More transfer rumours

[TRon]

29 minutes ago, McCormick said:

Speaking on young players; I think a few of us are writing off Willock a bit too soon as well. I get that his passing has been a bit shaky but the guy is still 21 and had just made a big move up from London, had no preseason and by all accounts was dealing with some injuries.
 

Despite that he still played well enough to keep Bruno out of the team for a bit and we achieved a lot of great results with him starting. This could be his season, hopefully.

 

Yeah, Willock is a talented young player with a lot of good qualities. That period you are talking about he was pressing really well and driving forward at defenses causing a lot of problems. He can be a bit sloppy in possession, but as you said, he's still only 21.

 

Some posters were trying to make a case for Almiron staying as an impact sub - I would say Willock is a squad player who could actually make an impact as opposed to just running around and generally being a good lad.

[TheBrownBottle]

1 minute ago, TRon said:

 

Yeah, Willock is a talented young player with a lot of good qualities. That period you are talking about he was pressing really well and driving forward at defenses causing a lot of problems. He can be a bit sloppy in possession, but as you said, he's still only 21.

 

Some posters were trying to make a case for Almiron staying as an impact sub - I would say Willock is a squad player who could actually make an impact as opposed to just running around and generally being a good lad.

I still think there is a good player in Willock, and I'm confident that if anyone is going to coach the lad to becoming the best he can be, then Howe is that coach.

 

Not sure if he'll make the full journey with us, but it would be nice if he did.

[Kid Icarus]

The same daft point has been being made on here for years. It used to be about calling any black player a 'beast' but it seems to have moved onto anyone having the audacity to compare players who also have the same skin colour or nationality. It's lazier than the comparisons it's aimed at criticising. 

[TRon]

5 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

I still think there is a good player in Willock, and I'm confident that if anyone is going to coach the lad to becoming the best he can be, then Howe is that coach.

 

Not sure if he'll make the full journey with us, but it would be nice if he did.

 

He didn't even have a good season last time round, you would normally expect to see a few more goals. I suppose you could say it was due since he probably over-achieved in the six month loan period in the previous season, but generally he is going to get goals, he just makes too many good runs to not get them.

 

Even if he doesn't make the full journey, he will still have been a good investment IMO. He'll be a good player for a mid-table PL side even if he isn't cut out to be with the very best.

[Kanj]

41 minutes ago, TotalWar said:

I find myself regularly thinking that Ikon is the best poster on this forum.

 

@Ikon nailed it in that post. We will not be controlling games against the top 7-8 sides if we have a midfield of Bruno/Shelvey/Joelinton or Bruno/Willock/Joelinton. Bruno is the only one of the group who can retain the ball, calmly pass it, find space and keep things ticking. Shelvey is technically brilliant at spraying the long passes, Joelinton is a destroyer and carrier of the ball, and Willock is a carrier and counter attacker. Getting a Paqueta allows us to control matches when he's on the pitch. 

[Ikon]

46 minutes ago, TotalWar said:

I find myself regularly thinking that Ikon is the best poster on this forum.

You should meet the cunt in real life! (Cheers) 

[et tu brute]

2 minutes ago, Kanji said:

 

@Ikon nailed it in that post. We will not be controlling games against the top 7-8 sides if we have a midfield of Bruno/Shelvey/Joelinton or Bruno/Willock/Joelinton. Bruno is the only one of the group who can retain the ball, calmly pass it, find space and keep things ticking. Shelvey is technically brilliant at spraying the long passes, Joelinton is a destroyer and carrier of the ball, and Willock is a carrier and counter attacker. Getting a Paqueta allows us to control matches when he's on the pitch. 

I've been saying it for weeks that a quality CM is an absolute must if we really want to make the move forward. Not next window or the one after, we need one in place this window. The current midfield we have now are not going to control games. 

[Kanj]

4 minutes ago, et tu brute said:

I've been saying it for weeks that a quality CM is an absolute must if we really want to make the move forward. Not next window or the one after, we need one in place this window. The current midfield we have now are not going to control games. 

