Thought it was time for a football thread on the board. We all know there was quite a strong interest shown in RoKo in January. With us being linked with Robbie Brady (see thread), recent club announcements suggesting Mr Bullard will be wearing a City shirt next season, the signings of Cory Evans and Paul McKenna mixed in with the imminent return of Cam Stewart early season, October time according to a Twitter conversation with his injury training partner Garcia. Does anyone see a place in the team for Koren when Cam is back and fit? We have further cover on the wing with Devitt. When we first signed RoKo last season I was very excited but that spark wasnât there apart from a couple of early games. He wasnât used in his favoured middle of the midfield last year and now we have an abundance of these at the club, Bullard, Cairney, Evans and McKenna and Harper; I can only see Koren on the wing and he wasnât exactly exciting playing left wing last year. Personally if I was Pearson and Nurnberg (think it was them in Jan) offered 1 million for his services again I would seriously consider it. Feel free to slate the above im just frustrated with lack of football to discuss so trying to spark some debate.
If we even consider getting rid of Koren i for one will be well disappointed. This season either NP shows he knows how to set up a team to get the best out of quality players or he is just going to be known as a dour well disciplined middle of the road manager. He wont ever get us relegated but he wont get you on the edge of your seat either.
I agree i am purely speculating although to be honest im not quite sure where he will fit in our team this year.
The problem you always have with Koren is how to fit him into your team. He isn't strong enough (or determined enough) to be a midfielder. He isn't fast enough to be a winger. He isn't a striker. I would submit you can only get the best out of Koren when he plays centrally in the hole behind the strikers(s). The problem with that is that that is a rare formation for us.
I'm not convinced he's creative enough to play that role. I think his best position is in a midfield 3, passing and moving, getting the ball to wider players and arriving in the box. I still see him playing a big role. I think he'll either play in a 3 with McKenna and Evans or he'll play wide on the right and come inside to allow Rosenior to overlap.
I presume he'll start wide right. He is a wide midfielder who likes to cut in. Double him up with an overlapping Rosenior and perhaps someone who hogs the touchline on the left and we will have good balance
Nobody has bid for Koren, the Nurenberg rumour was only on Talksport and was probably bollocks and as he was ever present last season, I'd still expect him to be in the first team squad. As he went AWOL in several games during the latter part of the season, I don't think it would do any harm to have him on the bench for a few games, it might instil a bit of fight in him.
AP mentioned the Koren situation in his interview. Basically Koren wants to stay, City want him to stay. The only one who wants a move is his agent. (don't know what was meant by that, Burnsy was doing the interview and didn't ask). AP expects him to stay one more year, then Koren will move as a Free Agent.
I think he will definitely tart on the right against Blackpool, in a midfield of Koren, Bullard, McKenna, Brady. But once Stewart returns then he may have a real problem in getting in, but it give us plenty of options and strength in depth which we didn't have last year.
That sounds like a hell of a midfield for the championship. Although i fear as soons as Taarbat heads to PSG when they up their bid QPR will up their bid for Bullard.
Roko's a great player but like you say, he seems to go missing quite a lot, thought it was a bit odd that not more people picked up on this last season but I suppose there are more obvious scapegoats to be had.
I don't think QPR will up their offer for Jimmy as it will disrupt their wage structure. Taarabt will most probably leave by the end of August but they may see Dyer as a replacement. I never thought I would say this but I would like Jimmy to stay with us as without him we will have no creativity. And now we have lost out on all the other targets keeping him may the best option.
I'd seriously consider any bid we got for Koren. I personally don't think he's good enough to play in centre mid as he's not motivated, can't defend, doesn't get back and isn't creative enough. Nor is he a winger as he has no pace and his crossing can be extremely dodgy. He'll probably start right mid against blackpool but when Stewart gets fit I think he'll struggle to get into the team unless we offload the likes of Bullard and Olofinjana.
Looks like QPR are lining up replacements, doubt Bullard will be on the list, but I'm probably wrong. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7036053,00.html
Brady isn't ours yet and no decent source for the rumour so no point speculating about him. I can't see Corry Evans not being part of our midfield either.
I AGREE MATE. Koren to start wide right and Liam over lapping. This is a big year for Koren as he needs a good season to get maybe one more good contract. Forget last season its gone. There appears to me a real drive within the club to do something this season. Shame some so called fans cannot see this. Bullard and Koren playing there A game can only benefit the Tigers. I hate rigid systems and formations. Flexability is the key. Hull City now have that a plenty.
Well there's a VERY good point. NP has signed McKenna to be the ball-winner / leader we missed last season. If Bullard ends up competing for a first team slot where does that leave Corry Evans. I know that competition for places is a good thing but how would you feel if you were competing with a player that is on more than 4x your salary, has been villified by the management in the past and spends all his spare time propping up the bar in The Weir?
He looks as good as being ours though, and there was a decent source in his agent, however they're not always accurate I know.
The quote from the agent is interesting but I can't find anything to confirm that David Lee is actually Robbie Brady's agent. I think Lee is on the level. He said last week on twitter that he had a player going to Ipswich in the next week. There's a picture of Lee Bowyer on their site so I guess he meant him. Totally aside but Richard Garcia's pic is on the site too.
