[SIGNED perm] William Troost-ekong

Udinese are set to sign Bonafazi so Ekong should move to completion this week

 

How highly do you rate Troost-Ekong? Can’t say I’ve watched too much of him but he doesn’t come up on stats too favourably - doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade on Cathcart, Dawson or Kabasele, but he is cheap and younger so that’s good. A lot on here seem very excited by him, and he’s obviously a higher calibre import than the others we’ve signed from Udinese but I can’t say I’m energised by this signing. Is there something I’m missing? Some feature of his game that makes him a much better fit than the others?

 

He’s an upgrade on what we have, he’s Kabasele with better technique and fewer mistakes, also comfortable on the ball. I hate the term because it overrates a player, but he’s a leader, organises the defence - something none of our crop can do IMO. He’s still got some flaws otherwise he wouldn’t be coming here. For example he can get caught from getting too tight or advancing with the ball looking for an opening, and sometimes sits off rather than closing down

 

Thanks. That’s really good insight. Especially about the leadership thing. I know he’s pretty senior in the Nigeria setup and I guess that’s why. I’ve always thought that Kabasele would be better alongside a more complementary, someone that would sit a bit deeper and cover and allow him to intervene at source which he does pretty well. Probably easier for him or Troost-Ekong to do that in a three.

You reckon we’ll bring in a left-footer as well? Even if Dawson does go, 5 CBs is a fair amount, particularly if we move to a back 4. But the lack of a left footed is really hurting our capacity to progress the ball from the back. You heard anything?

 

Go back to page 9, I did a mini write up on him.

 

Most teams don't have a left-footed center-back. It's becoming a real trend to want one!

 

Or do you think we should outbid them for Bonafazi if he's better ?
It does bother me that Ekong isn't currently even a first teamer for Udinese.

 

This sounds like he's gone one further than his countryman, Isaac, who couldn't reach completion.

 

Well, they have all our money, so no.

 

I believe he is the captain of Nigeria, so I wonder if he might be parachuted straight in a sour new club captain. I was just wondering about this as I read the in depth analysis Markoa did on him on page nine of this thread and Markoa suggests he has good organisational skills?

 

We've already got a sour club captain. Do we really need another one?

 

Why would Udinese let one of their first eleven come here? They wouldn't do that even if we were in the Premier League!

 

It's good that we're signing someone for a change who could potentially play in the Premier League should we go up, which is after all the aim this season (allegedly).

 

Udinese wouldn't survive in the prem. He can't get in their side. Why do you think he'd be fine in the prem ? Unlikely we will go up anyway so not an important consideration.

 

We survived for 5 years with a League 1 back line. Upgrading to Championship quality is a massive step forward.

 

Given where we are now, I don’t mind this signing. But I’d be very underwhelmed had we made it in the PL. I think he’s a marginal improvement on what we have - but I thought that about Dawson and look how that has played out. I think he will likely just be another that is ultimately roughly around the same level as the others. He has some leadership and organisational traits the others don’t have mind you.

But much like @The undeniable truth , I can’t escape the fact he’s a bit part in a poor Udinese defence that has battled relegation in a poor Serie A for the last few years.

And it’s yet another sign that those in charge of recruitment are beyond awful at scouting new CB’s that are capable of immediately improving the first team. So it’s back to Udinese we go...

Positive signing, but not overwhelmed by any stretch.

 

Seems a bit unfair to label him a bit part player, he made 35 and 30 appearances in his two seasons there. So he was a mainstay of the Udinese defence battling relegation... not sure if that's better or worse!

 

Sorry, I meant it as in he's clearly a bit part player now and is treated as expendable and not a first choice.

I know we are in the Championship now and that's what is tempering my expectations a bit - but I just don't think anyone should be pinning their hopes on this being the urgent CB upgrade we have needed for years. I think he's likely to be another swimming in the same talent pool as what we have.

But for the here and now, that's fine. We are very unlikely to get the drastic improvement we need given where we are, I accept that. Unless we can pluck the another Ben White from somewhere like Leeds did....

 

If he can play our from the back a bit it will make a big difference even if his defending is same standard as the clowns we already have.

 

I'm hearing we are prepared to meet Udinese's £50m asking price but need to sell Sarr to C Palace in order to be able to meet this.

 

The other thing - if the rumours of his arrival are true....why the need for a 5 year deal? He's 27 already. Give him 3 years and let him earn more. This tactic of protecting an investment on a player (especially defenders) beyond their 30's is non-sensical.

 

Masina can play on the left of a 3

 

Why do people continue to peddle this line? He's nowhere near physically strong enough to play in the centre. If he was below 6ft, nobody at all would want him anywhere near the centre of defence. According to various stat websites, he's played there TWICE in his career. Once when we beat Saints and the other was a 0-3 home loss to Burnley when we were a joke defensively.

He can't play there.

 

He could play there in the same way that you or I could play there.

 

4 year deal with the option of a 5th isn't it?

 

Conflicting reports I think. One or the other - but both needlessly long.

 

Tommy Mooney played in a back three for a while. It’s about the blend.

 

Didn't Giaretta say that Masina was planning to leave until he got injured anyway?

 

I'd probably take Masina over Mooney as a pundit, so there's that at least

 

And Marcus Gayle.

 

Good shout.

 

I'd take Mooney as a squad option over Masina, so get it done Gino.

 

As Jumbolina says, a defender with a modicum of talent on the ball even if his defending standards are the same as the rest will be an upgrade

 

Cathcart & Kabs played for us for 5 years in the Prem. If this guy really is an upgrade on them, then I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that potentially he could too.

 

The irony in Ben White suddenly becoming good is that he was absolutely godawful for Peterborough at times