22 Jan 2024 08:46:48
Who do people think of the players we have, and put on loan, who has the higher ceiling,
I'm thinking Chucky but defiantly needs a loan to play every week, next season could be pretty big for him, Dortmund like Bellingham, they do well with players.
22 Jan 2024 10:30:37
I would keep Chuka. He looked a really useful asset to the team earlier in the season and I think he can play big part for the remainder of the season.
I think there could be one or two twists and turns for loans and transfers in the last few days of this window.
22 Jan 2024 10:54:28
Of the first team, one of Mudryk and Madueke needs to be loaned simply because they aren't getting enough football this season to make any kind of judgement on whether they will have a future at the club.
Of the current loanees, none will improve the squad this season or next (unless Lukaku comes back which is surely an impossibility at this point) . I expect Maatsen will thrive in the Bundesliga and I would think Dortmund will make that move permanent in the summer. If Gallagher is sold I would think Matos sticks with the first team as he is the closest thing in terms of skillset. Casadei and Santos need loans because they won't get enough football in the first team next season.
From the academy, Castledine should have interest from the Championship. Assume Gilchrist and Humphries will also spend the season on loan if a new CB is brought in. A lot of the standouts in the academy this year are on the young side and playing up an age group so it might be better for them to carry on in the 21s (George, McNeilly, Acheampong, Samuels-Smith) and training with the first team where possible.
22 Jan 2024 11:38:19
I would keep Santos, Casadei and Gilchrist with the first team.
I think Noni could work for a loan but I doubt it will happen. My guess is Hutchinson and Humphrey’s will stay at there current loan clubs
I agree about Castledine.
22 Jan 2024 12:29:10
I just think with these midfield options; Enzo, Caicedo, Lavia, Ugochukwu, Chukwuemeka and Palmer there isn't space for one of Casadei or Santos, let alone both. I'm assuming Gallagher is sold in the summer but add him to the list if not.
Casadei hasn't shown anything to suggest he's better than the above, he just has one really useful, repeatable skill which is crashing the box and winning headers. He profiles similarly to McTominay in my opinion. I can actually see the argument for keeping him around just for that, but you have to weigh up if it makes sense when he could get regular football elsewhere.
Santos we just have no idea about because he's played about 15 minutes of football since he joined.
22 Jan 2024 13:22:22
Santos I’m relying on his pre season form and he played for the young Brazilian side. He looked a very good player.
I’m not sure we will get assurances about playing time for any loaned player and I also haven’t got a clue about loan rules.
I’ve mentioned before a mate who tells me that Casadei is useful in air in both boxes. That is certainly something that would help the team and may even allow us to play Chilly as a LB instead of Colwill.
I haven’t got a clue how long Lavia and Ugo are going to be out with injuries and Chuka isn’t what I would call match fit. Sharing mins around might not be a bad thing.
22 Jan 2024 14:25:55
Agreed on the injuries - the lack of information surrounding Lavia and Ugochukwu is concerning. Hard to think that if that weren't the case he would have been recalled. Unless Broja is about to be sold and he is going to be a back-up striker for us to throw balls at towards the end of games?
I think I saw something saying Santos has been released to train with Brazil for their Olympic squad? So I'm not even sure if he is with the squad at the moment, nor how long he will be away for.