I'm surprised none of our young strikers have gone out on loan.
Hanlon, Aherne-Grant and Umerah will struggle to get much first team game time
KAG definitely needed a loan, though given how his loans last year went I wonder if he had any suitors.
Hanlan is very much our fourth choice center forward at the moment, and has apparently looked decent coming off the bench. It wasn't that long ago that Umerah was rated above him and was scoring goals for fun at U21 level. I think having them both around training with the first team and competing to be the second forward on the bench (when Lookman is starting) isn't necessarily bad thing. Perhaps in an ideal world we'd have the depth to loan them out but sometimes those young, hungry players can come in and have a big impact if used correctly.
A huge relief to keep Ademola Lookman, especially in the teeth of offers from Palace and the odious Pardew. Given the standard of League 1 football and everything we've had to endure over the last couple of years, we desperately a player who can get people off their seats.
Good also to hear that, according to Richard Cawley, we knocked back three bids from Sheffield Wednesday for Morgan Fox (unlike the Brummies, Wednesday's Thai owners actually have some money).
Duchatelet knows there will be further opportunities to sell but some credit is due to him for not capitulating to such offers. Yes, we are short in central midfield (and over-stocked in central defence) but at least the outcome of this window gives Slade a chance to get us into a challenging position by the next one opens in January. If he can do that, Duchatelet may even be inclined to give it a go.
Overall, things could, as always, be better but they could certainly be a hell of a lot worse.
Think we've had a pretty decent transfer window to be fair.
We moan about a lack of creativity but we've kept hold of Lookman and added Ulvestad. It could so easily have been Holmes the only creative option.
So with Lookman, Holmes and Ulvestad for creativity how do we think this compares to the rest of the league? I can't see many more sides having much more midfield creativity in depth? And even if so do they compare to the quality of Lookman and Holmes certainly?
For me the midfield isn't perfect but it's a lot better than it could have been and should well be a top six midfield once Kashi and Diarra are back.
Not read much on ulvestad yet other than he runs a lot. He's not a great goalscorer judging by the stats I read but maybe he is either be rearive himself or poses the defence more issue which when allied to the rest of what's going on means homes and Lookman can't be double marked.
I'd take Poyet back in a heartbeat. Should be able to run a game in this league. Was poor last season but can't forget how good he was first time round.
No way!
Wouldn't sign a contract with us, thought the grass was greener elsewhere, left us and we got peanuts for him!
Came back last year and was shite, why on earth would we want him or need him?
I'd take Poyet back in a heartbeat. Should be able to run a game in this league. Was poor last season but can't forget how good he was first time round.
No way!
Wouldn't sign a contract with us, thought the grass was greener elsewhere, left us and we got peanuts for him!
Came back last year and was shite, why on earth would we want him or need him?
Yeah I mean why would want to sign on a free our 13/14 championship player of the year winner in his first debut season at the age of 19??
this should be posted on the wall of the dressing room & showed tp all the development squad on a daily basis.
be careful for whar you wish for
The sad thing is I reckon the modern 18-20 year old footballer would be quite happy to do what Poyet did if the rumours around his salary increase are true.
I'm pretty happy with our transfer dealings overall. Slade would've wanted another midfielder but it looks like number one target Thompson is forcing his way into the Norwich first team.
I'd worry if Magennis or Ajose got injured.
But I trust the manager....how long has it been since we could say that.....?!
this should be posted on the wall of the dressing room & showed tp all the development squad on a daily basis.
be careful for whar you wish for
The sad thing is I reckon the modern 18-20 year old footballer would be quite happy to do what Poyet did if the rumours around his salary increase are true.
I think pretty much everyone would snap your hand off at a massive wage increase (anywhere between 3 and 10 times what you were on, or whatever, for essentially the same job), no matter what age. Footballers have a finite career so in a sense I don't blame him, but another year with us and he'd have developed into a far better footballer with I would guess more potential earning power.
To be honest I don't like the new Transfer Rules where there is no more additional Loan Market window.
- Clubs like Yeovil (Picked them at Random) dont bother having an Academy Side as it's not financially worth the effort as the big sides will hoover up the talent if someone breaks into the First-Team - Kids like Louis Thompson dont want to go on loan because they think that their parent club will be forced to play them seeing they cant be sent on loan, yet dont realise they'll just be stuck in the U21s - Kids like Karlan Ahearne-Grant / Oliver Muldoon go out on loan themselves now
And this is all because clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea have to buy a kid the moment they play one League Two match as a 16-year old... Instead of stopping everyone from using the Loan Market why not just tighten the rules (i.e. Only English kids can be sent on loan outside the Transfer Windows or your only allowed to loan out 10-players across the season!!)
Or just ditch the loan market altogether and cap squad sizes and the amount of players you can have over the age of 21.
Obviously pleased that Lookman is staying, but the bigger question, is have we got a Lookman who is happy to stay or one who has had his head turned by mixing with players earning more than him?
