Rumours Rumours - Summer 2021 edition (Deadline Day from p814)

MarcusH26 said:

Addickted said:

MarcusH26 said:

mart77 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money 

I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.  

I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look. 

Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy. 

Andy Holt has been very quiet on that front. But he has spent a fortune on upgrading the stadium and is obviously struggling with the current financial constraints and Covid.

If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.

Yeah I wouldn't want to get a reputation as a club that throws around derisory lowball bids for players . I think all clubs are feeling the pinch of the last 18 months or so , but I wouldn't want to take advantage of clubs. 

Can't be many clubs that have been taken advantage of more than us. We lost Gomez, Konsa, Pope, Doughty, Gudmundsson and Grant for less than 15m for the lot. Throw in Aribo, Lockyer and Bauer going on frees and we've probably lost over 100m worth of players for a small fraction of their value.

Cafc43v3r said:

AFKABartram said:

Cafc43v3r said:

Jack Clarke 👀👀

Any more on this @Cafc43v3r ?

Only that his people have spoken to our people.

The last time I posted about us asking about loans Clare signed within 48 hours...

If I know, or heard it, so do a lot of other people. 

Would be a cracking signing.

AFKABartram said:

Rothko said:

By a ‘Stephens type’ I mean someone who can set the tempo of the team and can pick a pass, think Dobson is a great water carrier, and both Gilbey and Clare are good box to box players, but still short of that player who can pick a pass

At present it’s Gilbey & Morgan, the question is whether they are good enough. 

Someone like Alex Pritchard that Sunderland got who can pick a pass but also drive forward centrally with the ball at feet would have been perfect I think. 

The fact that no one is certain probably gives us the answer. 

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

MarcusH26 said:

Addickted said:

MarcusH26 said:

mart77 said:

MarcusH26 said:

Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money 

I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.  

I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look. 

Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy. 

Andy Holt has been very quiet on that front. But he has spent a fortune on upgrading the stadium and is obviously struggling with the current financial constraints and Covid.

If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.

Yeah I wouldn't want to get a reputation as a club that throws around derisory lowball bids for players . I think all clubs are feeling the pinch of the last 18 months or so , but I wouldn't want to take advantage of clubs. 

Can't be many clubs that have been taken advantage of more than us. We lost Gomez, Konsa, Pope, Doughty, Gudmundsson and Grant for less than 15m for the lot. Throw in Aribo, Lockyer and Bauer going on frees and we've probably lost over 100m worth of players for a small fraction of their value.

Pretty shocking. And annoying.

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

I tend to agree with this view. People are going to be down on Albie when he blazes 2 chances over the bar (and he has previous for it) - but will overlook one of the reasons we were clearly the better side in the second half against Wednesday was because our midfield started to dominate more. 

To be honest I'm very excited about the next 10 games or so*. We've got a young, dynamic and attacking side so truly believe we will see some exciting games when things start to click.


*until we lose a few games in a row and I'm calling for Adkins head . 

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

AddickUpNorth said:

RickAddick said:

Following this thread from the start has set me wondering where we would be with this summer's team rebuild if we had made it into the Championship at the close of last season.

If we do go up at the end of this season, will the finance be available for the bigger rebuild required for sustainable Championship football?

Would it be possible that being that bit closer to the promised land of the PL may lead to TS finding outside investors who may be more willing to take a punt on CAFC? Seems more likely to me.

Possibly, but as others have pointed out, TS does not yet own the two principal assets, The Valley and Sparrows Lane and as we have seen with previous attempts to secure these, acquiring either or both at a reasonable price may not be straightforward. The curse of Roland continues!
I see any party willing to invest under this condition driving a hard bargain which might require TS to hand over a larger percentage of ownership than he would otherwise be happy with.
Will be interesting to see how this pans out...

ISawLeaburnScore said:

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

So when we're attacking you've got the ball down the wing. Two players in the box marked by 3/4/5 people. Then the midfielders are going to be 25 yards from goal are they? 

You need someone to be able to run in late unmarked, or hover around the edge of the box for any second balls. 

If we're going to play 3 attacking players and 8 defensive ones, we're not going to create any chances. 

Morgan and Clare are good at recycling the ball and finding the wingers, but beyond that they haven't offered anything going forward. 

SELR_addicks said:

ISawLeaburnScore said:

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

So when we're attacking you've got the ball down the wing. Two players in the box marked by 3/4/5 people. Then the midfielders are going to be 25 yards from goal are they? 

You need someone to be able to run in late unmarked, or hover around the edge of the box for any second balls. 

If we're going to play 3 attacking players and 8 defensive ones, we're not going to create any chances. 

Morgan and Clare are good at recycling the ball and finding the wingers, but beyond that they haven't offered anything going forward. 

They’ve played one league game against a relegated side. Perhaps we should wait to see how NA wishes to use them and how far forward they get. I’d like to see more goals on paper in our side but it’s too early to say what we have cannot be utilised in that way.

The role of the full back has evolved since many CL members played there because they were shite ! ( Not me obviously, I tackled hard and was mean)

Luke Shaw with his assists and his cracking goal was one of our best attackers yet folk still say he is a defensive player ?

