I sense a situation similar to my invitation to Sam Armitage's wedding in 1993. The invitation is still in the post, unlike the marriage which is long lost. He hasn't replied to my email of two seasons ago so I'll carry on with my Greek for now!
He's not very good, yet likely better than everyone we currently have bar Sierralta. Decent age for a CB at least, could still make marginal improvements with regular game time.
I think he’s likely better than what we have. But is he good enough to make the requisite difference needed to pull us away from danger or even just survive at all? I am very doubtful.
We're going down anyway so getting someone who will probably be very decent in the Championship is a good move. Plus he's got to be better than what we have.
Planning for the Championship at this stage is laughable. Leeds, Burnley, Newcastle and Norwich are all just as much of a joke as we are and there are a few others who could still easily get sucked in. Giving up when sitting in 17th having played half the season and preparing for another Championship season would be truly pathetic, even by our standards. If our brain dead board can simply make a couple of astute defensive signings for this season in January, not next season, we have every chance of still staying up. Will they do so? Probably not, but that should be the aim. Our fans will continue to bend over if they just give up though, of course.
Considering what's ahead of the defence is pretty darn good, I don't think we'll need a world-beater at the back by any means, just someone who at least looks like a vaguely competent defender
Is it? Sissoko and the attack yes. But the other CM’s are hardly ‘pretty darn good’! We need a class CB and a more than competent central defensive midfielder. Even if we get a great CB, the centre midfield has not offered much protection to our defence. It needs sorting too - and we haven’t seen nearly enough of Etebo to just assume he will be good enough. We need ‘sure things’ not ‘hunches’. If we get a great CB and ignore the midfield deficiencies, I fear it will be of little difference in terms of survival. That’s why this window is massive IMO. Happy New Year to you by the way pal!
Well yes, that's a fair comment, the midfield is thin at best at the moment! Still, I feel like even a relatively modest improvement at CB would make a difference seeing as we're not exactly cut adrift at the moment. While we might have some money stashed away, with multiple areas we need to target, I'm not sure if we can get 'sure things' (if there's even such a thing), I don't think we'll be able to get proven quality (who isn't 39 years old lol) at each of CB, LB and CM, so I feel we'll probably have to take a punt or two
Put it this way, sign a proven LB and a proven CM in addition to someone like Hause, I'd be very happy, even more so if Sierralta and/or Nkoulou stay fit and prove somewhat decent at this level
Well, I mean, in this scenario if they don't we're down, so the latter eventuality must surely be the lowest barrier for happiness you are prepared to accept?!
Apparently Hause is a left sided CB/LB, so I think there might be a lot of truth in this rumour as he would be able to play in either of those positions which are definitely positions that we need to strengthen.
I have to strongly disagree with this. We need atleast two possibly three at the back and a quality DM. Sissoko can't run the midfield on his own, infact he was even asleep not tracking Souček for West Hams opener. But I can forgive that for all the desire he displays.
Yes, however good defenders are they will concede goals if the midfield is constantly overrun and can’t keep possession. And our defenders are limited to start with.
Starting for Villa as we speak, which indeed doesn't seem to speak particularly strongly to his prospective availability. Along with the Tuanzebe news, we can probably officially file this at this point.
Shame, he just did a horrendous attempted back pass that sailed over the keepers head and out for a corner, so he would’ve fitted right in.
https://twitter.com/mcgrathmike/status/1484122881416122376?t=pQRFMICqxontt1t1iUGZRg&s=19 Signing a new contract with Villa
Need to go back in for him. Villa signing Tarkowski and Carlos, as well as having Mings, Konsa and Chambers. Hause won’t kick a ball all season. Loan with option to buy, or obligation to buy if promoted. edit: Edwards probably knows him from there days at Wolves actually.
Left footed but not sure he’s good enough with the ball at his feet for the role. Not good enough for us to use as a loan player in my opinion. If we want left footed CBs whom Edwards knows from Wolves, I’d rather Saiss who is available on a free this summer.
Very good shout. Can play as a left-sided CB, decent on the ball, better than what we have. Makes sense all round. We won’t sign him then…..
If Samir is off we desperately need a left footed CB. Looks like he wants out too. Seems a more solid than spectacular type of defender but I'm ok with that.
He's opting to not renew a contract at a Premier League club where he's playing regularly, why would he drop down to The Championship?
Didn’t realise he’d been offered a new deal but: -pay -contract length -anticipated game time would all be possible reasons to drop down. But definitely an ambitious one, yes.
Saiss isn’t as ambitious as you may think…it’s definitely been mentioned as an option. Contract length (as mentioned above), possible captaincy and a pre-existing knowledge/relationship with Edwards are all reasons it’s not far-fetched. Although I agree, I’d be surprised if it did happen.
