Exactly, we have gotten into a place where the market is out of sync with performancePaying 1/2 million PA ?
Exactly, we have gotten into a place where the market is out of sync with performancePaying 1/2 million PA ?
England
You are way out!!Paying 1/2 million PA ?
England
England
Nketiah, Franca, Johnson - 3 deals that show that something is wrong in whoever is behind player acquisition. A giveaway is when the selling club is happy to release the player, and £20/30m keeps things ticking over nicely. In the case of Nketiah, we paid nigh on £30m whilst Arsenal later got Eze from us for going on £67.5m, so in reality we let Eze go for under £40m, as Nketiah has shown what many knew, he's not very good...You are way out!!
His wages are reported to be between £4.2m - £5.7m pa!!
We were mugged off big time. In a normal company whoever signed off this deal would have been sacked.
England
As I mentioned on HOL, I had seen Nketiah on Loan at Leeds and saw no reason to sing his praises.Nketiah, Franca, Johnson - 3 deals that show that something is wrong in whoever is behind player acquisition. A giveaway is when the selling club is happy to release the player, and £20/30m keeps things ticking over nicely. In the case of Nketiah, we paid nigh on £30m whilst Arsenal later got Eze from us for going on £67.5m, so in reality we let Eze go for under £40m, as Nketiah has shown what many knew, he's not very good...
Franca the less said the better.
Johnson, nothing to show that he's worth even half what we paid thus far, no skill, no presence, just a little bit of pace but I recall Usain Bolt fancied himself as a player once upon a time.
Thomas Frank whilst manager of Tottenham commented that Johnson is very good at arriving in the box, very good at running in behind defences and opined that these were his key strengths.
Much earlier, Neil Warnock commented that he is a player who gets supporters off their seats when he is in possession of the ball.
We have clearly not seen the best version of Brennan Johnson.
England
Towards the end of the 22-23 season, he recorded the fastest time in the PL that campaign at just shy of 23 MPH.Frank's summary is quite accurate. He's a poor man's Sarr. Not great against a low block, and lacks the individual skills to beat his man, but when there is a high line is good at getting behind and has pace to burn.
The issue for him, and us, is that Sarr is just better at the role.
England
In think in this case it is partly driven by the aforementioned signings of Nketiah and Franca.Will never understand why fans are so keep to write players off so quickly.
Especially as time after time, players written off early come good.
Be open minded, maybe there is more to come 🙂
England
England
I think I broadly agree with your arguments here about buying PL 'proven' quality players and that this would definitely apply to crazy legs Sakho and Benteke. Got to say I disagree about Cabaye, Anderson and Townsend, I think all three would get into my team of the last ten years. Cabaye especially had a class about him with his range of passing and general ability that made him stand out in the team of the time, certainly for a season or two. I am on the fence with Nketiah, I disagree with those who think hes cr@p but I also think we overpaid.Johnson is emblematic of the issues we face whenever trying to strengthen the side by buying big 'proven' EPL top flight players, rather than by developing unproven players from lower leagues, the academy, or aboard.
Previous examples of big money buys who were either supposed to take us to the 'next level' or at least provide a quality-for-quality replacement for an outgoing star man include Benteke, Sakho, Cabeye, Nketiah, Andersen, and Townsend. How many of them get in your all-time XI? Or even your best XI from the last ten years?
1. Any such player is almost bound to be too expensive, in terms of the actual sum and also value. The 'next level' looks like where we are now, a cup win and a lesser European competition. Neither brings in very much money, at least not compared to the cost of tyring to build a 'next level' side. If buying these players is to get us to that level, then the numbers simply do not add up.
2. Any such player is very often stepping down to Palace from a bigger club. I always thought a lot of the players listed above seemed demotivated by a move that probably signals the end of their personal rise. I'm sure they are all very professional, but that's not the same as being hungry. Human beings are what they are, whatever you pay them.
3. Often they can't be sold on for even the same fee we paid, let alone for a profit. Not only are we stuck with them if they underperform, we have often spent so much that we have very little left to play with in seeking an alternative player for their position. Usually buying 'proven' means less of a gamble. In this context, though, its a huge risk for us.
Turning to Johnson, not only has he not scored, he has been very poor in general play, in that he has been completely anonymous. If he was a kid from the youth team or a lower-league prospect, he would have been jettisoned to the reserves months ago, with the verdict that it was plainly all too much for him.
It's getting harder and harder to see that there might be a good player in there. If he gets a run in a different position and system next season, perhaps we will get something back from him, but it would increasingly be a big old surprise.
I've said it a few times now so I'm sorry for repeating myself, but to my mind the new managers first task, and the thing he should be grilled on at interview, is how he plans to get value out of the players we have spent big on, because we are very much stuck with them.
Ireland
We could enter him into the Olympics?Towards the end of the 22-23 season, he recorded the fastest time in the PL that campaign at just shy of 23 MPH.
England
In League One, I am led to believe that central defender Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff) is on the 'radar' of top clubs across Europe.I do think the Eze's, Whartons and Olise's are the exception. And that can sway what good looks like.
We've done amazingly well to get them in, enjoy them (and in 2 cases) sell for a big profit.
But its not a foolproof model. There aren't tonnes of they players hanging around waiting to explode onto the scene.
So we need to raid the championship when we can, spend decent money on up and coming players (Canvot, Riad), bring in the experience (Kamada, Lerma), be decisive and spend big on important players (Larsson) and also take gambles on players when they become available for resonable fees (Hendo, Johnson, Nketiah).
It was only a couple of weeks ago that Canvot and Riad were slated. And now after a bit of patience are looking like they could both develop into elite level defenders.
With Johnson specifically, he plays wide, chalk on boots wide. This system under OG wont get the best of him. New manager in the summer might change that. Regardless he'll learn new formations and positions over time.
Bermuda
Following on from this, Nestory Irankunda 20, plays as a left sided winger for Australia & Watford. Scored 2 good goals earlier v Comoros in a 5-1 win for the Socceroos. Him & Sarr behind Larsen.In League One, I am led to believe that central defender Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff) is on the 'radar' of top clubs across Europe.
England
He has scored from some excellent free kicks over a wall, celebrated with exuberant backflips.Following on from this, Nestory Irankunda 20, plays as a left sided winger for Australia & Watford. Scored 2 good goals earlier v Comoros in a 5-1 win for the Socceroos. Him & Sarr behind Larsen.
England
i don't think anyone has written Johnson off, however, many have quite reasonably expressed concerns at both his performances and his inability to influence games.Will never understand why fans are so keep to write players off so quickly.
Especially as time after time, players written off early come good.
Be open minded, maybe there is more to come 🙂