KaKa

44 minutes ago, Mike said:

If Botman was the end of our window, how would you feel about that?

It's barely the start of our window, so no need for any concern.

1 minute ago, Shearergol said:

Chelsea will get 4th this year, regardless of who they bring in 

Disagree completely. As things stand they've lost their best defender and striker (Yes, Lukaku was their best striker). They also don't seem to have anyone reliable in those wide forward positions, as they constantly chop and change those players. Their midfield is good, but not outstanding really. I also don't trust Tuchel, as I'm not sure the players really respond to him. Think they're all over the place.

1 hour ago, Kid Icarus said:

Why do I feel like that front line won't work out? Something about it doesn't seem right.

Chelsea seem very chaotic in their dealings and Tuchel seems a bit of a hot head. Think they are going to be a mess next season.

20 minutes ago, Happinesstan said:

No reason Wood can't get 8-10 goals as back-up to Wilson.

I certainly think he could be better than he was last season. I do think we'll need to use him a bit differently though, I don't think his hold up and link up play is good enough for him to play as a lone striker in that 4-3-3 system we used most of last season.

4 minutes ago, McCormick said:

I can. If he’s that highly thought of then 25m plus add-ons seems a good deal. Low risk of losing money and a good chance you could almost double that in 3-4 years time; depends how prohibitive his agents demands are though, I suppose.

Yeah, it's a good deal, which is why it's a bit strange that there has been no news of bids from other clubs.

I think most of the other clubs that have an eye on him, probably want to see a bit more of him before going in for him. I think this is probably where we have an advantage, as we are going in a bit earlier than most clubs would.

If he's more intent on going to one of those other clubs instead, then he may well need to stay at Reims another year and show that same level again. 

9 minutes ago, Skeletor said:

We should not entertain them if they come back. Move on to someone who actually does want to be here.

5 minutes ago, HTT II said:

Tell them to fuck off, final. I honestly now don’t want him here, we can do much better surely. Again I’d prefer Broja or even Adam Armstrong back FFS!

I would be fine with us just moving onto someone else, even if they come back now, only because I think he's made his life so much more difficult now if he joins us, as he will now be so much more harshly scrutinized.  Really unfortunate.

26 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Ouch! 

Okay, now that's an interesting turn of events. Might be some life in this one yet.

Other than PSG, I really don't see any other team paying what we are willing to for him.

8 minutes ago, Nine said:

No doubt he'll have faith in Wood, I know alot of fans have shit on him and some of it is warranted. I do feel that he hard time adjusting to our style of play though, its not like we were providing a striker of his style with great service although I know he did blow a few of the good chances he did have.. looked like a player feeling the pressure a bit and of low confidence. We might see the best out of him yet.

 

 

 

Yeah, I think he'll possibly look a bit better with a full  pre-season, and with working more with the rest of the team, and also without the pressure of being the only striker available with the threat of relegation looming over the club.

However, I have to say, I just don't think his hold up/link up play is very good at all, and I'm not sure at this point of his career it improves significantly. It really makes so much more sense now why he was always played upfront with Ashley Barnes at Burnley, who was the one that held up the ball, which then allowed Wood to focus on getting in behind and on the end of chances.

To see a real improvement in his play this coming season, I think we would have to play someone closer to him who looks to get on the ball in those spaces just behind the striker, and limit Wood's need to drop deep and get on the ball as much. Hopefully that's an adjustment the manager makes whenever he is used.

Just now, et tu brute said:

You maybe right, he's still absolute shit. If we're relying on Wood as backup to Wilson again and Wilson gets another long term injury, then it's going to be a long frustrating season. I think it's a massive gamble (niave at best) to rely on Wilson being fit. We will see what happens come 1st September though. 

Yeah, it's rough. But I'm willing to patient about it, he'll get replaced soon enough. There's only so much we can do at once, and because he only just came in January, I don't see it being a priority. Hopefully, we land a younger striker that's a bit special, and pushes ahead of Wood.

1 minute ago, SUPERTOON said:

Wilson has never and won’t ever stay fit, it would be poor planning to rely on him.

It's certainly a terrifying prospect, but unfortunately, even though we see it as possibly relying on him too much, by having Wilson, Wood and a younger talented striker, the manager will not be looking at it the same way. He will view Wood as a viable option upfront for now.

5 minutes ago, Kimbo said:

 

I would rather spend money on a young up and comer as well, but I have strong doubts it will happen this window with it being less of a priority than a winger and a forward.

Stop having doubts. They will get to it eventually. Wijnaldum is not the answer.

6 minutes ago, Big River said:

 

hardly a stick to beat him with that.

 

not sure if I'd take him, but thought he was class in the Euros.

But why ... you guys act as though no other players exist out there. Best case scenario we get a couple of seasons out of him, before we then need to go and get a younger player anyway. He's hardly a world class player either, so there's just no need for it man.

I think it's an awful idea. Let Gini stay where he is on the bench. Couldn't believe he turned down Barcelona to join them last year. We shouldn't be the one's to go pulling him out of that mess.

24 minutes ago, et tu brute said:

What if he misses half the season though again. Say we get a promising young striker, but is then thrust into being a regular as a result of Wilson being off long term again. Very dangerous position that mind as the exact same thing happened with Jon Dahl Tomasson.

 

 

 

I love the way everyone acts as if Wood doesn't exist because none of us rate him. It's wishful thinking really.

