Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

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SourPatch2 said:
Want to start this by saying that I'll forever be grateful for the goal against Sheff Wed and the assist against Sheff Utd, both huge moments where Roberts delivered. However, I think in football you can't be blinded by a few moments when the rest of the time he's largely been poor. If this was a player we're being linked to i'm really not sure anyone would be excited.

He had 78 shots last season (2 penalties) but just 2 goals (1 penalty), that's a non penalty shot conversion rate of 1.31%. For someone who is among our highest shot takers that's not even close to being good enough.

Then you look at the xG stuff. 0.05 non penalty xG per shot. Why does he shoot so much from bad opportunities when he's clearly not good at it? That just wastes so many opportunities to sustain attacks and build for better opportunities. Attached a shot map below where you can clearly see what he does, cut in and shoot. But the problem is that he just isn't good at it. His only open play goal over the last 2 seasons came on the opposite side (Bristol City at home). So in the PL, where we will naturally have less opportunities to score, do you want him taking a large % of our shots?
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His chance creation is fine for the Championship, nothing great but it's solid. 0.09 xA per chance created which is fine. But if it's the main selling point then i'm not sure it's good enough.

When it comes to dribbling and ball carrying, he's wildly overrated. People talk about how he wins fouls but he won just 1.04 fouls per90, compared to Mundles 2.31. He's actually dispossessed more than he's fouled. Progressive carry distance is miles behind Mundle as well.

His work rate is pretty good but the actual defending leaves a lot to be desired. We've seen with Talbi what real high level defending from a winger looks like, with proper pressing angles and body positioning (I know it's pre season but from what I seen of Talbi at Brugge, I'm confident he'll carry it into the real games). Roberts was dribbled past 1.61 times per90, compared to Mundles 0.31.

I know i'm in the minority with Roberts because he's exciting on the ball, but I just can't ignore all the evidence that suggests he's not very good. I think we've upgraded massively with Talbi.
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I know some haven't been impressed with him but I'm the same as you with Talbi. Just looks a very good footballer, once he grows in confidence and gets that experience of knowing when to pass and when to dribble he will be very good. Would love him to get a goal or assist early just to settle him down
 
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Scout73 said:
I know some haven't been impressed with him but I'm the same as you with Talbi. Just looks a very good footballer, once he grows in confidence and gets that experience of knowing when to pass and when to dribble he will be very good. Would love him to get a goal or assist early just to settle him down
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Training with better players and...coaching.
 
Chunksafc said:
Interesting discussion about squad size and needs this morning, a lot depends on if you think players here can do a job if needed or need to be sold / loaned etc.

Potentially we could line up Saturday with

...................................Roefs

Hume............Ballard..............Mandava.........Masuaku

...............Sadiki...........Xhaka.........Diarra

Talbi.......................Guiu.............Adingra

Subs. Patto, Huggins, Alderete, Le Fee, Neil, Rigg, Mayenda, Roberts, Isidor

Thats the team and bench full without including the injured / not in the squad players - 09, Cirkin, Mundle, Seelt, Alese, Triantis

And thats before some of the u21's come into the group for training / development
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No Le Fee in the starting line up. What is this madness.
 
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Think with DCL it was who was prepared to offer him more.

We obviously have more concerns about his fitness record than Leeds do. Fair enough.
 
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DCL is a gamble on his fitness and form, similar to the way we are gambling on Mayenda and wilson stepping up and Guiu to make an impact

Non of the promoted teams have a massive advantage over eachother striker wise I dont think - I'd probably take ours just over leeds but DCL if back to his best is a proven handful in this league
 
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Roberts best season for us was when he developed that partnership with Amad. They both supported eachother brilliantly, swapping positions, proving the short pass option, creating space for eachother....

If he can find that form again with our new midfield then I reckon he can do a job this season. If not, then it's bye bye in January or next summer imo
 
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DLC is a bullet dodged in my opinion. Looked great a few years ago but can't stay fit anymore (we have enough in that bracket already) and when he has played last season he looked really poor in comparison to when he was getting England call ups. All the reports have been about big wage demands (£100k a week etc.) it feels like he's motivated by the wrong things and will ultimately end up being another Rodwell that we would struggle to shift on after he inevitably fails.
 
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I'll believe we were in for DCL, think he'd have been a sensible addition. I don't believe for one second we were "ready to make him our highest paid player". Not with Xhaka at the club.
 
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CR17 said:
he won't be, that is why he was playing sunday
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Just as an aside, He needed minutes to build his fitness up, which is why he was in the Sunday game. Once he's fully ready, then he'll be playing imo though the competition is fierce in that midfield

It wasn't only our "second team" playing on Sunday, but first team squad who needed more minutes (coming back from knocks)
 
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