I would say the fee seems a bit steep for a player who has exclusively played in Ukraine, seems an expensive gamble especially when compared to the rumoured fees that would get you a Moffi or a Guessand
Dovbyk has the physical attributes that Vanat doesn't. Vanat is fine, he's a bit of an all rounder but isn't great at anything, just decent at everything. For that fee we can do so much better, isn't Guessand being touted at €25m? I know that's more and his wages would be higher.
The poorest signing for me has been hands down Rusyn. Came in with hype and expectation for a decent fee. Didn't look remotely good enough, had a lot of question marks over position. I think its a major blip on their record. But I think its the only real blip on their record. Jewi, Hemir and Ba cost relatively little. Weve signed lads that haven't worked out long term that will garner us money such as Lihadji and possibly Ekwah.
Very similar to Rusyn's in that league, and Rusyn was playing in a worse team. Way too big a risk, for me.
It's probably best not to take too much notice of media speculation tbh. Even with players who haven't worked out I don't think there's been many who've been ridiculously expensive. The club seem quite adept with their negotiations and, lets be honest ... ... for the first time in years it isn't 'our money' they're spending.
Quite different, this lad is way more prolific Vanat 2024/25 - Games 28, Goals 17, Assists 4 2023/24 - Games 27, Goals 14, Assists 7 2022/23 - Games 25, goals 12, Assists 4 Rusyn 2023/24 - Games 2, Goal 1, Assists 0 2022/23 - Games 30, Goals 13, Assists 5 2021/22 - Games 14, Goals 5, Assists 2 Games played at ST - Vanat 125, Rusyn 98 Games played at LW - Vanat 6, Rusyn 21 Vanat more of a 9 Vanat 1.82m (6ft basically) Rusyn 1.77m (5'9 basically)
I think success and failure can't solely be put down to profit made also, sometimes a player comes in and does a job but ends up leaving for a loss, Mepham for example we probably paid a small loan fee, on the books it's a money losing exercise but he was fantastic for us most of the season. Hemir and Ba are young and cheap enough to make that money back also.
Not keen on this Vanat, but if hes got a good mentality it might make up for the deficiencies I think he might have. Faith in the model.
Being a PL club now should enable us to attract better quality,which,hopefully,will come with the mentality we're looking for. I think,under the KLD/KS regime,we've paid a great deal of attention to any target player's character on and off the field,without getting it right all of the time,but it's night and day from where we were the last time we were in this league.In recent times we've been shopping in a different market and there haven't been too many glaring errors.I'm also confident that we are seen now as a club which,as far as possible, looks after its' players.
Rusyn was never a centre forward mind, he played inside left in Ukraine which is almost a redundant position nowadays, the closest thing I've seen is Amad who played inside right for us, next to Roberts but not fully central and deeper than the striker.
It's a dream I have to see Amad fall out with Amorim in the next couple of weeks and demand a move to us!
I felt abit sorry for him at times. Think he’s best position was playing from the left in the stuff I read but had no chance with Clarke there.
I liked Rusyn but I've still not figured out what he was meant to do in that team. Can Speakman not find us a proven 21yo prem striker for under £20m instead? Preferably with a 6-7 year track record of goalscoring at the top level.
I think it's fair to say that we've signed some obviously talented players who have,for whatever reason,failed to establish themselves,probably because they couldn't get into the side in the position they are good at and were unable to adapt......I'd put Rusyn,Gelhardt,Aouchiche in that bracket....and there may be others.