[Albion] Reda Khadra

[mike1901]

We wouldn't be sending these players out on loan for regular senior-level experience unless their path to the first team for this year was about to be blocked by us bringing new players in. Keep calm everybody.

I so so hope your right.

 

[nwgull]

Agreed - but my point is the clubs strategy is always a mix of here/now and the future. We wouldn't hold off signing a CB just because Ostigard might be quality in 12 months time after his loan

I’m not suggesting that we were holding off signing a new CB, more that we were holding off letting Ostigard go on loan until an incoming CB was imminent. And let’s be honest, for all the transfer rumours we see every season, the first we usually hear of a genuine signing is once they’ve arrived at Lancing for their medical!

 

[Badger Boy]

I can understand loaning out Khadra to get him that season's experience of first team football at a lower level. He looked ready to make a real impact in the Man City game but we mustn't get carried away by one promising appearance (Connolly vs Spurs). It's the right development path for Khadra to go out on loan but ideally it would have been a month ago, having already signed an additional attacking player.

Ostigard I can't understand at all. We need another CB in the squad, he's done his time out on loan. He's ready to go, another loan would be a real coup for Stoke but a surprise to me.

 

[Swansman]

I can understand loaning out Khadra to get him that season's experience of first team football at a lower level. He looked ready to make a real impact in the Man City game but we mustn't get carried away by one promising appearance (Connolly vs Spurs). It's the right development path for Khadra to go out on loan but ideally it would have been a month ago, having already signed an additional attacking player.

Ostigard I can't understand at all. We need another CB in the squad, he's done his time out on loan. He's ready to go, another loan would be a real coup for Stoke but a surprise to me.

re: Östigård it might indicate that the club is feeling increasingly confident about Bissouma staying, possibly meaning the team will play four at the back a lot more than last season with White being replaced by an additional midfielder (like Mwepu or Moder) rather than a central defender.

We'll see though.

 

[amexer]

I find it amazing Khadra going and yet Connolly seems to be staying

 

[dazzer6666]

I find it amazing Khadra going and yet Connolly seems to be staying

Maybe nobody wants Connolly

 

[Badger Boy]

re: Östigård it might indicate that the club is feeling increasingly confident about Bissouma staying, possibly meaning the team will play four at the back a lot more than last season with White being replaced by an additional midfielder (like Mwepu or Moder) rather than a central defender.

We'll see though.

I do largely agree and if we sign Cucurella at left back then it will make a lot of sense. March isn't really a left back and I doubt we'd go with Burn as a first choice. At right back we've got Lamptey and Veltman but otherwise it would be a square peg in a round hole if both are out or Veltman is needed at CB.

Our squad building this summer has been strange in my uneducated opinion. I think it's been a real winner in the last few winners and we've done well in moving on some players we had no use for anymore - but recruitment has been slow.

 

[Swansman]

I do largely agree and if we sign Cucurella at left back then it will make a lot of sense. March isn't really a left back and I doubt we'd go with Burn as a first choice. At right back we've got Lamptey and Veltman but otherwise it would be a square peg in a round hole if both are out or Veltman is needed at CB.

Our squad building this summer has been strange in my uneducated opinion. I think it's been a real winner in the last few winners and we've done well in moving on some players we had no use for anymore - but recruitment has been slow.

Yup, wouldnt be surprised to see a left back. Cucurella or someone else.

Its been strange indeed but I think its mainly because its been extremely difficult rather than some (current) poor decision making. There's been way too many players and despite many leaving there's still a bunch of players who are either difficult to get rid of or hard to distinguish if they are really better than someone else in the squad.

I very much doubt TB/DA/GP find the situation optimal, but a mix of mistakes (like giving Duffy too many years on his contract or signing Locadia), successes (quite a number of young players looking near PL ready) and poor luck (a talented youngster like Baluta missing all of last season not making him very interesting right now, Molumby ending up in a weird spot in chaotic Preston etc.) added with the weakened football economy made this summer a very complicated one in terms of squad building. Its hard to recruit players when you already have about 30 of them training with the first team squad.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

Maybe nobody wants Connolly

I wouldn't let Connolly go, potentially the best striker we have, currently 2nd or 3rd choice with Welbeck out (and possibly not the only time he will be).

I know there is an argument that he will gain valuable experience on loan in the championship, but he's probably going to get that at a higher level anyway.

Yes his personal life bothers people, but if it's as bad as people say, i'm sure the club would rather have him where they can at least moniter him rather than possibly 100s of miles away. Every city has it's own version of bright lights, so that wont solve anything.

Apart from that, there is nothing to suggest that he wants a loan or that Potter wants him out.

