[Albion] Billy Gilmour.

[SkirlieWirlie]

Gilmour was signed by Napoli to keep McTominay company. They really wanted McTominay, and he wanted a Scottish-friend. So they picked up Gilmour, decent player and solid professional who wasn't too expensive and wouldn't rock the boat.

See also a Mr. E. Dier transferring to Bayern to keep a Mr. H. Kane happy. The difference being that Bayern have, bizarrely, used Dier more often than anyone would reasonably have expected.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Who told you that?

Bloke down the pub

 

[Justice]

Bloke down the pub

 

[BiffyBoy100]

There's some truth in this and full discloser, I bumped into Billy's dad down at the coop and he was shocked about the news. I recall him saying something like:

"Sellin’ our Billy tae Napoli? Get tae f**k, man! That German dobber Hürzeler’s still a wean, still in his nappies, an’ he's tryin’ tae run a fitba team? Couldnae pick his nose, let alone a team. Our Billy is the best player use goat, an’ this daft dobber’s puntin’ him? Absolute shambles.
Ach well, maybe it’s a fresh start fur wee Billy, gettin’ away fae that Devil Dug, canna get him Italy can she. You'll be greetin’ when he's bossin’ it in Italy, but nae a our Billy, nae a fkin’ chance!"

 

[um bongo molongo]

I think it was against Arsenal we played Bissouma, Mwepu, Caceido, Gross and Ali Mac in the same team.

Only Baleba of the current crop is anywhere near the level of them. Jack maybe in time. As for WBG he was great against Man Utd earlier this season. Then we sold him. We certainly could have done with him on Saturday.

Yep. I think Baleba is a good (but still developing) Caicedo replacement. But we have no MacA replacement.

 

[Mancgull]

I also know someone v close to Billy. If there had been a commitment towards him from the manager, it would have been a much more difficult decision.
As it was, there wasn’t….

This just makes me so angry. His performance against Manchester United was probably one of the best midfield performances of the season. With O’Riley and Wieffer being new to the Premier League FH should have realised that some continuity would help.
It just comes across as misplaced arrogance.

 

[Springal]

This just makes me so angry. His performance against Manchester United was probably one of the best midfield performances of the season. With O’Riley and Wieffer being new to the Premier League FH should have realised that some continuity would help.
It just comes across as misplaced arrogance.

given both MOR & Wieffer have scored & assisted, something WBG couldn’t manage in 2 seasons right ?

 

[jackalbion]

Well that’s very interesting intel. Surprising. I suppose it could be Gilmour Snr being diplomatic.
It was a strange call. And that isn’t hindsight. That really doesn’t add any weight to the pro Fabs argument and suggests that Enciso and Ferguson have left similarly.

I mean if it’s any use I was told, that FH didn’t fancy WBG, and that’s why he was sold. Not a falling out just wasn’t in managers plan.

 

[Mancgull]

given both MOR & Wieffer have scored & assisted, something WBG couldn’t manage in 2 seasons right ?

Wasn’t his game / job though. Build up from the back and creating the tempo which we could really do with now.

 

[Springal]

Wasn’t his game / job though. Build up from the back and creating the tempo which we could really do with now.

Part of our problem last season was lack of goals from midfield to be honest. Wieffer (in very few games) & Baleba also have that role right? And have managed it this season

 

[jackalbion]

This just makes me so angry. His performance against Manchester United was probably one of the best midfield performances of the season. With O’Riley and Wieffer being new to the Premier League FH should have realised that some continuity would help.
It just comes across as misplaced arrogance.

If he wasn’t in the managers plans why did he play him? It doesn’t really explain or back up, that he didn’t want him, BUT he has made this sort of strange selection a few times this season.

 

[Weststander]

None of the above. Gilmour wanted his dream move to Napoli to go through.

 

[Beanstalk]

If he wasn’t in the managers plans why did he play him? It doesn’t really explain or back up, that he didn’t want him, BUT he has made this sort of strange selection a few times this season.

Well yeah, get Ferguson on the pitch at 5-0 down hours before he's off to West Ham, get Enciso on for a literal minute at Old Trafford before shipping him off to Ipswich, Moder another with a minute at Ipswich before being sold off, start McConville at Norwich and sell him on a perm a week later.

I'm willing to give FH a break on this one as we are in a season long injury crisis (as we were when Billy made a surprise start against United) and the logical conclusion is, in a game by game scenario, he's just trying to field the best side with the hand he's got. An air of that on Saturday with the one midfielder (it was considerably worse in the second half when he stuck on two, clearly unfit CMs to try and resolve the issue) alongside any tactical/motivational failings.

