Be realistic, us or Chelsea at the moment? He still might regret it when his arse is sat on the bench every week. It’ll develop his sitting posture I suppose. You’d have thought if Brighton are loaning him out to gain experience they’d want him to go to a club where he’s likely to be a first team regular.
Well they’re not going to pay him more than he already gets at Brighton just for a loan deal so can only assume he saw a “champions league club” after him. Have they named their squad for that competition yet?
There’s also the point he doesn’t have to move house likely and as a young lad can enjoy the bright lights of London. As much as I love Leeds and as often as I’ve visited I don’t think I’d fancy living there
I dunno man, and im not smart enough to figure it out But here's the skinny on what Chelsea are up to and thats not mention selling there women's team for millions. 'Car park revenue' hotels, 27 year contracts etc. Now they own half the players from grass roots upwards. ****, my news paper boy just signed for them (and hes ****) Chelsea has developed a multi-club structure with its owner, BlueCo, acquiring a majority stake in French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg as a primary feeder club to provide players with game time and a developmental environment. While not a direct "feeder club," Strasbourg acts as a controllable asset within the multi-club model, aligning with Todd Boehly's vision to create pathways for young talent within the Chelsea FC network. The now-defunct Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem was a previous, and now ended, example of a Chelsea feeder club where numerous young players were loaned out for development. Clear as mud mate. They were more legit with the Russian mobster
Just imagine if we sold mes to rangers for a nice tidy profit and bought one of their 18 year olds for 5 million. What PSR profits we both could make. Shame we have no common ground
And there was me thinking that he wanted to develop himself as a footballer. Seems I’m just an old relic from a bygone era.
We tend to forget these are young lads of 20 They can do as they pleaseearning more in a week than most of us in a year
Allow me to bore you for a minute. I believe the following stats might suprise a few. Okafor and Ramazani are within a year of each other in age. If we look at the big 5 leagues (Spain, France, Germany, Italy and England) and European competitions. Ramazani La Liga - 62 apps - 6 gls - 6 ast Europa League - 1 app - 0 gls - 0 ast Okafor Bundesliga - 71 apps - 25 gls - 17 ast Serie A - 43 apps - 7 gls - 2 ast Premier Lge - 1 app - 0 gls - 0 ast Champions Lge - 24 apps - 6 gls - 2 ast Europa Lge - 13 apps - 2 gls - 1 ast Switzerland - 24 apps - 2 gls - 0 ast. World Cup - 3 apps - 0 gls - 0 ast. Ramazani has some serious catching up to do in 12 months. You can see the huge difference in career trajectory between the two players. I know which one i would want for a Premier League campaign. I understand the eye test and you rate Ramazani but I just feel these stats can't be overlooked at the ages of 24/25.
I hope Infidel doesn't think im getting at him, that wasnt my intention. The career stats just show that they have operated at very different levels in the game. For the record I really rate Ramazani. If he hadnt got injured I believe he would have had a really good season for us last year. However, we are in a big boy league this season and Okafor has consistently played levels above Ramazani throughout their respective careers. You never know, Ramazani might be a late bloomer and Infidel has the right to come back at me but at the moment, if we had the chance between the two, there's a clear winner.
This approach though, is what “could” land us in trouble. Let’s be hypothetical for a moment…. Our new stats lead approach tells us Okafor (those figures you’ve supplied exclude time out injured but happy to ignore that one). Now old fashioned Bielsa watches his umpteen hours worth of footage, dismisses Okafor and says go and get me Ramazani - Who would you listen to. Nowadays every club wants the finished article, it seems long gone where a coach actually brings in a player he feels he can work with and improve his qualities. Send Ramazani to work with Bielsa for a season, I bet he’d improve
Coaches dobt have the time to work on improving talent. Fans screaming Farke out after two games. He’s not likely to have the time to be holding ramazzinis hand or changing his nappy. Modern living. Everyone wants success now
So what does he do between Sunday and Saturday, we have a physio team who deal with injuries and he has a team of fitness coaches to work on fitness drills. You surely work on formation and tactics for the entire season, once you know what the coach expects of you and where you are supposed to be for defending or taking a corner then what If a coach can’t coach a player to be better or to at least get the best out of them they need to find a new job
The flip side is that Farke watches Okafor for years (knows his Bundesliga does Farke) and sees the talent in him. Then watches him go to Milan and get a broken foot early doors. Returns overweight and then suffers muscular injuries and struggles to get a run going. Then he goes to Napoli under Conte who slowly gets the weight off him and he returns to Milan in pre season in great shape. He terrorises Farkes team in a pre season friendly and Farke sees he looks in good nick. He gets offered the chance to sign him. He checks his squad and sees Ramazani as his back up option. He didnt select Ramazani the previous season because of his injury problem and he wasn't following defensive instructions on the pitch. He decides that he can get Okafor back to his best and goes ahead with the signing. I'd say that's pretty sensible. Hypothetically of course. I dont know if that's true or your story is true but we can look at the facts. The facts are in Okafors favour and Bielsa isnt the only manager in world football who can improve players. Most of the Norwich team he took over credit Farke for taking their careers to the next level.
Point being with a 25 man squad they all have to be ready for the here and now. There is little room for players who may or not make the grade in two years. Loaning him out was best for all parties surely
I don’t disagree mate, I’m simply pointing out how statistical based transfers carry dangers and I prefer the approach of a coach watching a player and thinking I would like them in my team If Farke wanted Okafor and he doesn’t want Ramazani I’m glad the owners sorted his request as nobody can say they never backed him
But I was replying to your initial post which was based solely on stats. Your second post makes sense and a much better argument that I don’t disagree with
