Getting Business Done Early

Really liking the clubs approach to the transfer market this season. Going about our work quietly and efficiently. So long as we can get in another centre back and a striker I will feel quite hopeful about our chances next season.

I wonder if the early closure of the window means that Scott and Gino were intent on getting everything done asap.

 

Agreed although goal scorer who is capable within the penalty area is imperative.

 

I think it's influencing a lot of clubs. That and the World Cup probably seeing a lot of football's fixers and movers tied up in corporate lounges and on a jolly for the next month.

 

I would imagine a lot of clubs with interests in players playing at the World Cup would want to get deals tied up as quickly as they can, before they play too many games in the biggest shop window of them all.

 

My impression was it's been quite quiet so far across the premier league

Think a few will get caught out

 

Masina's transfer doesn't seem certain yet.

I won't be satisfied until a new first choice LB, CB and ST have been confirmed.

 

Yeeessss, we're not actually getting much of the business that we need to get done, done, though, which concerns me. We have absolutely no need whatsoever of a right back as it stands, we need a centre back to improve our defence but we haven't heard a whisper of that. Masina is a step in the right direction, though that still hasn't been announced, and there's been essentially nothing on a striker, which is another imperative. Deu coming back was great, but we'll still be in need of another winger too, unless that's the thinking behind having Penaranda here. If it is, I'm a tad concerned.

 

With the signing of Navarro we will have 2 right backs as Kiko has always been played as a right winger under Gracia. Deulofeu might be pushed more central now to play as a striker?


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I'm wondering if delofeu, pereyra and Kiko might share wide duties with Richarlison pushed more central.

He wasn't successful when tried there towards the end of the season but he potentially has the attributes to adapt to being more of a striker.

 

I’d say it’s far more likely that Pereyra and Del are used centrally than Richarlison. He’ll always be used on the left and occasionally as a second striker I reckon. Or did you mean ‘centrally’ as in striker?! If so, I apologise!

 

Yes i meant Rich as a striker.

 

You could be right. He is quick and skilful. Might need to brush up on his shooting though, and no idea if he can hold the ball up.

 

Richie was tried there once for a brief spell of a match early in the season, while he was still in good form, and I commented that he looked completely lost and ineffective in that position. People were still suggesting that he be tried there later on in the season, and low and behold, when put there again it was the same story. Sure, he's good in the air and moderately quick, but he's not good enough at finding space or operating with is back to goal to operate there; he only seems capable of running in straight lines. He also makes Gray look composed in front of goal.

edit: the last comment was a bit harsh - they both equally lack composure.

 

Pereyra looked quite good a few times when playing as a second striker, but only when he was supporting Gray as the two were decent at linking up. Deulofeu could theoretically do something similar, but between him and Pereyra I'd rather Deulofeu on the wing and Pereyra more central, as Deulofeu is slightly better at dribbling past full-backs and Pereyra is a better finisher.

We have at least been linked to a few CBs, such as Vida and Diakhaby (though the former doesn't seem great).

I don't see the need for another winger, even without Penaranda - Pereyra, Deulofeu, Richie and Kiko, with Hughes, Cleverley and Janmaat also okay at filling in there, is plenty.

Fran Sol seemed like he could have been the striker, until that deal fell through. Hopefully we sign another one out of the blue, in the manner of the Navarro transfer.

 

Vida seemed comfortable against ighalo, for what it's worth

 

Those weaknesses of Rich are all coachable. The physical attributes he already possesses. I am by no means arguing that he's ready to play the role, but he's more likely to learn to hold the ball up and play people in than Deeney and Gray are gonna learn to not be utter ****.

 

Ha, yeah not too much. Lovren also seemed to be making most of the tackles.

Perhaps, but I've also long concluded that I just don't think Richie is that good either, and that is ceiling is not that high. He plays mostly off instinct, and doesn't come across as someone who can be coached or learns very easily (i.e. there's not much going on between his ears). Even at best, I don't see him exceeding the level of say Yannick Bolasie.

 

What is it that you expect from a 20 year old? Yes he's raw. But how on Earth can anybody not be coached?
Richarlison has every attribute of becoming an excellent striker. Much more of a finisher than a creator imo.
He's work in progress.
A good preseason and hopefully he's completely settled in England will see him push on.

 

This is my view. His shortcomings can be overcome by any half decent coach IMO. If we invest time polishing off the rough edges there's a player in there.

I can see LR's point, as in the second half of last season he looked very one dimensional, but we can't ignore his first half of the season. Which is the true Rich? I like to believe the one we saw terrorising defences up until November and it's up to us to bring that out of him and more.

