Matt Targett set to miss remainder of season with hamstring injury (Howe)

[Erikse]

17 minutes ago, STM said:

 

I agree that it's the weakest of the 11 positions but that doesn't make it WEAK and that's the distinction I'm trying to make.

 

You can want a better left back without throwing mud around at our current players.

 

Also, some might argue that some of our second choice players such as Lascelles are a bigger issue, should injuries arise.

 

Thing is though, if we get a new left back then Burn would be available as a CB second choice more often.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by Erikse

[The College Dropout]

1 minute ago, STM said:

 

Whilst I agree that in essence, they are "mid table" ish players, I think from a strategic point of view we don't want to be just signing players that are a slight improvement.

 

I think we all agree that our next left back needs to be an absolute worldy and tick all of the boxes.

 

I think it will take 40m+ and the right player to enter the market.

There’s a big gap in performance and ability from ‘absolute worldie’ and Matt Targett (and Burn). Too big. 

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, STM said:

 

This is the issue though. I don't think we want "solid upgrades". Everything I've seen suggests we want to go for a potential future star.

I disagree. I’d take Moreno or Estupiñán in a heartbeat. For the fees they signed for, they could double their value easily which is great for FFP. And they would be good upgrade on Targett. 
 

I think Burn is different. He’s a leader. Affinity with the club and fans. And a harder profile to replace. 
 

But Targett is more straight forward to upgrade imo. If you wouldn’t sell Targett for £15m and sign Moreno for £14m or Estupiñán for £18m… I just don’t understand the logic. 

[LFEE]

He definitely needs minutes in his legs more than others to judge his decline properly since his injury.

 

As it stands though he looks a yard slower which he couldn’t afford as was never the quickest but good at reading and timing a tackle so hopefully he hasn’t completely lost that. Always seems calm on the ball and unflustered regardless of the atmosphere. Away to Everton for example he never seemed rushed or panicked.

 

See where he’s at come January and what competitions we are still in but maybe next on the saleable assets list you’d imagine.

[SUPERTOON]

2 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I disagree. I’d take Moreno or Estupiñán in a heartbeat. For the fees they signed for, they could double their value easily which is great for FFP. And they would be good upgrade on Targett. 
 

I think Burn is different. He’s a leader. Affinity with the club and fans. And a harder profile to replace. 
 

But Targett is more straight forward to upgrade imo. If you wouldn’t sell Targett for £15m and sign Moreno for £14m or Estupiñán for £18m… I just don’t understand the logic. 

We wouldn’t be getting Moreno or Estupinan for that price though, unless you mean before they signed for Villa and Brighton ?

[The College Dropout]

6 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

We wouldn’t be getting Moreno or Estupinan for that price though, unless you mean before they signed for Villa and Brighton ?

Yeh before obviously.  I’m suggesting there’s reasonable value in the market for the fairly shrewd.  
 

 

I think if we got a decent offer for Targett we would let him go. But won’t hawk him around and upset him. 

[SUPERTOON]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

Yeh before obviously.  I’m suggesting there’s reasonable value in the market for the fairly shrewd.  
 

 

I think if we got a decent offer for Targett we would let him go. But won’t hawk him around and upset him. 

Aye I think we would sell him, isn’t he really high wages though ?

[The College Dropout]

22 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Aye I think we would sell him, isn’t he really high wages though ?

That might be the issue. I don’t know why we would do that though.  Quick google suggest £78-100k which seems high aye. 

[Chris L]

1 hour ago, OverThere said:

If we win evey game they are brilliant but as soon as we lose one they are shite. 

We won yesterday but I thought Targett was shite 

[rebelrouser]

Our defense declined in the second half of last season and our only upgrade was someone who missed an entire season w/ an ACL tear and who will be sitting behind Trippier most of the time anyway.  Can't say the defense is back to form in the preseason games either. 

[OverThere]

43 minutes ago, rebelrouser said:

Our defense declined in the second half of last season and our only upgrade was someone who missed an entire season w/ an ACL tear and who will be sitting behind Trippier most of the time anyway.  Can't say the defense is back to form in the preseason games either. 

Did the first string d play together in any of the games? Certainly not the 2 I saw.

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, rebelrouser said:

Our defense declined in the second half of last season and our only upgrade was someone who missed an entire season w/ an ACL tear and who will be sitting behind Trippier most of the time anyway.  Can't say the defense is back to form in the preseason games either. 

I hope we sign a young exciting CB. 

 

I expect Tino to play a lot too. 

[TRon]

9 hours ago, TorchyTBB said:

I've never really been a Targett fan.  He's just an average footballer with slightly less than average pace so he will never be good enough for a top eight team.  Contrast him with Trippier who although not particularly quick, more than makes up for that with his high technical ability and speed of mind.

 

Can't speak for what he's been like since coming back from injury, but defensively he was excellent in the takeover season.

[Kanj]

Matty just looks a shadow of that player we had on loan. 

[Dr Jinx]

Some players just don’t react well to being out of the team, hits their confidence and they just accept their situation. I think Lascelles also falls into this category.

 

Others will improve and force their way back in. I think maybe that’s what the manager is waiting for from Targett but he’s just too nice to make that impression.

[toontownman]

17 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Matty just looks a shadow of that player we had on loan. 

His match fitness must be pretty low. Feel for him as he was simply unlucky with falling outside the team last year. 

[Doctor Zaius]

Off then? 

 

Third choice if Hall comes in with everyone fit. Maybe even 4th choice if Howe would rather bring in Livramento and bring Tripper over to LB. 

 

Not sure where its gone wrong like. Only had 5 starts last season and although he didnt look up to the pace in his sub appearances. A victim of our rapid success I suppose. 

 

 

Edited August 18, 2023 by Doctor Zaius

[Zero]

Injury ruins his body. He is a completely different player since the injury. Sorry but it’s time to say bye.

[Tsunami]

Seems like a lovely bloke but, we need to get his wages off the books. If he wasn’t on so much we could probably keep him.

[80]

It's far from confirmed he's on massive wages. This idea seems to be based on some dodgy website.

[80]

Still seems popular in the squad and always has a smile on his face. I'm also in the don't know what's gone wrong club. Illness, injury or confidence, I don't know. Would like to find out one day.

[Ben]

How can we say he's finished when nee bugger has seen him play ? Great squad player for all our games this season, no chance Miley, Hall Anderson and Liveramento can see out a full season with Champions league football 

[SUPERTOON]

If we get rid we are in the exact same position regarding squad depth. Unless we plan on bringing in another CB, Targett should stay.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

There’s no reason to let him go. 

[Gallowgate Toon]

I don't think Howe will have pinned Hall down to a left back slot yet. He's an option there, of course, but he's also got a lot to learn defensively, by accounts.