Toffolo is 6 ft and Elder 5ft 11 so there's not a lot in it from a height perspective. Tan mentioned the other day that we were looking for 1 or 2 more. I thought that would be a CB and a defensive midfielder. But I think a LB makes sense too as we'll bring Greaves inside. It looks like Elder will be gone in the summer and I'm not sure LR is sold on Fleming for the long term despite what he's said
I can't see us playing two left-footers, and I'm not convinced McLoughlin is better than Jones anyway.
Rosenior has confirmed in his press conference that Darlow will be a Hull City player, it’s just a case of when not if, due to Newcastle’s League Cup situation.
The height thing is just a bollock screen to cover getting rid of yet another promising local academy product because his face doesn’t fit with the new boss.
Well the rate at which we were conceding them meant it needed addressing. But you aren’t wrong about him not being rated
He's passed the age where he should be classed at promising and that's why he's not in the first team. He'll have a career in the game but it just isn't top end champ... He may be in years to come, but we can't wait years
It is strange though with how good he was at the end of last season. Most people expected him to start the season as our #1 left back and he might have done if not for injury. He's in a really weird spot where he's highly rated by fans because of his performances but he's played so few games that he still feels like a young promising player as you say, even though he's 23. Made his debut 4+ years ago now. The "height at set pieces" thing wasn't just about Fleming of course, it's also the reason we're not playing Elder apparently. Maybe Rosenior just doesn't fancy either of them and it is indeed a bit of a cover but it does seem strange. I'm happy to trust him on it but I don't understand it.
He was plenty good enough last season when he was one of the highest performing wing backs in the league and although we’re now playing with a back 4 he hasn’t been given any sort of a chance to prove whether he is or isn’t up to it. We’re not doing anything this season after an atrocious start so I can’t see the clamour for top class players right this instant. He could have happily had a couple of games and Elder is also more than good enough for where we are currently so there’s no risk.
I couldn't see them renewing Elder before with a CB being preferred, and I can see it even less now. Fleming isn't defensively solid enough for where we want to go too IMHO. May be effective as a wingback with a back 3 but wouldn't risk him in the system we play. He seems to be injured a lot also and really needs to have played more than 30 games at 23 to suggest he deserves a starting berth going forward at this club.
