In my opinion the first half performance against Charlton yesterday was extremely poor and we were lucky to be ahead at half time as Charlton's strikers missed some glaring opportunities to put them ahead. If Charlton had taken its chances before half time we could easily have run up our fifth successive defeat. Once again McCann showed his tactical ineptitude, choosing to cede two thirds of the pitch to Charlton whose midfielders pushed into our half of the field virtually unchallenged until well into the second half, when Pratleys red-card reduced them to 10 men and a well-worked second goal finally saw us pushing forward. Until that point Possession stats showed a 2-1 balance in favor of Charlton (34:66). While we have good options in the Back-5, mid-field needs strengthening although Honeyman and Docherty are outstanding. And a replacement for Eaves who has failed to take his many opportunities as striker is critical. Two free agents who could fill these gaps are Irvine (suggested by Chazz) who could provide some much needed back-up energy in mid-field and is still looking for a club and lives in the area, and Diomande who had a great goal-scoring record with Los Angeles FC in the MSL (24 goals in 51 games despite mainly being used as an impact sub) before quitting last summer to return to his family in Norway. Diomande is also a free agent who could bring a real goal-scoring threat to our wasteful offense. I watched him on TV several times at LAFC and he is exactly what we need - a strong and experienced opportunist for whom a return to Hull would be very tempting, allowing Eaves to go out on loan, hopefully to recover his confidence and scoring touch. Just my thoughts. But if McCann continues to have us play like we did in the first half yesterday we are going to be a mid-table side at best by seasons end.
Diomande had his contract terminated, just so he could move back to Norway, he’s not going to be remotely interested in moving to a third tier English club (particularly one he wasn’t really happy with during his previous stint).
According to one plan he's already spoken to the players he wants to bring in, according to a Dull Daily article.
'Extremely poor' ? 'Lucky to be ahead at half time' ? We should have gone in three up. I could have scored that diving header that Eaves put straight at the keeper from the free kick and KLP would have scored from it with his eyes shut. Also when Tom was through on goal, one on one with the keeper, who was stood motionless on the penalty spot, come on, any other (confident) striker would pot those 99 times out of a 100, it was a golden opportunity and George Long didn't even have to put his kit in the laundry basket. So how you can say we were extremely lucky and poor as well is beyond me.
diomande scored 9 in his first 7 games for l.a. then his scoring tailed off. he played one game for them in 2020.
Diomande left the US due to his personal addiction problems. Suggesting he is a better bet than Eaves is just hate-fuelled waffle.
He ended his contract voluntarily after the first game because he wanted to return to his family in Norway. LAFC were a high scoring team and he maintained a scoring rate of 1 in 2 games up to that point ..despite largely being used as a late game impact sub behind two very good Mexican national team strikers, Vela and Rossi. The MLS has stated that he did not have substance abuse problems, I doubt wether he's in McCann's plans however. Btw where did the impression that my opinion on Eaves is "hate-fueled waffle" come from. ????
There's tonnes of questionable things said in the original post, but we beat a top 6 side barely giving them a sniff, they had that Bogle chance from a corner but that's about it. We beat a promotion rival pretty comfortably and that can only be a positive. Dio did really well in LA, but why on earth would he come back. Under the new work permit rules, it makes signing foreign players almost impossible at our level and of course he'll also want significantly more than the £2k a week we can offer him with the salary cap. I'm sure there's some good free agents out there, there always is, but you've got to remember that most won't have been training with a club and physically will be way off where we need them to be. They'll also be considerably short of match fitness too. Free agents are great to sign in the summer but in Jan, unless they've just been released (e.g. Ched Evans), I don't think they're sensible options
Seem that, it's a good gamble for them. I wouldn't want him here personally, great player but chequered past and disciplinary issues of late too. But he's very good.
1. Its common sense 2. The MLS publishes all the salaries of every player each season. For example, in 2019 Dio had a base salary of $850k, but was guaranteed at least $935k inc bonuses. Our salary cap is £2.5m, most is used up. I'm all for a few transfer suggestions but they have to be realistic ones.
Not a free agent but I see the proven goal scorer that is Andy Carol just scored for the first time in 2 years according to the commentator.
