Bit like Sima at Rangers in that way - "Barely a footballer", "Bambi on ice", "poor first touch, can't pass" etc., etc. - you get the picture - but just keeps scoring goals!
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[Albion] Viktor Gyokeres
- Thread starter ewe2
- Start date
Very unlikely we have any concerns about his character I'd say, given that we tried to sign him back when he left Coventry!
Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
He's an early success for the algorithm isn't he? Even if he didn't find that success with us.
He never looked like a premier league player in the handful of appearances I saw him have with us so I'm not sure what else the club could have done. They got their money back while allowing a young player to progress his career and got a bonus pay out when he got his big move to Portugal.
I think it's another selling point for the club, we'll let you go cheaply if it's not fully working out here and help you build your career elsewhere. For most players that will be in lower level leagues here or across Europe. In Gyokeres case he's gone on to be really successful.
That's a case of well done him rather than poorly done us, I think.
He never looked like a premier league player in the handful of appearances I saw him have with us so I'm not sure what else the club could have done. They got their money back while allowing a young player to progress his career and got a bonus pay out when he got his big move to Portugal.
I think it's another selling point for the club, we'll let you go cheaply if it's not fully working out here and help you build your career elsewhere. For most players that will be in lower level leagues here or across Europe. In Gyokeres case he's gone on to be really successful.
That's a case of well done him rather than poorly done us, I think.
Doesn't sound like dickheadism to me!
Southern Scouse
Well-known member
- Jul 21, 2011
- 2,097
The one that got away!
Bold Seagull
strong and stable with me, or...
Agree with the above. ^^^
Not a case of 'one that got away', more wrong time in his development. It's a sliding doors scenario. Kept him and he may not have got as much playing time, may not have developed as he has done - which has taken time. Had he gone and 9 months later he's banging them in, slightly different story, but he's had 4 Championship seasons before properly catching the eye in Portugal.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
CH was going to promote VG to to first team the following season ahead of Connolly. He got sacked and Potter went with Connolly.
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,349
It does make me laugh how some people will defend the club at every angle. Our transfer policy has been absolutely superb for several years under Bloom but that doesn't mean that it can't fail. We have had some failures in signings. Dahoud and Locadia to name two.
In this instance we did well to unearth Gyokeres but how anyone can at the current time say it was a good decision to let him go I really don't know. It's too early to conclude that ultimately he will be a better player than Ferguson (if that was the decision) but right now he appears to be ahead of Ferguson in terms of his development. Lets see where we are in 5 years, but currently it appears to be a mistake to have let Gyokeres leave.
In this instance we did well to unearth Gyokeres but how anyone can at the current time say it was a good decision to let him go I really don't know. It's too early to conclude that ultimately he will be a better player than Ferguson (if that was the decision) but right now he appears to be ahead of Ferguson in terms of his development. Lets see where we are in 5 years, but currently it appears to be a mistake to have let Gyokeres leave.
Possibly but if he wanted games and he wasn't getting them it's hardly right to stand in his way. The club have a sell on which has made us money on the deal and could be worth a few million more (club will have big sell on with Coventry who hopefully have minumum 20% with Sporting).
He wouldn't have developed at all stuck on the bench and may he left for nothing at the end of his contract, which had had 18 months left on it when he left.
Yes, as I said the two young prospects at the time were Gyokeres and Connolly, not Gyokeres and Ferguson as per the OP.
Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo
I believe in Joe Hendry
- Oct 4, 2003
- 12,211
He’s 6 years older than Ferguson.
When he was 20 he’d just completed his first half season in the U21s for us, scoring 7 goals in 9 games (which admittedly is decent). Before joining us he’d made 50 odd appearances in the Swedish 2nd division. Compare that to what Evan has achieved at the same age.
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,349
Very good point. Lets hope Ferguson follows his trajectory or better.
Mustafa II
Well-known member
It's a funny thing. If he stayed and continued his development with us, he may never have reached his potential, or even broke into the first team.
We let him go after a few unsuccessful loan spells at an age where it seemed apparent he would never be a top Premier League player. I don't think the club made a mistake here.
His time at Coventry was clearly the time he improved to become a decent striker, but the pivotal move for him has been Sporting, who took a big gamble on him. He has got to play first team football, with some top quality players in a great stadium, in a league of weak opposition to allow him to develop his abilities and his confidence.
It's a bit of a sliding doors scenario - as he may never have got off his feet here. This will happen from time to time as we look to sign top young talents - some will make it here, some will move on to make it elsewhere - and others won't make it at all.
We let him go after a few unsuccessful loan spells at an age where it seemed apparent he would never be a top Premier League player. I don't think the club made a mistake here.
His time at Coventry was clearly the time he improved to become a decent striker, but the pivotal move for him has been Sporting, who took a big gamble on him. He has got to play first team football, with some top quality players in a great stadium, in a league of weak opposition to allow him to develop his abilities and his confidence.
It's a bit of a sliding doors scenario - as he may never have got off his feet here. This will happen from time to time as we look to sign top young talents - some will make it here, some will move on to make it elsewhere - and others won't make it at all.
mejonaNO12 aka riskit
Well-known member
Gyokeres went to Swansea on loan from us when he was 22 and scored 0 goals
He spent the second half of that season at Coventry on loan. 3 goals in 19 games
He was 23 when he left us with 3 goals in 30 championship games.
Evan Ferguson has just turned 20 in October and has 13 PL goals.
Not sure where the comparison is.
hart's shirt
Well-known member
Just the 4 goals for Sweden tonight in the Nations League albeit in the 3rd tier of the competition.
- Apr 5, 2014
- 26,331
But the club did. He was here for three years and loaned out, showing no sign of what came later. Even in the Championship at Coventry City he was showing the qualities of being strong at that level but nothing more. These things happen.
GrizzlingGammon
Well-known member
- Dec 15, 2018
- 2,019
He wasn't a kid when he left. He was 23. He didn't light up the Championship on loans and never shone when he played in a Brighton shirt.
You can't keep every player in the hope they might be a late bloomer.
We’ve got 15+ kids in every age group from U9s up……we can’t give them all time to develop. There’s no real lesson here - he’s one that got away but the data and ‘eyes’ at the time we let him go supported the decision. There will be others.
JetsetJimbo
Well-known member
- Jun 13, 2011
- 1,175
I remember thinking we'd rue the loss of Leo Ostigard more than Gyokeres. Both done well since leaving, but I was clearly wrong about that.
I also remember, years and years ago, thinking we'd rue the loss of Michael Standing more than Gareth Barry.
What I'm saying is, you should all be asking me to compare two of our players and then betting against whatever I say. You'll all get rich.
I also remember, years and years ago, thinking we'd rue the loss of Michael Standing more than Gareth Barry.
What I'm saying is, you should all be asking me to compare two of our players and then betting against whatever I say. You'll all get rich.