24 Apr 2024 16:23:42
There is a lot of heat and animosity on here which is very understandable given how we're being run. Can I ask one of the Ed's for their professional verdict on all this?
Basically what type of players we need to sign and what they would do? From what I've read Osimhen is now heading for PSG but not 100%. Gyökeres, Sesko and Toney are the names that spring to mind but every signing you make is always a risky one. Toney IMO isn't as good as people make out and has baggage. Gyökeres is putting up number in a poor league and would he replicate it here. Sesko has been bedding in with limited minutes but has a very good goals to games ratio but he would also be raw.
I honestly have no idea where we go from here in truth. I would like Maignan and Isak but have read they both have injury troubles and are expensive.
We've wasted a lot of money on bang average players like Mudryk, Madueke, Badiashile and Disasi. There is still something there for me watching Jackson play especially off the wing but he can't keep missing easy chances as it's not good enough.
Just like one of the Ed's opinion as to what they think is best. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - you just need some experience and offload some of the players that haven't worked out, rather than this nonsense idea of selling players from the academy for 'pure profit'. It is simply not true as it is not cheap to run an academy and so each player coming through costs money. There is not really a lot needed, you are not far off really, just a few of the overpriced junk and injury prone players that need offloading. I know you lot somehow have gained the impression that James is the best right-back in the world, despite him being utterly unable to defend even when he can stay fit. It also takes him a long time to get up to speed after an injury, then he will play well for 3 games and go missing again. He should be first out the door, followed quickly by Chilwell and Sterling and particularly Fofana that you even signed injured. He is not even a good defender anyway.
Settle the team down with a solid keeper. Then it is just about trimming the fat before it is worth considering buying anyone else. You need to stop buying players to loan out, it might seem good business but good business is winning trophies and having so much money tied up in players that never play for you is just a waste.}
24 Apr 2024 19:21:49
Ed, I agree good business is winning trophies.
24 Apr 2024 19:33:46
Quite surprised you’d sell Fofana and James Ed but I do understand. As fans when we’ve seen players do well in the past we hold onto that memory and expect it to come back but we can’t wait forever for players to get fit and up to speed.
Is there any change on Osimhen Ed? Few months ago you posted he was almost certainly heading to Chelsea but recently I’ve read he is now swaying towards a PSG move maybe due to champions league. I am not a big fan of him I’ve seen him miss a lot of chance which Jackson gets crucified for. In truth I have no confidence in any striker we sign.
{Ed001's Note - I do mean Fofana the defender, so I am surprised you are surprised as I don't rate him and have been very open about that even when he was at Leicester. He was awful there.
I have never said he almost certainly headed to Chelsea, I assume it must have been Ed02 maybe? I have no idea where Osimhen is going.}
24 Apr 2024 20:24:57
Yeah Fofana the defender I did like him at Leicester but his injuries are depressing it may be time to cut ties but not many teams will want an injury prone defender.
Think it was Ed02 but not 100% it was definitely on one page it may have been the arsenal one. I wouldn’t pay the money mentioned for him regardless as he suffers with niggles and that’s the last thing we need. I like the look of Gyokeres but a lot of Chelsea accounts I follow who are quite good at rating players don’t like him in not sure why.
Thanks for your time and insight anyway Ed. Much appreciated.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}
24 Apr 2024 23:05:39
Ed001, I entirely concur with your views. I certainly am not someone who believes James is world class for the reasons I mentioned in my earlier post. It’s the same old cycle with James: returns from injury; 5 games with his minutes managed: starts fro 3 games and is ineffective: plays another 3 games and is 6/ 10 gets injured again. As for transfers whether fans moan or other clubs are in for players is totally irrelevant. The recruitment team should be focusing on players we need to strengthen the squad not who appears to be flavour of the month. There is no doubt in my mind that we have overpaid for players the exceptions being, Palmer, Gusto and Petrovic ( as a No2). I would be surprised if most supporters believed that we did not overspend on Caicedo and Enzo. When you are paying that sort of money you should be getting the finished article not a player with potential.
24 Apr 2024 23:34:02
Nigel it was ed2 and things change quickly in football.
Regarding eds reply, agree with almost everything other than the Reece James part. For that part in time he was the best RB in football (taa still a better player but James a better right back, if that makes sense) . I'd stick by him, unless we recieve huge compensation; I do think we can get past his injury troubles.
Striker for me is Osimhen, but it has to be someone affordable.
Lastly, massively agree with the 'pure profit' rubbish. I'm sure it works in FFP when used effectively because of amortisation but we've spent a billion pounds. In no way is that good business, we've sold players that are better than the ones we brought In and it has been an utter disaster.
We have brought in a few quality players and they will make our spine. I think we still need a lot of work however.
24 Apr 2024 23:58:28
I’d agree with James, hence why his best football always came as wingback,
Fofana I’d disagree with being terrible, his rapid and reads game well, committed, to committed even, just tends to dive in or over commit, his speed helps get him out of trouble but when it doesn’t it leads in a goal or foul, always presumed it was his age, Jonny evens always good partner for him as he reliable and experienced, but I’ll have to be consistent, Fofana James chilwell, nkunku and lavia unfortunately any player who’s so inconsistent and injury prone will have to be moved on,