Rating the window

[CPFCSaturn]

We will have money. Well, we should do, was net negative last year and only 2m spent this window.

I'd agree on Guessand, and Bisseck or Diomande.

CM would be great, but we've got quite a bit of cover there. So not mandatory IMO. But I guess that depends a little on Cheick, and if we sign a CB freeing up Lerma.

I think centre-midfield is very improvable for us - taking Wharton aside, we have lots of decent options for CM, but it does very much feel like we can improve;

Wharton is top drawer, you assume one starting spot is his whenever he is fit.

Kamada hit great form for the run-in last season, but was pretty poor for most of the season - bit of a question mark as to what version we get going into this season.

Hughes had a fantastic season and was my vote for POTY, but can't help but feel that he overperformed slightly - definite question mark as to whether he can maintain those sort of standards

Doucoure hasn't looked the same since the first injury, now has another recovery to contend with. I'm also not convinced he's a great fit profile-wise for Glasner's 2-man midfield.

Lerma is a good squad player who can cover a couple of roles, but I wouldn't like to see him as a regular starter in our midfield two.

I think a Diouf or a Dewsbury-Hall would be a significant upgrade alongside Wharton.

 

[Gary St.Andrews]

ADisagree.

We have had worse one of them has just left Holding for example.

Ed had periods he was good I do wonder if he is one of those people who is very fragile mental wise which is what the problem is.

Holding never made it the first team and he cost a modest 4 million, Edouard on the other hand! 😳

 

[sprites]

I think centre-midfield is very improvable for us - taking Wharton aside, we have lots of decent options for CM, but it does very much feel like we can improve;

Wharton is top drawer, you assume one starting spot is his whenever he is fit.

Kamada hit great form for the run-in last season, but was pretty poor for most of the season - bit of a question mark as to what version we get going into this season.

Hughes had a fantastic season and was my vote for POTY, but can't help but feel that he overperformed slightly - definite question mark as to whether he can maintain those sort of standards

Doucoure hasn't looked the same since the first injury, now has another recovery to contend with. I'm also not convinced he's a great fit profile-wise for Glasner's 2-man midfield.

Lerma is a good squad player who can cover a couple of roles, but I wouldn't like to see him as a regular starter in our midfield two.

I think a Diouf or a Dewsbury-Hall would be a significant upgrade alongside Wharton.

Hughes was absolute mustard all season. Absolutely back him to mantain those standards if he actually gets picked regularly. Players lose form and confidence when they’re in and out of the side. Wharton and Hughes is a well balanced and top tier CM partnership. Add in a fit Doucoure, a reliable Lerma, a developing Devenny and hopefully an improved Kamada as back ups and I think it’s an area of strength. No need to add someone else to the mix.

 

[pssguy]

Disagree.

We have had worse one of them has just left Holding for example.

Ed had periods he was good I do wonder if he is one of those people who is very fragile mental wise which is what the problem is.

Edouard has 18 goals in 96 league games (inc subs)
Nketiah has 3 in 29 (albeit more subs) Plus he cost twice as much

 

[grumpymort]

Edouard has 18 goals in 96 league games (inc subs)
Nketiah has 3 in 29 (albeit more subs) Plus he cost twice as much

Not sure what you are getting at I didn't mention Nketiah.

I mentioned Holding who may have only cost 4m transfer fee add his wages on top which was another 2m+ so 5m for a man who did 0

Nketiah we paid way too much for bad business from the club even if he does come good we could have had him for 15m under PV but refused to pay that much a few years later we pay double madness.

 

[Casual]

I’d start Wharton and Hughes when they are both fit, unfortunately I don’t think the manager agrees.

Hughes was absolute mustard all

season. Absolutely back him to mantain those standards if he actually gets picked regularly. Players lose form and confidence when they’re in and out of the side. Wharton and Hughes is a well balanced and top tier CM partnership. Add in a fit Doucoure, a reliable Lerma, a developing Devenny and hopefully an improved Kamada as back ups and I think it’s an area of strength. No need to add someone else to the mix.

 

[PatrickA]

I’d start Wharton and Hughes when they are both fit, unfortunately I don’t think the manager agrees.

Agreed
The team looks better balanced with Hughes.
Hughes links up better with Wharton than Kamada does and we retain possession more.
Kamada is a good player, can run all day and is always available to receive a pass, so it's not a criticism of him.
It's more an observation of the functioning of the team.

 

[MrRobbo]

Agreed
The team looks better balanced with Hughes.
Hughes links up better with Wharton than Kamada does and we retain possession more.
Kamada is a good player, can run all day and is always available to receive a pass, so it's not a criticism of him.
It's more an observation of the functioning of the team.

Potentially, but IMO less potent.

We are a counter attacking team, with super fast transitions. So we rely on the 2 centre mids to have great vision, first touch and find a pass.

Kamada was pivotal in both the cup final and Eze's goal yesterday. I love Hughes dearly, but IMO we dont score those goals with him in the build up.

 

[Casual]

I get what you’re saying , but to be a counter attacking team, you need to have someone to break up play and win the ball back, which is Hughes.

Potentially, but IMO less potent.

We are a counter attacking team, with super fast transitions. So we rely on the 2 centre mids to have great vision, first touch and find a pass.

Kamada was pivotal in both the cup final and Eze's goal yesterday. I love Hughes dearly, but IMO we dont score those goals with him in the build up.

 

[PatrickA]

Potentially, but IMO less potent.

We are a counter attacking team, with super fast transitions. So we rely on the 2 centre mids to have great vision, first touch and find a pass.

Kamada was pivotal in both the cup final and Eze's goal yesterday. I love Hughes dearly, but IMO we dont score those goals with him in the build up.

I suppose the reality is that both will have major roles to play as the days of the same 11 playing each week have gone.

This time last season many had the returning Doucoure as a cert starter in the team based on his previous player of the season form.
For one reason or another it hasn't worked out for him and he got injured again.

I've no doubt the team that many of us think will be first choice at this stage will change in the coming months as that's the nature of football ( transfers, injuries, loss of form etc ).

 

[MrRobbo]

I get what you’re saying , but to be a counter attacking team, you need to have someone to break up play and win the ball back, which is Hughes.

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[MrRobbo]

I suppose the reality is that both will have major roles to play as the days of the same 11 playing each week have gone.

This time last season many had the returning Doucoure as a cert starter in the team based on his previous player of the season form.
For one reason or another it hasn't worked out for him and he got injured again.

I've no doubt the team that many of us think will be first choice at this stage will change in the coming months as that's the nature of football ( transfers, injuries, loss of form etc ).

100%, both have big roles to play.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

I think that Devenny will become a regular partner for Wharton during the season, and Richards is seriously underrated by many. FotMob looks a decent site