[Albion] Ten games in - our new players

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

With O'Riley and Joao Pedro to return we have an excellent squad.

 

[A1X]

Rutter reminds me of Pedro in having a real connection to the fans, they both seem to “get” us

 

[Hugo Rune]

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.

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.

 

[Commander]

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.

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.

 

[Kitcatt]

I’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.

I think Georginio has been very impressive but I reckon if Pedro was on the end of that Ayari pass yesterday….2 nil

 

[GT49er]

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.

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.

Hopefully all - or at least most - of the newcomers will turn out to be club legends (or at least make us a healthy profit in a year or two!)

 

[southstandandy]

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).

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.

 

[ac gull]

think we have more than adequately replaced Gross and shelves are stocked for next two or three transfer windows

 

[Wardy's twin]

If 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.

Hinshelwood

 

[WATFORD zero]

I've been well impressed by the new signings, particularly Georginio, Kadioglu and Gruda, but possibly even more so with Baleba, Ayari and Hinshelwood.

Shame you can't win anything with kids, but it certainly has the potential to be best Albion squad I've ever seen

 

[METALMICKY]

Don’t disagree re his decision making but would add that his work rate in terms of tracking back goes in his favour.

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.

 

[Wardy's twin]

mmm... very difficult to say too much on what I have seen so far 10 games live including cup ones.

Georginio - £40m - (7.5/10) Good player he can link play up and score , had a great game against Spurs turning the match in our favour but has to bury that chance yesterday.

Minteh - £30m - (6/10) His speed and strength are amazing but too often down blind alleys.

Weiffer - £25m - (5/10) enough said ,hopefully will settle in

Kadioglu - £25m (6.5/10) Not sure what is his best position thought we bought him as a defender if so not shown enough and not particularly pacey.

Gruda - £24m - (6/10) Played too little , not sure how he can be so highly rated based on such small amount of play.

When rating these players I am also comparing them to what we already have Pedro, Adingra, Baleba ,Hinshelwood and Ayari , Though these are not quite 1 for 1 matches IMO the existing players are better. Of the five new players Georgino stands out as settled, integrated and capable, if Pedro is fit who do you play Rutter or him?.

 

[Bry Nylon]

I am so excited about Gruda.

I think he might have the highest ceiling of any young player at the Albion currently.

I love those Regency apartments.

 

[Giraffe]

Hoping for at least one more season

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.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

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.

But to the outside world, has he done much yet?

We know he’s great, I’m sure the scouts will be aware, but I would not say he’s proven PL in broader terms….

 

[pigmanovich]

I think Georginio has been very impressive but I reckon if Pedro was on the end of that Ayari pass yesterday….2 nil

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.

 

[Rowdey]

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

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.

 

[WhingForPresident]

I'm giving Georginio a 8 based on his efforts so far. Him and Joao Pedro in the same side will cause carnage.

Just behind, Ferdi Kadioglu. I'll give him a 7. He needs a bit of time to get his all-round play right, but you can tell he will get there and be a huge player for us. Absolutely no doubt for me he will be our next Mac Allister, hopefully we can get him to stick around a bit longer.

Minteh, probably a 6. If you take away the impressive pre-season performances, he had a few poor games before his injury. Excellent in the first 45 against Everton though. Easy to forget how young he is, I'm sure he will come good.

Doesn't really feel fair to give Gruda a rating considering he came off the back of an injury and hasn't featured much, but I like the cut of his jib. Big potential and great work ethic.

Wieffer isn't what I expected at all. Has been fine at times, but has also looked out of his depth way too often, even in the first game of the campaign. I couldn't believe he did that half-arsed tackle then jog away thing again when they were attacking in our box yesterday, which cost us on Wednesday... Didn't cost us a goal this time but the analysts and in turn Hurzeler should be seething with him for that. Hopefully just a case of needing some time to adapt, but I don't think he offers any more than Moder at present, who also isn't good enough for this side unfortunately. Considering he is 25 and has played CL and full international football- thus you'd expect him to slot into this team quite easily- a 4/10 seems fair.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Great thread OP - coincidentally I’ve also been to 6 of the games and almost the same six -although you had the joy in Geordieland while I suffered the 2-4 at the tw**s.

I’m deffo happy with them with contributions so far and reckon Mats will get there. I think the point is though that it’s really only over a couple of years that we’ll really see the benefit. Ayari is a perfect case in point. I doubt very many of us saw him quickly becoming a key midfielder but it takes time for our young players, probably especially the foreign imports, to truly become embedded as major players.

Exciting times!

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

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.

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).

Also, isn’t the whole point of this thread that people can come and claim that the sun has shone ever so brightly since we played Football Manager in the summer? Afterall, we've had multiple 8+s dished out.

If anything, my post is the most realistic one yet, recognising the lack of time they’ve had and the inability to really rate many of our signings…