- Joined
- 23 May 2000
- Messages
- 23,993
- Reaction score
- 15,565
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Rico WAS our best left back for ages. Unfortunately he now has to prove he still is.
General Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
- Thread starter Banana
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 143
- Views 8K
TOXIC BEE
Kind bloke and all round great guy
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Pre ACL I would have 100% agreed with you on Rico but not so sure now. He wasn’t bad last season but don’t think he was great either. Natural full back or not I thought KLP did a better job than him when given the chance, and would be surprised if Rico started the season anywhere other than the bench.
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I do agree with your post re he hasn’t come back from injury quite the same player. However I still think and hope he would be first choice. If this is the case, going into the season with KLP as our first choice left back would be a bit disappointing
Jay Bee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Hickey can absolutely play left back, and not just cover there... he was Bologna's left back for two years.
We signed him to play right back because we needed a right back at the time, not because he wasn't up to the left sided job.
Maybe that wasn't the emphasis you meant but just wanted to add that him covering there is not like, say, Ghoddos or Canos covering as a wing back.
And nothing against Rico of course.
Wooburn Bee
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I always think we are a more balanced team with Hickey in it because of his defensive nous and technical ability. Question is can he play week in week out, last season I recall Keith rotated Rico and Aaron a lot which made perfect sense given their injury records. Seems though that KLP is first choice left back, from the potential candidates available to us.
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
2 senior players (if you count JDS as a RW which is where I see him most likely to pick up minutes in our current system) and one U21 (if we sign guagua) in every position on the pitch. Keith likes a lean squad so I expect we'll see more go. My prediction would be something in the high 20s, so 2-5 more outgoings mostly coming from youth loans, unless an offer comes in we can't turn down or a senior squad player wants to move on for minutes.
That said, with Ji-Soo being in the last year of his contract with Fredrick Schuster and Arthur further ahead than him and Stephenson coming up behind I think might be sold.
Bigbee
Well-known member
WARFIELD BEE
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Injury to IT or CW would leave us light, I know KS can play there but not ideal imo.
kaebess
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Not only does Rico need to learn to trust his body again, he also needs to adapt his game, as our style of play changed substantially while he was unfortunately injured.
The level of intensity these guys have to play at, no wonder it takes as long as it does to get " game fit " after a longer period out.
BeesManMax
Member
- Joined
- 5 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 708
- Reaction score
- 1,077
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I can’t see us bringing anyone in there when we only play one striker. If we were super unlucky and Thiago and Wilson were out, we’ve got Schade, Outarra, Furo to come in. KLP has also played in a 2 during his time here and got a couple of goals during that period too. Carvalho has also played off a striker. We’ve got options, albeit the formation might need to change
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Schade Ouattara KLP and Carvalho can all play there, and it's likely that at least one of them might be preferred to Furo from the start at this stage in their careers, I think a loan for furo is better for his development than being our third choice CF. Plus I'm sure one journo (maybe Lyall?) said something about the Wilson signing specifically being to free up furo for a loan
Bigbee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Mawene seems quite close too as a striking option
taxi driver
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Isn't he more attacking midfield
I like him, he has ability. I think consistency of performance is what Theo requires.
Bigbee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
yeah maybe midfield , just watched his u21 goal for Preston V Liverpool again ,wow !Isn't he more attacking midfield
I like him, he has ability. I think consistency of performance is what Theo requires.
WARFIELD BEE
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I don't look forward to seeing most of them at CF.
jlove
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I’d say his development is better served training with our players where he can really understand our style of play and others will learn his movements. In the moments I’ve seen of him he’s looked good enough for fine tuning. Also, with him and Carvalho we’ll have players who can play paired up with a centre forward if we need to adapt our tactics in-game.
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Isn't Milambo more of an 8 than a 10?
upnorthbee
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
If all remain fit(ish) it certainly feels more promising than the beginning of last season.
First game v Forest we had Carvalho, Milambo, Lewis Potter starting as our attacking mids with Roerslev, Arthur, Peart Harris, Onyeka and Henderson as our options from the bench.
This season we start like this with all fit IMO,
Kelleher
Kayode Collins Ajer KLP
Sangare Damsgaard Jensen
Outtara Thiago Schade
With Wilson, Anthony, Yarmo, Janelt, Hickey, JDS, Henry, VDB plus other quality that can't get on the bench.
If all are fit we have a much stronger starting 11 v Spurs and a much stronger squad if a couple get injured.
Having said that, i'm gonna be super greedy and say we're two class signings away from a top 8 team..... and those signings play in Schade's and KLP's position (don't shoot me).
