Been saying this for a while. Afcon makes African players less valuable. If you take an equally good African player vs anyone else you choose the other because of this in season tournament.
Every little advantage helps, it’s probably not too surprising that city have no afcon players.
If a player is good enough then AFCON is negligible to clubs. See Osimhen’s current situation. Also don’t act like Mahrez wasn’t just at City for 5 years.
That’s just untrue, Drogba Kalou Obi Mikel at Chelsea for years, the Toure brothers at top clubs for most of the 2000s, Inaki Williams at Athletic. Could go on and on. African players are not less valuable because of AFCON, this sounds like you’ve made up an argument in your head and are working backwards to justify it, rather than basing it in reality.
Athletic is a bit different, since they rarely sign players from other clubs.
But, anyway, if you have the choice between two players who are similar, and you know that you’ll miss one of those two players two months every 2 years, who would you objectively choose? I’d choose the one who isn’t going to the Africa Cup.
Right, that’s what YOU would do. But I don’t think football clubs operate with that rationale, and that’s my point. Everyone is saying “this is what I, a fan, would do” and I don’t think that’s what large footballing clubs are thinking about.
This isn’t from a fan perspective, but from a management perspective. If I can get two assets, one that is regularly working and one that stops working for 2 months every two year I get the one that is regularly working.
Right, but it’s not like they stop working for shits and giggles. They stop working to go represent their country at a prestigious international tournament. So it’s a little bit different and you would be a callous manager to deny that.
Lo Celso and Skippy still exist and can carry their weight for a month or so. However, along with a new cb, we maybe should look at a cm in the January window.
Lo Celso was brilliant in 2019 and in 2021 when he played for Villarreal. Skipp has shown flashes of promise as well. I think under Ange’s guidance, they can become a lot better.
Tottenham without a midfield in Jan
This is why the afcon literally hurts careers. Tottenham cannot afford to sign another African midfielder
Been saying this for a while. Afcon makes African players less valuable. If you take an equally good African player vs anyone else you choose the other because of this in season tournament.
Every little advantage helps, it’s probably not too surprising that city have no afcon players.
If a player is good enough then AFCON is negligible to clubs. See Osimhen’s current situation. Also don’t act like Mahrez wasn’t just at City for 5 years.
Saying they’ve had 1 relevant African player in the last 5 years really doesn’t support argument
Point was Mahrez was a player that was good enough so City didn’t care that he was off to AFCON.
City not having more African players probably had to do with the lack of truly world class options rather than Pep not buying because of AFCON.
Was 3rd string
No he absolute was not
You’re honestly going to say Mahrez at City was 3rd string for 5 years?….
Don’t gotta lie to make a point.
I’d take Salah over any RW except Saka, AFCON or not
That’s just untrue, Drogba Kalou Obi Mikel at Chelsea for years, the Toure brothers at top clubs for most of the 2000s, Inaki Williams at Athletic. Could go on and on. African players are not less valuable because of AFCON, this sounds like you’ve made up an argument in your head and are working backwards to justify it, rather than basing it in reality.
Athletic is a bit different, since they rarely sign players from other clubs.
But, anyway, if you have the choice between two players who are similar, and you know that you’ll miss one of those two players two months every 2 years, who would you objectively choose? I’d choose the one who isn’t going to the Africa Cup.
Right, that’s what YOU would do. But I don’t think football clubs operate with that rationale, and that’s my point. Everyone is saying “this is what I, a fan, would do” and I don’t think that’s what large footballing clubs are thinking about.
This isn’t from a fan perspective, but from a management perspective. If I can get two assets, one that is regularly working and one that stops working for 2 months every two year I get the one that is regularly working.
Right, but it’s not like they stop working for shits and giggles. They stop working to go represent their country at a prestigious international tournament. So it’s a little bit different and you would be a callous manager to deny that.
Is it callous as a manager to not even want to be put in that situation?
Think Bentancur might be back by then and he’s very good tbf. But with him and Maddison, they still might be missing a decent 3rd midfielder
Lo Celso and Skippy still exist and can carry their weight for a month or so. However, along with a new cb, we maybe should look at a cm in the January window.
Lo Celso and Skippy will drop you a few points. Relishing this
What do you mean? Skipp is clear of Rice.
Using a pet name for a 💩 player, you disgust me.
Yeah I know
Lo Celso was brilliant in 2019 and in 2021 when he played for Villarreal. Skipp has shown flashes of promise as well. I think under Ange’s guidance, they can become a lot better.
I admire youre optimism, but they both seem pretty bang average to me, mate
No son either, AFC
If Bentancur is fit by then they could play a midfield 3 of him, Hojbjerg, and Maddison, which could be pretty good.