Actually I think thus far under Arne, when both have been on the pitch simultaneously (although a very limited sample), Gomez has been preferred as centre-back and Quansah as a right-back. Although Gomez has also played left-back but never Quansah. Just a couple of games though mind.
Hate the idea of being the kind of club that would move on a player like Quansah. Chelsea.
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Obviously nobody has to leave. Iām thinking about the minutes weāve seen the existing group play, and then wondering what the knock-on effect will be if we add Huijsen to the mix.
There were rumors about Gomez last summer. I think we were open to letting him go to Newcastle in a deal for one of their players, but Newcastle wanted Quansah instead, and we said no to that, and they got over their PSR problems with other sales. As it happened Quansah did not play much this season, and arguably has plateaud in his development, so he might be open to a move if he isnāt going to see the action he wants. And arguably Konate, if he does not sign a new deal, might be one to watch as we know there is interest around him.
If we sign Huijsen and manage to keep all five, I will be delighted. Realistically I donāt think that will happen, as it will be too much talent not seeing enough action.
I see us remaining with 8 defenders and I donāt think we need more. It can happen from time to time that a player gets injured, stays here and we bring the players we wanted to bring or another one as cover. But normally, numbers wise, weāre fine.
Now itās about adding more quality, which immediately translates to better competition and more rotation (speaking now more general, not only defence) as well.
If one would leave, then Iād probably pick Quansah to stay over Gomez. Quansah has availability, a bit of versatility, age and certain talent on his side. Gomez has experience and even more versatility.
Though that would also possibly depend on what positions would other players have in their arsenal, especially the ones we would bring.
Such decisions might be left for later in the window, when we see what we managed to get done, how pre-season went, what are motivations of some of these players (we only talk from our perspective, but thereās also what players want to do), etc.
New times will bring new versatile players and new versatilities overall.
Considering that Huijsen has played the majority of the minutes heās been available for thus far this season, I question whatās in it for him if one of van Dijk or KonatĆ© doesnāt leave.
Iād suppose if we go after him itād be more like what we did for KeĆÆta and Mamardashvili and leave him there for a season (at least).
If we get a sizable fee for Gomez , I donāt mind us going in for Livramento. Someone who can play both right back and left back.
This is in addition to Kerkez/frimpong
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What if the club think heās shite though?
Then I disagree with them.
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I would too to be honest, but I think Iām right in saying heās not started centre back in any meaningful game since opening day. They even rushed Konate back when Gomez got injured to avoid playing Quansah there. They might just think heās not at that level.
Having said that whenever heās linked away at least one journalist will rubbish it and say heās part of the plans so Iām probably chatting a load of old rubbish.
Why would they, he was a regular in Jurgenās final season with us and is already on the fringes of the national team?
Pretty sure KonatƩ rushed KonatƩ back, not the club. I remember seeing a post of his from Instagram screenshotted somewhere.
You mean like Gomez who can play centre back too.
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He managed Dortmund, which competed with Bayern for trophies during his tenure there. So, of course heād take a more oppositional stance against them. But managing Bayern Munich is the dream of a lot of Germans, and he has not ruled it out when asked.
Thereās an equally large proportion of the population who detest Bayern and all they stand for, including JĆ¼rgenās mates Die Toten Hosenā¦
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And will be the 5th choice CB. After we get atleast 2 incoming ones. Even now heās the 4th choice CB.
Think heās 3rd actually, or was ahead of Quansah when we needed someone to step in this season.
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Given his injury setbacks. Heāll be 4th now and his place in the order will go down even more when we get another center back.
So 5th choice CB and a third choice wingback. Will still get some minutes when heās fit. But ideally someone like Livramento would be an upgrade over him in the wingback department.
Wonāt be surprised if he goes. We will get a pretty hefty transfer fee for him too.
How many centrebacks do you want?
You do realise thereās a squad limit of 25 players donāt you?
He will not. His injury recurred after he was played in an attempt to get his fitness back.
Please tell me you woke up from your wet dream after this.
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Ideally 5. Weāve got 4 at the moment (including Gomez).
We can look at someone whoās u21 for the 5th CB. Those donāt count towards the 25 player limit.
And please donāt tell me your deluded enough to rely on Gomez with his injury history as a 4th choice CB. Especially with Konate having his own fitness struggles too.
This is the best possible time for us to cash in on Gomez. Heās had way too many injuries over his career and at some point , those injuries will begin to affect his playing (even when heās otherwise fit)
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We donāt know that.
Gonna have to wait a few more months and see.