Lewis Hall

[Roids]

both our fullbacks are ballers, fair few studs in the team surrounded with some lesser talents.

A couple inspired signings away from being Top 4 bound

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 17:20 by Roids

[HawK]

Not every young player signing is going to pan out as well as Hall or Tino, but I think it's definitely the right way to build our squad by taking calculated risks and purchasing for the medium/long term.

 

I believe our model needs to be mixing in these development signings (where development means players that are already playing PL football rather than prospects like Kuol) with a few established stars like Tonali.

 

We're probably the only club that can operate this model well, because, with the greatest of respect, a player like Tonali doesn't sign for a club like Brentford or Brighton but will sign for us.

 

Clubs above us tend to buy for 'now' with most signings with a few exceptions of high-potential players from abroad, particularly South America.

 

Bit of a ramble, just nice to see some of the longer term plays paying off and how we can blend the transfer approach of here & now vs squad building.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:56 by HawK

[Mikky]

17 hours ago, Roids said:

both our fullbacks are ballers, fair few studs in the team surrounded with some lesser talents.

A couple inspired signings away from being Top 4 bound

 

 

 

RW - CB - FWD (hybrid) - CM (hybrid) - in this order for me 

 

 

 

 

[Kanj]

Hall’s ball skills are absurd. He’s only going to get better, also need to be mindful of burn out at some point too. Important we also find someone to give him a break in time (not this season mind you). 

[cubaricho]

Yet again having himself a fucking game. 

[Astroblack]

#3 in the summer, please. 

[madras]

Lovely little bit, I think when Willock went through and we maybe should have had a pen for hand ball, but anyway, he gets the ball in one of those pass it round at the back situations and basically in a 1 V 1 cuts inside his man with space to spare so it wasn't really risky and slides a 20/25yd ball into the path of our player running in.

 

Trying not to get too excited but he seems the real deal. His defendings canny but he's no Maldini I suppose.

[Heron]

13 hours ago, HawK said:

Not every young player signing is going to pan out as well as Hall or Tino, but I think it's definitely the right way to build our squad by taking calculated risks and purchasing for the medium/long term.

 

I believe our model needs to be mixing in these development signings (where development means players that are already playing PL football rather than prospects like Kuol) with a few established stars like Tonali.

 

We're probably the only club that can operate this model well, because, with the greatest of respect, a player like Tonali doesn't sign for a club like Brentford or Brighton but will sign for us.

 

Clubs above us tend to buy for 'now' with most signings with a few exceptions of high-potential players from abroad, particularly South America.

 

Bit of a ramble, just nice to see some of the longer term plays paying off and how we can blend the transfer approach of here & now vs squad building.

 

 

 

We should have faith in what Howe has been doing. He gets the best out of his players generally and develops them to their maximum or in some cases beyond.

 

Hall and Tino must be loving life.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 00:28 by Heron

[Kanj]

I’d be happy with us splashing 20-30m+ on youngsters if in 1-2 seasons time they turn into Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento. Unreal talents. IMHO, Hall is the best English left back playing senior football and arguably the most well rounded / inform English full back at this level. 

[Emotic]

14 hours ago, HawK said:

Not every young player signing is going to pan out as well as Hall or Tino, but I think it's definitely the right way to build our squad by taking calculated risks and purchasing for the medium/long term.

 

I believe our model needs to be mixing in these development signings (where development means players that are already playing PL football rather than prospects like Kuol) with a few established stars like Tonali.

 

We're probably the only club that can operate this model well, because, with the greatest of respect, a player like Tonali doesn't sign for a club like Brentford or Brighton but will sign for us.

 

Clubs above us tend to buy for 'now' with most signings with a few exceptions of high-potential players from abroad, particularly South America.

 

Bit of a ramble, just nice to see some of the longer term plays paying off and how we can blend the transfer approach of here & now vs squad building.

 

 

 

This is why Tyler Dibling would make a lot of sense for us. A "prospect" who is already PL-seasoned, English, and Howe can only improve him. 

[alexf]

To be fair there's not a whole lot of competition out there at the moment. Although thought that Lewis-Potter looked decent tonight. 

 

Take nothing away from Hall though, he's grown into the role massively in a short period of time. That little spell in the side at the back end of last season thanks to all the injuries was crucial to his development and so glad he's kicked on from there. Who knows if Eddie would have played him at all without the injuries but in his case they seem to have been a blessing as we now have a real player in our hands. 

