I am not sure Thompson is Prem standard given his severe lack of game time over the past few seasons. I wouldn't trust him to be fit either. For a CDM who needs to be tough and aggressive, you can't help but feel that he is never going to make it, given his track record with injuries. I hate the idea of a lad's career being ended, but he is just so unlucky. I feel it is imperative to get cover in. I like RER's idea of a "CB/DM player like Semi Ajayi" who could potentially cover both positions.
I concur with this, sadly for LT. And if he is semi-permanently injured and we have insufficient cover, it would mean either an aging, weak-kneed Tettey playing more often, or deploying (and to an extent wasting the vision and passing range of) Leitner or Vrancic in that role.
Reece McAlear, 17 year old midfielder from Motherwell looks to be incoming. Norwich near agreement on fee. We suddenly seem to have good scouting system in Scotland. Have we bought anyone from there since Brelier? Before this window I mean.
Bushiri sounds like he has his head screwed on - or has been well and truly Farked! He looks quite a 'unit', too!! http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-delighted-norwich-transfer-reveals-might-go-loan-extra-game-time/
Thompson only has a hamstring injury, so hardly career threatening. I'm confident that we wouldn't have given him a long term contract if there were further injury worries. Trybull is our current first choice DM with Tettey providing cover and Thompson as another option. Given that McLean can also play there if needed I can't see the club bringing in another DM, but I can see a combination CB/DM like Ajayi or Bielik to cover both positions as well as being able to play a flexible role during games if we play three at the back like DF is experimenting with at the moment.
Kasey Palmer from Chelsea for £4m? https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-norwich-make-approach-to-sign-chelsea-player-for-4m/ Agreed. Unless there's some disgruntlement or contractual issues I'm unaware of, it's unlike Webber to go after a player likely to cost that much.
Not quite sure why we'd want Kasey Palmer. Do we need another AM who can also play on the flanks? Good player but he doesn't score many goals for an attacking player. The £4m fee plus wages would exhaust what's left in the budget. IMO we need CB/DM strengthening more.
Not career threatening, but the number of injuries this guy has accumulated has stalled his career and if it continues he wont ever make the grade at the top level. I hate to say it as I really feel for the lad. I know DF obviously rates him, but if he is injured ALL the time as he has been, he is useless to us. Its harsh, but true. Tettey is fine as a short term back up or sub, but would you trust him over a sustained period in the Prem, should Trybull get injured? Again, McLean is good, but he is not a DM. He is not fast enough or positionally aware enough to do that role for a long time, if Trybull were to be out long term. We need cover there, big time, if we are to survive a League FULL of top class CAMs and Strikers! I agree though, a CB/DM like Ajayi would be great.
Bielik is reportedly unsettled at Arsenal and isn't in the Arsenal squad currently touring the US, which includes several young players. Given Arsenal's well-documented need for CBs (exacerbated by Koscielney's desire to leave), the conclusion must be that Unai Emery doesn't see a first team future for the young Pole. Rumour is that there's no shortage of clubs both here and abroad showing interest.
I also wondered about that. My guess would be that Heise tucked into the back three when we were defending, much the way Lewis has done in the past when playing LB. I agree with that Bedford - either Ajayi or perhaps Kristian Bielik from Arsenal, who played both positions on loan from Arsenal last year
We're on the same wavelength here, Robbie, as shown in the post above, written before I saw yours. AC Milan were interested in Bielik, but backed off from Arsenal's asking price. If a loan becomes possible, we could be interested though.
I think Thompson is probably training with the first team to see if there's any sign he could be ahead of Tettey in the DM pecking order. Yet another injury doesn't suggest that's likely, and perhaps he needs a loan to get first team minutes.
We seem to have signed a 16 year old striker as a 'scholar' in the Academy: www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=32964 One for the future definitely.
Bielik is quoted as saying he would rather leave Arsenal than go out on loan again; I think he wants regular first team football and, in all honesty, bar long term injuries that isn't on offer at Carrow Road. Furthermore, Bielik's being used as a DM (e.g. at Charlton) is comparable to Ben Godfrey's during his season at Shrewsbury. I think we need a DM who can fill in at CB, rather than a CB who can fill in at DM (we have one of those already in the shape of BG).