[Albion] Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall **Singed for Chelsea 02/07/2024**

[dazzer6666]

In fairness to RDZ, we’ve not really been playing the high-octane free flowing football that he wants, losing all of our wingers has completely nullified us, I’d expect his passion to return along with the goals once we get some attackers fit.

Doubt this thread (and all the others smacking of impatience and ‘failure‘) would have even half the posts they’ve got if we’d have had a couple of fit wingers for the last couple of months.

 

[Weststander]

In fairness to RDZ, we’ve not really been playing the high-octane free flowing football that he wants, losing all of our wingers has completely nullified us, I’d expect his passion to return along with the goals once we get some attackers fit.

I’m not criticising RDZ, I feel sorry for him. He’s a perfectionist, imho he’s ever hungry for his team/squad to be better than the past or present. To see that rampaging squad of skill and quiet brutality/power, transformed into a passive PL outfit that struggles to win, will hurt.

 

[dazzer6666]

Long term it’s us, as West Ham have acquired a player to help them now.

Let’s see where we are relative to them in a couple of seasons then

 

[Kosh]

i foresee two possible outcomes in the aftermath of this window:

1 - Roberto refocuses and gets on with coaching and improving what he has.

Or

2 - it all goes a bit Gus.

Which is more likely ?

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I referring to the total cash flow of a signing, Kudus v Lallana.

It’s also easy to forget that Lallana was significantly younger in footballing terms when he joined, we were nowhere near the brilliance of 2022/23. He was a class act instinctively driving us forward, probing for openings, improving those around him.

In terms of total cash flow, Lallana was 32 when he signed for us, no chance of ever receiving any fee for him. Kudus is 23 and will likely earn West Ham a significant transfer fee.

 

[The Wookiee]

In fairness to RDZ, we’ve not really been playing the high-octane free flowing football that he wants, losing all of our wingers has completely nullified us, I’d expect his passion to return along with the goals once we get some attackers fit.

If only there was a period of time in the season that would allow us to go out and buy or bring in a loan player to strengthen the positions affected by injuries/loss of form

 

[dazzer6666]

i foresee two possible outcomes in the aftermath of this window:

1 - Roberto refocuses and gets on with coaching and improving what he has.

Or

2 - it all goes a bit Gus.

Which is more likely ?

3. Our injured players return and we start getting results

 

[Weststander]

In terms of total cash flow, Lallana was 32 when he signed for us, no chance of ever receiving any fee for him. Kudus is 23 and will likely earn West Ham a significant transfer fee.

Lallana’s wage was his only cost, I’ve rarely seen anyone here say we wasted our money. He joined an average squad and helped turn us into 2022/23 winners.

An expensive 23 year old player, years later, is a totally different proposition.

 

[Kosh]

Yes, but

3. Our injured players return and we start getting results

Yes, but irrespective of injuries, Roberto has asked for three or four to help achieve his ‘historic aspirations’ … he’s got 1.

And we can’t play an array wingers/forwards in defensive midfield.

If I were him, well - I think I’d be just a little disappointed.

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Surely the club knew he would be leaving, especially with shenanigans last winter window. I suspect it was always in the plan to sell him but maybe it was a year early at most. As for having a proper replacement for Caicedo, you're asking a lot for us to find someone to replace a £115m player just like that!

It's a massive expectation to believe that being in Europe as well as the domestic competitions wouldn't take their toll. I don't know but I suspect the target this year is still top 10 and anything else is an added bonus plus of course for us to go as deep as we can in the Europa league.

Obviously we don’t know anything for sure, but as I said, I think the club perhaps naively believed Caicedo would stay for this season.
I’d also like to clarify, I’ve suggested we need a replacement for Caicedo, not a like for like, but at least someone who can play the position, as things stand we don’t actually have a capable defensive midfielder. Further to that, I think everyone knew being in Europe would take its toll, which is even more baffling that the club decided not acquire an experienced CDM.

 

[dazzer6666]

Yes, but

Yes, but irrespective of injuries, Roberto has asked for three or four to help achieve his ‘historic aspirations’ … he’s got 1.

And we can’t play an array wingers/forwards in defensive midfield.

If I were him, well - I think I’d be just a little disappointed.

