[Albion] Unpopular Opinion - Our Window This Far

[portlock seagull]

Think we’ve had a decent window, with or without Polish additions. It’s who you get rid of sometimes more than who recruit.

 

[dingodan]

That’s fair enough. I’m glad you’re happy and certainly agree with the bottom half of your post about future potential. I’m not convinced in the here and now we have the same strength in depth. And that’s experience, quality and numbers.

First team is more than adequate, it’s when the injuries start. No striker sub option at Everton because we don’t have one. Ryan with some questionable traits backed up by Steele/Walton. Rock solid central defence looking increasingly vulnerable.

Love the new style, and Potter is a gent. Live in hope that injuries to certain players don’t totally derail our season.

The future is bright it’s the Unknowns in the next 8 months with limited ready and experienced cover.

UTA

If the worst happened and we lost one of our forwards for a period of time, do you think we could present the same goal threat with Trossard, Izquerdo, Gross or Jahanbakhsh in behind the front man? When I look at that, they all have goals in them, especially if played in that position.

The one thing I would agree with you about perhaps, is experience. We need to improve on set pieces but that's an isolated issue, it's only been a recent problem. We have got a lot of players who have played for us for a few seasons in the PL. Lallana and Veltman bring bags of experience, above and beyond what we have had before too. Experience is useful for sure, I think we have a decent amount of it in the squad. We are also looking to younger less experienced players, but look at Lampty and Alzate, to name just two examples. Being young and hungry can also be useful, I tend to think what we have is a good balance of youth and experience.

I don't think we've looked all at sea or naive or devoid of ideas since Potter came in, quite the opposite. We are a well coached side and we play good football. We are even defensively solid, we don't get shown up at the back much at all. It's just the silly free kicks in dangerous areas and our dumbfounding (and hopefully temporary) inability to defend a set piece. But that's a small wrinkle in an otherwise very well executed change in style, and a change in style for the better. Much better.

Have faith.

 

[A1X]

We've left ourselves light in a crucial area, had we landed another first team striker I'd be happy with our window, as it is I'm underwhelmed. And if Maupay and Connolly both tweak hamstrings at the same time in the next few weeks we're screwed.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I think we look light. Veltman for Montoya and Lallana for Mooy probably upgrades, but not really taking us to next level. Our biggest problem was lack of pace/threat up front and we’ve done nothing to address it. I suspect 20-25M for Watkins/Wilson/Brewster won’t look that bad at the end of the season if they’ve earned their sides another 180M odd for staying in the Prem. Suspect we can’t compete because we’re still paying off the eye watering sums spent on Locadia, Ali J etc that haven’t strengthened our first XI. We’re one injury to Maupay away from being right in the thick of relegation again.

 

[Seasidesage]

I think the business we have done is very good. But to go into the season, a season with the most truncated programme in recent history, without cover for our one established goalscorer in the squad is a risk there is no doubt about that. If Maupay was to get a bad injury it will be very difficult to find those goals elsewhere. I'm still confidant we can have a good season but there is a risk now if we get unlucky with injuries.

 

[dwayne]

I think the business we have done is very good. But to go into the season, a season with the most truncated programme in recent history, without cover for our one established goalscorer in the squad is a risk there is no doubt about that. If Maupay was to get a bad injury it will be very difficult to find those goals elsewhere. I'm still confidant we can have a good season but there is a risk now if we get unlucky with injuries.

It just beggars belief that we only have 2 first team strikers on the books, one of those a kid who's not really ready.

I've never heard of any team in any league being so light upfront. Utterly bizarre.

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[Paulie Gualtieri]

Agree with the sentiment that we have strengthened the production line for the future which should be commended however the fear of not strengthening in the now could put the project at risk


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[Weststander]

It will interesting to see if Brighton and Burnley both stay up, and by some margin.

Shirley the two lowest net spenders, I’d love it if three spending merchants drop.

 

[dwayne]

It will interesting to see if Brighton and Burnley both stay up, and by some margin.

Shirley the two lowest net spenders, I’d love it if three spending merchants drop.

We may not have spent anything this window bit we've spent a hell of a lot in other windows.

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[peterward]

If the worst happened and we lost one of our forwards for a period of time, do you think we could present the same goal threat with Trossard, Izquerdo, Gross or Jahanbakhsh in behind the front man? When I look at that, they all have goals in them, especially if played in that position.

