Triple A Threat and a Statement of Intent

[Sclox]

Triple A in place up front now it looks like, the A team is in place.....

If we can also get a quality CB, GK, young cover for big Joe and another CF it would be amazing.....

Why not Ekitike?

Has to be said that I am aware that HE would not play back up again but I'd love to see him in and he could be part of another tactical option to go 2 up top if needed. At some point Isak will be injured and I'd feel a lot more comfortable all day long with this guy stepping in over Osula or potentially DCL.

We need to start to think big going forward to be serious contenders and this would send a shot over the bow. One if our rivals will get him. Why not step in, he would be a great investment if nothing else and a psycological blow to boot.

Am I getting ahead of myself here?

[Ragatino]

No mate.

I stated in another thread that we signed Tino & Hall when we didn't really need to reinforce those positions.

However, they became available and are the very very best in their positions so the club did the deals.

We scratched our heads why Eddie had sanctioned the move for these two young elite full-backs when we all wanted to focus on the Right Wing, RCB etc.

The business to bring in the two elite young full-backs panned out to be excellent business that will see NUFC have the two best full backs in the Premier League on the books for seasons to come.

So much so that the former Premier League & Champions League Champions MAN CITY are desperate to Sign Tino.

Signing Ekitike is exactly the same recruitment strategy. He is the ideal, if not better/improved version of Joao Pedro.

Hugo can play across the front 3 and No.10. So he's a better option that Pedro in my opinion.

Hugo and Isak can play together with the likes to Gordon & Elanga to unlock deep sitting defences. Hugo & Alex are both super smart intelligent players who can no doubt play together in the way that Wilson & Isak did.

However, having Isak run flat out for 60 mins and then sub in Hugo and visa versa is a terrifying and mouthwatering prospect.

Certainly a statement should we bring the young Frenchman in. That will really put the cat among the pigeons.

Imagine the melt down on the swap, the red filth's inbred following rabble with completely freak out. They've got Cunha but that's it. They're struggling to even sign the 'nailed on' Bummo signing.

Bring in Ekitike would really re-write all the nonsense narratives.

I do hope that the club make this happen.

[Nufcian]

Think Eddie showed when both Isak and Wilson were fit that both get time, and both get starts… so any striker would be playing.

Ekitike is also a previous target, Eddie has form in going for the same player, his price might be the only stumbling block.

Add Trafford and Scalvini or Guehi, and as you say, and I’ve thought for a while, someone to back up the role Big Joe plays, and it would be an amazing window.

If Longstaff were to go I’d think we’d be in for a midfielder for sure.

Can also see one keeper and Targett also moving on, which with a possible Longstaff sale would definitely help.

[Zippity]

Aye, I agree-I've said before, we need a physical midfielder for when Big Joe isn't available.

And he will miss some games. He's missed 41 games since joining us.

Admittedly, some of those were when he was shit so it didn't matter as much...

[Jammy89]

Agree on the sentiment we need a proper replacement when Big Joe isn't avaliable.

Ekitike is an interesting one, he'd be a great addition and we can offer alot more than we could before.

As Rag said it would be a hell of poke in the eye to some of rivals.

[Zippity]

I think Ekitike would want ro be the number one at a club, tbf.

[Jammy89]

I think Ekitike would want ro be the number one at a club, tbf.

I think he would as well, even if both him and Isak played it would be known within the club and fanbase who was number 1.

[Ragatino]

Think Eddie showed when both Isak and Wilson were fit that both get time, and both get starts… so any striker would be playing.

Ekitike is also a previous target, Eddie has form in going for the same player, his price might be the only stumbling block.

Add Trafford and Scalvini or Guehi, and as you say, and I’ve thought for a while, someone to back up the role Big Joe plays, and it would be an amazing window.

If Longstaff were to go I’d think we’d be in for a midfielder for sure.

Can also see one keeper and Targett also moving on, which with a possible Longstaff sale would definitely help.

With regard to the CMF replacement. I'd prefer willock to go. More value and longyearbyen is home grown from the club. Willock's value had amortised 100% so he's pure profit too.

As for replacement.

I posted this on another thread. Loads of top quality replacements for good prices.

Load of more 'Eddie Howe type players out there. Check Out Antonio Mango's ( professional football scout and pure Geordie) review of who on the market.

Merlin Rohl - Amir Richardson - Lucas Gourna-Douath - Manu Kone - Christantus Uche

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnyeZT99n6E

Or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro1XH4xdVjw&t=904s

Ibrahima Bangoura - Javi Guerra - Jorthy Mokio - Eric Martel - Jaydee Convot - Djaoui Cisse

[Ragatino]

Can also see one keeper and Targett also moving on, which with a possible Longstaff sale would definitely help.

I would keep Targett. He's a quality player when fit. He has bren unfortunate with injuries and ecsma ffs.

He was Villa's player of the season beifre we got him on loan because they blew a fortune on that dud Digne, we got the better of that deal, for sure.

A fully fit Targett will be an excellent rotarion player for Hall. we don't need make more work for the recruitment team.

If he goes for regular football ok but I wouldn't push him, Krafth or Longstaff out the door.

Willock yes. We can get cash and we need something different in the middle.

Amir Richards 6'6" monster or one of the other beasts in the Mango clips I shared above.

[Nufcian]

I would keep Targett. He's a quality player when fit. He has bren unfortunate with injuries and ecsma ffs.

He was Villa's player of the season beifre we got him on loan because they blew a fortune on that dud Digne, we got the better of that deal, for sure.

A fully fit Targett will be an excellent rotarion player for Hall. we don't need make more work for the recruitment team.

If he goes for regular football ok but I wouldn't push him, Krafth or Longstaff out the door.

Willock yes. We can get cash and we need something different in the middle.

Amir Richards 6'6" monster or one of the other beasts in the Mango clips I shared above.

Don’t disagree about Targett, he showed during that spell on loan he’s a solid 7.5/10 at least every game.

BUT… I don’t think Eddie fancies him at all, we signed him right at the end of the summer when we clearly needed a LB, after impressing while on loan… just seemed a last chance saloon signing, which I think is unfair on the player. There’s also been times he could have been played, but Eddie chose to move Tino over to the left and play Jacob ‘I don’t tackle’ Murphy as a wingback instead of playing him at the end of the season… and I can’t get my head around that.

Definitely keep Krafth.

I’d sell both Longstaff and Willock if we could be sure of a replacement for both… I think Miley will, and will need to, step up again next season, get more games… and selling both players is in part to give him that opportunity. Last summer saw him come back physically bigger, think if we see similar this summer he’ll get the nod more.

Alfie Harrison is another young lad that needs games and time, but he’s likely to be back of the queue.

Add in a strong, physical, box to box player to stand in for/rotate with Big Joe.

I do know that would leave us with a very green depth in midfield though, so it is very unrealistic to think it will happen, and probably pie in the sky thinking from me.

I do think that a lot of Villa’s success (didn’t make CL but if they had beat Man Utd last game they would have), FA Cup semi final and just edged out in CL quarter final (4-5 on aggregate) by the eventual winners PSG, is down to the depth they have in midfield… it the fulcrum of every game.

I know we all want the positions we keep banging on about: GK/RCB/RW/ST and I don’t disagree, I think we are going to suffer with the lack of depth in the middle… we have a top class first 3, then the gap in quality is massive after that… and that’s the area of the pitch that puts the hard yards in, we will have to rotate next season if we even try and compete in the domestic competitions.

I think we need at least 1 midfielder in the summer, enabled by sales most likely, but that is the area we need to focus on mostly next after the above positions (imo)