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Transfers Summer Transfer thread - 2024

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How Dry should our Powder be?


  • Total voters
    58
Struggling to think what Eze actually solves that we don't already have.

He can go past players but so can Maddison and Biss, he's not an elite passer of the ball either.

Unless we stick him out on the wing which is where we need a clear upgrade but it seems like that's underselling his ability and a position he doesn't really play unless we have a plan for him...just seems a bit too convenient for the club just because he's home grown and fans like it because it's a big money transfer.

Ivan toney is home grown and would be a big money transfer but few fans seem to want him .
Fans including me want Eze simply because he's a very very good player on an upward trend
 
At this stage know one know what Ange wants but we can guess, I'm just using logic in regards to what/who we actually need and the kind of money we ought to be spending.

I’m starting to think logic and guess aren’t that different.

I think we can see the skill sets we were missing: 1v1 dribbling, ability to keep the ball in the final 3rd and link with other players.

Eze has all those skills.
 
He's played out on the wing more than Eze has in his career- he's more of a right winger who will stay out wide and take on his man than Eze is a left winger who is likely to drift in and not hold width.

I think we need more players in our team that can simply retain the ball, keep possession but also possess the ability to commit men, beat them and open up space.

Eze ticks every single box of what we're missing in our front line.

Don't think being a touch line winger or not matters to be honest. We need to up technical quality and Eze has lots of it.

I also don't believe Eze can't follow an instruction of stay wide and stretch the play if given it. Udogie will be inverting regardless.
 
People get too hung up on profile fits tbh

We have no idea what profiles he scouting staff and Ange are looking for.

It’s down to them to make the profiles fit. As a fan the only thing I’m really fussed about is if the player is a good player or not. Do I want to watch them play? Can I see them being part of a team that could win things.

Eze ticks all those boxes for me.

We need to because the forward players we have right now are not good profile fits.

Kulusevski is a good player but not a good profile fit for Ange ball, same for Son.

If Ange can get the best out of Eze on the wing than fair play, I've just seen nothing to suggest that would be the case for him over the past few seasons, Eze does his best work coming in field where he can cause damage.

Actually this scenario reminds me of Grealish at Villa, he used to roam about the pitch and cause damage but as soon as City bought him they stuck him on the wing and he he was half the player.
 
I think we need more players in our team that can simply retain the ball, keep possession but also possess the ability to commit men, beat them and open up space.

Eze ticks every single box of what we're missing in our front line.

Don't think being a touch line winger or not matters to be honest. We need to up technical quality and Eze has lots of it.

I also don't believe Eze can't follow an instruction of stay wide and stretch the play if given it. Udogie will be inverting regardless.


Great post.

Is the player really good?

Does he do things we need?

Do those things help us get closer to winning things?

Does he seem like a good human?

Eze ticks every box for me
 
I think we need more players in our team that can simply retain the ball, keep possession but also possess the ability to commit men, beat them and open up space.

Eze ticks every single box of what we're missing in our front line.

Don't think being a touch line winger or not matters to be honest. We need to up technical quality and Eze has lots of it.

I also don't believe Eze can't follow an instruction of stay wide and stretch the play if given it. Udogie will be inverting regardless.

For me I want a winger who can go both ways, especially on the left side because that's where the space is.

Eze is a predominantly right footed player who is used to cutting inside on his right foot, rarely see him going round the outside on his weaker foot.

I actually think to get the best out of Ange ball we need traditional wingers, Pep had this in his Centurion City side where his full backs came in field and Sane and Sterling were playing on their stronger sides and they were relentlessly cooking full backs time and time again.

Having players who are predominantly opposite footed playing on the opposite wing kills any sort of attacking momentum because more often than not they are likely to cut in, their first touch will always take them in field where there's no space.

It rarely works unless you're someone brilliant at dribbling who is comfortable at using his weaker foot to stretch the pitch.
 
For me I want a winger who can go both ways, especially on the left side because that's where the space is.

Eze is a predominantly right footed player who is used to cutting inside on his right foot, rarely see him going round the outside on his weaker foot.

I actually think to get the best out of Ange ball we need traditional wingers, Pep had this in his Centurion City side where his full backs came in field and Sane and Sterling were playing on their stronger sides and they were relentlessly cooking full backs time and time again.

Having players who are predominantly opposite footed playing on the opposite wing kills any sort of attacking momentum because more often than not they are likely to cut in, their first touch will always take them in field where there's no space.

It rarely works unless you're someone brilliant at dribbling who is comfortable at using his weaker foot to stretch the pitch.

considering we had a touch line winger in Johnson who at times couldn't even start ahead of a cut in wide man like Kulusevski or pushed out to play left wing tells me that there is no blue print to a specific wide player in this set up.

Inverted full backs, sure.
Pressing high up, sure.

But wide players? They just need to be able to beat a man, keep hold of possession and create chances. Doesn't matter if they come in to do that, doesn't matter if they go out wide to do that. Ideally, if Eze comes in, Udogie goes out. Vice versa.