The one thing I would agree with you about perhaps, is experience. We need to improve on set pieces but that's an isolated issue, it's only been a recent problem. We have got a lot of players who have played for us for a few seasons in the PL. Lallana and Veltman bring bags of experience, above and beyond what we have had before too. Experience is useful for sure, I think we have a decent amount of it in the squad. We are also looking to younger less experienced players, but look at Lampty and Alzate, to name just two examples. Being young and hungry can also be useful, I tend to think what we have is a good balance of youth and experience.

I don't think we've looked all at sea or naive or devoid of ideas since Potter came in, quite the opposite. We are a well coached side and we play good football. We are even defensively solid, we don't get shown up at the back much at all. It's just the silly free kicks in dangerous areas and our dumbfounding (and hopefully temporary) inability to defend a set piece. But that's a small wrinkle in an otherwise very well executed change in style, and a change in style for the better. Much better.

Have faith.

No I don’t think we could present the same goal threat with those midfield players.

They’re all capable midfielders and even with both Maupay and Connolly fit, they’ll score a few.

As I mentioned earlier somewhere, they are not instinctive strikers, they are not all going to arrive in the box at the right time and get the scraps and tap ins, Tross and Ali J are gonna score with a few decent shots, but they’re just not instinctive strikers......Think of the goal Maupay scored v Arsenal, the instinctive swivel in behind the defender, the flick from Connolly....Swap an injured Maupay with anyone of those midfielders and they don’t score that goal as that is an instinctive strikers movement for that goal imho.

We could still score and win games, but those 2 are the only natural strikers and they will both find goals in positions the midfielders wouldn’t.

 

[Arkwright]

It's been an okay window, my concern is that we are going to be too reliant on youth and lack experience.

All this talk of Trossard, Jakinbash or McAllister filling in as strikers is laughable it's like putting a round peg in a square hole, they are not strikers good enough for the Premier.

 

[Whoislloydy]

I have to disagree, just 2 first team strikers (one of which has 4 goals and 1 assist in 28 games) is just not good enough.

 

[Weststander]

We may not have spent anything this window bit we've spent a hell of a lot in other windows.

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£200m? over 7 transfer windows.

Villa spent £145m last season alone, Everton £600m over recent seasons, Fulham £105m summer 2018, Leeds £110m this summer.

Per season or window, TB follows a different path.

 

[peterward]

£200m? over 7 transfer windows.

Villa spent £145m last season alone, Everton £600m over recent seasons, Fulham £105m summer 2018, Leeds £110m this summer.

Person season or window, TB follows a different path.

We’re a pound shop Aston Villa

 

[Sheebo]

It's been an okay window, my concern is that we are going to be too reliant on youth and lack experience.

All this talk of Trossard, Jakinbash or McAllister filling in as strikers is laughable it's like putting a round peg in a square hole, they are not strikers good enough for the Premier.

Agreed. It’s been painfully obvious we need a left wing back and a striker. Shame that Nunez guy didn’t come off. But I don’t know the clubs’ stance / finances so I’ll trust in them - and the window for domestic isn’t closed so still may get a player or 2...

 

[herecomesaregular]

Let's just hope this Swiss Div 2 lad really is Zlatan #2!

 

[dingodan]

No I don’t think we could present the same goal threat with those midfield players.

They’re all capable midfielders and even with both Maupay and Connolly fit, they’ll score a few.

As I mentioned earlier somewhere, they are not instinctive strikers, they are not all going to arrive in the box at the right time and get the scraps and tap ins, Tross and Ali J are gonna score with a few decent shots, but they’re just not instinctive strikers......Think of the goal Maupay scored v Arsenal, the instinctive swivel in behind the defender, the flick from Connolly....Swap an injured Maupay with anyone of those midfielders and they don’t score that goal as that is an instinctive strikers movement for that goal imho.

We could still score and win games, but those 2 are the only natural strikers and they will both find goals in positions the midfielders wouldn’t.

Remember Trossards goal Vs Norwich, and the run required to get on the end of it? That's a strikers goal IMO.

His goal Vs Liverpool? Inside the box again, strikers finish that, again IMO.

 

[GT49er]

Let's just hope this Swiss Div 2 lad really is Zlatan #2!

Any idea of the odds that he isn't?

 

[sjamesb3466]

Could be worse, could be Burnley who have only signed Dale Stephens all summer. Decent midfielder many would agree but hardly a progressive forward thinking signing
Plus you'd live in Burnley

 

[Justice]

Deluded apologists two players we needed, none came in.