Now That's What I Call Transfer Rumours! 7

[NE28]

5 minutes ago, Stottie said:

We could have done with a bigger presence in midfield like Declan Rice yesterday. Then again, so could have Arsenal in the second half at Anfield last week.

Before the games, I wouldn't have thought us or them could be overrun that badly.

Well I suppose that’s the great thing about being completely exposed in a game. It really lets you know where your weaknesses are

[SUPERTOON]

Does a top quality wide player need to be the priority this summer? I still see this as our weakest area in the starting 11.

[Rich]

100%. We need goals and assists from there. The wingers in a 4-3-3 are basically forwards and in some teams can produce numbers in excess of the central striker. Miggy has basically done that for us this season, but it’s at such a low level and more down to us not having a settled in-form striker all season.

 

I’d ideally like someone who could play up top if needed, too, so we’ve got something else behind Isak and Wilson in a worst case scenario. And someone with a bit of presence/nouse about him, too, as our current crop are extremely lightweight and not the most savvy.
 

If this mythical beast exists, I’m sure he’s on our radar.

[The Butcher]

5 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Does a top quality wide player need to be the priority this summer? I still see this as our weakest area in the starting 11.

Very much so.

 

None of our wide attackers are CL quality. ASM can be on his day, but can't stay fit and his performances aren't consistent enough.

Almiron went on a streak, but is so limited on the ball. Not good enough.

Murphy isn't good enough.

Gordon is unproven.

 

 

 

[Hanshithispantz]

5 hours ago, Stottie said:

We could have done with a bigger presence in midfield like Declan Rice yesterday. Then again, so could have Arsenal in the second half at Anfield last week.

Before the games, I wouldn't have thought us or them could be overrun that badly.

The thing is though, this was dished out by two teams who’s supporters lament their own lack of quality in midfield (Villa with the absence of Kamara).

Dendoncker & Luiz are not exactly freaks of nature.

[Dr.Spaceman]

5 minutes ago, The Butcher said:

Very much so.

 

None of our wide attackers are CL quality. ASM can be on his day, but can't stay fit and his performances aren't consistent enough.

Almiron went on a streak, but is so limited on the ball. Not good enough.

Murphy isn't good enough.

Gordon is unproven.

 

 

 

 

ASM is like twice a season. Almiron will never have a run like he had at the start of the season ever again. Time to cash in on both of them this summer and sign better, more consistent players. I reckon we could squeeze a decent fee out of someone for Miggy, although it wouldn't be the end of the world if we retained him as a squad player if the right offer didn't come in.

 

I still think we need better players all over the pitch, rather than just in attack.

[Hanshithispantz]

I could see the point of selling ASM, but flogging Miggy seems canny mad like. He’s a great hardworking winger and although his stats have been inflated this season he still knows where the goal is. He’s clearly a much more dangerous player than he was a year ago.

 

We need to upgrade him with someone genuinely world class and Maxi with someone who will play a whole season. Hopefully Howe can work his magic with Gordon over the summer.

[Cronky]

15 minutes ago, Dr.Spaceman said:

 

 

I still think we need better players all over the pitch, rather than just in attack.

 

I agree with this. There isn't an area of the team that can't be improved. That's not to say that the current squad is doing badly at all, but several players are performing to their limit, and could be upgraded for the general benefit of the team. 

 

We only have one player in Isak who is a regular starter for their national side. We're doing well because Eddie is squeezing the max out of each individual.

[Hanshithispantz]

We force the ball into dangerous positions really well, so naturally players who are lethal in the final third will improve us to no end (theoretically). Obviously we can benefit from improving any player, but since Howe has arrived it's been pretty jarring how toothless whatever front three we put out are. Our midfield and defence have largely been dominant.

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Hanshithispantz

[toon25]

We missed ASM yesterday. His directness might have pushed them back a bit.

[Ben]

Rice please 

[MrRaspberryJam]

3 minutes ago, Ben said:

Rice please 

 

What with

[Guest]

Just now, MrRaspberryJam said:

 

What with

 

Tripps.

[Pata]

5 hours ago, Rich said:

100%. We need goals and assists from there. The wingers in a 4-3-3 are basically forwards and in some teams can produce numbers in excess of the central striker. Miggy has basically done that for us this season, but it’s at such a low level and more down to us not having a settled in-form striker all season.

 

I’d ideally like someone who could play up top if needed, too, so we’ve got something else behind Isak and Wilson in a worst case scenario. And someone with a bit of presence/nouse about him, too, as our current crop are extremely lightweight and not the most savvy.
 

If this mythical beast exists, I’m sure he’s on our radar.