Detailed analysis before the season started showed that there was alot of variety in the way Ange's teams created chances. Could be from third man runners, could be from going long, could be from cut backs etc - the issue is, our attackers are too predictable. Son is going to cut in. Kulusevski is going to cut in. Johnson isn't good enough coming inside so you show him inside. Werner CAN do both, but there's no fear factor beyond it. We didnt see much variety due to the technical quality of our offence being so fucking low.

Eze can do all of it. He can beat a man on the outside. He can cut in and dribble passed you. He can create. He can keep hold of the ball. He can score. He's the exact profile our front line is missing.

We have quite frankly no one like him in our team. In fact, I'd say Moore was the closest profile. But the kid is 16 years old.
 
considering we had a touch line winger in Johnson who at times couldn't even start ahead of a cut in wide man like Kulusevski or pushed out to play left wing tells me that there is no blue print to a specific wide player in this set up.

Inverted full backs, sure.
Pressing high up, sure.

But wide players? They just need to be able to beat a man, keep hold of possession and create chances. Doesn't matter if they come in to do that, doesn't matter if they go out wide to do that. Ideally, if Eze comes in, Udogie goes out. Vice versa.

Detailed analysis before the season started showed that there was alot of variety in the way Ange's teams created chances. Could be from third man runners, could be from going long, could be from cut backs etc - the issue is, our attackers are too predictable. Son is going to cut in. Kulusevski is going to cut in. Johnson isn't good enough coming inside so you show him inside. Werner CAN do both, but there's no fear factor beyond it. We didnt see much variety due to the technical quality of our offence being so fucking low.

Eze can do all of it. He can beat a man on the outside. He can cut in and dribble passed you. He can create. He can keep hold of the ball. He can score. He's the exact profile our front line is missing.

We have quite frankly no one like him in our team. In fact, I'd say Moore was the closest profile. But the kid is 16 years old.

Come on Johnson? Johnson isn't anywhere near the winger I'm on about- a winger who actually takes on his full back - Johnson is a winger who runs in behind players and gets on the end of things so that's not a good comparison, a touch line winger or specialist like Doku who actually lives and breathes taking on full backs is a better comparison.

Eze obviously can beat his man but we're talking about where the space is, we know in this system the space is on the wing, Eze is used to beating his man in field and cutting inside - in fact that video you posted just proves my point - look how many times he comes in field and that's because he has an outside overlap. We know that in our system our LB will already be in that space where he wants to cut into hence why we need someone to go on the outside.

Udogie's position in this team is predominantly in field when we go on the attack, how many times did you actually see him go round the outside of his winger? I don't remember many times where we played with that setup? You said that Son is too predictable, well what have you see of Eze other than cutting in and going past his man, have you seen him go on his left foot and drag the full back the other way?

I don't have a problem with Eze by the way, we know what he can do and we know that he's one of the best ball carriers in the Prem and can beat his man with ease, what I'm questioning is why fans are so hung up on him so much when he doesn't really fix our problem areas and knowing that we'll spend that kind of money on a player who doesn't necessarily fulfill our needs, at least from where I'm standing.
 
For me I want a winger who can go both ways, especially on the left side because that's where the space is.

Eze is a predominantly right footed player who is used to cutting inside on his right foot, rarely see him going round the outside on his weaker foot.

I actually think to get the best out of Ange ball we need traditional wingers, Pep had this in his Centurion City side where his full backs came in field and Sane and Sterling were playing on their stronger sides and they were relentlessly cooking full backs time and time again.

Having players who are predominantly opposite footed playing on the opposite wing kills any sort of attacking momentum because more often than not they are likely to cut in, their first touch will always take them in field where there's no space.

It rarely works unless you're someone brilliant at dribbling who is comfortable at using his weaker foot to stretch the pitch.

I do take you point. It’s why I think it a huge error for England not to have a proper left back back up to Luke Shaw like Hall or someone rather than have to put Trippier there as it kills our width. Team balance is crucial.

Ange thankfully is vastly superior to Southgate but Eze to me would suggest the system will slightly need to be adapted with a more Man City style two number 10’s. Its feasible but I hope it is due to Ange wanting that rather than Eze just being an available option.
 
For me I want a winger who can go both ways, especially on the left side because that's where the space is.

Eze is a predominantly right footed player who is used to cutting inside on his right foot, rarely see him going round the outside on his weaker foot.

I actually think to get the best out of Ange ball we need traditional wingers, Pep had this in his Centurion City side where his full backs came in field and Sane and Sterling were playing on their stronger sides and they were relentlessly cooking full backs time and time again.

Having players who are predominantly opposite footed playing on the opposite wing kills any sort of attacking momentum because more often than not they are likely to cut in, their first touch will always take them in field where there's no space.

It rarely works unless you're someone brilliant at dribbling who is comfortable at using his weaker foot to stretch the pitch.

