Noni Madueke Interest or Smoke Screen? My left field hunch

Alreet bonny lads and lasses. How's it all gan?

So the Madueke link has come back as Mitchell seems to be getting his feet under the table.

All the media, especially the local press "Clear the air talks. Power struggle. Power Play. Eddie v Mitchell" Garbage annoyed me so much that I decided to take some time away from all the pap.

Obviously the Management team, including Howe & Mitchell were always going to sit and plan who they were going to sign with the budget available.

That's done now, nothing controversial or Machiavellian going on just straight forward business of football.

So, Noni Madueke's name is back on the lips and keyboards of the great incompetent of the local and national press.

For me, it's just seems like lazy journalism as usual.

I have a wild suspicion that the player we're going to sign is not Madueke.

Players like Isak and Burno were signed out of no where.

We're going to Japan on tour. My wild card idea is that the club is gonna sign the Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo.

Imagine the hype of signing the Japan international and presenting the signing Day 1 in Tokyo. The shirt sales would be massive. A purely genius idea of that kind of marketing would be massive.

The player himself is the architype of an Eddie Howe player.

Real Sociedad Player 65 Scored 16 assists 19

Work rate is crazy high. Does all the dirty work off the ball.

Would be a great signing! We have a great relationship with Real Sociedad from the Isak deal.

That's my hunch. What do you lot think is gonna happen?

The constant theme that's emerged is that we're definitely after a RW and a right-sided CB regardless of who the hacks seeem to think we're after to fill those roles. I think the rule of thumb seems to be that reports about the positions we're trying to fill are fairly accurate but the actual players are guesswork.

I like our new management structure as it might help Eddie oversome-or, at least, have to deal with, his over-fondness for certain players. It suggests that they have looked at Miggy's stats and have decided that, whatever else he offers to the team (his effort, his runs forward to get us up the pitch...er, his smile), what he doesn't offer enough of is what he's there for-creating chances and chipping in sufficiently with goals.

I'm a bit concerned about the lack of noises coming out about a striker, though. Would be foolish in the extreme-reckless, in fact, imo- to pin our hopes on Wilson playing enough games to fulfil that role adequately. He's definitely not as sharp as he was, either, so should really be a third choice (or maybe joint second with a younger, exciting player who offers something different).

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Originally Posted by Zippity

The constant theme that's emerged is that we're definitely after a RW and a right-sided CB regardless of who the hacks seeem to think we're after to fill those roles. I think the rule of thumb seems to be that reports about the positions we're trying to fill are fairly accurate but the actual players are guesswork.

I like our new management structure as it might help Eddie oversome-or, at least, have to deal with, his over-fondness for certain players. It suggests that they have looked at Miggy's stats and have decided that, whatever else he offers to the team (his effort, his runs forward to get us up the pitch...er, his smile), what he doesn't offer enough of is what he's there for-creating chances and chipping in sufficiently with goals.

I'm a bit concerned about the lack of noises coming out about a striker, though. Would be foolish in the extreme-reckless, in fact, imo- to pin our hopes on Wilson playing enough games to fulfil that role adequately. He's definitely not as sharp as he was, either, so should really be a third choice (or maybe joint second with a younger, exciting player who offers something different).

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I completely agree with you on the striker. In another post when it was announced Wilson was having back surgery, I commented that that was the final straw for me.

The guy just isn't available/reliable enough. He scores 1/2 when fit but misses 50% of matches in a season making him a 1 in 4 striker.

Still far far better return that a loser like DCL or Solanke. Worrying for me is that Eddie, for whom I have ultimate respect, patience and gratitude that he is our manager 'likes' both of those two absolute duds.

Eddie Howe has come up from the bottom of the pyramid to the top of the tree. He's got to shake off that 'small club' 'Bournemouth era' mentality regarding players. An acceptable level Isak. Or 2nd choice should be a challenge for the No.9 starting 11 position, not an understudy, a supporting part time character.

Big clubs have big players in the squad who don't play at long periods of time. That is what we need to realise as a club and the players need to understand that NUFC is big time now as we were in the 90s.

Our manager needs to exude that kind of energy too.

DCL or Solanke rock up at NUFC this summer I will be very p!ssed off and will be a very big negative for Howe in my eyes.

The signing of that calibre of garbage will sign his death warrant in the long run. I said before 'Signing DCL will get Howe sacked.'

I stand by that as a blanket bench mark for anyone who expects to be a first teamer or a get regular minutes that isn't better than what we have in that position already.

Hope this makes sense?

It does, Raga.

I'm conflicted over DCL. On the one hand, i think he could be a very good player for us under Eddie. On the other hand, his injury record is poor and our recent track record would make this a big gamble.

Added to that is your very good point about buying from the premier goods aisle rather than the bargain basement (to paraphrase). ffp obviously comes into play but we need to spend 'proper' money on a second choice striker and not do it on the cheap.

I wouldn’t mind us signing Mandueke - I think he’s good and has bags of potential. But, I believe he’s travelled with Chelski’s squad and so it’s unlikely for now.

I think you might be right on Kubo Raga - I've seen his name tentively linked in a couple of places and also an "unnamed Real Sociedad player".

You're also 100% the coup it would be to present on tour.

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Originally Posted by Zippity

It does, Raga.

I'm conflicted over DCL. On the one hand, i think he could be a very good player for us under Eddie. On the other hand, his injury record is poor and our recent track record would make this a big gamble.

Added to that is your very good point about buying from the premier goods aisle rather than the bargain basement (to paraphrase). ffp obviously comes into play but we need to spend 'proper' money on a second choice striker and not do it on the cheap.

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Totally agree Zip.

The old phrase 'buy cheap buy twice' comes to mind. I'd rather see us sign 2 or 3 isak, Bruno level rather than 5 DCL duds.

A player like DCL gets hype because he's English. The only 2 seasons he's scores more than 10 qe during covid, behind closed doors.

He's not been fit. However, last season he was fit. Started 28, played 32 in total last season scored 7.

Yes Everton are comically bad these days but 7 goals for a player who will be on £130k+ a week is an appalling return. If he was a tip striker he'd have banged in 15-20 and thr top clubs would be circling.

Toney Scores 4 in 17 for Brentford and he's been out the door since before he got banned for gambling.

smoke screen or no smoke screen.. this has been a 1 out of 10 window so far.. absolutely shocking..

I can't have that whole "but there's been a Copa America and the euros" crap.. other clubs are making moves and strengthening and we are standing still.. there is no positive spin at this moment in time

Villa getting business done.

I'm still not worried but the growing frustration is that any new signings won't have had much time with the team so we'll be starting the season with the same team we ended last season with.

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Originally Posted by Zippity

Villa getting business done.

I'm still not worried but the growing frustration is that any new signings won't have had much time with the team so we'll be starting the season with the same team we ended last season with.

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I just don't see anything positive right now within the club.. not everything seems right about Staveley etc leaving.. Howe has came out and spoke about his position and being supported..

I want to be positive about the season but I cant seem to wrap my head around any of it.. something doesnt feel right..