That's it for me. We can not keep signing young talent ourselves then just loan other young talent. Doesn't make sense.
I think once we get the Poveda and Mendy deals across the line we will start to see departures. unfortunately I think Clarke will be one of them, but the likes of Hemir, Mayenda, Ba, Mundle, Watson and the likes need first team football and should be loaned out. Matete should be let go too whether on loan or a permanent
I'll take it all back if we do loan him and he's very clearly a level ahead of Alese etc and slots in alongside Ballard as first choice CB. But the club would have to be very very confident that he's that good for it to be worthwhile. And I'm not sure how we can be.
So could Alese, Johnson, Seelt, Hjelde. What’s the point in signing him when we have all of those who can’t get a game at CB already?
Seelt in fairness has been injured, but he'll be a solid for us if he manages to get back to full fitness and put the injury behind him.
As you say they're young lads so they can be developed and brought on, that can be done with the right loan moves, so not failed signings no but nor would I say they're necessarily first team ready. I may be misunderstanding you but you seem to be conflating quality/'levels' with age/experience. I haven't seen the lad myself so I've no idea if he's the level required (Leicester fans seem to think he is) but I'm not going to dismiss him based solely on his age or how many games he's played elsewhere. I've mentioned him up the thread but if we'd done that we'd never have had Jonny Evans and, in my opinion, therefore never have been promoted under Keane.
FWIW assuming Poveda and Mendy sign, the average age of our 4 signings this summer will be 29.25. Pretty clear the club have taken onboard the need for older players. Still think we'd be better off with more players in their prime around 25-28.
I don’t think he’s ready at all, not his fault but I’m hoping when Clarke goes we will go after Millar.
I think the counter argument is we can't keep preaching about pathways and then keep signing more and more players to block eachother's pathway. If we hadn't signed Hjelde you could argue we need the numbers. But we don't.
None of those are nearly of the level of the Evans we had in that promotion season, this lad may be (I've no idea if he is or isn't as I've not seen him play). Seelt is injured, Alese is injury prone and is also our only left back cover (for another injury prone player) currently, Johnson probably needs another loan at a better level as part of his development (as will Triantis), Hjelde fair point on.
This is a daft argument tbh. He might well be ready for championship football and a much better player than zac Johnson. I'm sure Harvie and folk in Academy have watched him and known about him for years and have a greater understanding of his skillset than yourself.
I don't think Zak Johnson is back until January anyway. So him and Seelt are both kinda out of the centre back picture until the next window as it is. EDIT - I'm wrong, he left Dundalk 2 weeks ago, so you'd imagine he'll be into preseason with us in a week or two.
They could be if they played regularly though is my point, nobody knows just as nobody knows with this kid from Leicester. Evans couldn’t get for united because they were battling for PL titles and playing CL football. This lad couldn’t break into Leicester’s defence in the championship they’re probably worlds apart mate
Might not be. If we are basing it on only what our recruitment team think then might as well close this thread............. They also thought all the other younger players we signed were the ones. Why are they not getting considered first before we look again at developing other teams young players ?