 

We can agree to disagree on him on his ability - one dimensional is an apt description for him I think. I just don't see which aspects of his game could develop in a manner which won't change him from being incredibly limited.

I agree that he has been better at finishing than creating, but I don't see that translating in to him becoming a striker - it has been much easier for him to find space and evade his marker by coming in off the flanks, in to the box, from behind his full back and so with the CBs not expecting him. When he is directly up against his opponent, either his full-back when they are in position and he is on the wing, or the few occasions so far when he has been tried out more centrally and he has a centre-back marking him, then he can't get in to the game.

 

If Rich can be coached to improve composure in front of goal then presumably Gray can as well. I prefer players like these who constantly get into goalscoring positions only to be wasteful when they get there to those that just seem to let the game pass them by.

 

I want to aliken it to a cold call salesman that is taught to welcome a refusal because it just means the next closure is even closer. I'm just not sure I can in this instance.

 

One things for sure with us getting more foreign players in some of our existing ones will definitely have to be moved on! Not enough spaces in the squad with only 17 up for grabs!


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This is part of my problem, I don't like Femenia being considered as a winger. He's our best right back, and he could well improve there still, and I don't think he's been as notably effective in the same way as a winger. It's the same reason why signing Navarro seemed like an odd move to me, but there's nothing I can do about that if Gracia appears to be seeing something I am not.

 

How do we know it’s not the plan to develop Navarro as a CB?

 

I don't think I've seen much evidence that he can finish.

 

Richarlison has more talent in his little toe.

(Fresh) Richarlison is there to bully and terrify defenders. All top teams want someone who works hard and creates something out of nothing.

Richarlison tackles back, is two footed and puts defenders on the back foot with his directness. He’s also pretty decent in the air. He just happens to be missing composure and consistency, like many young players do.

Gray’s entire purpose, as a limited hardworking CF is to hold up the ball and/ or put the ball in the net.

He’s got ok movement and scored a few tap-ins, but he missed far more than he scored and failed to give us an outlet in games where we were hanging on.

Gray’s not good enough to be our luxury player. Richarlison - based on the beginning of last season - is.

 

He's a good player, but I've seen plenty of talented players who are abysmal at shooting, and no amount of games or training can fix that.

Rich was particularly awful at even getting the ball on target, so to assume a coach will come along and coach accuracy into him is wishful thinking.

 

Why? Plenty of players have kicked on under the right manager. Danny Rose was going nowhere at Spurs until Pochettino instilled a belief in him. To suggest a 21yr old footballer with raw talent can't improve an aspect of his game is a strange suggestion to me.

 

Agreed. He should just retire.

 

Really? I think it's the most active it's ever been. Wolves and West Ham have made some decent signings, Leicester as well.

We have to spend some serious money to compete this summer, especially if we lose Doucoure.

 

Wolves have signed what, 4? that's nothing special for a promoted team. West Ham 2, or 3? Nothing special.

None of the big boys have done much, have Arsenal actually signed anyone yet? Chelsea? Spuds? Everton 1 or 2? All unusually quiet.

EDIT quick sum of the BBC list of transfers it looks like there has only been 20 odd signings in total in the prem, average of 1.something per team.

 

As of Friday 22nd June (16:42pm!) the EPL sides have signed the following. The 'Out' includes players who have retired or been released.

Arsenal
In: 2 (Lichtsteiner, Leno)
Out: 4

Bournemouth
In: 0
Out: 8

Brighton
In: 4 (Balogun, Tomlinson, Andone, Steele)
Out: 11

Burnley
In: 0
Out: 5

Cardiff
In: 2 (Murphy, Cunningham)
Out: 0

Chelsea
In: 0
Out: 2

Crystal Palace
In: 1 (Guaita)
Out: 3

Everton
In: 0
Out: 4

Fulham
In: 0
Out: 1

Huddersfield
In: 4 (Hamer, Kongolo, Sobhi, Bacuna)
Out: 7

Leicester
In: 3 (Pereira, Evans, Maddison)
Out: 4

Liverpool
In: 2 (Fabhino, Keita)
Out: 4

Manchester City
In: 0
Out: 3

Manchester United
In: 2 (Dalot, Fred)
Out: 3

Newcastle
In: 1 (Dubravka)
Out: 1

Southampton
In: 0
Out: 7

Spurs
In: 0
Out: 1

Watford
In: 3 (Wilmot, Deulofeu, Navarro)
Out: 1 (Mason)

West Ham
In: 3 (Fredericks, Diop, Fabianski)
Out: 2

Wolves
In: 4 (Afobe, Boly, Jimenez, Patricio)
Out: 17

 

So 1.5 signings per club so far.

What was your the total last summer?