Consider their budget though, and the fact they probably underachieved significantly last year. They look like a different side going forward in the 2 games they've played so far and to be fair there is still a lot of individual talent there. I don't think we should be too disappointed in the young lad on the basis of that.
Not disappointed in him, he just should’ve been taken off much sooner. Like people have seen Lokilo just looks much more accomplished and ready and will be used as such
I thought Lokilo was average yesterday. His first touch wasn’t great and he didn’t look capable of getting past their right back. Hopefully he’ll be a backup option to the two incoming wingers that have been speculated about.
Vaughan is very tidy on the ball, has a great first touch and isn’t afraid to drift inside and make positive runs. However, there are times when 15-20 minutes go by in a game and you forget he’s even on the pitch. It was like that against Norwich but also in pre-season and even in the games last season when he got a start. He’s very talented but I think he’d be more effective when given 20 minutes as an impact sub to run at weary defences. When he starts, he has moments where he doesn’t look out of place at all but then he goes quiet for large parts of the game and looks out of his depth.
Just read through some of the comments from Baz in the Q&A. He mentions he has a hunch that Simons could go on loan. This already feels like we would be pretty lightweight in CM especially as we are shipping out Woods and looking to ship at Doch. He also says that the deal for Bird could be directly affected by the deal for the winger suggesting that if we get the winger we can't offer as much for him. Hoping its an ever-changing landscape and that if we did move some players on, more money becomes available for Bird or another CM as it would leave us with just Seri, Slater and Tufan. I mean even if we get Bird you would think we would want to hang on to Simons or bring in another CM?
Would be very odd to let Simons go out on loan. He’s currently the only natural ball-winner in midfield. If Woods goes and we get Bird, I’d still keep him as Bird is more a ball-player than a ball-winner anyway. Only reason to let Simons go out on loan is if we’re planning on signing another #6 like Whiteman or someone of that ilk. I don’t see us signing Whiteman and I definitely don’t see us signing him as well as Bird. Seri, Slater, Simons, Doc and Woods are our holding midfield options and the latter two are either injured or told to find a new club. If Woods goes, we need a replacement, let alone letting Doc and possibly Simons too.
Yeh there's been no talk of bringing in any other CM so it would be a strange move indeed. I presume if we get this winger who seems to be the priority at the moment then we will shift our attention to a cheaper option than Bird if Derby won't accept what we can offer.
I don't think it's strange at all, Tufan is fit enough to play deeper now and should we get Bird, I couldn't see him getting a look in. If we're that desperate Alfie and Lewie can both play there. I suspect if we get our business for the attacking players tied up with time to spare they'll have a look for another centre half
Yeah Smith was quite shaky against Donny, not sure he could really be trusted short term to fill in straight away. He could go play 40 league 1 games rather than wait around with us
I've seen him play for Grimsby plenty at that L2 level and he's never looked that bad, I thought he was nervous as it was a big opportunity for him. I've said it all summer that he needs to go out and play. He's 22 in a month, and he needs to keep his forward momentum. L1 would be a really nice step up and I'm sure there would be plenty of suitors, just got to pick the correct one.
Unnamed winger is keen to move after holding talks with the club, Woods and Longman getting interest from League One. Seem to be the two main updates today.
When you go over the list of younger players we’ve had on loan who’ve gone on to do well later on (not including those we later signed on permanent deals) there aren’t too many who have gone on to much higher levels. In most cases we were just a step for the players to gain experience so wouldn’t ever have been able to sign them permanently but these have done pretty well. There will probably be others but struggling to think of any. Akpom (potentially going to Ajax?) Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) Ola Aina (Torino and now at Forest) Harry Wilson (Fulham) Isaac Hayden (still at Newcastle although unlikely to play for them again. Struggled with injuries recently) Peter Gulacsi (not the best as a 21 year old at City but has played 32 Champions League and 31 Europa League games since then) Josh King (been in and around the Premier League for a while and now at Fenerbahce)
Lincoln are really keen to take him on loan but Rosenior has told him that he wants him to stay this season as back up to Jones.