Answer is always the same - if the players aren’t available that fit within Tony’s modelling, we won’t buy them

 

[Eric the meek]

I remember reading that Tony Bloom wasn't a fan of doing business in the January window. I don't recall a reason being given.

 

[peterward]

i foresee two possible outcomes in the aftermath of this window:

1 - Roberto refocuses and gets on with coaching and improving what he has.

Or

2 - it all goes a bit Gus.

Which is more likely ?

I don't see it going Gus.

Gus was a good manager, but Poyet was all about Poyet, talking about his own personal ambitions, bigging himself up, using TV interviews as a job pitch whilst questioning the clubs ability to match his limitless ambition.

RDZ is very respectful to the club, to our fans, how grateful he is to be given the chance to manage a "great" club like ours and these players, etc he always talks about the players and clubs success, not his own and I think he genuinely cares about our players and fans.

He may likely harbour personal ambitions, he may get fed up with transfer policy and walk. But I don't see RDZ being a dick like Gus was at the end, he's Latin blooded but he's a lot more honourable imho

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Lallana’s wage was his only cost, I’ve rarely seen anyone here say we wasted our money. He joined an average squad and helped turn us into 2022/23 winners.

An expensive 23 year old player, years later, is a totally different proposition.

I’ve not, at any point, suggested that Lallana was a waste of money, I think he’s been a valuable player/coach for us.
I’m not quite sure of the point you’re making regarding Kudus, my opinion is that even if we had signed him for the rumoured £45m we would have made a profit 2 years later. The only reason Lallana was brought into the conversation was because I think people assume Kudus is earning a lot more than he is, so I made a quick Albion player comparison.

 

[Kosh]

Answer is always the same - if the players aren’t available that fit within Tony’s modelling, we won’t buy them

I don’t dispute that, but I’m not sure Roberto is quite on message with our ethos… he should be, but I think he maybe thought European football might have tipped the scales…

I’ve got visions of him sitting with an Amaretto (on ice) staring at the ‘ceiling.’

His or ours?

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

I remember reading that Tony Bloom wasn't a fan of doing business in the January window. I don't recall a reason being given.

He doesn’t think there’s value in it,

 

[pornomagboy]

I remember reading that Tony Bloom wasn't a fan of doing business in the January window. I don't recall a reason being given.

it's due to inflated prices as clubs trying to build better squads and you pay bigger prices for better players

 

[Kosh]

I don't see it going Gus.

Gus was a good manager, but Poyet was all about Poyet, talking about his own personal ambitions, bigging himself up, using TV interviews as a job pitch whilst questioning the clubs ability to match his limitless ambition.

RDZ is very respectful to the club, to our fans, how grateful he is to be given the chance to manage a "great" club like ours and these players, etc he always talks about the players and clubs success, not his own and I think he genuinely cares about our players and fans.

He may likely harbour personal ambitions, he may get fed up with transfer policy and walk. But I don't see RDZ being a dick like Gus was at the end, he's Latin blooded but he's a lot more honourable imho

I hope you’re right

 

[Eric the meek]

it's due to inflated prices as clubs trying to build better squads and you pay bigger prices for better players

That would explain the intake of six 18-19 year olds (=cheap), but no older, more established players (save Barco perhaps). It fits.

This isn't a criticism of Tony Bloom. Quite the opposite in fact. He seeks value. Nothing wrong with that. The club has to be sustainable.

 

[dazzer6666]

I don’t dispute that, but I’m not sure Roberto is quite on message with our ethos… he should be, but I think he maybe thought European football might have tipped the scales…

I’ve got visions of him sitting with an Amaretto (on ice) staring at the ‘ceiling.’

His or ours?

No-one can be sure, but equally much of the negative speculation about how he’s about to do a Gus is coming from over-analysis of a few comments he’s made in press conferences, and impatience and expectation (and dare I say entitlement) on the part of some of our fans who think we should somehow be following a relentlessly upward trajectory. Fact is our model has been consistent……..we as fans don’t know who we’ve tried to sign, and if deals have fallen through the precise reasons for that, but we know the club ethos on buying players so it’s not difficult to work out.

If I had to guess, I would think Tony is probably a step ahead of the market and playing a longer game, and not spunking tons of cash now because he knows values are about to start tumbling, whilst in the meantime seemingly mopping up every teenage wonderkid he can find.