KaKa

11 minutes ago, Sean said:

I mean, the summers business was exactly about creating a squad able to compete on all fronts. Howe was talking about having 2 pretty equal teams IIRC.

 

The amount of (and severity of) injuries has been the big problem, and the inability to deal with such a crisis. Lewis Hall, signed in the summer, is sat there unused for example.

 

What is to blame for the injuries is up for debate.

When everyone is fit we will have numbers, but really, we would still lack quality in key areas.

When we're short we don't just suffer from fatigue, but also a significant drop off in quality.

Zinchenko can't defend.

6 minutes ago, christ said:

I does feel like it’s a learning opportunity for the club. Everything they’ve touched has turned to gold so far. But periods of adversity are inevitable and we need to have these issues to grow.

Absolutely, particularly because of how far behind our starting point was.

If we had already pretty much built a healthy squad that was supposed to compete on all fronts, and this was happening, then the alarm bells would be ringing.

Relative small step backwards this season it looks like. Before going again with a much bigger step forward.

I wouldn't be too concerned about the struggles we are currently seeing this season. It was somewhat inevitable and is absolutely necessary.

I think it will mean we are more ruthless with letting some players go this summer, and also that we will be more ambitious strengthening the squad going forward.

1 hour ago, tgarve said:

You must be blind- I can see exactly what he means 

Maybe try another sport. Not sure you understand what you're looking at.

1 minute ago, Shak said:

 

No, I'm saying we don't spend any money on a DM.

 

Bruno starts there. Miley his backup (Miley can also play the other midfield spots).

 

Spend the money on other positions instead.

Ah, okay. Got you.

1 minute ago, Shak said:

 

I'd be good with it. I mean, it's Bruno's spot, asking Miley to be backup doesn't seem too much to me given how good he's looked. If you're ready, you're ready.

 

Spend the money saved on a new DM and put it towards making Osimhen the new striker addition.

 

Who says no?!

Osimhen would say no, unfortunately.

So wait, are you saying a new DM and move Bruno from that position?

4 minutes ago, Shak said:

Miley looks like he can play Bruno's role pretty well IMO.

 

Looked one of our better players against Dortmund in that spot.

 

Good in tight spaces, reads the game very well, rarely caught in possession.

The kid is sensational, no doubt.

Going into next season though, do we want to give him that level of responsibility so soon?

7 minutes ago, Dr Jinx said:

We do need a new striker but where I’m also concerned with is the midfield, we need someone to come in who makes us tick better, Bruno can only do so much.

 

We work too hard to keep hold of the ball.. I suspect that’s a mash up of the way we’re set up to play but also limited by the personnel we have.

 

There isn’t much outright pace in that midfield, if you could give Bruno an extra step he’d be the worlds best midfielder but he’s maxed out.

 

I don’t know if that means we sign an outright dm or if we should go for a playmaker ?‍♂️

We certainly need someone else that can play Bruno's role. 

A backup similar to him that we can bring along would be great.

2 minutes ago, Ikon said:

Let’s just say that I’m wrong and you’re right  Much easier. 

It's not about me being right man. Might just be that you caught some games where he might have not been at his best. 

32 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Would his game suit our high pressing ? I’ve only seen him 3/4 times and thought he was poor on each occasion, but not seen anywhere near enough of him to form a strong opinion.

Wasn't really paying as much attention to his defensive play if I'm being honest.

However, looking at his defensive numbers on fbref, they look really good. Scroll down to the full scouting report, and the 'Defense' section.

https://fbref.com/en/players/ce50fd99/scout/365_m1/Jonathan-David-Scouting-Report

5 minutes ago, Ikon said:

I don’t need to read it. I’m going with what I’ve seen. I don’t see him as a striker that will be good enough technically or in general play for a top top side which we are aiming towards. I’m sure he would offer us something as a player right now and in the short term. Rather we keep our powder dry and go for someone else unless isaks injury is worse than expected. Obviously would have been decent to have as an option now. Unless he is thought of as a backup player going forward. Rather see the money spent elsewhere. 

I don't need to read it? Yikes!

I watched him a fair bit too, and I don't see what you do at all, and so I pulled up the opta breakdown that shows your assessment might be a bit off.

We're looking for a third striker that is flexible enough to play in other positions, it's not going to be a fully established higher end player.

David is very much in line with the Bruno, Botman and Isak signings that have worked out very well for us. Top prospects that we identified ahead of other clubs who were not willing to pull the trigger yet for various reasons.

1 hour ago, Ikon said:

 

 

Really difficult to say. No idea what is possible to do financially. Can we do a loan with a must sign in the summer kind of deal?

One player i think is possible is Matías Soulé. Unlikely but i would very much like that Valencia keeper.

I'm not entirely sold on KP but gut feeling is that it wont happen. Not that i would not take him.

 

Don't see us signing a striker if Isak's injury aint bad. Think we should wait until the summer unless we can bring someone young in

like Leonardo. Otherwise try for Sesko in the summer. David doesn't feel high quality enough in general play imo. (for the money)

 

 

 

Jonathan David's general play is being understated big time. He played behind the striker in his younger years in Belgium.