First game v Forest we had Carvalho, Milambo, Lewis Potter starting as our attacking mids with Roerslev, Arthur, Peart Harris, Onyeka and Henderson as our options from the bench.
This season we start like this with all fit IMO,
Kelleher
Kayode Collins Ajer KLP
Sangare Damsgaard Jensen
Outtara Thiago Schade
With Wilson, Anthony, Yarmo, Janelt, Hickey, JDS, Henry, VDB plus other quality that can't get on the bench.
If all are fit we have a much stronger starting 11 v Spurs and a much stronger squad if a couple get injured.
Having said that, i'm gonna be super greedy and say we're two class signings away from a top 8 team..... and those signings play in Schade's and KLP's position (don't shoot me).
Sianist
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
On one hand, I'd have no qualms with our window effectively closing this minute, and making do with what's on the books now.
On the other, I feel the jury is still out on if Henry can make LB indisputably his again, and while KLP have been a perfectly adequate stop-gap measure, I don't get the feeling that it's his most comfortable position. So if a target can be found with a sensible pricing, I wouldn't be opposed to us picking up a new LB to upgrade (as it's probably cynically our comparatively/relatively weakest position, compared to what other Prem teams have available in a theoretical XI), and pushing KLP back up to duke it out with Anthony about being second pick for LW
On the other, I feel the jury is still out on if Henry can make LB indisputably his again, and while KLP have been a perfectly adequate stop-gap measure, I don't get the feeling that it's his most comfortable position. So if a target can be found with a sensible pricing, I wouldn't be opposed to us picking up a new LB to upgrade (as it's probably cynically our comparatively/relatively weakest position, compared to what other Prem teams have available in a theoretical XI), and pushing KLP back up to duke it out with Anthony about being second pick for LW
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Yeah you can probably swap him and guagua on this I just had him there from an older version of the spreadsheet. Milambo and JDS really are a 4th profile of midfielder that we don't currently use from the start which is a ball carrying attacking 8 who progresses the ball from deep and does their best work on the final phase, but it's more of a 433 role. When you translate them into 4231 my take is I'd rather have JDS in RW and Milambo in AM than play either in the double pivot unless we're chasing a game.
Of course Guagua makes a nonsense of this because from what I've read he's a similar profile of attacking midfielder and probably leans more towards 10/RW than JDS & Milambo, but when I added him that was where the space was so
mhead bee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
All this Rico stuff saying we have Hickey etc, well Hickey has missed more football than Rico so why he is suddenly more reliable body wise? He also doesn’t have the pace Rico has.
Rico is the first choice left back by some distance, until we buy a new Michael K with a left foot. Rico was doing well last season until he pulled his hamstring, but he older now and nobody lasts forever.
But there is nobody that gets ahead of him when he is fit
Rico is the first choice left back by some distance, until we buy a new Michael K with a left foot. Rico was doing well last season until he pulled his hamstring, but he older now and nobody lasts forever.
But there is nobody that gets ahead of him when he is fit
alexinho
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Was he doing well before his injury last season though? Love for him as a player and what he has given us as a club to one side, I thought he looked quite a bit slower, afraid to get forward as much for being caught out of position, and struggled on the ball at times. He didn't look at all comfortable to me, and a fit Aaron Hickey gets in ahead of a fit Rico for me, as probably does KLP if he isn't being played further forward.
mhead bee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I like Hickey, but he enters every game with a yellow card already half way in his pocket and he doesn't have the pace. I think Rico was fine, after 2 years out, it takes a bit of time before you become more than just "fine", we all know that. But for me Hickey has done nothing to convince me he gets ahead of Rico at LB so we probably disagree on that, but I still haven't worked out where his best position is. But, they both get a full pre season so we will hopefully see two much stronger, better players this season.
jlove
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Regarding full backs and their relative merits, I think the addition of Sangaré will modify the way our full backs are used, with his ability to intercept higher up the pitch.
That doesn’t get away from the Henry/Hickey sick-note discussion but I think it affects the type of robust left back the Club would be looking for.
That doesn’t get away from the Henry/Hickey sick-note discussion but I think it affects the type of robust left back the Club would be looking for.
Kingston Bee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Agree on Rico, we will be ok if we have Hickey on the bench to bring on at 70 minutes, could work well. We also need a bit of luck with injuries on both players. If the worst happens we still have a very capable KLP to come in. So no need to panic.
nick logan
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
It'll be KLP , Rico , Hickey in that order imho but wouldn't be at all surprised if he surprises us !
