If we need a winger maybe we could try to loan in Irankunda from Bayern..
I'm still hoping we can pull off Stansfield
A lot of us value your knowledge on Turkish football/politics, just ignore anyone that’s trying to wind you up, it’s just some banterI guess you are assuming I am on TR timezone?
Whatever, have your fun. 90% of my posts are criticizing Acun. Just check history, anyway, I won't post from now on in this thread. Enjoy relegation battle with Acun.
I watched the 1st half of Hamburg tonight to have a look at Meffert. The were playing a cup game against lower league opposition so take this with a fairly large pinch of salt.
He's okay/decent. He's got good size, brings a real calmness to midfield and anticipates danger well. He's solid on the ball (not a patch on Seri) but he's defensively better. The issue which stood out for me is that he lacks mobility and I think this would be a real issue. If he was on a free or cheap, I think he'd be a decent pickup but he's not the type I'd be putting £1m or Euros on the table for, especially as he'll have little resale value.
If I was being brutally honest, I think we could get better. I'm not sure he's enough of an upgrade on Simons currently and Simons can improve drastically over the next 6/12/18 months.
And I think we need 2 midfielders, one to play deeper and one that can play more advanced/box to box. If we take anyone from Hamburg, Reis was very impressive, looked a cut above.
The one player I’d want in that holding midfield position right now for City is Cheick Condé as I just think he’s perfect for Walter’s style of football and the Championship. You’re looking at £3-4 million at least for him though. Venezia are now interested in him but Zürich are being firm with their valuation.
Meffert lacks mobility but he was Walter’s first-choice for that position for four seasons at both Holstein Kiel and Hamburg.
He should not have communicated that, you rely on this guy at least 4-5 matches, mentioning that he will be gone is turning him into a employee on notice period.
I have heard Morton is a possibility for a season long loan again.
Ps I am not Baz.
Wilder on Jesurun Sak-Rakyi...
“Jez couldn't do more than 10 minutes. We had an email from Crystal Palace regarding his last week at work.
“It’s a saga for us but it has been a saga for the boy, more importantly, as we have not been able to get him out and train.
“He was here on Tuesday and did not do anything until Friday afternoon at 4pm when he got registered. If people want him to play 25 minutes or half an hour and he pulls a hamstring, groin or calf or something and is out for six weeks, well done…
“We are getting medical advice from Crystal Palace over the load he has done over the past two weeks since coming back from America (pre-season) and the advice was be very careful.

I saw Conde in the Shelbourne game and he's extremely classy & that price seems very fair.
Venice would be an incredible place to live though so we couldn't compete with that.
2. Bundesliga isn't the Championship though and I think Meffert's use would be short term. I don't think he's a player you'd want as a starter if you're challenging at the top end of this division but would do a job in the short term. I don't think it solves the Mika issue either, we'll still lack legs in there but you're swapping Mika's passing for Meffert's defensive attributes. And considering we've severely lacked midfield control, I'm not sure it's the solution.
Sounds like he should have been our first signing to get Walter’s methods instilled into the teamI get what you’re saying but one of the things Meffert is praised for is his energy and work rate. A lack of mobility is an issue but from the games I’ve seen of Hamburg under Walter in those full-match replays, he doesn’t hold onto the ball as long as Seri does. He receives the ball from the back four during build-up and quickly gives it to one of the #8s or someone else. I think that’s why Meffert and the #6 position is so important to Walter. He doesn’t want someone who dwells on the ball, takes several touches and slows the tempo; he’s said as much.
From what I can tell of Walter’s football, the build-up starts off slow from the keeper and back four as they invite the opposition press and rotate into positions but as soon as the ball reaches the holding midfielder in the middle third, the tempo quickens as they look to play forward passes to players in space. We’re not at that stage yet as the players are still learning and Walter has said he wants the current players to be braver in possession but watching Hamburg games under Walter is a good indicator of what it’s like when it’s fully-rehearsed. The holding midfielder in Walter’s system doesn’t need to drop deep to show for the ball like Seri under Rosenior because the goalkeeper and rotating back four are supposed to provide that advantage during build-up. Walter’s #6 just needs to be the springboard once the back four have successfully beat the opposition press.
I get what you’re saying but one of the things Meffert is praised for is his energy and work rate. A lack of mobility is an issue but from the games I’ve seen of Hamburg under Walter in those full-match replays, he doesn’t hold onto the ball as long as Seri does. He receives the ball from the back four during build-up and quickly gives it to one of the #8s or someone else. I think that’s why Meffert and the #6 position is so important to Walter. He doesn’t want someone who dwells on the ball, takes several touches and slows the tempo; he’s said as much.
From what I can tell of Walter’s football, the build-up starts off slow from the keeper and back four as they invite the opposition press and rotate into positions but as soon as the ball reaches the holding midfielder in the middle third, the tempo quickens as they look to play forward passes to players in space. We’re not at that stage yet as the players are still learning and Walter has said he wants the current players to be braver in possession but watching Hamburg games under Walter is a good indicator of what it’s like when it’s fully-rehearsed. The holding midfielder in Walter’s system doesn’t need to drop deep to show for the ball like Seri under Rosenior because the goalkeeper and rotating back four are supposed to provide that advantage during build-up. Walter’s #6 just needs to be the springboard once the back four have successfully beat the opposition press.
What the hell? Signs a couple of days before the PL season begins on a loan for £2M and he can only manage 10 minutes? Palace have had their pants down thereWilder on Jesurun Sak-Rakyi...
“Jez couldn't do more than 10 minutes. We had an email from Crystal Palace regarding his last week at work.
“It’s a saga for us but it has been a saga for the boy, more importantly, as we have not been able to get him out and train.
“He was here on Tuesday and did not do anything until Friday afternoon at 4pm when he got registered. If people want him to play 25 minutes or half an hour and he pulls a hamstring, groin or calf or something and is out for six weeks, well done…
“We are getting medical advice from Crystal Palace over the load he has done over the past two weeks since coming back from America (pre-season) and the advice was be very careful.
Sounds like he should have been our first signing to get Walter’s methods instilled into the team