I agree with carrabuh (not something I thought I'd hear myself say) about Howson and Bennett. Neither have quite reached the potential we saw last season and the team doesn't seem as strong when they play. That being said they should only go if we can get replacements in first.
I agree with mobility, but why the "height-ism"?Genuinely curious. Personally I'd rather see us play a passing game, but with the option to mix it up and pose an aerial threat in the box when required. Would you rather have shorter players to balance against what we've already got in Holt and Becchio, or because you'd rather the temptation to play a long ball out of defence to try and hit a target man is removed, to force us to play better football? Or something else I haven't considered.
I agree about howson half a season on loan at a championship club to get his confidence back, hopefully bag a few goals and run a midfield and he could come back to us a different player. He looks like a guy who desperately needs a big goal a bit like Elliot Bennett did just before his goal at spurs. I don't think Hughton rates E Bennett which I think is a shame as he put in some big shifts and good performances last year. Judging by Hughton's pre season comments about Ayala I think he may rate him and wanted him to develop his game a bit before coming back so I have a feeling depending on how he views his development we could see him back. Maybe playing with a senior centre back like bassong could help him raise his game a la barnett at the beginning of the season. I really think the key signings are a top quality finisher and central midfielder who can keep the ball and get us going on the counter with a killer pass.
I don't think Adeyemi or Smith will stay following this season, they're reaching the age where they need to move on and get games. I agree with Carrabuh actually, I wouldn't sell Johnson though, been consistent throughout the season. I would actually think about selling Howson rather than loaning him as well. Get a good price for him and he isn't as good as Wes and if we get Wolfwinkel he can play there too. I would also look at bringing in another winger and two centre midfielders who all have quality. Another centreback so we don't fall to pieces when Bassong isn't playing and two strikers (Hopefully one being RVW). I also think unfortunately Kamara will be a flash in the pan signing. Finally i want us to avoid signing Gary Hooper.
One of my best mates is a Brentford fan and he reckons Adeyemi will stay, he's become an important player for them this season after struggling to fix a position. He also told me Adeyemi has said he'd like to stay next year even if they don't go up so I think the writing might be on the wall for Tom.
I hope he does, for him to hit his full potential I think he really needs to get a settled home where he'll get a run of games. Good luck to him
I'm a firm believer that height impedes a players ability to pass a ball or move to receive it, smaller players have no option to focus on their t+t as they live through there footballing lives, they can't fall back on out muscling players to get the ball back. They have to concentrate on not giving it away in the first place. We already have plenty of midfielders who are physical strong or tall. As for Bennett I've never rated him even though he's the type of player I should like. I find he does nothing to get noticed. Yes you are correct about reducing the temptation to play the ball long as to why I don't like tall players. I like Holt as he's not tall, he's physical but he wants the ball so he can keep it or pass, not get some headed flick on. He is a genuine target, not like Morrison who was only an aerial threat. I'd only sell Johnson if someone who can do what he does but pass a ball better. Tettey is different to Johnson as he can run with pace and with power (when allowed!) from the edge of the area.
So Carrabuh Christiano Ronaldo comes to us desparate to play for a team with a decent chef running it and you'd say "no thanks - you're too tall!" I do take your point about wanting players capable of controlling and passing the ball to a player in the same colour shirt and I can see the logic in replacing Johnson with a more complete DM although I would rather retain BJ AND get a more complete DM on board. I have also been disappointed with Howqson (who I rate highly) and Pilks for a fair part of this season (and last too if I'm honest). On his day Pilks is one of our best but he does not seem to be capable of stringing two decent performances together and when he is not on song he is a passenger compared with Snodgrass who seems to be producing consistently strong performances and have a huge appetite for work.
Ronaldo is not known for being an exceptional passer of a ball. He runs at speed, he doesn't sit in the middle and ping it left to right, he's technically brilliant for someone of that size but he does rely as well on his physicality of size and pace. Just as Messi et al use there size for what they do, small nimble movements, Ronaldo can't do that.
Think Yaya Toure will have something to say about this post, although he is a bit of a one off and still possesses power and strength.
Exactly, he's not a passer of the ball. He relies on more on his physical traits, we've got big and strong already.
In all fairness I don't think there are too many better passers than him in the world though. I just think he has good physical attributes on top of his technical ability.
I don't think that Carrabuh is going to be swayed from his "dwarves are the best passers of a football" argument unless someone comes up with a six-footer with the control and skill of Messi or passing ability of Iniesta and sadly I don't think such a player exists. Generally I think that smaller players have to be better passers and have more technical ability as to survive in modern football as if you lack strength and power you have to have skill and guile to compensate ergo dwarves successfully playing professional football must be technically superior. I think that maybe Carrruh has a point!
I agree with what you say, but I think Yaya Toure is technically a brilliant player, and his passing ability is not far from being the best in the world. He does have the physicality on top which therefore means he doesn't have Messi's agility but generally I think he is very intelligent player and technically very good and if he was 5 foot 6 would probably be included in Carrrabuh's criteria. But because he is 6 foot plus he isn't.
I don't think many would argue with your rating of Yaya Toure - there is a reason Man City have to pay him £200k or so a week.
If you took away his physicality, I honestly don't think he'd stand out as being anything particularly special.
I disagree, I don't think he would be as good because i think good physical attributes tend to be more of an advantage, technically I don't think he is far behind many players in the world. Its a matter of opinion though, and he isn't going to shrink a foot tomorrow so not really worth thinking about.
