're sharing opinions and feelings and thoughts.
Most leagues we shop in are leagues of just 3 to 4 teams. I'm guessing we should also all stop waxing lyrical about Tzolis because Club Brugge.
Disappointing patter.
{Ed014's Note - sorry if you’re not a fan of my opinion.
I’ll butt out.
23 Aug 2026 14:35:26
In Al - what position, role & starts did he have at City?
On Vic - his wages count most teams out Ed. Think Chelsea looked & a few others but his wages & fee are ridiculous for most clubs.
Doesn't mean he doesn't know where the net is - how did he do in champ league?
{Ed014's Note - I’ve literally no idea, neither of them fill me with any confidence though to be honest and people call Alvarez world class, not sure why though.
Top strikers are a rare thing, we were lucky with Henry.
It just seems strange that the big clubs haven’t gone near Oshimen when he’s been readily available to buy for a few years now. Sure I heard stuff about his general attitude as-well.
It’s like people rave about Barcola but his stats are on a par with Trossard last season and he plays in a weaker league.
23 Aug 2026 17:18:52
Hello Ed mate, hope everyone and everything is good.
I am at lost why we are going for Alvarez who clearly see us as a lowly second option.
Me personally I would go for Rashford.
Get the crossed in for Vic and with Ode playing further up and releasing the ball quicker, I will be comfortable with Vic and Kai
{Ed014's Note - Hi HB, all good thanks.
Rashford is a difficult one, he had a great spell at United a few yrs back but hasn’t rediscovered that form. Was scoring for fun then.
Yildiz looks good but like most players it’s always a gamble but Juve don’t even want to sell.
I’m not sure we’ll buy both a striker and a left winger, the latter the more likely if GM goes.
Times like these you realise how much of a miss ed02 is.
23 Aug 2026 17:27:15
Not a fan?? I absolutely love it. It's redefined the way I think of all our players now.
{Ed014's Note - top patter that ?♂️
23 Aug 2026 17:36:56
Guess I'm in the minority but I'd be thrilled if Alvarez joined (provided his heart was in it - no use having an unhappy camper) . Ed, those stats you listed are correct but it should be considered that City's Plans A, B, and C for attack was: feed Erling Haaland. So, not a bad haul. And if were talking stats, yes Alvarez had a poor league tally last season (8, not 5) but if you include Champions League and Cups, Alvarez totalled 20 goals. Gyokeres, in comparison, had 21.
Hard pass on Osimhen for me. Attitude and wages as mentioned above. I'd rather take a punt on that Leverkusen lad who more than held his own against Gabriel and Saliba last year, Christian Kofane. Not quite Prem-ready I'd wager, but I think he'll be a terror in a season or two.
{Ed014's Note - Hi dk,
Thanks for adding some context to the stats, they don’t always paint a true picture. I read this morning we’re supposedly not his first choice but Atletico don’t seem to want to sell to Barca.
I’d heard it was his wife who wasn’t happy in the UK. Arteta will obviously know him and likely the reasons why he left city.
It’s Gyokeres first proper season with us after a full pre season, albeit he didn’t light it up in pre season, so be nice to see if he can up his game and goal tally.
First mention of Kofane but seems some reports suggest we have an interest and he’s only 20.
23 Aug 2026 18:52:04
Seems to be your level, no? Anyway I'll bow out of this conversation before you drag out another hurtful face palm emoji.
23 Aug 2026 18:38:23
Thanks Ed & I get it. We were blessed with Anelka, Cole & Henry that set the bar but we've also enjoyed Wright, Giroud etc. I don't really want to see Vik's poor hold up, touch or getting out paced down the channels. I'd love to see the young Bournemouth striker Kroupi sign for us and the Juve lad.
I'd be disappointed if we start with Hsdgs, Kai & Vic as our striker options - don't think we will win the Chsmo league or replace the lost corner goals with them. We probably need a better LW also for the long season ahead.
Appreciate your response & opinion as always. Think Vic's attitude issues weren't helped by how Napoli treated him - not heard much trouble in turkey.
{Ed014's Note - in my opinion the Champions league was there for the taking last season, we just needed to keep attacking.
I don’t see anyone in Europe miles or even inches better than us.
We just need to play as we did against Coventry and as Odegaard said, don’t defend the title attack it.
I’m sure the club have some irons in the fire with regard to more incomings, just a case of who.
Like I said about Oshimen, the concern is the bigger clubs have avoided him, Chelsea bought Pedro (who does look a good buy), United have paid £150 million for two new strikers (sold one already) and neither had set the world on fire when they desperately needed one, we bought Gyokeres, why not Oshimen then.
Liverpool spent a fortune on Isak when they could have had him, all that just gives me concerns about him.
We scored 3 on Friday, none from a corner.
23 Aug 2026 20:33:32
True, but the goalie and defence were poor for Coventry - last season we relied heavily on set pieces. Liverpool went for tried & tested EPL experience, & id go for Kroupi, but he's injured. Not sure how you buy an injured player, although Wenger managed it. 20m per year wage probably put them off.
You are right - we needed to keep attacking, but that's not Arteta's game plan.
At that level you need a bit of luck & a world class striker.
You are probably right about Barcola - last year it was Williams. This year Barcola. I'd sign the Juve player & Kroupi.
Saka, Yildiz, & Kroupi - Ode behind them with Rice & Bruno.
{Ed014's Note - we’re more than capable of playing like that against any team and scoring goals against them.
Let’s see how Arteta plays it this year before we condemn him, last season was getting it over the line, this season we need to start smashing teams. I accepted for that reason, but won’t this season.
Going for tried and tested hasn’t done Liverpool any favours, they’re woeful and don’t even have a decent starting 11, their bench is shocking too.
I think if you know the injury isn’t serious or another one of a series of the same injury then I guess you can be happy to do that.
Barcola isn’t enough of a stand out difference that’s for sure.
23 Aug 2026 20:46:37
Yildiz started and Alvarez on as a sub today! Would think, at the prices quoted, they would rest them for a week if they were moving. ?♂️ COYG.
{Ed014's Note - ah yes I meant to check that as it’s a possible pointer but you can never be sure.
23 Aug 2026 20:50:15
"ED14 and sharpie sitting in a tree"
{Ed014's Note - ?