deletebeepbeepbeep
Well-known member
- May 12, 2009
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With O'Riley and Joao Pedro to return we have an excellent squad.
Ayari is a great shout. An astonishing signing for only £3.5m.Still early for some….
Rutter - brilliant - 9/10 - always nervous when we sign players from smaller teams.
Ferdi - very good, with potential for brilliance - 7.5/10
Minteh - very one footed, may be an unpopular score but…..6/10
Gruda, Wieffer and O’Reilly will reserve judgement, but…..
Gruda looks great, but needs to work on the defensive side
Wieffer, just a difficult start, hope he turns the corner.
O’Reilly - poor bloke, hope to see him soon, but who does he replace?
Will throw in Ayari (not a new signing), but great 8/10.
When has any club ever spent £200 million and it all clicked straight away? You’re playing Football Manager there, not living in the real world.I’ve got to say, I like the optimism.
For me though, it’s impossible to rate MOR, Gruda, or any of the kids sent out on loan.
In terms of the 3 we’ve seen more regularly - Weiffer, Minteh and GR - Minteh has looked raw but full of potential, Weiffer has looked miles off it / no where near good enough (although he hasn’t started really and has already had injuries so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, despite his utter howler against Wolves) and I’ve only seen GR have one good game (I’ve not been to away games this year and I missed Spurs at home, but he was excellent against Wolves).
I’m optimistic, don’t get me wrong, and we’re in a good position in the league considering so many are finding their feet (including the manager), but for £200m I expected to have seen a lot more at this stage.
I think Georginio has been very impressive but I reckon if Pedro was on the end of that Ayari pass yesterday….2 nilI’m most impressed and surprised about Georginio. I did not expect him to have so many attributes. Pedro would’ve been a great impact sub, but we’ve not missed him that much.
TBH I've been more excited by these two this season than any of our £200M brigade. Maybe because it feels a bit strange for 'my' club to be spending that sort of money, and it's something I'll just have to get used to so it feels like 'my' club again! Just me, I guess.Ayari is a great shout. An astonishing signing for only £3.5m.
Alongside Hinshelwood, he formed our first choice midfield partnership against Liverpool at Anfield and helped make sure we completely outplayed them in the first half.
Osman and Yalcouye playing on loan have both played 7 games and scored once each. Managed to watch 5 of Osman's matches at Feyenoord on TV and he has been impressive although it's fair to say the standard is not as high as the Prem. I'd have him back in January personally. He looks a player.I've been lucky enough to see 6 of our first 10 (United, Ipswich and Wolves at home, Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool away). So - some ups and downs! But mainly "ups", even in the one defeat.
We all got very excited by the number (and potential quality) of the new signings this summer. It is still WAY too early to assess things (esp for those who haven't played in the EPL before - which is all of them, apart from Georginio [and his experience was pretty limited]). I'm sure others have got some really useful observations, but here is my quick take (including marks out of ten):
Georginio - £40m - (8/10) I was really surprised when we signed him. There seemed to be some mixed reviews (even from die-hard LUFC fans). However, I have been VERY impressed. His physical strength is absolutely critical (something we've lacked for ages, I think). He holds the ball up well, but also makes exciting surging runs, creates and scores goals, and has huge energy. He also seems a nice bloke
Minteh - £30m - (7/10) Flashes of brilliance (Everton, Arsenal) - but still very raw. I'm absolutely sure he will come good, He's a really exciting talent.
O'Reilly - £25m - (n/a) Crocked in his first game - very much looking forward to seeing him though.
Weiffer - £25m - (5/10) Jury still well and truly out. Hasn't got to grips with the speed of the EPL. Thought he did well in the Carabao game v Liverpool, but has made some obvious mistakes. Having said that, he searches out unexpected angles and takes risks which - when they come off - really help the transition.
Kadioglu - £25m (7.5/10) Nightmare first game, but after Hurzeler revised his insane high line, Ferdi is looking good. A couple of recent games where he's mostly played further up the pitch means he's had the opportunity to show his passing and wing-play. Superb ball control, and already a crowd favourite!
Gruda - £24m - (7/10) Was carrying an injury in the early part of the season, but has had a couple of decent cameos. Looks a great prospect - quick feet, and can possibly take corners
Osman, Yalcouye and Cozier-Duberry all looked good in pre-season and have gone on loan.
Overall I think there are far more positives than negatives, and the "hit rate" looks very good (the only possible "miss" being Weiffer....although I think he WILL come good).
HinshelwoodIf you're also classifying Baleba as young and, at just 20, I think we should, then I think anyone else is going to have to go a bit to top where he's destined for. It will be tough to hold onto him in the summer.
Very much this. On that basis I'd give him 6/10. I'm also optimistic that the decision making will improve with experience and game time.Don’t disagree re his decision making but would add that his work rate in terms of tracking back goes in his favour.
I love those Regency apartments.I am so excited about Gruda.
I think he might have the highest ceiling of any young player at the Albion currently.
I’d love that but I just can’t see it. He is so obviously a champions league player, and I think he will be ready for it. Just a question of whether they reach a price that is attractive enough. Would fit Man Utd next summer very well.Hoping for at least one more season
But to the outside world, has he done much yet?I’d love that but I just can’t see it. He is so obviously a champions league player, and I think he will be ready for it. Just a question of whether they reach a price that is attractive enough. Would fit Man Utd next summer very well.
To be fair I see Georginio as more a creator and less a scorer — though even then he’s managed to get on the scoresheet for us. The flawed finishing is why I’d be surprised to see him utilized as a 9 as opposed to Pedro who can do both extremely well.I think Georginio has been very impressive but I reckon if Pedro was on the end of that Ayari pass yesterday….2 nil
It's been said elsewhere too, but it was his interception in our own box that directly lead to our goal in the first half.And he wasn’t at the races for the first half against Everton. He is the only one I’m concerned about, but everyone else is showing the potential
Not many clubs have ever spent £200m, that’s the point. We played that very game this summer, yet arguably we’ve only got one player who improves our first 11 (and yes, I’ve no doubt many will argue this point).When has any club ever spent £200 million and it all clicked straight away? You’re playing Football Manager there, not living in the real world.