If we want to get into that next category of say strikers at 7-8 million we have to sell someone, we can try and get some of the squad players moved on and add that to the 2-3 mill bracket we seem to be shopping in but that means we are losing a decent number of them which could leave us short numbers wise and some gaps to fill in the squad, or we can sell a ‘bigger’ name and look to re-invest. it’s not an easy decision as the likes of Ekwah and Adil have talent, but are also young lads who are inconsistent and have had setbacks.
Every player that’s linked with a move away, I keep hearing that we shouldn’t be in a rush to sell them. Ekwah - “sell on percentage for West Ham and he’s a young lad, could improve. I’d be tempted to keep him.” Jobe - “young lad who has a lot of potential similar to Rigg’s ceiling. Scored some goals last season. I’d be tempted to keep him.” Aouchiche - “moves the ball forward and gets us up the pitch. I’d be tempted to keep him.” Clarke - “our top scorer. I’d want to keep him.” The only 3 players that seems to have everyone happy to let go are Embleton, Matete & Pembele - who won’t bring in more than £2m combined realistically. In my opinion, we need to sell a big hitter eventually if we’re wanting to get a top quality striker.
I think Clarke is off personally, I suspect he'll leave on deadline day or, best case a little before that. I think Mundle and Poveda, in the sense of succession planning, are the closest things to his direct replacement.
Adil should be starting as our number 10, he's certainly not the finished article but having no stability ahead of him with regards to the striker selection doesn't help. He is still by far our best option in that role for me.
I think JObe is better suited to being an 8 but he seems to be fixed on being like his brother and playing the more attractive 10 position. I think he'll end up a top player, but currently I don't think he has the creativity or guile to be a 10. I'd much rather see Aouchiche given a run there
We’re not really playing with a 10 thus far under RLB. On the ball it’s very much 4-3-3 with two 8s. Changes when we press, but Jobe does that bit of the role perfectly well.
I look forward to seeing how we set up under RLB. 4-3-3 suggests greater flexibility in the roles and the people that fill them.
I am wondering if we even bother playing with a 10 this season. The squad seems more aligned to a 433 with two number 8s as it stands. To me anyway. Cirkin and Hume as full backs with licence to give us width. One goes at a time and the other makes it a back 3. Alese, Huggins, Pemebele as options. Neil as the pivot. If we want to play with a double pivot I would like to see Rigg given the nod. Same if Neil is out, let Rigg play in there. Jobe/Rigg/Browne/Ekwah for the 2 8 roles. Clarke, Mundle, Roberts, Poveda, Ba, Rusyn for the 2 wide roles. Arguably can sell one of those. If Clarke doesnt go I would probably sell Rusyn. Would we keep Adil in as a bit of a wild card, somebody who give us a genuine 10 should we want to mix it up? No problem if so.
What I’ve noticed about Jobe is that when he starts a run of games he performs very well but as the games go by he becomes less effective. Then, if he’s left out for a few games, when he comes back in he is really good again. To me, the obvious solution would be to give him 2 or 3 games then rest him. Rigg or Aouchiche could come in for those games and of course the three of them would have appearances from the bench. Is this too simple or am I way off.
My worry is again that it’s shoehorning a load of good “8s” into the midfield and having not much creativity. We’ve no idea what the striker situation looks like still and we could end up starting the season with Jobe up top and Neil, Browne and Ekwah/Rigg in midfield and it would just be more of the same of last season. Slow, sideways football.
I think we will see a more physically and mentally capable player this year. He played a lot last year, but I dare say his physicality will be much better for it this year. Of all our players I am expecting him to show the biggest improvement this season as everything will have matured.
I think Brown will be key mate. He is a go forward player. Just said I think we will see a different Jobe this year too, much more mature and physically capable. We might end up being more of a running team with 2 8s playing. Might be exciting in itself if we suddenly have four across the park behind a striker and getting beyond.
Hopefully, think he’ll definitely bring more of a threat going forward than we currently have in midfield. Liverpool perfected it but Firminho was so key to that system, didn’t get the plaudits that Mane and Salah did but he was top drawer and dropping deep to support Henderson and Wijnaldum.
Jobe is more a a Delli Alli style number 10 arriving late in the box and scoring goals as oppose to a creative number 10. The main issue last season was for this to work we need to get down the flanks and get a lot of crosses into the box. We had 2 wide men who would always cut inside and rarely had overlapping fullbacks to put the ball in the box. If we can keep Cirkin fit he will provide that outlet on the left. Not sure Hume is the best at that on the right but he has to play for his defensive abilities. Could be worth trying Mundle on the right and just saying get to the byline and get the ball in the box. That would in my opinion see an increase in Jobes output goal wise and would hopefully suit a centre forward (hopefully a new signing) be more productive. This would leave Roberts as an impact sub which could suit him and for me Rusyn should be clarkes back up for the time being anyway (No idea if Clarke will still be here). Again this leaves Adil/Rigg fighting for the back up 10/wide man fill in for injuries. I still think Jobe would make a decent 9 and potentially save us a lot of money but can't see us going down that route.
I'd rather play someone who is a genuine go threat tbh. Most of AA best work is in areas it doesn't hurt anyone. For a side who doesn't score many I find it madness we'd leave someone out who scored a more than respectable amount last season
Jobe still a kid and had a respectable enough return last season, especially considering how the team did after TM went! It will be interesting to see how he does this year with a full season under his belt and hopefully a stable manager.