 

[Pevenseagull]

I find it amazing Khadra going and yet Connolly seems to be staying

It's OK, if Duffy stays he'll keep him under control

 

[Caveman]

I’m not suggesting that we were holding off signing a new CB, more that we were holding off letting Ostigard go on loan until an incoming CB was imminent. And let’s be honest, for all the transfer rumours we see every season, the first we usually hear of a genuine signing is once they’ve arrived at Lancing for their medical!

Exactly this, pretty much 90% of the players coming in are not mentioned until the day or two before.

Keep the faith

 

[Frankworthington]

It's OK, if Duffy stays he'll keep him under control

Drinking buddies!!

 

[Pevenseagull]

Drinking buddies!!

But rich coming from Frank Worthington ...

 

[Frankworthington]

But rich coming from Frank Worthington ...

Guilty as charged m`lud!!

 

[dazzer6666]

I wouldn't let Connolly go, potentially the best striker we have, currently 2nd or 3rd choice with Welbeck out (and possibly not the only time he will be).

I know there is an argument that he will gain valuable experience on loan in the championship, but he's probably going to get that at a higher level anyway.

Yes his personal life bothers people, but if it's as bad as people say, i'm sure the club would rather have him where they can at least moniter him rather than possibly 100s of miles away. Every city has it's own version of bright lights, so that wont solve anything.

Apart from that, there is nothing to suggest that he wants a loan or that Potter wants him out.

I possibly would if we got an upgrade in in his place………but no idea if that’s going to happen. My post was a bit tongue in cheek (but not entirely). Whatever happens this is a bit of a make or break season for him I reckon.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

I possibly would if we got an upgrade in in his place………but no idea if that’s going to happen. My post was a bit tongue in cheek (but not entirely). Whatever happens this is a bit of a make or break season for him I reckon.

I didn't think you were one of the many people on here that appear to have written off AC, despite him still finding his feet in life as well as in the premier league.

If we do get a striker in, i would be looking to loan out Zeqiri, i think he has far more to gain from that experience than Connolly.

I don't think it's make or break time quite yet for Connolly, although i think improvement will be expected, this will only be his 3rd season since moving up from the 23s, i think his progression has ben ok tbh if not outstanding, although it should be remembered he had injuries setting him back in both seasons iirc, maybe expectations from fans were a bit high after that brace against Spurs, rather than Connolly failing since, but it showed what he is capable of, i think he will get there, maybe this season, maybe next, but he doesn't look far away to me.

 

[Eggman]

I can't believe there is a prospect of these two players going out on loan, particularly Khadra, when we look so short of quality in the side. This has been a truly piss poor summer of transfer activity to date. We look so unprepared it's unreal.

Do you copy and paste this EVERY summer?

 

[dazzer6666]

I didn't think you were one of the many people on here that appear to have written off AC, despite him still finding his feet in life as well as in the premier league.

If we do get a striker in, i would be looking to loan out Zeqiri, i think he has far more to gain from that experience than Connolly.

I don't think it's make or break time quite yet for Connolly, although i think improvement will be expected, this will only be his 3rd season since moving up from the 23s, i think his progression has ben ok tbh if not outstanding, although it should be remembered he had injuries setting him back in both seasons iirc, maybe expectations from fans were a bit high after that brace against Spurs, rather than Connolly failing since, but it showed what he is capable of, i think he will get there, maybe this season, maybe next, but he doesn't look far away to me.

I haven’t yet……but it’s difficult for him this season because he doesn’t look quite ready for the PL but will probably stay with us, and could end up with limited game time which won’t prove much either way…….a top-half championship loan and 20 goals however would set him up.

Not seen enough of Zeqiri myself - but think he is possibly more likely to stay as he is more versatile which Potter loves. Their relative professionalism may also come into the equation.

 

[Ecosse Exile]

I haven’t yet……but it’s difficult for him this season because he doesn’t look quite ready for the PL but will probably stay with us, and could end up with limited game time which won’t prove much either way…….a top-half championship loan and 20 goals however would set him up.

Not seen enough of Zeqiri myself - but think he is possibly more likely to stay as he is more versatile which Potter loves. Their relative professionalism may also come into the equation.

My hunch is that Connolly will have more game time this season than previous seasons and will get a decent amount of goals too, i dont think he will be first choice yet, but if we don't sign a striker, i think he could be before long.

If half the reports on his personal life are true, then that is definitely an area where he needs to improve, i'm sure that will be something that will have been explained to him, hopefully he can move on from the blonde bimbo and settle down a bit, he has to want to do that for himself though.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Shame if we don't get to see Khadra this season, as he seems to have promise. However, I do understand him having a season in the Championship to get regular first team football.

What I do find odd is we're doing it now, when we're short of attacking players who are available. Why not wait until the end of the month to let him go.