I'm a big fan of his, but where would he play? Competing with chappers as 10? Would that mean Hirst and Delap competing for the 9? Or can he (or others) play on the left?
I don't think it's either or,I think the long term aim is to double up on most positions to cover injuries,suspensions and allow KMc to tweak our tactics depending on the challenges we face in the Prem.Also to continue the use of multiple subs at the 60 minute mark to change outcomes.
Totally agree...in regards to attacking positions, we have 2 on the right (Hutch and Burns), two for the 9 (Hirst & Delap) I would therefore assume that if Szmodics were to come in, then for me it would be between him and chappers for the 10. We would then be very thin on the left, as currently we really only have Broadhead and Harness
I think several of those players can play in multiple positions across the 3 forwards. Think Burns is pretty much a RW and Chaplin at 10 but Broadhead can play LW or a 10. Hutchinson can play across the 3. Szmodics can play 10 and on the left. Delap I believe can also play on the right. Al-Hamidi as a 10 and Taylor as a 10. I also think Clarke could do a job on the right. I think if fit we'll see Burns and Hutchinson as the main stays in the forward 3 with the other place alternating. That's based on how they finished last season, how important they were for us in the final few games. Mind you even in the PL you wouldn't want to see Burns and Hutchinson coming off the bench in the 2nd half against you.
Szmodics would be a good signing, albeit he is another player untested at Premier League level. Chaplin needs competition in the number 10 role, which both Szmodics and Hutchinson would provide. We're investing in a lot of top-end Championship material - Szmodics would join Davis and Greaves from the 2023/24 Championship Team of the Year award. In the quite likely event that we get relegated this season, we are stockpiling some proven Championship talent with the possible win-win scenario of if we do get relegated, there's an expectation of winning a quick promotion back to the Premier League. It'll be interesting to see where we go from here in the market. Possible weakness and lack of depth in the left wing position (although both Szmodics - if he comes - and Hutchinson can play there). Maybe a central midfield addition to follow? Admittedly, a midfield trio of Morsy, Luongo, and Taylor doesn't exactly fill me the greatest of confidence going into a Premier League season. Maybe that's the perfect position to bring in one of the two loanees we're allowed? I get the argument that we need to stand by the players that achieved back-to-back promotions, but I think the club have gone about this transfer window the right way. Unsentimental evaluation of where the gaps are in the squad (particularly with a several loanees returning to their parent clubs) means we needed to splash the cash to give McKenna a stronger hand to avoid relegation.
I fear Harness who had spells of fine play last season, would flatter to deceive in the Prem. He is simply not good enough as a regular forward at this level, nice character tho he is.
Not good enough for the Prem imo, no other premier league club is after him....tells a story, they too think like me!! As for over 10 million, that's just plain ridiculous!! Take a chance as backup for 6 million but anything more....no thx
We are not any premier league club. We have a completely different profile to any other premier league club and we are recruiting mainly championship players because they will fit in and be on a similar journey to our players.
I agree Yorkie,how many of the previous recruits were thought not to be good enough but KMc has always improved players?I have always been keen on Szmodics going back several Seasons and his goal tally last Season has nothing to do with it.
Now this I’m not so impressed with. Obvious talent but didn’t show much of it in a Sunderland shirt. He’s a poor man’s jack grealish. Bit flash but lacks substance.
Absolute great player, been saying we should go for him, 10 times better than Szmodics!! I wanted Clarke over Philogene, think he is quality!!
Well, dear footie friends, how nice to see us being able to disagree on potential Town players! In McK I trust to see something in someone whose talents he can develop.
I do think McKenna can get the best out of anybody as long as they are hungry and hard working. We shall see.
