Just a small mention for this fella who has gone and landed the Golden Gloves award for clean sheets in the Championship. 20 clean sheets and a stellar performance all year for the leagues second best defence. We will need to have a look at him sooner or later in terms of first team football because he's going to only wait so long. Obviously Dubs has rediscovered his form the last couple of weeks and is a good keeper. Darlow had his best season since arriving. Ivan Toney got the golden boot too with 31 goals. Adam Armstrong was second with 28 goals. Good luck to wor Freddie in the play offs.
Personally I’d try to cash in on Darlow and have Woodman as backup. The strikers just goes to show how important it is to have a competent loan system setup. We could’ve easily managed both better. Toney as backup to Wilson would have given me tingles next season. Instead we’ve got a contract for Gayle. Shudder.
I also don't care that Carroll is on pay as you play, he's costing us money and taking up slot. The fact we are sat with having spent 40m on Joe, and Carroll/Gayle are providing back up, is just poor squad management by this manager, the previous one and whoever else is involved. Arma and Toney were hungry, we should have harnessed it. If we'd kept those two, took the money from Gayle and added the 40m saved on Joe, bought a top class ball player and top class destroyer, we'd be a different team. Yeah Darlow is fairly average so I'd be tempted to cash in now because I don't see his stock going much higher. I really like Woodman too, very modern keeper. Also was incredibly nice to my daughter when we met him at the ground. Very engaging. Predicted a 10-0 win against Wolves too (we got beat).
Problem is Woodman has already said he doesn't want to be a number two. We either give him the number 1 shirt or loan him back to Swansea (if they get promoted)
He will come in as Dubs understudy. I think Darlow will be off in the summer. Rumours are he hates Bruce and didn’t like they way he was treated when being dropped.
I just hope we don't let him leave for **** all like with Toney and Arma. Should have a 50% sell on clause with him, He'll have to leave us I'm sure. I'd personally have him instead of Darlow.
Agreed and it’s how they progress. I think Toney has the physical presence to succeed in the PL for a mid table side. Armstrong I’m thinking is similar to Gayle. Having said that I always thought he was capable. We have a 40% clause so we could take the risk with him. If it doesn’t work out we could always loan him back to Blackburn!
Very different scenarios and a dangerous attitude to take towards youth development for me. Gayle prior to coming to us he had a half decent record when you look at the number of PL starts. Plus he has still had loads of chances, maybe Gayle doesn't believe himself he's a PL striker? These are lads still getting better, they are only 24/25. I think a more relevant comparison would be someone like Ollie Watkins or Patrick Bamford. Plus each individual is different. Kane didn't have a great record in the Championship and League One (something like 14 goals in 50 odd games). But in the right team with the right players around him he's a machine. We just didn't have the patience or afford the opportunity. If these two are playing well in the PL next year, its gonna ****ing sting unless we've been taken over and no longer give two ****s. It certainly stings me when I watch Gayle, Carroll or Joelinton.
What makes you say that?. Armstrong is 2 years younger and scored roughly the same but in a mid table team compared to a play off team. Personally think he's quality and has learnt a lot at Blackburn.