 

100%

 

Equally as important as wide forward/winger IMO. And No, i don't think a defensive midfielder that pushes Bruno is the answer unless it's a clone of Rodri and someone who's as much a passer as is a shield for the defensive unit. I think Bruno is best served as the central deep playmaker, Joelinton/Willock as the box to box #8 with Joelinton the better tackler and Willock likely the better ball carrier (used situationally) and the other midfielder needs to be an attacking mid who's creative and able to unlock in the attacking 3rd via carrying the ball, passing, or scoring goals. 

[TRon]

12 minutes ago, et tu brute said:

I've been saying it for weeks that a quality CM is an absolute must if we really want to make the move forward. Not next window or the one after, we need one in place this window. The current midfield we have now are not going to control games. 

 

I'm sure we would all love to have the very best players in all areas, but we aren't going to turn this around overnight. It's not strictly true that a quality CM is an absolute must to move forward. If we get a genuine high quality RW as well as a rising star striker to add to Botman and Pope, I would say that's a pretty big step forward.

 

Yes we do ideally want that quality in CM as well, but I can accept we won't get everything we want in one window. That said, I do believe that if the right player becomes available to genuinely improve us, these owners will try to bring them in. They will be looking for long term investments, players who will grow with us over the next few seasons.

[LV]

I think Howe is very wary of bringing in too many new players at once and risking diluting the team ethic/ message he has been training into the existing team since he started.

 

New players will take a while to get up to speed I guess and I think he’ll want to start the season as strongly as we can. 

 

 

[JP]

3 minutes ago, LV said:

I think Howe is very wary of bringing in too many new players at once and risking diluting the team ethic/ message he has been training into the existing team since he started.

 

New players will take a while to get up to speed I guess and I think he’ll want to start the season as strongly as we can. 

 

 

 

Agree with this and most fans on same page.

 

Targett

Pope

Botman

RW

Loan striker obligation to buy.

 

We'd have taken that before the window?

[Stottie]

I think it would be wise to see more of Bruno in the Prem before spending big bucks on another midfielder. We need to establish his best role and then buy others who'll complement it.

We also need to see how the team is going to set up when (hopefully) not battling relegation. It may be a different system.

 

 

 

[rgk_lfc]

5 hours ago, Dr Jinx said:

We’re not back channeling with Rafa.

 

As soon as Eddie Howe and his staff came in, and Dan Ashworth, the club have total faith in their setup and judgement.

 

Howe would rightly be pissed off if he found out the club were taking advice on his role from outside. He’s the manager now and the club have moved on completely from the past while they will obviously acknowledge the efforts of previous staff.

 

Just wanted to share that Rafa has form for helping out former clubs in terms of sharing his opinion and scouting reports on players.

 

Suarez was one of the players Rafa's team scouted and tracked. When we were thinking of signing him, our transfer committee did reach out to Rafa, according to folks in the know, and he did share a lot of information. Bascombe also mentioned it once I believe. 

 

Coutinho was another player with whom Liverpool consulted with Rafa. This was Damien Commoli, our first DOF under FSG on Rafa's role on the Coutinho transfer:

 

"We didn't even know he was that good - it was difficult to watch him play because he was never playing at Inter. We knew about him, we knew he was good, but it was only when Rafa said he's going to be world-class. When somebody like Rafa says a thing about a player like this, you listen."

 

Basically our scout reached out to Rafa on advice. He pretty much gave them all the information and background on Coutinho told LFC that you are going to regret it if you miss out on this transfer. 

 

Don't think of it as Rafa undermining Howe or Ashworth. Like Howe or Klopp or Ashworth or Julian Ward could just call Rafa up and ask for his opinion on players and he is the type to share all he knows. 

 

There is also the rumour that after your season in the championship, we reached out to Rafa regarding Lascelles. Rafa told us to stay the f*** away as he needs him. Out of respect to Rafa, we moved on to other targets. Again rumours only, not confirmed. 

 

 

[Hanshithispantz]

Always thought Willock looks like a forward tbh. I would have put him in Wood's place at the back end of last season before Wilson returned.

 

He's clever as fuck in and around the box.