Whether any of us like it or not, the manager is going to use him, and not just throw him away. He just paid £25 million for him a few months ago, and will use him as part of the squad, which is why they are looking at bringing in a younger striker. 

Best case scenario, which we all need to be praying for, is that Wilson stays relatively healthy, and that whichever young striker we bring in also makes such an impact, that he then clearly moves ahead of Wood in the pecking order.

Just now, Kimbo said:

I though PSG were desperate to get rid. If it’s not a big fee I don’t see age as an issue personally.

 

I could see politics getting in the way of us dealing with PSG anyway.

I just think there are loads of other up and coming talents who would be far more energised and motivated to join what we are currently building.

Why go and bring in this older guy that is on his way down, and who could hardly get a kick at PSG last year. No thanks.

We've got to move past all these 'names' just because they are well known. There are other younger players coming through that we need to identify and go and sign. Just because they aren't house hold names yet, doesn't mean they don't exist. It's up to our scouting and DOF to go and get them.

That midfielder Palace just signed is very highly rated, and they 've got him for just £23 million or so from Lens. We can't have Palace signing those kind of players while we go signing Wijnaldum at 31 years old man. Then in a year we'll be wanting to sign him off Palace for £60 million when he does well, which would be ridiculous.

Just now, Unbelievable said:

Me too. He needs a move to somewhere where he’ll play if he is to make the WC squad, so I could see him being interested too. Perhaps a loan where we pay only a part of his wages might suit both parties, if the Bahraini are open to doing a deal with us.

NO!!!!

Time to move forward. Allow these guys on the downturn man. Please stop it!

Just now, Kimbo said:

I’ve been surprised at the lack of Wijnaldum rumours, I would definitely take him.

This place is something else ... you would actually be happy to go and spend a fee and significant wages on a 31 year old Wijnaldum. God forbid!!!

23 minutes ago, toon25 said:

He's such a melt, like.

 

Made infinitely worse by the shit eating grin etched in his face whilst he's scrawling a signature in crayon for the bairns.

 

Fucking twat.

I'm sorry but this is so pathetic

I can't get my head around how that guy can get you so riled up man. You must be envious of him on some level, my God 

7 minutes ago, hakka said:

Why don't we all block Luke Edwards on Twitter and stop posting his stuff on the forum? Surely be better for us all.

Because deep down people love him really, just like they do that Adam Pearson kid  

1 minute ago, Big River said:

for you non-instagrammers

 

 

I like this guy. He's going to be good 

The Botman reports of wanting to go to Milan all came from Italy, which became apparent quite quickly. We were never going to know who he wanted to join until a bid was accepted, and up until just recently no bid was accepted.

We have agreed a fee with Reims since January. All the hold up is at the player/agent side. I think it's all very clear really.

9 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

None of you have a clue what you're talking about or what's going on. Exactly the same was claimed about Botman, with the same know-nowt posts saying we should move on. A few weeks later he's signing for us.

Nah, the Botman deal was always about finding an agreement on the fee with Lille.

We've agreed a fee with Reims for Ekitike since January!

25 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Agree, FFP will slow down our efforts to crash the top 4. City and Chelsea were able to buy top players closer to 30 who they were prepared to lose out on resale value because they were in their prime and could do the job right now. We have to be very careful not to go down that road because the way things are set up now, we'll be hamstrung further down the road, a bit like Everton are now. Villa are playing a dangerous game as well.

It's not that clear cut IMO.

I think we've nailed it manager wise, and also director of football wise, and that makes our potential very dangerous.

Ironically, I think FFP focuses our recruitment even more, and more efforts are being put into scouting, background checks etc. I think we ultimately probably make better signings because of it, and because of the quality of people we now have in place, which will continue to expand.

I think a place in European competition will come quite quickly and from there we will then be looking at making some key signings looking to break into that top 4.

4 minutes ago, toontownman said:

 

Didn't he start as a LB?

 

I remember him popping up as solely a LB in fifa years ago.

 

 

 

Had been playing as a winger since he broke into the team in 2014-2015.

Only started being used as a left back/left wing back midway through the 2019-2020 season.

4 hours ago, ponsaelius said:

 

Cornet I'm not really a fan of. Scored quite a few goals but he was basically played as a forward and I don't think his general play was very good. Seemed more like a bit of a random hot streak.

 

 

 

No idea why he was used upfront tbh, as he had never played there before. Similarly, not sure why at Lyon they started using him as a left wing back his last couple of years either, as he was very productive as a winger for them previously. Perhaps when they switched to three at the back, he was just the best suited to it, and so his versatility has probably hindered him in a way.

He broke through as a winger, and was very good on the right in 2018-2019 in particular. For example, if you search for similar statistical seasons for right wingers to Mo Salah's season just passed (I used smarterscout), Cornet's 2018-2019 season is flagged. 

3 hours ago, McCormick said:

 

He’s raw but impressively well-rounded for his age. The fact that he could play as a cdm or on the left or right of a midfield 3 makes him a really attractive proposition imo. 

 

30m + would be very steep for him considering all the other more proven options we could go for at that price (Hojberg, Soucek, Fofana, Ruiz etc.)

Apparently they've quoted us £34 million. Taking his age into account, I don't think the price is outrageous. We should be able to negotiate a deal from there hopefully.