To get a club good enough to provide the player development pathway you want you run the very real risk of becoming too good for that league, accidentally qualifying for the CL and then having to divest and untangle ownership (or in the case of Chelsea, make Strasbourg lose their last 3 games of the season).
Essentially no one has managed to make it work to deliver the benefits the proponents suggest it can, and we’ve seen several groups served a massive ball ache to get aligned with the newer regulatory requirements.
I mentioned 3 actions that are measurable and that I am aware the club used to evaluate defenders; Aerials, dribbled past and ground duels. Notice I didn’t include things like tackles, interceptions or clearances that’s because according to Ian Graham they are not strong indicators of “good” defensive work.
And, I didn’t cite any platform as “definitive”, saying I did is a something you’ve made up.
Squawka’s stats are provided by OPTA, I trust the way that they gather and compile their data, it is the industry standard. However, I have no idea what combination of metrics and weights Squawka use to arrive at the “Squawka Score” that seem to have so entranced you. Neither do you I suspect. I do know that they will have baked in a shitload of data that is misleading when judging a defenders quality though. So I’m going to ignore the fact that it exists.
Also, I’m confused, Mate, do you actually believe Ibrahim Konate had a better season than Virg in 2026 as per that ranking?
It could signal that at this moment, Quansah is unlikely to command the fee and get the game time he demands. The factors will change next season. I guess it is a risk we are willing to take with longer term plans in mind.
Reliable for them so kinda Spursy Fabrice Hawkins maybe?
So looks like the plan is the two french lads in, Gakpo out. Clubs all seem set with the players involved. Just waiting on the clubs to agree fees with each other
I understand the sentiment towards Gakpo but I feel it would be a mistake to fund this double move with his exit. I feel he is primed to a return to form and I don’t think we’d be better side on net.
We could hold onto Gakpo for a year and see if his fee inflates under Iraola. But for the right fee (70M+), you’d have to consider it
I do think that a year from now, you’ll have Rio and Barcola and Munoz and Mbaye and Isak and Ekitike. I’m not sure Gakpo would have a place in our side by then.
Oh, I thought they were looking for players with a similar name, like Chieso, Chizza, Cheesie etc.
A bit disappointed that’s not their recruitment policy actually.
David Lynch, in a conversation with the Anfield Index, reckoned that when he asked about Cody Gakpo his source at the club seemed surprisingly nonchalant about letting him go. That was in June.
Cody seems like a nice lad and is a good player but, like Nunez, I think he was someone that Jurgen liked as opposed to a player who met all the usual criteria. Just based on what was described as the forward player archtype by Ian Graham, I can’t see a world in which Edwards would have recomended him. So it makes sense that they are happy to cash in on him.
I have no issue with anyone responding to my posts, however, your post was just a snarky comment that had nothing to do with the question, rhetorical or not. It was aimed at my use/understanding of grammar.
I was not the only one to question Joyce’s post, yet you singled me out and tried to mock/educate me.
There was no talk of a CB signing, the Club seemed happy to enter the season with VVD, the brittle Gomez, and two highly rated youngsters - both recovering from injuries. It took 5 minutes of the Sunderland game to highlight a massive flaw in their plan.
So, going forward I would appreciate it if you would prioritise the reading of my post correctly, quoting it correctly and if you have the time responding in kind, without adjusting your point to save face.
To conclude, I do not care or have the time for an English lesson from yourself and whilst I appreciate your generosity of free education, I think it would be a case of the blind leading the blind
I smiled seeing VVD and Konaté tied. Might upset some on here but was what I saw. We all saw the big errors of Konaté however neither shone at covering one and the other VVD often being completely out of the picture when it mattered.
Tbf I think VVD improved as the season went on, like he needed to do more, it just wasn’t enough. I also don’t think being captain suits him, he has enough on his plate keeping the defence organised.
I agree, I never started this. I will and always will respond in kind. If someone want’s to single me out and try to be little me on grammar, Instead of engaging with the actual point then what do you want me to do?
I could ask what you would do but what’s the point.
Feel free to read the communication timeline and slap both of us on the wrists. I am only sticking up for myself.
Was half tempted to make a joke about Two tier, but I reading the room I assume it wouldn’t go down well .
Frankly he’s not worth his wages!
I don’t know who was behind that however now the manager has changed its a no trainer to relieve the club if that burden.
I’d expect Gravenberch to be the next.
How this happened I have no idea. I did find it shocking.