 

I think the new forward and third choice striker needs to be a same player unless the third choice striker is someone really young and cheap. Third striker is such a minimal role nowadays when most teams only use one striker. Someone like Joao Pedro or similar versatile player would be perfect, contesting for a starting place as a wide forward while being the emergency backup striker or even number 10 if we start to use Isak more there.

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Pata

[andyc35i]

3 minutes ago, Pata said:

 

I think the new forward and third choice striker needs to be a same player unless the third choice striker is someone really young and cheap. Third striker is such a minimal role nowadays when most teams only use one striker. Someone like Joao Pedro or similar versatile player would be perfect, contesting for a starting place as a wide forward while being the emergency backup striker or even number 10 if we start to use Isak more there.

 

 

 

That’s the direction I think we’ll go. A Joao Pedro type player gives you the cover for Wilson and Isak and plays out wide - I don’t see why we won’t try again for him if Watford stay in the Championship. Whilst it would be great to go for a name like Diaby, I don’t think we’ll be able to spend money on a top quality wide player as well as a striker when we need a lot of other positions filled. 

[Guest]

Tierney has looked decent 

[Pata]

2 minutes ago, andyc35i said:

That’s the direction I think we’ll go. A Joao Pedro type player gives you the cover for Wilson and Isak and plays out wide - I don’t see why we won’t try again for him if Watford stay in the Championship. Whilst it would be great to go for a name like Diaby, I don’t think we’ll be able to spend money on a top quality wide player as well as a striker when we need a lot of other positions filled. 

 

I haven't really seen much of Diaby but I'm a bit hesitant spending at least £60m on a player from Bundesliga. So many players have flopped recently coming from there and Leon Bailey had similar numbers to him in Leverkusen.

[SUPERTOON]

5 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

Tierney has looked decent 

His quality isn’t in question, it’s his ability to stay fit.

[TRon]

5 hours ago, Hanshithispantz said:

The thing is though, this was dished out by two teams who’s supporters lament their own lack of quality in midfield (Villa with the absence of Kamara).

Dendoncker & Luiz are not exactly freaks of nature.

 

There was something badly wrong with the midfield yesterday, difficult to pin down if it was Bruno being off the pace due to injury, or just our shape was wrong and Emery had our number. It was similar against Brentford, but second half we turned it round, in this game we never came close to it.

[Pata]

6 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

There was something badly wrong with the midfield yesterday, difficult to pin down if it was Bruno being off the pace due to injury, or just our shape was wrong and Emery had our number. It was similar against Brentford, but second half we turned it round, in this game we never came close to it.

 

Kamara being out might have been an accidental good thing for them, doubt Emery puts that extra man (that seemed to win them the game) in midfield if Kamara would have been available. @brummie can shoot me down if I'm clueless. 

 

Edit. I'm wrong, didn't realise Kamara had been out for few games and they still played 4-4-2 in those with Bailey up top. Just an Emery master class replacing Bailey with another midfielder and changing the formation.

 

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by Pata

[nufcnick]

I would be all over Bowen from West Ham like, a definite upgrade on miggy 

[STM]

1 minute ago, nufcnick said:

I would be all over Bowen from West Ham like, a definite upgrade on miggy 

Also exactly the sort of player we would target.

[Infinitely Content]

If there was even the faintest possibility of signing Declan Rice, I'd argue he would be worth the negation of other areas we're looking to strengthen; particularly if it meant not necessarily failing to fulfil those roles, but perhaps bringing in more economical targets.

I believe Rice is one of the best in his position in world football, and would certainly match or succeed Bruno as our best player. I also think there's something unique we could offer him that perhaps the likes of Manchester City or Chelsea could not. I think those clubs would buy Rice for a narrow range of specific attributes he possesses and happens to be 'world class' in (which is to say his defensive abilities), however, I believe he contains the potential to be a truly complete midfielder, excelling in all areas of the game and all phases of play in a similar vein to Yaya Toure. I think if he is to leave West Ham, we would be able, potentially uniquely, to offer him the ability and the freedom to express and further develop that part of his game.

[SUPERTOON]

11 minutes ago, STM said:

Also exactly the sort of player we would target.

Think we are more likely to go for Brennan Johnson (assuming forest drop)

[HaydnNUFC]

1 hour ago, Pata said:

 

I haven't really seen much of Diaby but I'm a bit hesitant spending at least £60m on a player from Bundesliga. So many players have flopped recently coming from there and Leon Bailey had similar numbers to him in Leverkusen.

 

Get what you mean but given how all of our signings from abroad have done so far I'd have full faith in Howe integrating him here.