Purrington is slow but does some good work up top and has scored or come close to scoring when he gets forward. Anyone who thought Maatsen was better than Ben defensively over a season must've been pissed when watching. Maatsen will improve but was very raw last season but then he was fairly new to men's football.

SELR_addicks said:

ISawLeaburnScore said:

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

So when we're attacking you've got the ball down the wing. Two players in the box marked by 3/4/5 people. Then the midfielders are going to be 25 yards from goal are they? 

You need someone to be able to run in late unmarked, or hover around the edge of the box for any second balls. 

If we're going to play 3 attacking players and 8 defensive ones, we're not going to create any chances. 

Morgan and Clare are good at recycling the ball and finding the wingers, but beyond that they haven't offered anything going forward. 

Bit early to say that about Clare.  He's played one league game for us.

At Hearts he scored goals precisely because he was running into the box.

Morgan is also makes those runs as we saw on Saturday. Yes, he missed but he made the runs as do Gilbey and JFC.

Also Morgan's passing is a lot more than merely "recycling the ball"

Would a Gallagher or Aribo be an improvement?  Of course but too early to dismiss players or predict that we won't have players coming into the box to pick up pulled back crosses and second balls.

Todds_right_hook said:

SELR_addicks said:

ISawLeaburnScore said:

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

So when we're attacking you've got the ball down the wing. Two players in the box marked by 3/4/5 people. Then the midfielders are going to be 25 yards from goal are they? 

You need someone to be able to run in late unmarked, or hover around the edge of the box for any second balls. 

If we're going to play 3 attacking players and 8 defensive ones, we're not going to create any chances. 

Morgan and Clare are good at recycling the ball and finding the wingers, but beyond that they haven't offered anything going forward. 

But Morgan did hover around the edge of the box and picked the ball up twice, shot twice but very poor efforts.

clare looked good going forward but didn’t do it enough, maybe we were a bit conservative because of who we were playing? I would like to think that we will be a bit more expansive when we are not playing a bigger team. Clare also put a very good defence splitting ball through which was well defended.

over a 46 game season, we need competition for Morgan but I definitely don’t think our team is as bad or not as creative as being made out on here. 

This is the point. If he's not comfortable in that position then we need someone else who is. 

SELR_addicks said:

ISawLeaburnScore said:

SELR_addicks said:

Addickhead86 said:

I feel like people are sleeping on our midfield a little bit. I think that they will obviously improve once they get a few games under their belt and that 3 from Dobson, Clare, Morgan and Gilbey have enough mobility, pace and technique to be a good unit. They at least matched Wednesday's midfield who were all playing in the Champ last year and included Barry '27k' Bannan. I think our current midfielders have enough to come out on top against most midfields in the league. I would add in a more 'creative' CM/AM for sure, but I don't think they need to be a standout first-name-on-the-teamsheet kind of signing (though obviously I wouldn't turn it down.)

They're fine defensively but I don't think they scare any opponents going forward. 

If you play a 4-3-3 though I'm not sure you need any of the 3 to scare anyone offensively. Yes you need forward passing range and runs into the box but the key attacking players are the two wingers. I think we are missing a trick in the CAM position currently occupied by Morgan but the last thing we want there is a real out and out playmaker because then you've got 4 attacking players and you're asking Kirk or DJ to increase their defensive workload which is not what we want from them.

So when we're attacking you've got the ball down the wing. Two players in the box marked by 3/4/5 people. Then the midfielders are going to be 25 yards from goal are they? 

You need someone to be able to run in late unmarked, or hover around the edge of the box for any second balls. 

If we're going to play 3 attacking players and 8 defensive ones, we're not going to create any chances. 

Morgan and Clare are good at recycling the ball and finding the wingers, but beyond that they haven't offered anything going forward. 

I think we actually agree. You want someone to be able to make a run into the box or make space on the edge of the box. That is exactly what we want the most offensive of our midfield 3 to focus on in this system (in my opinion). I would say that isn't necessarily needing to be an all out playmaker who "scares defenders" and in fact it would be advantageous if it wasn't so we can maintain shape. It's not quite as simple as 3 attackers and 8 defenders - I certainly don't want 3 sitting midfielders but my point is the 3 can be brutally effective without actually being devoted to attacking if you get the right blend.

I think what we want is what we saw from Gilbey late last season and what I think we have brought Clare in to do - to be able to drive forward with or without the ball and influence the final third without losing shape and ending up with 4 attacking players which is too much to carry and will also reduce the offensiveness of the full backs. Whether either is good enough on a consistent basis to do that - jury out.

ForeverAddickted said:

ElliotCAFC said:

Vfrf said:

Charltonparklane said:

Vfrf said:

eaststandmike said:

Chris_from_Sidcup said:

I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.

Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.

A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.

You'd have thought  Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted 

True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.

If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.

Perry Ng and Ryan Wintle also made big money moves to Cardiff last season. 

They had a golden generation of youth players all coming through at the same time.

Wintle only moved to Cardiff on a free transfer this summer

Was Ng (Cardiff) and Pickering (Blackburn) that moved in January - Wouldn't call it a golden generation either, Crewe are consistent bringing through youngsters that have moved on, e.g. Nick Powell to Man Utd, Luke Varney and Luke Murphy

Sure they always bring players through but how often do they have 6/7 of the same age group all at the same time?