Eze can dribble either direction put quality in with his left foot.

But again that’s getting too hung up on profile fits again. Sonny played some of his best football in our last couple games from the left wing again. For all we know Ange might want to play Eze as a false 9 or move Son back to CF…

I’m not fussed, I just know that Eze is really good and does things nobody else in our team does. Those things make us better
 
Come on Johnson? Johnson isn't anywhere near the winger I'm on about- a winger who actually takes on his full back - Johnson is a winger who runs in behind players and gets on the end of things so that's not a good comparison, a touch line winger or specialist like Doku who actually lives and breathes taking on full backs is a better comparison.

Eze obviously can beat his man but we're talking about where the space is, we know in this system the space is on the wing, Eze is used to beating his man in field and cutting inside - in fact that video you posted just proves my point - look how many times he comes in field and that's because he has an outside overlap. We know that in our system our LB will already be in that space where he wants to cut into hence why we need someone to go on the outside.

Then that's on Ange.

If he signs off on bringing Eze in as a record transfer only to play him left wing and instructs him to cut inside where Udogie is, then he's a fucking idiot.

Eze is more than capable of going outside. Or occasionally switching it up to allow Udogie to overlap. Or coming central whilst Maddison drifts to the left.

The possibilities for drawing defenders away, creating space and panic in opponents is endless.


Udogie's position in this team is predominantly in field when we go on the attack, how many times did you actually see him go round the outside of his winger? I don't remember many times where we played with that setup?

I've seen him do it plenty of times Udinese. So he's capable. It's just a way of making us less predictable.

If we go into next season playing with predictability, Ange is fucked.

Which is why we won't. Which is why van de Ven at LB in some games will be a huge asset. Why Eze playing centrally in games will be an asset etc.

You said that Son is too predictable, well what have you see of Eze other than cutting in and going past his man, have you seen him go on his left foot and drag the full back the other way?

Yes.

Eze coming in may be predictable due to his tendencies to come on to his strongest foot. But he's alot harder to deal with than someone like Son due to how much better Eze is than Son at everything bar probably ball striking.

You can let Son go on the outside because he's not a very good close control, beat you with skill and pace winger. Even Werner is better than Son at that. And tbh, with the way most teams set up against us, you could probably let Son cut in too with how shot shy this system has him and the lack of creativity he shows when playing wide.

I don't have a problem with Eze by the way, we know what he can do and we know that he's one of the best ball carriers in the Prem and can beat his man with ease, what I'm questioning is why fans are so hung up on him so much when he doesn't really fix our problem areas and knowing that we'll spend that kind of money on a player who doesn't necessarily fulfill our needs, at least from where I'm standing.

He fixes the key problem we have though which is technical deficiency.
 
Eze has great balance to go by a man on either foot. More so than Olise who I don’t think I’ve ever seen go on the outside of a full back. He’s played wide left and right for QPR and Wycombe so not sure how Olise is a better fit profile wise if that’s what you think is missing.

Personally don’t think that’s how football works anyway. You do need certain qualities in a team and ball retention, 1 v 1 ability is something that we’re lacking maybe in the final third but we don’t have to be so anal about this player in this position has to do such and such. Good players will either find space, create it and take advantage of it. The idea that Eze, Maddison/Son, Udogie are all going to be tackling each is just not what will happen in reality. They’d get a feel of how they play and start adapting naturally.

Also coming infield is not the problem for Son and Kulu it’s their footwork and ball manipulation
 
Have people lost their minds about Gyokeres?

He’s 26 and had one good season in his whole career in a second tier league. in the season he turned 23, he managed 4 goals in loan spells at Swansea and Coventry. He had never had the season 22 year old Parrot just had in Holland.

I get that players develop at different rates but 70m for a player with one good season at 26? Incredible.

Delighted to see so many people watch Coventry and Sporting games. Or is he just the latest shiny object?
I agree with your observation.

It does make me wonder, though, how much Vardy would have been worth if we knew in advance his form for the 2017 season. £60m? £80m?
 
Eze has great balance to go by a man on either foot. More so than Olise who I don’t think I’ve ever seen go on the outside of a full back. He’s played wide left and right for QPR and Wycombe so not sure how Olise is a better fit profile wise if that’s what you think is missing.

Personally don’t think that’s how football works anyway. You do need certain qualities in a team and ball retention, 1 v 1 ability is something that we’re lacking maybe in the final third but we don’t have to be so anal about this player in this position has to do such and such. Good players will either find space, create it and take advantage of it. The idea that Eze, Maddison/Son, Udogie are all going to be tackling each is just not what will happen in reality. They’d get a feel of how they play and start adapting naturally.

Also coming infield is not the problem for Son and Kulu it’s their footwork and ball manipulation
I don't really watch him, but having said that, he's never really stood out, either. His crossing from the wing seemed shite last night. He certainly doesn't seem both-footed.

I'm reserving my excitement for a Paratici special.
 
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