Alex Scott

He’s well above everyone else in the team. Instant impact.

Given the situation with Adams, the squad is still short in midfield though.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they bring someone in in January, at least on loan, to compete with Cook for the 6 position.

A wet dream would be Kalvin Phillips.

The 8 and the 10 should be covered with Scott, Billing and Christie.
 
BilbaoCherry said:
He’s well above everyone else in the team. Instant impact.

Given the situation with Adams, the squad is still short in midfield though.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they bring someone in in January, at least on loan, to compete with Cook for the 6 position.

A wet dream would be Kalvin Phillips.

The 8 and the 10 should be covered with Scott, Billing and Christie.
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Yeah even Rothwell as 8 perhaps to add depth.

Was thinking that re instant impact. Interesting how he seems to have made that instant impression/impact.

Perhaps what many were expecting, hoping to see more of with the other Foley era signings, considering fees we paid. Perhaps unreasonable to expect all to do the same, but I think thats what many were expecting from the majority tbh.

Of course everyone is different, particularly when moving from overseas, but think thats why theres a little disappoint surrounding other signings, given the outlay.

I think that although different position, type of player, it won't be long until we start hearing similar rumours to Brooks first season here of the big 6 or 8 clubs being linked with 50 mill moves for Scott... probably around xmas, Jan time imo. Perhaps will be media bullsh1t, but the noise will be there regardless...
 
BilbaoCherry said:
He’s well above everyone else in the team. Instant impact.

Given the situation with Adams, the squad is still short in midfield though.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they bring someone in in January, at least on loan, to compete with Cook for the 6 position.

A wet dream would be Kalvin Phillips.

The 8 and the 10 should be covered with Scott, Billing and Christie.
Click to expand...

Problem we have is that adding to the mix will cause issues down the line.

At some stage the planets will align and all the players will be fit.

We can argue the case of the single or double pivot/ two deeper midfielders etc, but only three players can play each week.

Once you’ve got Alex Scott, Tyler Adams, Gavin Kilkenny, Lewis Cook, Joe Rothwell, Ryan Christie, Philip Billing and David Brooks who can all play a mixture of central roles any more additions like Marcondes coming back from injury let alone any additions and that’s a bloated squad.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
We could do with whatever the issue is with Traore being resolved one way or another. If he simply doesn't fit the manager's style then perhaps cut our losses. He's played in the league cup games so far so he gets a chance and forces himself into the manager's thinking.
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Yeah, he is a superb player imo. Best placed in current Christie position - AMC.

Shame its not quite clicking at the moment. He has the technical ability, brain, nouse, flair, creativity etc to be a real asset. Unlocking decent defenses at the top level.

But as sometimes happens with good players from overseas, they simply cant properly make the transition into other countries/leagues. Plenty of examples in the PL of 20 to 40-50 mill players, that flop, then end up going out on loan overseas, before finally moving on and actually playing really well.
 
MB1980 said:
Yeah, he is a superb player imo. Best placed in current Christie position - AMC.

Shame its not quite clicking at the moment. He has the technical ability, brain, nouse, flair, creativity etc to be a real asset. Unlocking decent defenses at the top level.

But as sometimes happens with good players from overseas, they simply cant properly make the transition into other countries/leagues. Plenty of examples in the PL of 20 to 40-50 mill players, that flop, then end up going out on loan overseas, before finally moving on and actually playing really well.
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Jackson at Chelsea comes to mind, pundits now saying he is certainly not a EPL player.
 
MB1980 said:
Yeah, he is a superb player imo. Best placed in current Christie position - AMC.

Shame its not quite clicking at the moment. He has the technical ability, brain, nouse, flair, creativity etc to be a real asset. Unlocking decent defenses at the top level.

But as sometimes happens with good players from overseas, they simply cant properly make the transition into other countries/leagues. Plenty of examples in the PL of 20 to 40-50 mill players, that flop, then end up going out on loan overseas, before finally moving on and actually playing really well.
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I agree. We may well have overpaid for him, let's face it we were never going to get brilliant value in a January transfer window where we were odds on for relegation, but he's clearly not the terrible player many are trying to make out.

