Shogun wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 8:31 pm
At least Gana doesn't look like a man who is leaving anytime soon.
As much as I don't rate keeping someone like Keane, it's not that big a deal and it's more important bringing in footballers who are effective on the ball in the attacking end of the pitch. The major thing would be players like Harrison, Doucoure and DCL not being in the squad offering nowhere near enough in the final third.
McNeil 11 goal involvements in 1371 minutes
Ndiaye 9 goal involvements in 2441 minutes
Harrison 1 goal involvement in 2085 minutes
Alcaraz 5 goal involvements in 763 minutes
Doucoure 5 goal involvements in 2577 minutes
Beto 8 goal involvements in 1531 minutes
DCL 4 goal involvements in 1614 minutes
Kind of speaks for itself. Get a decent RB who can contribute going forward and and we can gel a team here.
Need a baller to pair with Gana this summer, then we can look to add a ball winner to replace him next season. We totally whiffed on looking at Wharton when he was showing major promise at Blackburn. Not sure who the big Championship midfield prospects are today.
I can see something in the Tom Fellows interest. Seems like he likes to play a lot of crosses (and is quite accurate with them) which theoretically means a less need for creative output from RB, buying us more flexibility at that position.
We’ll need some kind of rotation option at CF. Beto appears to have earned himself another season but he can’t do it for 90 minutes every week. I like DCL more than most but he does feel a bit cooked as an Everton player. Maybe we renew for reduced terms but it might be best for both parties to try something new. Not sure I’m interested in Delap for what he’d cost but have to have faith that we won’t overpay massively.
Will be interesting to see what the appraisal of Armstrong is.
He should almost certainly be going on loan again unless his recent spell has pushed him to a place where he can start most weeks. Would be catastrophic for his development to come back for a squad role.
Shogun wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 8:31 pm
At least Gana doesn't look like a man who is leaving anytime soon.
As much as I don't rate keeping someone like Keane, it's not that big a deal and it's more important bringing in footballers who are effective on the ball in the attacking end of the pitch. The major thing would be players like Harrison, Doucoure and DCL not being in the squad offering nowhere near enough in the final third.
McNeil 11 goal involvements in 1371 minutes
Ndiaye 9 goal involvements in 2441 minutes
Harrison 1 goal involvement in 2085 minutes
Alcaraz 5 goal involvements in 763 minutes
Doucoure 5 goal involvements in 2577 minutes
Beto 8 goal involvements in 1531 minutes
DCL 4 goal involvements in 1614 minutes
Kind of speaks for itself. Get a decent RB who can contribute going forward and and we can gel a team here.
The Keane situation is relatively small potatoes, and given what we've shown under Moyes it makes sense to invest as a priority in areas that are still not functioning as we'd like with the players we have available.
Given those attacking roles tend to be the most expensive to fill, wherever we can make do we should for another year as we are still limited by PSR.
kramer wrote: ↑Sun May 25, 2025 8:53 pm
Will be interesting to see what the appraisal of Armstrong is.
He should almost certainly be going on loan again unless his recent spell has pushed him to a place where he can start most weeks. Would be catastrophic for his development to come back for a squad role.
Getting players out on loan should be the academy top priority, certainly over winning anything.
It allows players to develop to their potential and allows us to create saleable assets.
There’s enough teams around England and Europe that we should be able to find temporary work experience for lots of them.
Winning the U19 cup or even the league is fine and positive, but if they just stay in the junior leagues they don’t often kick on.
Gana (hopefully) + someone who has legs to cover gaps and play the ball.
Or if Gana goes
Someone who has legs to cover gaps and is a bit more of a natural 6 + someone who can play the ball
Garner is a bit in between, ok on the ball, ok off the ball but can't really cover for Gana and can't really run the show either. A capable second for either profile for now imo.
Someone who can drive with the ball will be vital too.
brap2 wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 10:33 am
Quite excited at the idea of a midfield rebuild.
Gana (hopefully) + someone who has legs to cover gaps and play the ball.
Or if Gana goes
Someone who has legs to cover gaps and is a bit more of a natural 6 + someone who can play the ball
Garner is a bit in between, ok on the ball, ok off the ball but can't really cover for Gana and can't really run the show either. A capable second for either profile for now imo.
Someone who can drive with the ball will be vital too.
Midfield ballers are my favourite type of players and we've had a severe drought at the club my entire life.
Brownie wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 11:34 amLiam Delap’s representatives are in Newcastle today for talks. Delap really liked the pitch made to him by Everton
A decision is expected this week
(Source - Chelsea journalist, @siphillips_sport )
It does say in a few other tweets that European football is a big factor. But I guess we can only try
Brownie wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 11:34 amLiam Delap’s representatives are in Newcastle today for talks. Delap really liked the pitch made to him by Everton
A decision is expected this week
(Source - Chelsea journalist, @siphillips_sport )
Obviously much rather get him than not but I do have a sense of foreboding on this one.
Newcastle would be an appealing move for him tbf. There's a chance someone breaks the bank for Isak on the summer leaving him as first choice, but if not he'll get plenty of game time with them being in Europe and Isak being a bit injury prone.
Delap can also play on the right so providing he's happy out there I could see them playing him there a fair bit.
Howe also a very likeable manager who players seem to love playing for.
Liam Delap’s representatives are in Newcastle today for talks. Delap really liked the pitch made to him by Everton
