In some ways, it's a great shame to miss out on Saito returning to Loftus Road. I really loved him when he played for us: his work rate, ability to beat a man, defensive capability and even his smile! I had him as my POTY last season. However, I was a bit surprised to see him linked with us again. That's a big transfer fee and I think we're well-stocked in the wide positions. We have more urgent needs elsewhere. I also ask myself whether we need yet another small/lightweight player in the Championship Land of the Giants. I think Derby may have helped us to reach a difficult decision but the right decision.
Agreed Steels. Nice to have if you’ve got the spare cash / FFP headroom but otherwise too high a price. Certainly too high for us - we could almost get our left back and attacking midfielder for that.
I have no idea how a players value is determined these days, £5m seems to have become fact out of nowhere but we dont really know if its accurate. Personally I'd make it happen, we were without Chair and Dembele for long periods last season and with Poku already injured and Dembele cramping every game it kind of makes sense to me. Also Saito wouldn't need any settling in time. But there are also other priorities I guess. It would be depressing seeing him line up for someone else though.
I know there are lies, damn lies and statistics... and despite my personal 2024/5 POTY rating of Koki Saito.... he only had 3 goals and 3 assists in 39 matches for QPR last season. Is that worth the rumoured £5 million transfer fee when we already have so many wide players and so many midgets in our squad? Whilst I am clearly conflicted, head over heart says "no".
With so many vertically challenged players in our squad, is that relevant to our low budget? Do taller players cost more? Do you pay by the inch or foot? Did we get big dollars for Crouchie when we sold him? Should we be looking at the America basketball league? So many big questions & so little answers!
We do seem to miss out on the better available players. Poku looked a good deal, then immediately crocked. I’d take Saito over Dembele any day of the week. Looks like another season of “building”, of hoping for mid/lower-table safety and the usual. inevitable change of management later in the season. I hope I’m wrong, which fortunately, is frequently the case.
Dembele has been a bit disappointing but maybe still hasn't got going yet? does seem to get shoved a bit easily and doesn't seem to draw too many fouls either although some looked like they were Saturday
Saito is better than Dembele, who is better than Smyth. I wouldn’t pay £5m for all three of them as a job lot though.
Have to hope they can sign two or three players before the deadline, we're short in some key areas...
Saito does have the advantage of not blowing up into a million pieces when asked to play 90 minutes of football as a full-time professional footballer.