I suppose that's the risk with signing young players from abroad - they are much more likely to struggle to settle off the pitch than players from the UK. I suppose it does happen to UK players too if the rumours that Pearson never really settled down south.

Someone mentioned that there is a stark difference between how well our English/UK signings have performed compared to the foreign ones so you'd perhaps question whether the off pitch support is quite right.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
I agree. We may well have overpaid for him, let's face it we were never going to get brilliant value in a January transfer window where we were odds on for relegation, but he's clearly not the terrible player many are trying to make out.

I suppose that's the risk with signing young players from abroad - they are much more likely to struggle to settle off the pitch than players from the UK. I suppose it does happen to UK players too if the rumours that Pearson never really settled down south.

Someone mentioned that there is a stark difference between how well our English/UK signings have performed compared to the foreign ones so you'd perhaps question whether the off pitch support is quite right.
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Indeed mate. You only have to look at someone like Everton and the quality they signed from overseas for vast sums, to see there's something to it... who have since excelled/regained previous form in top leagues/clubs abroad.

Theres the culture, settling thing and the PL has a much more distinct, differentiating style of football compared to say the difference between Belgium, France, Spain and Italy.

Some players simply can't adapt to one or both things highlighted. There's probably only so much mitigating stuff clubs can take around this ie scouting them extensively, getting strong insight to the players attributes and character etc before accepting there'll always be a degree of chance too, as to how well they make the transition, regardless of how well they're scouted or chaperoned/looked after by the club.

At the top level of any sport, small %'s count. So not matter how got the player is abilitywise, if the new environment is too alien and effecting them (or close family... perhaps being seperated from them as they remain overseas, or wife/kids struggling in new country...), or can't speak language, even though they're better players 'on paper' if they're mentally not 100% on it, or close to, they'll end up being/appearing ineffective in top level/elite sport, compared to inferior players.

They're people and not robots, after all.
 
MB1980 said:
Indeed mate. You only have to look at someone like Everton and the quality they signed from overseas for vast sums, to see there's something to it... who have since excelled/regained previous form in top leagues/clubs abroad.

Theres the culture, settling thing and the PL has a much more distinct, differentiating style of football compared to say the difference between Belgium, France, Spain and Italy.

Some players simply can't adapt to one or both things highlighted. There's probably only so much mitigating stuff clubs can take around this ie scouting them extensively, getting strong insight to the players attributes and character etc before accepting there'll always be a degree of chance too, as to how well they make the transition, regardless of how well they're scouted or chaperoned/looked after by the club.

At the top level of any sport, small %'s count. So not matter how got the player is abilitywise, if the new environment is too alien and effecting them (or close family... perhaps being seperated from them as they remain overseas, or wife/kids struggling in new country...), or can't speak language, even though they're better players 'on paper' if they're mentally not 100% on it, or close to, they'll end up being/appearing ineffective in top level/elite sport, compared to inferior players.

They're people and not robots, after all.
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Factors predicting individual success in the UK specifically would be an interesting analytical project. One hopes AFCB have someone looking into that.
 
Some of the Chelsea wonder signings have played less than 20 league games in their careers. And they are struggling. Jackson has no experience a prime example. Maybe it's the same with our Traore?
 
DJ said:
Bit of a concern how key he already feels for us.
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He has been superb in the last two games, after coming back from injury. You can see from his performances so far, why all the City fans speak so highly of him. Klopp was watching him walk off being subbed, he looked rather impressed by him.
 
BilbaoCherry said:
He’s well above everyone else in the team. Instant impact.

Given the situation with Adams, the squad is still short in midfield though.

Wouldn’t be surprised if they bring someone in in January, at least on loan, to compete with Cook for the 6 position.

A wet dream would be Kalvin Phillips.

The 8 and the 10 should be covered with Scott, Billing and Christie.
Click to expand...
Not sure how fit Phillips would be. Skipp would be good.
 
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