Great passer, but doesn't offer a lot else and moreover I can't see him being able to adapt to the physical requirements of our pressing game.
Shall I be the first person to mention his hair? There done it.
Great passer, but doesn't offer a lot else and moreover I can't see him being able to adapt to the physical requirements of our pressing game.
Anyone interested in Huddlestone? He seems to be one of the players I like that most other fans (spurs mainly) think is ****.
Bild say Chelsea have made a bid for Gomez.
I find it hard to believe that one. I'm sure Gomez will be for sale, but I can't see him fitting into a team with Torres and Lukaku. Unless perhaps they want to loan Lukaku out again.
I really don't get what everyone doesn't like about him. Good tackler and has decent passing on him. Rocket of a shot too. He dominated us in the 1st half at St Mary's when he was taken off in the 2nd half we really got back into the game.
You may remember from the summer window, I spoke to someone who told me Yoshida had signed and about the details of the Gaston deal in advance of the formal announcements...
...well a user on SaintsWeb known as Crab Lungs (Ben) I know speaks to the same person at SFC, and he posted this up over there...
* Cortese wants Europe within 2 seasons
* He's going to splash to cash both on and off the field
* Firstly, expect a couple of big signings (don't know when, but he's going to really go for it)
* £1m will be spent on revamping the corporate/media side of things to be aligned with European football, for example, the ground must have 40 different camera angles for European matches (I don't know the rules/regs on this, but that's what I was told)
* If we qualify for Europe the stadium will be expanded, with an additional tier added to the Kingsland.
Not heard anything myself but haven't pestered the guy at all myself..... yet. May have to drop an inbox in the next 2 or 3 weeks.
Strange that......I was speaking to my little source on the same subject.........It seems Cortese is deadly serious about being in Europe in 2/3 seasons. The only difference in the conversation comparison perhaps was the quote "and we have to be fully prepared for Europe by then" It would also appear that Cortese expected us to finish higher up the league this season although he wasn't too disappointed where we actually finished. It also seems there was a big name signing that was going to be announced but once again something went wrong at the last moment. It appears they wanted to announce some big signing/signings before the season ticket office opens. No hints of who though I'm afraid.......
I'm glad the club has great ambition. I'm also pleased that everyone now seems to be pulling in the same direction. But talk of European football just seems a bit ridiculous to me. Its not that I can't see us qualifying, that part I find fairly easy to accept (fair play/losing finalist or even 6th!). Its just the strain of the campaign, it cannot be entered lightly. The high intensity pressing game, even with a weeks rest seemed to take its toll. Chuck in a Thursday night in Romania & I think it spells big fat trouble. Yes yes, we can buy eight more squad players, but we've seen how difficult it is to get the right targets let alone bed them all in.
For me, the best thing for next season would be a strong mid table finish, & a good cup run. Biting off too much at this stage could set us back a great deal.
I'll bring this up here as I don't want to make a new thread on something that has been previously discussed and it is kind of related here, if we are being linked with any CBs over the summer then surely the discussion around Forren has to be come up again? I still don't understand how he hasn't even made the match day squad at any point since signing, I didn't see him in any of the match day videos with the other players and I'm guessing he wasn't at the last game of the season? Is he even a first team player at the moment? I understand he played for the reserves. The amount we payed for him and the links to other clubs would suggest that he has ability/potential? Should be expect him to be more involved next season, are we going to see more of the same (the odd reserve game) or are we going to sell him on?
Could certainly have an effect on whether we purchase 1/2 CBs?
Forren has been involved in plenty of match day squads.
I recall Pochettino being asked about him and he said he'd feature next season, as he isn't ready, or something. Also seems to be injured a fair amount.
None of us know the reason for Forren not playing, but to compare to another player who came here during a winter break, when Ivanovic first signed for Chelsea he didn't play for a long time either, and you wouldn't say that was because he wasn't good enough. I think it is perhaps just too difficult to get up to full speed again after a few weeks off.
I'm not saying Forren is as good as Ivanovic, but the fact he hasn't got into the team ahead of Fonte or Hooiveld for example is maybe not a fair reflection of his true level.
I'm more than comfortable with just 1 top class centre back coming in.
At the end of the day, Forren came in during a winter break. He wasn't quite up to speed and by the time he was ready the defence was playing far better and it was a key stage of the season. I think it's evident from Hooiveld/Yoshida's first few games this season that it takes time for a centre back to grow into a team.
Forren has continued to play international matches and has been in and around the matchday squad and I'd expect him to feature heavily in pre season and to be competing with Yoshida (who should benefit from a good first year in the premiership) next season. He was scouted extensively and several top clubs were linked.
The key thing is to get the right calibre of centre back to play with Forren/Yoshida. MP was a top international centre back in his day and I trust him completely to get this key transfer right.
Really excited about this summer and next season.