Can't say I'm fussed about Vieira. It's been 2 years of indifferent form since he burst onto the scene. That would be a major factor in accepting the offer, as Bielsa, I believe, would rather have a steady 7/10 player than a supreme talent that blows hot & cold. As Chesh said earlier, we can't really afford to take a £7m gamble on him recovering his form. Sadly very true. The other consideration is what's coming through the Academy. Bielsa has had a good look at them all pre-season, so knows what he has, & will have plans in place to develop the skills shortfalls he's identified. It's fair to expect the u23s to be further developed to his standards as the season progresses, so they'll be able to impress even more than they have already in the pre season.
So we can’t take a risk on him recapturing his form? He’s a 20 year old that has shown he can cut it at this level but we can take a gamble on a 24 year old Chelsea loanee coming good. WTF happened to developing our own as so many argued on here??
I don't think there's any doubt that we were prepared to develop him, but once a good offer comes in, you have to sit down & ave a right good think. He clearly was down the pecking order, was consistently inconsistent from the day he broke through, and at the end of the day, you have to be fair to the other Academy players who are still progressing. As I said, not fussed personally, but I can understand the reasoning.
I could well be wrong but I just think this lad is going to develop into a seriously good player so I hope we haven’t bailed on him too early and at least had the sense to insert a buyback or sizeable sell on clause.
And I've always thought that too. He's been a favourite of mine since I started watching him in the u23s. But .... can we afford to have him on the books to wait on him to hit the heights? No. Will he? Who knows. Mowatt springs to mind. His career seems to have been a blueprint for Vieira to follow - blast on to the scene, play well to earn a name for yourself, then have a couple of indifferent years. I didn't like Mowatt as much as Vieira. Vieira has more strings to his bow, but if you'll excuse this pun, they're a bit out of tune atm. Ouch! I'm actually pleased for the lad, tbh. He's got the security of a 5 year deal, reputedly on double his present money, and someone clearly loves him. It's all very well to 'stay & fight for your place', but it's really nice for a young lad to have someone that believes in him, and Sampdoria certainly appear to - more than we did. If he does return to england in the top flight, I hope that by then we'll have good enough players to stop him smashing us. He'll never be booed if he ever plays against us, that's for sure.
WJ, I hope you’re right and this isn’t another “we only sold him for..... debate in a few years time (again)
FULHAM (4-3-1-2) : Fabri; Christie, Odoi, Ream, Sessegnon; Seri, McDonald, Johansen; Kebano; Schurrle, Mitrovic. Coach : Jokanovic. SAMPDORIA (4-3-1-2) : Audero; Bereszynski, Colley, Andersen, Murru; Praet, Vieira, Jankto; Ramirez; Quagliarella, Defrel. Coach : Giampaolo. Does anyone else find this strange. Vieira in the team tonight but still no announcement on him being sold.
