Yep, ignore me everyone - serves me right for not double-checking his position! While he can (and has) played on the right, his natural position is left wing.
The Athletic is reporting that we're close to signing Ben Godfrey on loan from Atalanta. Just a straight loan, no option to buy (not surprising as he only went there in the summer for £11 million). I had no idea he was playing at Atalanta. Turns out he's only made several substitute appearances, but it was always going to be a struggle breaking into a team currently topping Serie A. He primarily plays centre-back, but can also fill in at right-back and even defensive midfield (don't worry, I checked this time!) Looked like a promising player for Everton a few years back (I'm ignoring where he was before them) and made a couple of England appearances in the EURO 2021 pre-tournament friendlies. My first feeling was we're well-stocked at centre-back with no real weak links in that area. However, if we're continuing playing three at the back - then makes sense to get more cover there in the event of injuries and poor form. He can also play right-back, which might help us if we switch to four at the back, as no player has made that position their own since Tuanzebe got injured.
I’d encourage us to sign him up just for the chant while he warms up on the touch line. Anything more than that would be a bonus.
All CBs at this club have been on the whole superb this season. From what I've seen Woolfenden offers more on the ball than any of them and has handled the step up very well.
We all like Woolfy, one of those that was in and out, gave it all and took us up to the Prem. I see JD is leaving for Chesterfield, lovely bloke, on his day great defender and helped us to the Championship. Strange how we get attached to players over the years.
I’d keep Woolfenden. We need the numbers and quality with three at the back. Imagine selling Woolfenden and O’Shea picks up a long term injury … we’d struggle. Sheffield Wednesday are linked with Harry Clarke. With Godfrey through the door, I think we owe it to Harry for him to get a loan move and play regular football. He’s not made the step up.
Agree I think Woolfenden has shown he can at least compete at this level and parts of his game are better than the expensive new signings we've made. I think he can probably feel a bit aggrieved he was dropped after some decent displays. He clearly doesn't have the strength or aggression of our other CBs but he reads the game very well and adds alot on the ball, his short passing game and drawing the press are superb. If we are playing 3 CBs I think that becomes more important. Saying all this I doubt he will be in the team in a few weeks. I can't imagine McKenna will drop O'Shea and feel he doesn't overly suit the right side of a back 3, he needs to be better supporting the attack, which is why we've brought in Godfrey. I'd imagine O'Shea will then move into the sweeper type roll. I think Woolfenden, Tuanzebe, O'Shea and Burgess have all been pretty exceptional this season and any of them can feel aggrieved at being left out. I think Greaves has great potential and has put in some very good performances but his positional play worries me...it's not overly obvious but he's always half a yard behind where he needs us to be. As for Clarke, for me I don't think he's ever showed enough consistency or ability to be our first choice RB, and that was at League 1 level let alone Championship and now PL. Maybe he can do a role at RWB but for me he's probably the most obvious member of the squad to be shipped out. I'd imagine we may also see Luongo and Al Hamidi leave (if we get another striker). Neither in my mind have done anything wrong and actually performed badly at this level. It just feels in Luongos case that he's now out of the picture and Al Hamidi needs to go out and play regular football. Despite probably feeling Luongo isn't good enough based on Cajuste and Phillips I also feel we need to remember how good he's been for us and actually we miss parts of his game this season. I would wager the penalty at the end of the game might not have happened with Luongo in the team, he has been exceptional at covering Davis the past few seasons and it's something I have seen as much from Cajuste or Phillips.
Be interesting to see how that left hand side shapes up now and whether there will be any movement out. Szmodics has been used mainly in that position, we've spent £15 million on Clarke and the past few games Broadhead has looked superb. I understand it's also Philogenes favoured position. Hutchinson has also played there.
With Hutchinson injured, think he might play on the right. Can’t believe Broadhead will be dropped after last couple of performances. Might be seeing a lot less of Chaplin in 2nd half of season
Chaplin is another player who I think could feel aggrieved he hasn't played more minutes, he's put in some very good performances this season but not sure where he fits in in this new formation
2 very promising signings. Just a personal last min call from KM did it. And by Jesus, if we can get the rumoured Jesus and the young Ben Doak in we would be adding great talents to our weakened areas. I like the way MA quietly lands these pretty big fish without making a big splash in the media. Money is clearly no object!
And I cant imagine Delap leaving can you? He must be pleased with this activity to strengthen up front.
£20 million for Philogene (apparently beating Everton in the process). A loan move for Godfrey. We’re acting early and decisively in the transfer market - fair play to Ashton and McKenna. Both add depth and quality to a squad where we’ve consistently struggled to bring on impact substitutes. If we can get the Philogene that played with confidence and potency in Hull, he'd be a good signing. No doubt Delap and Greaves were in McKenna's ear singing his praises. Like most our squad at the start of the season, there is a question if Philogene can make the step up and influence games. The fact he's versatile and can play on the right certainly helps us to cover Hutchinson's injury - Burns hasn't performed well enough in that attacking right position. Not sure where he fits in the current formation though, can he play right wing-back or in the number 10 role? It would feel harsh to drop Broadhead based on their recent couple of performances in that position. If we can bring in a striker that can actually score goals to reduce the workload on Delap, then we've had a good window. That role, more than any other, has been the priority for me in this window. We look a lot more blunt and predictable without Delap on the pitch (or when he's knackered from about 60 minutes). As for outgoings, something's going to have to give surely? Harry Clarke will hopefully get loaned out. Luongo - who McKenna clearly doesn't trust this season - should also get a loan move. Once a new striker is in, Al-Hamadi should join them on the loan outgoings. If the club can, I'd resist selling any players in and around the first team squad. We've topped one table this season - number of days players have been injured - so we'll probably need all hands on deck.
As much as I like Burns and appreciate his splendid performances in the leagues below, we are at a different level now. Clarkes x2 are prob not in KM's long term plans. And Ali Hamadi perhaps needs to be loaned out to play regular games. I am afraid there is no room for sentiment and we have to be ruthless if we want to stay in this league.
I'd disagree about Jack Clarke I think there's a good player in there,we've just not seen the best of him yet.If the shot that hit the post on Sunday had gone in we'd have raved about him being a match winner. Al Hamadi?Hmmm I'm failing to see that he's really Championship level let alone PL.
Agree Big Al and we've spent big money on him. As we've very much seen this season you can't write off any of the lads. I could be wrong but I still feel Burns has a part to play this season..he started well against Liverpool got a knock then for a few games didn't look himself but recently he's look far livelier and agressive...plus hopefully players other than Chaplin will start to see the runs he makes
