Unproven beyond L1 at the age of 25 though why wouldn’t we just throw Matete in if that’s the standard we’re after?
Fair point this, I’ve sung Camaras praises too but if I’m honest I’m basing it on one game v matete where matete ultimately won the battle
Camara is a strange one, nobody has acted quickly to get him in when it was made public that he was available. I wonder what the crack is there - Plymouth asking too much? Can't see that with one year left on his deal. Wage demands? Again, unlikely for me. I wonder if theres something in his data set that is making people question whether hes capable of stepping up.
100%!! He is a decent player but I think he's a top L1 CM, but that's his limit. Its so easy to judge a player when we see them play against us only, it was a cup final for L1 teams playing us so players lifted their game - I dont think Camara is the answer.
I agree with this and you definitely get the talent, but there's a compromise in terms of experience. Just having a look at some of the Premier League clubs players, here are a few options: Could Claudio Gomes be our man? 5ft 11 defensive midfielder from Man City, aged 22. Likened N'Golo Kante by his teammates for his efforts recovering the ball (and presumably because he's French and black). He spent last season on loan at Barnsley where he started regularly, but they did get relegated. He was linked with a move to Celtic previously this summer, but that interest seems to have cooled. Given how City were pleased with our handling of Doyle last year, they'd surely be happy for us to take him, and there's potential for a permanent deal if everything worked out. Alfie Devine might be a special talent. A loan move could be too soon for him as he only turns 18 this week, but he's the already the youngest player ever to play for Spurs after his debut in the FA Cup 3rd round last season. He's probably more famous for his tackle (assault) on Danny Drinkwater in an Under 23's game and the aftermath, but it shows that he's not afraid of mixing it in the men's game. He's a regular in England under age games, most recently being a part of the U19's Euro Championship win this month. Harvey White, Devine's teammate, is someone we were linked with in January. He's previously played 20 games in League One with Portsmouth and was rumoured to be going out again, before Spurs held on to him in January, letting Alli, Lo Celso and Ndombele all go instead. White captained the Spurs U23's a number of times last season and scored 5 goals with 6 assists in his 18 games. He's expected to go on loan this summer with Swansea and "several other Championship clubs" rumoured to be interested. I'd assume we're on that list. Tyler Morton has already made 9 appearance for Liverpool across all competitions with a Premier League start amongst them. That being said, he's unlikely to break into that team any time soon and a loan to the Championship could be just what he needs. He's been linked to Blackburn but would be a great option here. Hannibal Mejbri has the lot. A highly rated 19 year old who is gifted on the ball and has 16 international caps for Tunisia already. He's a creative player who has played predominantly further forward, but can play in a deeper playmaker role. He's been linked with a loan move to several Championship clubs and we'd face stiff opposition for him. There will be dozens more and most that we've never heard of, but any of them would be an interesting option for me. Though most of them are probably top tier loan options for Championship clubs so competition would be fierce.
Good post mate. Out of those Gomes would be the most suited, then Tyler Morton. Hannibal and Devine are great prospect but feel they are better higher up the pitch at the minute. The other player I'd add would be Charlie Savage, I know i've mentioned him a few times, he is a quality CDM, probably the best CDM I watched at that level last season
As many managers and others have already said, this transfer window staying open until the end of August is not helpful, as at least half a dozen games will have been played... a couple of managers may even get sacked! We have okay atm, mainly tying down a few players and bringing in a couple that could be useful. Am I the only one who thinks in order to step up to level of the championship (thinking of last nights game) we need to a lot more?
Excellent post. I am all for improving the team where we can, but equally I want to see us developing our own young lads. By that I dont just mean our homegrown ones. Take Hume at right back as an example - I dont see any reason to not play him, and develop him, rather than bring in another right back. I know a lot of our players havent played at this level, but in my opinion we have been buying players with this in mind for the last 2 windows, so now is the time to see how they get on. Matete is another who we paid a good fee for and I have no doubt the club policy is for him to play games to develop. A coaches job is to improve players, more than it is to buy them, and you can see how much attention Alex Neil pays to that. Matete needs to read the game better, but a half decent coach will instill that into him. Overall I wouldnt be rushing to bring in many more to be honest. I would like Broadhead done. I can see the rationale for another centre midfielder, but I think finding an upgrade might be the challenge, unless we dig deep. And I would hate to think we loan one in that stops the development of our own. I'd like a keeper but accept I might be on my own there - maybe when we get a new goalkeeper coach the pressure to do that will grow.
Fully agree with this and we’ve plenty of young lads to develop, Hume being one of them. How the f*** anyone thinks Gooch should be starting at RB over him I’ll never know. I see some other championship clubs business and it just looks like short term gain signing journeymen and no real direction. I would just prefer the loan system to be used for players that we’ve no chance of signing. Maybe I’ve just played too much Football Manager, the amount of young players over the years I’ve loaned in for Sunderland who have ended up going massive fees a few years later in real life... makes it all sound easy That’s why I was surprised we loaned Simms, he’s hardly out of our grasp financially and if he has a good season his price will undoubtedly shoot up unless we have a mandatory/optional clause in there.
He's a playmaker though, which is what you mentioned, if your going to have Clarke, Roberts, Pritchard , Stewart , and Simms playing you don't need anymore play makers, you need another like Evans to keep it simple and cover for the more attacking players
Depends how we play, everyone said that on league 1, yet ok once AN came in he proved that you don't need that type of player if you play to your strengths.
What formation do you expect us to play if we’ve got those 5 on the pitch + Evans and another holding midfielder? 2 full backs and no centre backs?
Could have a classic 442 with a midfield diamond, whether that's advisable with Evans as the lone CM is another matter. I don't think Clarke or Roberts would be much use at pitching in defensively.
That's a fair point, but then we'll likely have to go without because there's few around who are available, proven and affordable.