 

 

[Disco]

Been our best player by a mile this season. 20 years old FFS.

[Mazzy]

On 17/12/2024 at 17:20, Roids said:

both our fullbacks are ballers, fair few studs in the team surrounded with some lesser talents.

A couple inspired signings away from being Top 4 bound

 

 

 

 

I feel like I find myself thinking this every 6 months when the transfer window comes around but I'm not sure it's actually true.

 

3 of the current back 5 tonight need replacing (Dubs/Burn/Schar). Pope also, so that's two keepers we need plus two CBs.

 

The midfield 3 is a tough one, Bruno and Tonali are absolutely top 4/Champions League level. Joelinton is one of my favorite players and an excellent footballer in many ways, but I do think there's an improvement to be made there. 

 

Obviously of the front 3, Murphy has to be replaced, no more needs to be said on that.

 

Thats a minimum of 5 first team quality players that have to come in before I think we are really capable of getting top 4. That's before even thinking of squad players who can cover multiple positions or a back up for Isak. 

[David Edgar]

It is the confidence he plays with which is impressing me the most. He plays with all the time in the world.

 

He's deceptively quick and strong too. 

 

Got all the attributes. 

 

Chelsea  

[Roids]

14 hours ago, Mazzy said:

 

I feel like I find myself thinking this every 6 months when the transfer window comes around but I'm not sure it's actually true.

 

3 of the current back 5 tonight need replacing (Dubs/Burn/Schar). Pope also, so that's two keepers we need plus two CBs.

 

The midfield 3 is a tough one, Bruno and Tonali are absolutely top 4/Champions League level. Joelinton is one of my favorite players and an excellent footballer in many ways, but I do think there's an improvement to be made there. 

 

Obviously of the front 3, Murphy has to be replaced, no more needs to be said on that.

 

Thats a minimum of 5 first team quality players that have to come in before I think we are really capable of getting top 4. That's before even thinking of squad players who can cover multiple positions or a back up for Isak. 

We don't need 11 studs, we'd be spoilt at that point.

 

imo the main issue is that our weak areas are exceptionally weak relative to the rest of the squad (RW, slow CBs/defensive centre)

 

Purely theory crafting but if we'd gotten one of Palmer/Kudus (using them as they sold for < £50m) and a decent CB with pace to pair with either Schar or Botman, it'd change lives. Throw in a good DM (like a Baleba) and it'd start to look special. 

 

A tier one player (Bruno, Isak, Hall, Tino, Tonali etc)  & a tier two (Joe, Gordon, Barnes, Schar etc) in either position would do wonders. 

Great players are big level raisers across the board.

 

[Roids]

On 18/12/2024 at 11:04, Mikky said:

RW - CB - FWD (hybrid) - CM (hybrid) - in this order for me 

 

 

 

 

I'd swap the last two but otherwise agree as the hybrid FWD would likely be a sub whereas I feel we need an athletic starting DCM (I'd push Bruno to the 8)

[AyeDubbleYoo]

On 19/12/2024 at 17:23, Roids said:

I'd swap the last two but otherwise agree as the hybrid FWD would likely be a sub whereas I feel we need an athletic starting DCM (I'd push Bruno to the 8)

We absolutely don’t need a DM with Tonali in there. If anything we need a technical left-leaning CM for when we don’t need to play Joelinton. 

[HawK]

7 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

We absolutely don’t need a DM with Tonali in there. If anything we need a technical left-leaning CM for when we don’t need to play Joelinton. 

 

Spoiler

 

[Ronson333]

17 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

We absolutely don’t need a DM with Tonali in there. If anything we need a technical left-leaning CM for when we don’t need to play Joelinton. 

Trying to think who we could realistically get for the LCM, the two English left footers that came to mind were Wharton at Palace and Chris Rigg.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

16 minutes ago, HawK said:

 

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Yeah, said for a while that Miley could end up being the third piece. Would love to see it tried. 

[Geordie Ahmed]

Guess it's becoming the norm now but thought he was really good again

 

As things stand he's player of the season for me

[NEEJ]

Because his baseline performance is so consistently impressive it's easy to take for granted how important he's been for us this season. 

[Holloway]

on top of his impressive list of qualities he seems to have a marvellous temperament as well, looks totally unflappable

[Pablo123]

He plays with the calmness of a seasoned pro. Doesn't get flustered. He's absolutely superb 

[PauloGeordio]