Read for yourself here, from Opta, who gave a good breakdown.

https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/04/jonathan-david-scouting-report/

14 minutes ago, AJ9 said:

Same, thought there were numerous examples of good control, holding the ball up, moving it on quickly. Thought the video made his all round game look pretty good tbh

Yeah, pretty much the player I have seen when I've watched Lille.

Keeps things simple, smart and straightforward in build up and then gets into really good positions for the cool finish.

Just a very sharp no nonsense striker. Not too dissimilar to some of the traits we get from Callum Wilson, but with more positional versatility.

14 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

First one on google. Welcome to AC Milan one I think

Yeah ... still not seeing what you said from that video. I'm so confused 

1 hour ago, r0cafella said:

From my Dennis wise scouting he looks awful  constantly falling over his feet and nothing looking particularly clean and this was his highlights. 
 

Haven’t seen him with my own eyes so no clue if he’s actually any good mind. 

I'm so confused by some of these descriptions of the guy I have watched 

Could you please share the highlight video you watched where he looked awful and was falling over his feet.

I'm genuinely baffled by this 

39 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Seen him for a while, even before Lille whilst he was in Belgium, and for Canada.

He can play on the wing, but that’s not his strongest position. It’s a bit like when Ba was on the wing to put Cissé upfront.

He can play there, but you are shoehorning.

 

Davids problem is that he regularly misses easy chances, but will score the harder ones. His close control is a bit Joelinton like, before Howe. He needs to have that decent spell where he is consistent to then become class at it, but at the moment he’s a bit Shola like.

 

In my opinion, he needed to come to the Premier League a couple of seasons ago, a year ago at the latest. It will take quite some work for him to reach his potential at this level. I guess though if he’s coming to the Premier League for a top 6-8 side, his best chance of success would be with us, and Howe. Anywhere else and he’d flop, unless you went to one of the also fans and got plenty of game time.

 

For what it’s worth, we were rumoured to be getting him the summer before we bought Isak.

Wow ... I have never watched him and thought his control was anything like Shola or Joelinton at all. 

When he is played out wide he definitely doesn't play like a winger running at players, but more of a wide forward that moves the ball on intelligently and then gets into positions to score from.

You say he misses a lot of easy chances and needs a decent spell, but he has scored at a high rate very consistently everywhere he's been. He scored 24 league goals at Lille last season.

1 minute ago, Bimpy474 said:

 

They're not cloggers, and to think so doesn't do them justice. They'll be direct and put us under pressure, but we should have enough to ease past them, injuries or not.

Even Arsenal and Man City couldn't ease past them.

We'd better be ready for their direct and physical style of play.

Not a great game for Trippier, has to be said, as he will have to deal with a lot of pace, physicality, long balls and crosses into the box.

1 hour ago, Stifler said:

He was full of promise, but I don’t think he’ll make it at Premier League level, even if I would love a Canadian here.

Watched Lille so much over the last few years in BT Sport.

David is one of those that doesn't necessarily catch the eye, but is just so intelligent and effective. He is so underrated I think. Plays upfront and right, left and number 10. A+ mentality and character by all accounts too. Won the league with Botman at Lille and all.

Has to go to the right team, and I think he'd fit very well at Newcastle as Howe gives his players a lot of direction and puts them in position to succeed.

Think he'd do well here.

1 minute ago, Andy said:

 

More likely that the exchange with the fan was an early sign that something else isn't quite right with him tbh. Was out of character for him to bite back like that. 

The whole thing was weird from him, and that interaction definitely wasn't helpful.

Wish fans would practice more self control in situations like that.

Just so unnecessary. 

5 minutes ago, Jordan said:

An argument with a fan is not the reason he’s making individual errors man  I doubt he’s thinking about that fan when he’s giving the ball away twice and keeping player onside against Everton, being skinned by Son against Spurs or heading ball into ground under absolutely no pressure tonight. 

4 minutes ago, Ronaldo said:

I think Trippier’s a lot mentally stronger than to let one of our pissed up mong’s daft words away at Bournemouth effect him 6 weeks later. 

I'm sure it hasn't helped at all, and has definitely added to the pressure, after perhaps the first error he made.

He's definitely in his head right now, and is all over the place mentally.

Ever since that incident with the fans at the Bournemouth game was it? This guy's form has tanked.

So well done to whoever that was that couldn't manage their behaviour after that game. Has worked out so well for us, having a go, and then posting it all over social media.

Just brilliant.

12 hours ago, Smal said:

Zirkzee from Bologna looks fun. 6ft4, 22 year old, joined them from Bayern summer before last for €8.5m. Scored 8 in 17 this season.

Sigh ...

Mentioned him loads on here when he was with Kompany at Anderlecht, on loan from Bayern.

He is quality. Weird how Bayern never really gave him a chance despite some bright moments for them.

There was a report a little while back that targets would be clearer once we had an idea of whether or not we'd be continuing in Europe.

Probably would have pushed the boat out more for more accomplished players if we were still involved in some European competition, but that will probably wait till the summer now.

Likely look more at younger prospects with decent experience to flesh out the squad now.

Was most upset for him tonight that we didn't get something.

Showed such heart and desire man. Damn.