I would prefer the other way around. Or prefer Delaney Would be gutted if he goes to another PL club without us even trying. Would be a misstep
Just read the above article that seemed to suggest Elyounoussi will indeed be part of our plans this season. It also said due to Obafemi looking good in pre-season we have cooled our interest in Armstrong - real shame if so. 2 decent games against Cardiff and Swansea in preseason means bugger all.
So we haven’t actually spent that much so far have we? Reportedly something like £13-£15m depending on which report you believe about Perraud fee. Not sure how much we have raised in player sales so far, maybe £5m? Plus you’d expect a healthy deduction in wages with Lemina and Hoedt going Seems like we should have a bit of money to get in another player, and the option of loans as well
I don’t see how Ely can be involved. He is no way near the first 11 or one of the first choices of subs to be brought on. No pace at all. In pre season it looks like we are trying to attack with pace What are the sub rules this year? How many on the bench and how many can be brought on?
Well yeah we are, and I’m sure we won’t be out spending £20m on a player. And we would love to be able to get in players we want as cheap as possible of course. But seems like so far we have done a good job this window of moving on a couple and signing a couple in problem positions (can’t call it a successful window yet as nobody has a clue about any of our signings and how good they actually are) Before the window started there was talk that we had about £10m to spend per player and we’re targeting 4-5 new additions. You’d assume they had factored in getting rid of a couple to get to this alleged £40m transfer budget, so maybe we had £20/£30m set aside. Which still leaves a fair chunk available.
Jankewitz and Lemonade played for a couple of minutes last season so they are no loss. I'm glad we're looking at DM though as we only really have Romeu. The other MFs can play that role it just means we are very lightweight in the middle if Romeu doesn't play and limits our attacking players if they have to play a more defensive role.
Another player who I’ve seen nothing about is Long. He is someone who surely we would like gone as his wage must be pretty high and we aren’t going to be using him much/at all
It’s not only two decent games though. Obafemi has shown several times before - and at a very young age - that he can play well and score goals at Prem level. Would be a bad move selling him now. Needs another season to show what he can do.
I'm not convinced he will be a premier league level striker. He has only scored 4 times in the premier league but he is young and not a regular starter so won't hold it against him. It is more the fact that he hasn't played well consistently enough for me. He has had the odd good game but in his 32 apps he hasn't shown enough potential imo. I'd happily use in in a deal for Armstrong but as he is still young I'd certainly want a sell on fee or buyback option included.
The minutes played is a massive factor here. There are no other CMs in the league putting up the numbers that JWP has (in consecutive years too). He’s an ultra-professional machine. He’s exactly who you want as captain. You would need to have two players to fill his role just in terms of the amount he plays. In combination with our budget needs, that’s a problem. His salary and likely transfer fee represents a difficulty at reinvestment. Also, we’ve seen no signs that his wheels are falling off yet. He’s about to peak. We can talk **** about Villa but they have money, spend very smartly and are ambitious. They will be pushing hard for Europe this year. Ings has been a great player for us. That’s indisputable. The idea of us relying on him as he moves into the later stages of his career is scary. He missed a number of games last year, and he’s already coming off of two major knee reconstructions in the past. I think there’s potential for getting a good fee and replacing his goals (it certainly wasn’t 20 last year). Is Danny Ings getting 20 for us this year? Next year? After that? I’d be willing to bet that he doesn’t hit the same mark for us again. I looked at the top PL scorers and there were plenty around and above him in the table who came to their clubs for less. That’s not to suggest it’s so easy to fill his role, I’m just saying it’s possible. Outside the top four, JWP is probably the most consistent all rounder in his position. I can see why people would think Ings is the bigger loss, but I think JWP would be harder to replace.
The main issue, is his fitness/injuries. He's what, 21 now, but seeing as he has missed large chunks of his development through these injuries, he's likely going to be a slightly late bloomer. Most of those appearances you mention were as substitute, so the reason he hasn't shown consistency, is because he has rarely been played consistently. But there are a lot of positives to his game; pace, positioning, finishing all seem good. Maybe he won't reach the required level, but to cut him loose now is just too early. Even if we use him as a sub this season and he scores just 4 or 5 goals, that will boost his price to nearly double the measly 6m that is being quoted now.
CM depends on Vestergaard really. If he stays we'll have four CBs and will be much better off bringing in a CM/DM rather than a defender who can also play that role.
I’m hoping we get a midfielder. Crocker has said two for each position. We play with a two so that means 3 “seniors” and a younger player ideally. Then Armstrong can be an “oh ****” option. He’s wasted there. We need one to be able to play both ends and run a lot. We needed another one last year and nothing has changed on that front. Still wish we’d kept Harry Reed. Think he’d have been very useful last season.
Seen a link to Marco Kana resurfaced. 18 year old defensive midfielder who can play in central defence But it could just be the old one pulled up in connection to the recent news of looking for someone who can play in both positions
