"Ngonge m'lord, Ngonge! Ngonge m'lord, Ngonge! Ngonge m'lord, Ngonge! O-oh looord, Ngonge!" What better way to get the fans back onside and feeling positive again than giving them another opportunity to sing this classic chant? Step forward Cyril Ngonge, son of former Watford fan's favourite Michel. Cyril's a 21 year-old attacking left-footer at Groningen, who mostly plays right-wing but also sometimes plays as a goalscoring number 10. He was Groningen's top scorer in the first-half of the season, with 7 goals in 17 games. However, he's since supposedly had a bust-up with their manager and hasn't started a game since mid-January. He's supposedly been criticised for his attitude and lack of workrate without the ball, so should fit right in. However, the chance of establishing himself at the club where his dad was a fan favourite could give him the extra motivation he needs to kick on. He certainly seems to have decent ability on the ball at any rate, and we'll be needing attacking players with Sarr likely leaving and a general lack of goals from midfield. Given his current situation a loan with option to buy might be feasible, so could be worth a punt even if he only ends up as a squad option.
Ha, you're correct - turns out Michel supposedly suggested him to Giaretta 3 years ago but never got a response. Now seems like it probably makes more sense for all parties though than it did back then. https://wfcforums.com/index.php?thr...-player-recruitment.56809/page-3#post-2859612
Let’s be honest, 95% of Watford fans don’t even remember Michel Ngonge. I’m sure the email was deleted without being read.
If the Martinez as maanger rumours are true (which would be excellent) then maybe it makes sense to get a few Spanish speakers on board. Plus given our lack of goal threat a striker or two should be required in the summer. One possibility is 22 year-old Juan Cruz at Banfield in Argentina. Scored 6 goals in 16 starts. Should have just about enough minutes to get a work permit I think (needs more than 60%). Looks rapid and a confident finisher. However, he also doesn't seem a nailed starter for them yet necessarily and supposedly has just 18 months left on his contract. Banfield also sold 22 year-old midfielder Martin Payero to Middlesbrough last summer. All of which points suggest us signing him shouldn't be impossible (though we still may not wish to spend the few mil it might take to get him).
As an aside, I just noticed my two-year long suggestion as a striker option of Ercan Kara from Rapid Wien moved to Orlando City in January for just €800k with there being only 6 months left on his contract. He's already scored 2 goals in 2 starts. Could have been ideal for the Championship.
Are any if these Bayat clients? Or from Udinese... That is our market place. Or British players out of contract who then get moved or or excluded from the squad inside 6 months.
Well we're in desperate need of some top quality Championship players and there seems to be a few decent ones out of contract in the Summer, depending who stays obviously. John Swift, Tom Lawrence seems consistent in the advanced midfield role, both score and assist on a regular basis. Jed Wallace I've always rated to name just a few.
A rather obvious one perhaps but 25 year-old Ross Stewart at Sunderland - 2nd top scorer in League One with 22 goals in 42 games and seems likely to leave in the summer, especially if Sunderland miss out on promotion which seems very feasible. Maybe not quite another Toney, but seems the most interesting CF to emerge from League One since then. Should make the step-up to the Champ with ease, very good in the air, and good pace and feet for a big man. Would help with our current terrible ability to both defend and attack set-pieces as well. Currently linked with Rangers, Swansea and Norwich. But if we wouldn't spend the money for Toney we prob won't for him, even if he should cost a bit less than Toney went for.
Swift has been linked with Leeds and Villa, very much doubt we'd get him. Lawrence is alright but not great - not sure he'd offer anything more than even Zinckernagel; similar output. Wallace might be worth a shout given he's actually decent at set-pieces, which we've been missing.
We won't be spending any money this summer. After months of speculation Sarr will go to Udinese for £15m and we'll get a couple of their players. Throw in a few freebies personally picked by Bayat and that's our window done.
I'd really like us go for Brice Samba from Forest. One of the Championship's best keepers. He's a touch erratic but I've almost always been impressed with what he does. You'd lose him twice a Season for a stupid red card but you'd win a lot of games from his ability.
