You don’t want to start kids at CB positions at a club like us, especially in Premier League.
Well, that’s kind of the point of what I’m saying - we’re behaving as if we do have these amazing options coming through we don’t want to stifle when, in fact, we don’t.
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You certainly dont want to be left with only players of their age and inexperience as options and be forced to play them regardless of the readiness and form. Which is absolutely where we are heading without a rabbit being pulled out of the hat.
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I think it is in part driven by not getting in the way of the players we have - Leoni & Jacket for example, plus getting in the way of the options we are probably looking at to replace Virgil.
While also trying to fit it into the budget we have available this window and meeting the expectations of the players we are looking to bring in.
Perhaps it is also a function of us not selling as frequently as other clubs too. We’re not short on numbers within the squad as a whole, just those that are available for the next month defensively, and perhaps a concern about the ongoing fitness of a couple of them through next season. With also having more question marks over the suitability of some of them.
Not ideal, but on one level it may just be a case of trying to get through to next summer when some of the questions we have about player quality or fitness may be answered better by then. And we will have a number of players leaving either because they are out of contract or the club wants to move them on.
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As someone that sees being homegrown as a positive. It’s only such an important positive at the moment because our non homegrown list has so little space left in it. If some of them were to leave, then it becomes less important.
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We re in that terrible position of having too many players before their peak or past their peak, at CB. Nobody in their best years ready to deliver and get even better soon.
But just one good signing would really alleviate that pressure
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Well, Spence is certainly good enough to displace Frimpong (who doesn’t know to play in a back 4 setup), Tsimikas and Ramsay (both of whom barely played last season). I mean, Tsimikas was not good enough to get game time at AS frigging Roma.
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Could be. I haven’t paid attention to Spence until I saw him in the world cup, so I don’t actually know what I’m talking about. How is he going forward?
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It would have also given us leeway in the Konate negotiations, so if he did leave we’ve got an able replacement. Also having someone who can play on Virgil’s side when he leaves is an added bonus.
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Linked with Diomande now. Not that one! Defender who was going to Forest. We do love a hijack.
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Its probably 2+2=5 but any links to CBs are welcome right now.
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Going in for someone after another offer looks to have been accepted, like with Munoz and rumors about Mbaye, might be something we are doing to stop people upping the asking price on us.
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Is this the Diomande from Sporting?
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Is diomande the new Dembele?
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Exactly!
You cant win anything with kid’s…
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Actually Iraola built one of the best defenses in the league with 21-year-old Zabarnyi and 18-year-old Huijsen. But the problem for us is both Jaquet and Leoni haven’t played for at least 6 months. I don’t want to throw them into games straight away.
Joyce just reported we’re after a CB anyway.
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Good to know I do feel it would be a complete mistake not for us to get one.
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I feel like James Hill is an under the radar solution for our CB issues. He’s already familiar with the system because Iraola coached him up personally at Bournemouth. He just turned 24 this season and LFC might be able to get him for the 35-40m price range. Because of his age Hill also fits LFC’s recruitment profile better than a 28 year old CB like Konsa who would also cost 60m.
Hill also has played right back so he offers the position versatility we need with our current depth issues on defence.
Most importantly Iraola already has a great rapport with James Hill.
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Konsa might make sense if the club want to mitigate for the exodus of senior squad members over the past year. Neither Leoni or Jacquet have made 50 top flight appearances yet. It would be prudent for the club to bed them in as opposed to throwing them in.
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Well this is a surprise. So much green..!
I knew he was said to have stepped in and played really well last season. It’s a player who came out of nowhere for me, never really took notice of him when I watched Bournemouth. But an interesting shout for sure.
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