Windmill Rd Bee
Member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Agree. I think KLP is the man in possession given the way he ended the season. As other important players began to slightly wilt or get injured, I’d argue he was the standout player from March onwards.
Untouchable
Professional Marinakis hater
- Joined
- 5 May 2014
- Messages
- 31,804
- Reaction score
- 90,418
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
IMO Rico will be first choice. This was how KA was setting up before Rico’s injury last season.
I have no issues with Hickey or KLP at LB but we look more balanced with Rico playing there.
upnorthbee
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Yeh I think our form went downhill when he got injured. I think Rico was doing really well before he got injured and i'm a big fan of KLP too.
Weirdly I don't fancy Hickey at full back that much.
Gazza Bee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
KLP for me at LB - Rico came back well considering but wasn't the same player IMHO However with a full preseason who knows?
hanworthbee
Well-known member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Same here, not quick enough so doesn't get forward and usually gets booked pretty fast
beeeehive
Active member
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2006
- Messages
- 4,506
- Reaction score
- 5,003
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I honestly don't think there is a LB in the prem who can shut out RW's like a fully fit Rico can, when he got injured last season out results tailed off a bit.
Sianist
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
‘Fully fit’ being the operative word, as there’s questions to be answered in regards to as if he can get back to his previous ability with several years of injury problems
beeeehive
Active member
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2006
- Messages
- 4,506
- Reaction score
- 5,003
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
He was brilliant last season before the injury so his levels are still there
Mr Tree
bigger than massive
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
I'm optimistic that both Rico and Aaron will be better this season, with last year being the first full season back after long layoffs for both. It takes a while to get back into the swing of things, but hopefully we see more of them to make this debate even harder to judge!
davewfilms
Active member
- Joined
- 6 Sep 2003
- Messages
- 3,109
- Reaction score
- 1,736
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Thought a left back would have been a priority this summer with only hickey and Henry as specialist left backs.
With not so good injury records.
With not so good injury records.
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
How many specialist LBs do you need when you have a maximum of 25 names to submit. Take off the GKs and you've got 2 players for each position plus 2 more. You don't want 1 of those 2 to be a specialist LB.
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
KLP has proved himself more than capable
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
To me the Konak loan signals that we aren't gonna be keeping the u21s around just as backup options.
Nunes Ji-Soo and Fredrick all had less impressive loans than Konak did last season (though they might have impressed our staff during preseason for all I know I suppose). Furo hasn't had a loan yet and will struggle for minutes behind Wilson, and all the noise points to Meghoma going out on another loan.
For some reason I have a feeling Nunes might stay despite not doing much at Swansea. We paid a good amount for him and he's done well in pre-season as far as I've heard. Plus him and Schuster were the only unused outfield subs Vs frankfurt.
So I think the final squad will be 2 senior players in each outfield positions, 3 goalkeepers, and then 1 u21 in each area of the pitch (Schuster in defence, Milambo midfield, Nunes attack), which feels very neat and tidy. Notable also that those 3 are the only u21s we paid double digit millions for.
Leaves us 2 senior places in the 25 man squad spare for any irresistible market opportunities that might pop up, but I think that's basically a completed squad plan.
Nunes Ji-Soo and Fredrick all had less impressive loans than Konak did last season (though they might have impressed our staff during preseason for all I know I suppose). Furo hasn't had a loan yet and will struggle for minutes behind Wilson, and all the noise points to Meghoma going out on another loan.
For some reason I have a feeling Nunes might stay despite not doing much at Swansea. We paid a good amount for him and he's done well in pre-season as far as I've heard. Plus him and Schuster were the only unused outfield subs Vs frankfurt.
So I think the final squad will be 2 senior players in each outfield positions, 3 goalkeepers, and then 1 u21 in each area of the pitch (Schuster in defence, Milambo midfield, Nunes attack), which feels very neat and tidy. Notable also that those 3 are the only u21s we paid double digit millions for.
Leaves us 2 senior places in the 25 man squad spare for any irresistible market opportunities that might pop up, but I think that's basically a completed squad plan.
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Currently I make it 25 over 21 players.
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Heres my little spreadsheet as stands, I might be being thick but I see 2 in each position except GK where there's 3, so 23?
Les Beeavinu
Administrator
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Ah, call it a draw. I've updated my tracker to show Fredrick as under 21 but Ji-soo is over.
Last edited:
Bumbling fool
Active member
Transfer Window so Far (and perhaps 2 excess players...)
Oh wow I hadn't realised but you're right, one week younger and he'd have been eligible.Ah, call it a draw. I've updated my tracker to show Fredrick as under 21 but Ji-soo is over.
I think it's all but certain he'll go then