Squad looks very unbalanced. 6 frontline centrebacks is farcical. Pearce is clearly Slade's number 1 and given his age, at some point Konsa is going to have a dip - still begs the question - how do you keep Lennon, Bauer, Texeira and Johnson happy? Personally don't give a monkeys about Johnson but all of the others are going to want to play and we can't loan anyone.
Long term injury upfront or to a wide player and we have an issue.
Konsa will now be the back up right back so he'll get games. Pearce, Bauer, Texeira and Lennon will be the 4 centre backs, all will get games at some point and then i'd imagine a deal will be struck for tex to leave in January. Johnson can rot in the reserves for all i (and i'm sure many others) care.
Midfield we now have JJ, Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and Ba, with Diarra and Kashi to return. That's good enough for this league.
Would've been good to get another winger as i think we're light there, especially if Holmes gets injured. Likewise up front, think we needed 1 more striker. I guess Slade was told that backups like Hanlan and Umerah will have to do.
Delighted to have kept Lookman too.
Overall not a bad window. Lost Henderson, JBG, Cousins, Igor, Reza, Watt, Makienok (all expected). Pope, Harriott, THD (would've been nice to keep but can understand them going) Then shifted out deadwood like Ceballos, Tucudean, Pigott, Ansah.
I'd take Poyet back in a heartbeat. Should be able to run a game in this league. Was poor last season but can't forget how good he was first time round.
No way!
Wouldn't sign a contract with us, thought the grass was greener elsewhere, left us and we got peanuts for him!
Came back last year and was shite, why on earth would we want him or need him?
Dale Stephens just posted an honest Tweet to Brighton fans after his transfer request and proposed move to Burnley fell through (can't do linky thing)
Hmm... Doesnt mention anywhere that had he not got himself sent off against Middlesbrough then Brighton could have won that day and if not then would have been available for the Play-Offs
Comments
Hanlan is very much our fourth choice center forward at the moment, and has apparently looked decent coming off the bench. It wasn't that long ago that Umerah was rated above him and was scoring goals for fun at U21 level. I think having them both around training with the first team and competing to be the second forward on the bench (when Lookman is starting) isn't necessarily bad thing. Perhaps in an ideal world we'd have the depth to loan them out but sometimes those young, hungry players can come in and have a big impact if used correctly.
be careful for whar you wish for
Good also to hear that, according to Richard Cawley, we knocked back three bids from Sheffield Wednesday for Morgan Fox (unlike the Brummies, Wednesday's Thai owners actually have some money).
Duchatelet knows there will be further opportunities to sell but some credit is due to him for not capitulating to such offers. Yes, we are short in central midfield (and over-stocked in central defence) but at least the outcome of this window gives Slade a chance to get us into a challenging position by the next one opens in January. If he can do that, Duchatelet may even be inclined to give it a go.
Overall, things could, as always, be better but they could certainly be a hell of a lot worse.
We moan about a lack of creativity but we've kept hold of Lookman and added Ulvestad. It could so easily have been Holmes the only creative option.
So with Lookman, Holmes and Ulvestad for creativity how do we think this compares to the rest of the league? I can't see many more sides having much more midfield creativity in depth? And even if so do they compare to the quality of Lookman and Holmes certainly?
For me the midfield isn't perfect but it's a lot better than it could have been and should well be a top six midfield once Kashi and Diarra are back.
With Foley as sub and Ulvestad starting we might be a bit more progressive.
Wouldn't sign a contract with us, thought the grass was greener elsewhere, left us and we got peanuts for him!
Came back last year and was shite, why on earth would we want him or need him?
I'd worry if Magennis or Ajose got injured.
But I trust the manager....how long has it been since we could say that.....?!
Poor fella just hasn't been able to get the moves he's wanted through one thing or another.
It also makes you wonder why we've never had any from Chelsea in recent years! Was Carlton Cole the last one?
** Edit, there is one Chelsea player Cristian Cuevas at Sint-Truidense!
Midfield we now have JJ, Foley, Crofts, Ulvestad and Ba, with Diarra and Kashi to return. That's good enough for this league.
Would've been good to get another winger as i think we're light there, especially if Holmes gets injured. Likewise up front, think we needed 1 more striker. I guess Slade was told that backups like Hanlan and Umerah will have to do.
Delighted to have kept Lookman too.
Overall not a bad window. Lost Henderson, JBG, Cousins, Igor, Reza, Watt, Makienok (all expected). Pope, Harriott, THD (would've been nice to keep but can understand them going)
Then shifted out deadwood like Ceballos, Tucudean, Pigott, Ansah.
Signed: Rudd, Pearce, Crofts, Foley, Ulvestad, Ajose, Holmes, Novak, Magennis, Chicksen, Botaka.
Managing to keep Lookman, Bauer and Texeira is a huge bonus and i think the squad we have should easily be good enough to challenge for promotion.
On the negative side, we seem very short, and short of width.
I hope Hanlan can add in a few games when Magennis is injured or towards end of games.
Could still do with a conventional winger around 5'10, must be one useful enough but uncontracted.
My co-ed 11-a-side team here in Eugene, OR were offered Kyle Scott on loan but the deal fell through when we couldn't agree on percentage of wages.