King Kante

How much have you genuinely seen of Tosin? I will admit, I have not seen much apart from about 5 games last season. However, from what I saw he definitely fit my Fulham mates description of 'a ball playing Disasi' in that his defending is underwhelming but he is good on the ball. Have you really seen enough to be confident that he is actually a good defender, let alone a very good one? As for KDH he is fine as a squad player. I don't expect him to be much more than CM4 if Enzo, Caciedo and Lavia can stay fit and he is perfectly capable of that.

That is a pretty shit list if anyone is looking for actual on pitch improvement.

David really isn't that good. Sure he has some decent stats in France but he really isn't a player I am thinking is going to be much of an upgrade on Jackson - in fact I think Jackson is actually a player suited more to the PL than David. When people discuss this player, I question if they have seen much of him? Sure he is an good finisher (but not excellent) and has some decent off the ball movement however he has some real weaknesses in his game with those being his aerial ability which is awful and his losing of psycial duels - honestly I think his arse would get owned very quickly in the PL as a CF. Only way he works in the PL for me is if he is given licence to operate as a 'fox in the box' type of CF (no one plays this anymore) of if you have him coming in off the left - however, I would still rather just do this with Jackson and play a false 9 with Palmer or Nkunku.

Unless it is a GK, I just want to see sales/loans/releases ATM. I won't sleep easy until Sanchez and Disaster are out the door at a minimum.

I agree. However, my post was more inspired by certain areas of the press that keep briefing Clearlake believe the first window to be a mistake and would listen to offers for CuCu. My feeling is he fits the managers system, but he doesn't fit the boards new transfer/wage policy - if that makes sense

I did say CB was a concern.

Problem with the CF market is the lack of quality and rarity of CF's. People seem to have a hard on for David but for me he is a mid-table PL striker in that he is an OK finisher but he is woeful in the air and isn't clinical in the most important moments. Jackson for me, is also someone who deserves time. If we were playing in the CL maybe I could see the argument but if he shows the development that he did last season, next season, he will be fine as a CF1, even if not WC. Biggest single issue for me is GK, that is the area I would sort first, with Sanchez and Kepa being binned off. After that the quality and experience at CB concerns me. Fofana is probably perma injured, Disaster is, well, a Disaster, Tosin by the accounts of Fulham fans isn't that great at actually defending, Trevor looks like he is being pushed out, despite being our best RCB, imo and Badman is very inconsistent. Colwill is the only one I am confident can actually step up to the challenge if he stays fit and doesn't get played out of position again.

He may be playing himself into a move. Personally, I never got on board with the hate, as I do think he was mishandled/made to play in a way that exposed his weaknesses. Does anyone know if there is a big club out there that could finance this and have a need for a LB?

Personally I am not convinced by the links to David or David the player, but let's see. However, even if he does I suspect Fofana, Washington and Broja to be loaned/sold so it will still bring us to three. Washington in particular cannot sit around for another season.

Well the issue is international loans limit. I honestly don't think he'll be loaned aboard unless someone offers guaranteed playing time and a reasonable loan fee. Maybe a Championship loan? However, in a season where we may play 80 games, 3 CF's isn't unlikely- especially as the level is Conference League grpup and Carabao for the excess games in the first half of the season.

Obviously I meant relatively. Guiu has been reported consistently as a player who will stay with the first team. Kepa, Sarr and Lukaku I cannot see anything but loans at best. Crazy depth maybe, quality and durability at CB would still be highly questionable however.

I think the sales are fine. Matsen I think may struggle in the PL due to his size and I think £37.5m is a decent fee. Hall is also fine, although I think he will become worth more than that fairly quickly. Hucth I am fine with so long as the 25% sell on is correct. The problem for me is the buys. KDH is fine, but does he provide additional quality? Estevao and Kellyman are pure punts on 'talent', with Kellyman being particularly speculative. Guiu, is a good buy simply due to how low the fee and wages are reportedly. Tosin is ok as a free, but my Fulham mate has seriously worried me that he isn't that great at deafening, so not sure if he actually brings much to the table if my friend is to be believed.

