Summer window

Hume is our first choice right back for years to come. I'd be fine with Gooch as a back up.

 

Think Ashley Barnes is leaving Burnley, would deffo take a punt, wages but be a big issue like

 

Hume will never feature regularly as a fullback in the premier league. He is much too slow. Have you ever seen him overlap or thwart an opposition counterattack? I'm not sure how tough he is either; he always turns his back on any attempted shot or cross. Someone on here thought he might do well in an Evans-type role; this is where his Lord of the Dance-type challenges might be more effective. Just my unsophisticated opinion, though -- I'm curious to see how things pan out for him.

 

I rate the lad highly mind and think he could be a long term right back for us. Disagree with him not being tough, lad always seems to give his all and not seen him bottle a challenge. Turning your back seems to be a common nothing with defenders now possibly due to the hand ball rules. Also doesn’t help form when we can’t have a settled pair of centre halves because of injuries.

He’s only a kid and it’s his first season at this level…loads of these lads will be twice as good next year.

 

I think you're miles off. He's an excellent young defender and has it in him to be Premier League calibre. He's only just turned 21, writing him off so comprehensively when he's barely been away from home a year is madness in my opinion.

 

We'll see. He's definitely one to watch. No doubt he will improve, but I doubt he will get any faster.

 

Watched a boy called Umeh Emmanuel who is playing in Bulgaria currently. I think he's someone we should be looking at, would be best as a winger and he is someone I think we should be signing for the U21s but with the ability to push for a 1st team place straight away.

His decision making is pretty poor at the minute as he just tries to beat opponents all the time rather than knowing when to pass and move for the return. His biggest strength is beating an opponent though, he can go both ways and he dribbles at pace. He is only 18 and has been played over 10 times for the 1s team this season.

My thoughts on the Hume chat - he might be limited by his pace but he has come on so much in the last 12 months that if he continues that over the next yr or 2 then there's no reason why he cant play in the PL. I get fullbacks at the top level are rapid these days but once he learns how to defend against that pace then he could play at that level as he is technically good.

 

Clarke is our best player and most ready to play at the next level immediately. It is going to be an interesting summer.

 

Worth noting that it's Nixon writing that, straight after a motm performance by Clarke.

 

If Palace want to chuck a bucket load of premier league money at us and give it to our recruitment team to do their thing, Clarke would actually be one of the ones I least worry about being sold.

That’s because for me I think he’s at close to his ceiling. The other good youngsters have room to grow. Clarke is ready now. And if they want to pay the right money then go for it lads.

 

Ross is the other one who might be at peak sale value too. Good discussion from prehab and others on his injuries suggests he may struggle to hit the same work rate again. I know SNQ came back from injury better than ever but he never had pace to lose. Say £15m for the pair of them puts a lot of other promising players in our reach.

 

Clarke is our best player for me, questions over consistency but that goes with his position imo and will improve with age!

His work rate is fantastic, always battling, can beat a man, is fast and can finish a chance (alright maybe he should had 3 yesterday but all in all he is very good goal scorer). Only negative I can finally is he can't grow a tash never mind how hard he seems to be trying, looks like it will blow off if he walked down roker pier!

 

Think £15m is a bit low for pair of them, I would be upset if we got less than £20m for the pair

 

Be interesting with Ross. I think he still signs here though. Injuries will definitely lower the value significantly.

Would be very sad to lose Clarke. Got to be up there with POTS along with Barrth got me.

Clarke is so brave and seems to always play forward. Gets us up the pitch better than anyone. Wouldn't entertain anything less than 10m. Coming into his prime.

With Hume, he has done excellent. Loves a challenge and tidy on the ball. Does lack a bit pace mind , so I would agree with that point. However, seems to manage ok.

If Ballard didn't get a couple of injuries over the year, it think there would be big interest there too. Might get another year out of him.

 

Yeh Clarke is £10m minimum for me. Perhaps closer to £15m

 

Even then be gutted to see him leave!

 

Id be gutted if we sold Clarke, he's definitely my favourite player to watch for us.

I'd want any fee to be highly incentivised. If Clarke had one break out season in the Premier League, he'd suddenly be a £40-50m player so we need to make sure we maximise that.

About £12m would be the base fee for me, with incentives up to about £20m and sell ons included.

 

Something about signing total unheard ofs that’s so much more exciting than a tried and tested championship player (although one or two of them wouldn’t go amiss either)