[buzza]

Reading the arguments above:

since Eddie came in his main deficiency was the defence (now sorted), followed by a huge lack of goals. The right hand wing and a reserve striker are musts!

Another midfielder would be a bonus but as it stands our midfield was the best part of our team second half of last season.

 

If we were to add a midfielder, I dont actually agree with the majority that a DM is what we need. I think a hard working AM/No10 is much more necessary (Paqueta pls), but Joe willock could easily recover his goalscoring form? The work rate is already there…

[AyeDubbleYoo]

1 minute ago, Hanshithispantz said:

Always thought Willock looks like a forward tbh. I would have put him in Wood's place at the back end of last season before Wilson returned.

 

He's clever as fuck in and around the box.

Tend to agree, don’t think he’s tidy enough to be a top midfielder either. 

[Guest HTT II]

Willock is shit on the ball really, he’s better off it or running into it and finishing. He does press well and can nick a ball or two here and there, but rarely does owt with it. He’s a forward IMO, not a midfielder.

[r0cafella]

2 minutes ago, HTT II said:

Willock is shit on the ball really, he’s better off it or running into it and finishing. He does press well and can nick a ball or two here and there, but rarely does owt with it. He’s a forward IMO, not a midfielder.

Wilock isn’t shit on the ball ffs. 

[The Bonk]

1 minute ago, r0cafella said:

Wilock isn’t shit on the ball ffs. 

 

Correct.  It's probably one of his better skills. 

[et tu brute]

37 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

I'm sure we would all love to have the very best players in all areas, but we aren't going to turn this around overnight. It's not strictly true that a quality CM is an absolute must to move forward. If we get a genuine high quality RW as well as a rising star striker to add to Botman and Pope, I would say that's a pretty big step forward.

 

Yes we do ideally want that quality in CM as well, but I can accept we won't get everything we want in one window. That said, I do believe that if the right player becomes available to genuinely improve us, these owners will try to bring them in. They will be looking for long term investments, players who will grow with us over the next few seasons.

I disagree I maintain a CM is just as important as a RW. I am pretty sure though both will be brought in this window.

[Hanshithispantz]

His passing and carrying stats are bad for a midfielder like. He's good in wide areas when he has space to run into and he is neat enough to play cheaky one twos and the like, but compare him to someone like Rice and it's absolutely night and day.

 

Place Rice further up the pitch and he'd be shite on the ball, from deeper areas though he's one of the best in the league.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by Hanshithispantz

[gbandit]

7 minutes ago, HTT II said:

Willock is shit on the ball really, he’s better off it or running into it and finishing. He does press well and can nick a ball or two here and there, but rarely does owt with it. He’s a forward IMO, not a midfielder.

 Not shit on the ball at all, he doesn’t have many tricks but he’s good at running with the ball at pace 

[Guest HTT II]

1 minute ago, gbandit said:

 Not shit on the ball at all, he doesn’t have many tricks but he’s good at running with the ball at pace 

I think he’s better at running onto balls, but you are right he’s ever enough, but I’m talking about general pass and go, touch, quick play, longer passing etc.

[WilliamPS]

Newcastle scored 44 goals last season, West Ham 60

Leicester 62

Man City 57

Arsenal 61

Within that 44, Fraser scored 2 and Almiron 1. A right forward who can get 10+, plus cover for Wilson is essential to get that 44 up to 60 odd.

 

A lot of the possession stats will improve with Trippier back in the side. Good full backs take the pressure off CBS and CMs and Targett/Trippier were a big reason the possession stats improved post January.

 

 

 

 

[Coffee_Johnny]

8 minutes ago, WilliamPS said:

Newcastle scored 44 goals last season, West Ham 60

Leicester 62

Man City 57

Arsenal 61

Within that 44, Fraser scored 2 and Almiron 1. A right forward who can get 10+, plus cover for Wilson is essential to get that 44 up to 60 odd.

 

A lot of the possession stats will improve with Trippier back in the side. Good full backs take the pressure off CBS and CMs and Targett/Trippier were a big reason the possession stats improved post January.

 

 

 

 

Man City scored 99… oh it was Man Utd who scored 57.

 

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by Coffee_Johnny