Transfer in's and out's rumours etc.

[whitestomper45]

Never "at war" with anyone Mrs O, just have quite firm opinions, that require (further) evidence if they are to change.

I stick by what I said about Rodrigo, he has no PL experience to speak of, plays for a middle-order team in La Liga, and was injured for the latter part of the season, so he might be a star, he might be a flop. The club obviously believe the former. I honestly hope they are right, but I have my doubts.

The other Rodrigo is equally uninspiring (IMHO) in that he plays for an even more middling club who win nothing and go nowhere. He may well have a scoring ratio that is as good as Bamford (and actually better than the first Rodrigo) but as I say, for a team that goes nowhere and wins nothing. He has no Pl or English league experience, so an even greater unknown.

I have gone on record to say I like Gelhardt, and I hope he gets 1st team game time, even if a sub or in cup competitions to see how he stands up, but he is built, fast, knows where the net is and I hope he gets opportunity to show he can "do it" in the PL, but we will see.

Robin Koch....hmm, plays for a club that flip flops between Bundesliga and 2. As a defender you can't expect him to be a goal machine, but the fact that he played as part of the defence that got Freiburg promoted to (and then stayed in) the Bundesliga suggests he has promise. We will see, again!

All the youngsters coming in? We had an excellent U23 squad last season, finishing top of the U23 standings. So what exactly are the newcomers bringing to the party that we didn't have already? None have significant English league experience,, all are coming into the squad having played in positions that have a certain degree of strength in depth, so squad resilience isn't a standout feature of any. We won't know if Orta and the rest of those who advise on new acquisitions has "done well" until they start playing and results show one way or t'other.

We had an exciting U23 squad, I don't honestly see what the newcomers add, apart from squad size (which may be useful IF they are given 1st team opportunities to provide some respite for the 1st team "regulars", over to you Sr Bielsa).

It's a strange one to be sure, given what you say about the relatively quiet transfer market this time round (resulting in large part from the Covid thing, and to an extent the impending Brexit date), that we have been scooping up relatively large numbers of youth team players.

And of course I don't have "crystal ball hindsight" (couldn't resist the dig, could you?). I say again, when I've been wrong I've said as much, (e.g. Bielsa, Harrison, Bamford (a qualified admission on my part) etc), and will do so again, if that's how the players fortunes turn out, which I genuinely hope is the case (hope triumphing over expectation). I trust that others who have differing opinions will be honourable enough to do the same.

Is it any wonder folk wonder about your flip flop attitude towards signings.... you don't like any of the signings/targets currently on international duty yet you approve of a player who played for a 2nd tier club and like Rodrigo has been sold in a firesale, yet from the 20 2nd tier matches he played as a CF he scored 1 goal.... I wish him well like all our signings but what is your logic in differential assessment of these signings???

[asturianblanco]

turned into a bit of a sh!tshow this thread, time to move on methinks....

[Billyni]

Isnt Guarvoli another one for the future same as Gelhard, or are they both game possibilities?

[WTF11]

Isnt Guarvoli another one for the future same as Gelhard, or are they both game possibilities?

Haven't seen Guarvoli, but would like to see what Gelhardt can do, maybe in the Caraboa games (and not just the Dull one, provided we get through!)

[WTF11]

Isnt Guarvoli another one for the future same as Gelhard, or are they both game possibilities?

"one for the future" when he's worked out which net he's supposed to be defending?

"In the round of 16 against Bayern Munich on 4 March, Gvardiol reflected Leon Dajaku's shot into his own net to set the score to 2–2. In the resulting shootout, he successfully converted his attempt again as Dinamo won 6–5 and progressed to the quarter-finals.[14] On 25 June, Gvardiol signed a five-year contract with Dinamo.[15] On 5 July, in the derby against Rijeka when the league title was already mathematically secured, Gvardiol reflected Franko Andrijašević's shot into his own net as Rijeka won 2–0, which would eventually cost coach Igor Jovićević his job."

If you count own goals, that's three (not including penalty shoot outs!) in 11 appearances

Quite impressive!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Ferdinand, Pallister, Radebe etc made a few howlers in their early days but didn’t mean they weren’t good players.

Cooper lost 6-1 to Liverpool when playing as a kid for Hull doesn’t mean he hasn’t progressed.

Who exactly would you sign WTF?

[WTF11]

Ferdinand, Pallister, Radebe etc made a few howlers in their early days but didn’t mean they weren’t good players.

Cooper lost 6-1 to Liverpool when playing as a kid for Hull doesn’t mean he hasn’t progressed.

Who exactly would you sign WTF?

I didn't say they didn't, just that 2 own goals in 11 matches is a bit "special".

As for who I'd sign, I think I've already said I would have had Benrahma and Watkins. Not sure about others, haven't really spent a lot of time researching (unlikely I'd ever get consulted!), although the young lad from Feyenoord Summerville looks quick and skillful, just a shame he's so lightweight (but you on't have to be built like a brick sh1thouse to play forward (although it helps (sometimes))

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Back on topic - seems Gvardiol deal about to complete today or tomorrow.

Crazy how many players still away with International Squads so close to season start

[WTF11]

Back on topic - seems Gvardiol deal about to complete today or tomorrow.

Crazy how many players still away with International Squads so close to season start

The whole schedule (for representative internationals (competitive or otherwise), European club competitions etc etc), is going to be bonkers for a while (how long is a while, we shall see!), but at least it's the same for all clubs (at least those who are involved in multiple competitions and have internationals in their squad.

[cherrypie7]

Back on topic - seems Gvardiol deal about to complete today or tomorrow.

Crazy how many players still away with International Squads so close to season start

Yes, agreed. And Liverpool frontline Salah, Firminho and Mane have trained and played 2 seasons together, while our backline have barely even trained together. I can't see it being less than a 3-0 loss on Saturday. And that's being optimistic.