49ers increase stake

Rodrigo plays best at 10, given license to play off the striker, which is where he himself admits he prefers to play, as opposed to the player leading the line. The problem we have is that this also describes Roberts and Gelhardt. We have no player who naturally leads the line other than Bamford. Maybe Max Dean, but he isn't getting a chance this season.

A player like Kieffer Moore would be ideal, in my opinion. Likely to be cheap, but has a good physical presence, works hard, and provides goal threat, whilst likely being happy backing up Patrick. I said the same during the summer. That being said, I don't see us going after a striker this January.

Its pretty clear that we (and by extension Bielsa) wanted a CM this summer. We just couldn't see any deals over the line for players he approved of. I could see us signing a CM in January.

Why would the 49’ers increase their stake now if they didn’t want more involvement in taking the club further? And with Bamford out for a sustained period, they have to be looking at a quality replacement or, more likely, a re-structuring in the midfield-attack area.
In my view, we have to spend serious money in January to make this happen and the one player who could work brilliantly with Raph and Rod is Dwight McNeil. Would 30 million be about right for him? Play him in front of KP and you have dynamite at the top end of the pitch.

Dwight McNeil would A.) cost much more than that, given his age, PL status etc (not even factoring in the fact that plenty of other clubs would be interested) and B.) not sure how you've come to the conclusion he would suit Rodrigo? A big part of Mcneil's game is crossing, which is the exact problem I have with Rodrigo and Harrison. Bamford is the only striker we have who crossing is a useful way of approach play, as Rodrigo, Roberts and Gelhardt are all lightweight aerially.

We don't need more wingers. We need a CM and maybe a backup striker.

This is my idle speculation but it seems weird to me that the 49ers have been increasing their stake in small incremental steps.

When a new owner, who is perceived to be cash-rich, buys into a club, the price of all the changes they might want to make - managers, players, staff, etc - increases enormously.

Is this Radrizzani transferring full ownership of the club to the Americans on the quiet, then? To avoid such inflation?

Not sure I'm happy about Americans taking over - although at least Marathe talks a good shop and the owners have their base business in another sport.

comment by Mattyp (U8926)
posted 16 hours, 19 minutes ago
Don't think we buy another forward

Bamford could be back by then

And we have Rod and Roberts as well as an emerging Geldhardt so I dont see bielsa of all people wanting another forward
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He may well be back but what’s to say he doesn’t get another injury that keeps him out another six games?

Let’s face it - without him we’ve looked bang average up front. Hopefully Raphinha can stay fit and bag a few otherwise it’s going to be tricky until Bamford gets back.

Maybe Rodrigo will have a bit more confidence after his goal last weekend. Hope so.

comment by Shaun M - Everywhere you go, always take Raphinha with you! (U9955)
posted 17 hours, 19 minutes ago
comment by Mattyp (U8926)
posted 59 minutes ago
Don't think we buy another forward

Bamford could be back by then

And we have Rod and Roberts as well as an emerging Geldhardt so I dont see bielsa of all people wanting another forward
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''Bamford could be back". So gambling on a players fitness then?Its why we're in this pickle, with that kind of mindset. As for transfers in Jan, teams don't let there best players leave in Jan, especially if they're competing for accolades. Only players that aren't playing will leave, so I cant see us making many signings. We've done some shockers in previous Jan windows. I hope we get a left back as Firpo can't be relied on and we need Dallas in midfield because we under recruited in there too. Hoping for 2 signings.

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Waiting 2 months until making a decision based on medical advice from professionals isint gambling.

Rodrigo has two in the last two league games and just got called back up to the Spain squad.

You qould have to be delusional to think that under the present circumstances that Bielsa would bring in another striker
When he has three first team players who he can play there all of whom are internationals.

comment by Lubo - Struijk of Genius (U14008)
posted 19 hours, 19 minutes ago
Dwight McNeil would A.) cost much more than that, given his age, PL status etc (not even factoring in the fact that plenty of other clubs would be interested) and B.) not sure how you've come to the conclusion he would suit Rodrigo? A big part of Mcneil's game is crossing, which is the exact problem I have with Rodrigo and Harrison. Bamford is the only striker we have who crossing is a useful way of approach play, as Rodrigo, Roberts and Gelhardt are all lightweight aerially.

We don't need more wingers. We need a CM and maybe a backup striker.
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McNeil crosses the ball a lot because that is how Dyche plays him, but his close control is exceptional and he can split open defences with his passing. He is a young Bernardo Silva and he is only 21 years old.

Oh, and he knows how to find the net.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOnOL3i9b5Q

The more I think about it, the more McNeil looks like a budding Pablo. Who wouldn't want some of that?

Mcneil, a player who has almost exclusievely played out wide, largely as a conventional winger, and with 1 assist and no goals this season, is the answer to our lack of a 10?

It's a moot point, because we aren't signing Mcneil. He's a good player, but not what we need, and certainly not for the fee that would be required.