Hes also only played 18 months of senior football, it takes time for players to find out what they need to do at senior level. Think johnson used to always say a player needs 100 games under their belt to start to realise what its all about Dan neil is a prime example, the difference in his game now after getting all those games under his belt is massive Ekwah has the technical ability for sure and hopefully this summer he will learn how to use his physicality more.
If we get the right coaching structure,I'm hoping this summer doesn't see wholesale player changes. If we accept that Huggins and Seelt are longer term injuries,but we can get Cirkin back fully fit, depending on Nectar,we may need another centre back,at least until them two are fit. Think Anderson will leave. I'm assuming Evans and Dack will go,so we will definately need cdm or two,in order for Neil and Ekwah to fulfil their potential further up. We might take up our option on Styles,which I'm not against,but I don't think it'll be enough. It's up front where the problems are. Burstow will go back to Chelsea,failed loan. If,as we suspect we get an offer for Clarke we're unable to turn down, and Rusyn goes home,it's what our new coach thinks he's going to get from Roberts,Bennette,Mayenda and Mundle. Looks pretty thin to me.
This is the drum I keep incessantly banging and is also where I think you’re maybe a little inconsistent (I say that with the utmost respect as I think you’re one of the best posters on here and I may be misinterpreting where you’re coming from anyway). I would argue this applies to almost all our signings, even the most derided and the worst performers. All have tools and traits that if identified, encouraged, eked out and utilised correctly would see them become assets and comfortably performing at the required level. Ekwah is the embodiment of that as we’ve seen it play out before our eyes. It’s the cornerstone of our recruitment strategy. The missing part (and it’s the most fundamental and important part) is a really good head coach to pull all that together in the way you say McKenna could for Ekwah and in the way he has for Davis and Hirst and Chaplin and Luongo and Burns and Clarke and Woolfenden and etc etc etc. I really think a good head coach changes the complexion and perception of everything - recruitment, the coaches, the DoF, the model, the lot. It’s why I’m so frustrated with the club (over the Beale fiasco above all else) and with the appetite now from the majority to rip the whole thing up and start again just when we’re so close to something good (in my opinion). Actually I will caveat that I personally think the failure to bring in a proper CDM last summer is the other big failure along with the head coach decision. Though we were so close to getting Crespo so they get a little leeway from me there.
I’d say Ballard is a 12m plus player. Ekwah maybe 6-8 m but it’s difficult to say and most on here didn’t think Simms was worth 4.5m last summer so I imagine lots of supporters wouldn’t value Ekwah or Ballard anywhere near as highly as I do.
£8M wouldn't buy Ballards left leg. Where do these people get their valuations from? I would be happy if we got 5-6 for Ekwah mind, as I think he is dispensable. Ballard isn't.
I agree with this . If we can replace Ekwah for a more defensive aggressive equivalent and keep Neil we are better balanced. However, he scores goals. We have to have more goals in our side.
We’ve got Evans to replace first. Only reason to get rid of Ekwah is if we can bring in an upgrade or he’s blocking the development of someone we see as being better.
I think Ekwah is a ten million plus player. He's inconsistent, He can play a bit but more importantly he's a big lad which despite everything they say now is still the overriding factor when it comes to being able to play in the top league. That comes with a premium.
I agree. He's got all the tools though. I think this is where our general lack of experience has stalled the development of a few. They've got nobody to learn from.