I also think a few things need to happen at CB, however I do not think it is as impossible as people suggest. Here is what needs to be considered: 1) We potentially have 70-80 games next season so the squad is going to have to be larger than normal. I would expect 5 CB's at a minimum if we play a back 4. Let look at the CB's:. 1) Trev. I personally think it is madness to sell him but it appears we love nothing more than FFP money. I suspect he is gone, although it may be a buy with compulsion to sign for the next financial cycle. 2) Disaster. This guy under no circumstances should be here next season. If he is it should be in the capacity of CB6. Unlike some of the others he is already 25/26 and is pretty much a known quantity. So, sell, loan or make him the CB6 we never see. 3) Colwill. I reckon he starts as LCB1 and keeps that position. 4) Tosin. I am not sure what to make of this guy. I haven't seen him enough and have seen the reviews that have been positive. However, my Fulham mate says he is essentially Disaster level at defending but is a good passer. For me I think he is either RCB1 or in the CB3-5 range depending on Fofana. 5) Fofana. Where is this kid in terms of development and fitness? He could be anything from a busted flush to RCB1. I don't think we'll know until after pre-season. If he is completely short of match fitness, and it looks like he may need months to get it. Is there a chance of a loan to aide recovery? So many questions with him. 6) Badman. I think he will prove people wrong and improve massively next season. I reckon he stays but he could end up CB5 as I am thinking he is the left footed player who can play right and left. So, whilst we currently have 6 CB's, I think it is really 5 with Trev almost certain to leave. After that we have Disaster who should not be here next season if talent is a requirement and Fofana who may be in no shape to play. Of course at that point, you would think a right footed CB would be required. However, the Italian kid is looking like value for money (I haven't seen enough to know if this is true) and helps with the LB situation. I don't think it is impossible, even if it is not likely.

Hall for me is a squad player with a bit of experience who knows the managers system. I am not expecting a WC player from what I have seen of him in the past but he probably fits the category of 'handy to have around', especially with how injury prone our CM's are. Where this puts Santos, Lesley, Gallagher, Carney and Casedei is another matter. I am expecting two loans minimum and Gallagher to be sold with an outside chance Carney or Casedei get sold too.

25% is almost as good as a buyback so long as he doesn't go Supersonic which is hard for a AM in a poor PL team. Personally, I saw a bit of him last season. He is very good on the ball and effective with the ball and his feet. However, in the Championship he had a habit of drifting out of games for significant periods and his decision making was slightly greedy/poor in the final third. I think he will become a decent player and has the potential to go beyond that, however I think he is still at one- two years away from this at PL level, unless he matures very quickly.

Some people are also crackheads and even worse tried to either say Lukaku was a good signing or tried to reason the transfer. So there is always that. Yeah, I think Bayern makes sense. Germany is probably the best league to play in as a AM. On top of that at Bayern you get top money (same as the PL), guaranteed CL, play for a De Facto Top 5 European side and you play slightly less games in a less physically demanding league. It is a no brainer really. Yeah, it really is shocking. GK, even in this day and age, has the main responsibility to save shots, push them away from goal and control their area aerially on set pieces - so long as they're not awful on the ball. Have been impressed with what I have seen but we will need to shift two CB's imo if he is to come. Trev will be fairly easy to do if £25m is true and anyone has bothered to scout him (personally I would keep.) Disaster is hopefully the second as I think Badman will prove a few doubters wrong next season.

Oh, for sure. I probably should've said Tier 1 GK passing skills, rather than specifying Ederson.

I really hope not. If Disaster has to play it should only be when we play Tier C & D clubs in Conference and Domestic cups. I suspect the new Manager will see this with his determination to play short passes and have everyone tactically disciplined.

I am taking it this kid is coming straight in, yes? Hopefully this means we get rid of Disaster, even if that is to Strasborg on loan.

Zouma had a better run against opposition in the CL against Ajax. Using stats/clips/highlights is such a bad way to scout a player. I am not saying he is bad - I haven't seen much of him/taken note of him- but a clip shouldn't change anyone's mind.

Yeah, he is a beast. Prefect PL GK so long as you're not wanting Ederson level technical skill on the ball.

True, but equally CF is a hard position to play a young boy, especially when you have a player like Lewa ahead of him who will want to play pretty much every minute. Tbh, I see this transfer as pretty low risk. Small fee and reasonable wage (so long as he isn't a complete dud.) At worst I reckon he ends up as Strasborg as a back-up CF, with no real hit to us. Now whether you want to give Jackson another season as CF1 (I probably would owing to the market) and have this kid a CF2 is another question.

The Villa kid is a pawn in the FFP game.

Well, Jackson did show some real improvements towards the end of last season. For sure, if you can get Alverez to come in and be CF1 then sure, get him (I may rate Alverez too high - I am quite partial to his style of play). There is also an arguement to consider a older CF who is experienced - say Callum Wilson - who isn't a world beater by any strech but can score in the PL that arguments can be made for. However, if the options are Duran or the kid from Atleti. I prefer to go for something like this where it is cheap and the manager is on board and give Jackson another season as the CF1. If he gets injured then the kid will get a chance and at worst we have Nkunku and Palmer who can play False 9.

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