One that I’d love to see us go for is Scott Twine at MK Dons, especially if they were to miss out on promotion. Only 22, has 29 goal contributions this season. Capable of playing out wide or behind the striker. Scored a worldie free kick on Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday (1:45 on the video). Obviously as others have alluded to, our market in the championship tends to be free agents, Udinese cast offs and Mogi Bayat clients which is a shame because there’s so many quality young players in the lower leagues.
Looking for out of contract in the summer players from the Championship - Nick Powell anyone? Had an injury disrupted season but still got five goals from midfield, scored 12 last season. Attacking midfielder, 28 years old, bit of a ********* from what I can remember when we played him.
He looks a fantastic young player, scored 11 direct free kicks in last two seasons as well as some other screamers from long distance. Can pass and takes corners too. Reckon he'll have a similar career path to James Maddison, which of course means he'll go to another club as his Championship stepping stone whilst we bring in some toss from Belgium or an Udinese reserve. Most annoying thing is that the return on investment for these players dwarfs that of the ones we tend to bring in.
I'm sure there are plenty of excellent players in League One and Two that a club with a good scouting team would pick up. Unfortunately I don't think Mogi Bayat is involved with players at that level so that's the end of it.
Gino hasn’t spent a penny in the Champo and he’s not going to start now. Today’s article mentioning promoting players from a non-existent youth academy and the Chairman stating he wants Cleverley and Kucka in the team next season reinforces that. When the lie of ‘no money in English players’ and ‘no money in defenders’ has been peddled for so long by the supporters of a system that appears to be falling, it’s very difficult to believe that it’ll completely change.
He's certainly the type of player we could do with in the number 10 role. I'd considered posting him on here before but felt like I still needed to see more of him in open play. From clips I wondered if like Zinc he could be lacking a bit of pace and physicality to up his game; could be wrong on that though so I'll reserve ultimate judgement until I've seen more. His set-pieces could also be good enough to compensate even if he is a slight passenger in the rest of his play. He takes corners as well - combined with Stewart's heading ability they could be a deadly duo. Knowing our lack his set-pieces would turn to crap even if we did sign him, but for sure his profile should still be worth us considering. Funnily enough, I just found this article which mentions how MK Dons' supposedly previously embarrassing corners record has been transformed this season, and them signing Twine must have contributed to that: https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/spor...ns-look-a-threat-from-corners-at-last-3608918 He'd be fairly local as well, which could help our chances with signing him.
Yes I would be be happy to see this as it may mean we score outside of the box. Twine has a great strike and is decent at set pieces.
If he’s a set-piece taker then it’s an immediate yes. 29 goal contributions for a youngish player, one division below where we’ll be next season? Got to be worth a go. Use some of that parachute money that all the other teams cry about giving us an advantage.
Nope, because all our parachute money will be funding Cleverley, Cathcart, Kucka and King Ken performing the final acts of their tour de shyte.
Definitely a possibility if he’s available for a fee of around £zero. All our parachute money will be used to cover some of our payroll to minimise the increase in our debt, unless the unlikely event that we manage to sell Sarr and Dennis for >£100m.
Realistically Dennis and Sarr will go for around £50m to balance some loses. Foster we know is going, Bacchaman keeps telling us he wants to go, Cleverley's contract is up. If Kiko or Massina want to go then fine, to be honest neither will be a huge loss and we'll bring back the few players out on loan. I suspect that the rest of the squad will remain pretty much the same. We'll have enough to be a top 6 or 8 side. The problem comes a year later as we have so many players over 32/33 or out of contract - Cathcart, Gosling, Kucka, Louza, Sissoko, Kabesele, Rose (if his part of it) King, Sema and Masina. Thats 1/3rd of the squa, most who have under achieved or just aren't good enough, that need replacing.
Cleverley has a year left: https://www.skysports.com/football/...everley-agrees-new-three-year-deal-at-watford
Good point. Who are going to be the players we ostracise for no apparent reason this time and put in the "training outside the group stinking London Colney out until they go somewhere for a cut price" camp?
