Championship - 2022/23

Sema and Ngakia didn't do themselves any favours at wing back. Maybe Hungbo can be a surprise in that position impossible to predict but definitely offers more going forward. I've no doubt Kamara has that ability to offer more going forward too. With a sitting midfielder they can cover both positions or they simply drop to a back four and Samir drift left and the right of the three cover the right side. But as you said the central midfield need to be in tune with what the wing backs are doing. No doubt the coaching setup are instilling it into the players.

 

Perhaps he does, though also maybe their best chance of the match came from him sloppily giving the ball away too near our goal.

 

Wolves supposedly in talks to sign Nathan Collins from Burnley.

I'll actually be a bit annoyed if this happens, as although he has potential I thought he looked a big liability for them.

One would imagine they could end up with a decent amount to reinvest in improving their squad.

https://theathletic.com/news/wolves-burnley-nathan-collins-transfer/3EbCHcAaLiGS/

 

Another club proving that you can spend money on young British defenders, and make good profit on the back of relatively mediocre performances.

Still, I’m glad we were able to secure Kalu and Kayembe.

 

Yes that was sloppy but then again Kabs and Cathcart did their hardest to give them opportunities in the first half.

 

Yes they've bought in young defenders but untried in this league apart from the one on loan plus he wasn't that good for Stoke last season.

 

Fake news, Nathan Collins is Irish

 

Yes Burnley have recruited but the defensive unit that they relied so heavily on is gone, keeper gone. They're are going to have to hit the ground running because I can see them struggling.

 

I personally think Burnley should be favourites alongside Sheff Utd. I’m amazed we are still 2nd in the rankings.

 

It depends on how the new look defence and keeper fair. Very difficult to replace those on the cheap. But it may well work out for them.

 

Yep I think the first three teams we play will be in the top 6. We have our work cut out.

 

I think the questions we have to ask is a) how many quality additions do each of the top teams need to compete for the title and b) what is the likelihood that each club pulls their finger out and comes up with the goods. Not confident on b) but I think we’re as close as anyone else on a).

Burnley - some great additions, but still need a GK and at least one striker but probably two: 2/3 players required.
Sheff Utd - replacement for Gibbs-White, striker - 2.
Norwich - CM and CAM (though even then I can’t see it if I’m honest) - 2
Watford - RCB, CM and a striker - 3
WBA - CB, CM, RB - 3 + a different manager.
Boro - 2 strikers, CM, GK - 4

So of the 6 sides I’d consider to be the likeliest/with the most resources, everyone still has a lot of work to do. If Sheff Utd can somehow find a Gibbs-White replacement, they’ll be well-placed as they have a great squad that’s fairly settled. For all of Burnley’s exciting additions, there is far more change at the club than they’ve seen in the last three years or so combined so unclear how that shakes out.

 

Realistically, with Louza out for at least the first month, does that not mean we need two CMs - whether or not (as the age old refrain goes) we can actually expect that need to be met?

 

Maybe. I do think we have a lot of bodies (Quina, Asprilla, Dele-Bashiru and even Kayembe) who we woukd typically hope step up for a month or so in the case of injuries though I think with the fixture list/it being the first month we may want to. That said, I didn’t dig into fitness states when doing this analysis. It’s more based on hypothetical best XIs (and besides, where there are known injuries I didn’t factor in, such as Hayden at Norwich who had surgery this week or something).

 

Think Gino et al have done rather a lot of that fairly unfounded hoping in recent times, and it has basically never worked out.

Noted on the second part, though.

 

Seconded. The attitude around the whole place changed post semi final, thought they were all big time Charlie’s after that. The fact we only one ONCE after that (which was against doomed Huddersfield) shows just how badly things went.

The mentality and attitude has remained ever since and it stinks

 

Yes will be a Long shot. Or two.

 

Gibbs-White has been close to the best player in the Champ in the last couple of seaosns when fit (aside from Mitrovic). He won't be simple to replace.

Even with him playing I was very unimpressed with them in the playoffs.

 

Won't be a problem with Kompany as manager

 

Louza out is a major blow.
Who will be the creative midfield player now? We are very limited in the midfield area.
We still need 4 or 5 players to come in.

 

We shall wait and see.

 

Rob Edwards talking up one foot Kayembe. That's going to be our ever present midfield linchpin this season then.

 

Yup heard that and it's worrying.

 

Edwards has only seen him every day in Championship training for 4 weeks. We’ve seen him play in as many as 13 Premier League games, so it’s understandable that we have a much clearer understanding of his likely contribution to a Championship side than his manager.

 

Don't really get what your point is here. People shouldn't have an opinion about Kayembe? Or shouldn't be worried? Or that football managers never misjudge players or have to make the best of what they're given?

 

Hasn't he actually played quite well this pre-season?

 

So you’re agreeing we’re best to judge? Because that’s what it sounds like?

 

Presumably you still stand by Mazzari refusing to play Doucoure and trying to shovel him out of the door before he’d had a chance? Managers can never be wrong right.

 

Quite well is good enough then is it?

 

Huh?

 

Bold claim, what’s your source on this?

 

The point is, if it’s worrying explain why. In other words, explain why you believe that your assessment of a newly-arrived player thrown into a league containing some of the best teams in Europe should not be negated by the assessment of a professional football manager who has watched him at close quarters every day for four weeks, preparing for a league which absolutely does not contain any of the best teams in Europe. The implication of your statement is that Edwards’ opinion on Kayembe’s abilities at this level are somehow trivial. I’m not worried, nor am I optimistic. As Mao said when asked about the historical importance of the French Revolution - “It’s too early to tell”. (I may have made that up).