To step away from FH bashing for a second, it is the least stable I've seen the squad in the Bloom era and in terms of sales, we've not really allowed the ship to steady this year.

 

[Beanstalk]

Wasn’t his game / job though. Build up from the back and creating the tempo which we could really do with now.

This. He was a very good pivot for us that allowed us to transition from defence to attack very quicky, something we're quite obviously not very good at currently.

I'm not saying WBG would be the answer to all our problems, just that we've lost something that he clearly excelled at and, shoehorning Baleba into that role aside, we haven't adequately replaced that.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Well yeah, get Ferguson on the pitch at 5-0 down hours before he's off to West Ham, get Enciso on for a literal minute at Old Trafford before shipping him off to Ipswich, Moder another with a minute at Ipswich before being sold off, start McConville at Norwich and sell him on a perm a week later.

I'm willing to give FH a break on this one as we are in a season long injury crisis (as we were when Billy made a surprise start against United) and the logical conclusion is, in a game by game scenario, he's just trying to field the best side with the hand he's got. An air of that on Saturday with the one midfielder (it was considerably worse in the second half when he stuck on two, clearly unfit CMs to try and resolve the issue) alongside any tactical/motivational failings.

To step away from FH bashing for a second, it is the least stable I've seen the squad in the Bloom era and in terms of sales, we've not really allowed the ship to steady this year.

In terms of squad building, I wonder whether the clear plan is to actually not let any of the 'crown jewels' leave in the summer because I agree with you that it is not a particularly steady ship right now. Given that backdrop, it would be an even larger gamble than usual to let, for example, Pedro and Mitoma go in the summer.

 

[jackalbion]

Well yeah, get Ferguson on the pitch at 5-0 down hours before he's off to West Ham, get Enciso on for a literal minute at Old Trafford before shipping him off to Ipswich, Moder another with a minute at Ipswich before being sold off, start McConville at Norwich and sell him on a perm a week later.

I'm willing to give FH a break on this one as we are in a season long injury crisis (as we were when Billy made a surprise start against United) and the logical conclusion is, in a game by game scenario, he's just trying to field the best side with the hand he's got. An air of that on Saturday with the one midfielder (it was considerably worse in the second half when he stuck on two, clearly unfit CMs to try and resolve the issue) alongside any tactical/motivational failings.

To step away from FH bashing for a second, it is the least stable I've seen the squad in the Bloom era and in terms of sales, we've not really allowed the ship to steady this year.

Not too bothered with the Enciso time at United or Moder at Ipswich. The Moder sub at Villa was the puzzling, considering he was likely to be off.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

In terms of squad building, I wonder whether the clear plan is to actually not let any of the 'crown jewels' leave in the summer because I agree with you that it is not a particularly steady ship right now. Given that backdrop, it would be an even larger gamble than usual to let, for example, Pedro and Mitoma go in the summer.

Don't be too surprised if both Mitoma AND Joao Pedro depart these shores in the summer, Mitoma attracted a truly massive bid from Saudi Arabia, and l don't think it would take much more to snare him, every player however important has his price.

Joao Pedro too, Liverpool were allegedly very interested in acquiring his services earlier in the window, and if his form returns in the second half of the season they may well bid silly money in August.

 

[Weststander]

Don't be too surprised if both Mitoma AND Joao Pedro depart these shores in the summer, Mitoma attracted a truly massive bid from Saudi Arabia, and l don't think it would take much more to snare him, every player however important has his price.

Joao Pedro too, Liverpool were allegedly very interested in acquiring his services earlier in the window, and if his form returns in the second half of the season they may well bid silly money in August.

I didn’t believe the Liverpool interest, they look for all outfield players who put in a shift every game in assisting the defence. Pedro doesn’t offer that.

 

[Mancgull]

I also think both Mitoma and Joao Pedro could be off. Rutter is the JP replacement and I think Adingra has been earmarked as the Mitoma replacement. Caveated that we would want sizeable transfers fees to let go.

 

[Silverhatch]

I mean if it’s any use I was told, that FH didn’t fancy WBG, and that’s why he was sold. Not a falling out just wasn’t in managers plan.

Our famously data-driven football club lets the head coach (not manager) take the decision(s) about our squad independently of any other voice? This entire narrative about Hurzeler makes NO sense. RDZ was binned for trying to do the exact thing (both with selection and recruitment) that our young German is now forcefully accused of.

Edit… For the record - not a Hurzeler uber-fan, but seriously dislike lazy, unsubstantiated tropes.