Rough highlights of Prem teams' transfer windows

[parklane1]

I believe Johnson is a very good player who may not be a player who stands out as much as some but his energy and crossing abaility is top class IMO, only 23 so he will improve as he gets older. Seems he is another of our players that gets stick from some for not being dynamic [ STAND OUT] but he creates and scored some important goals for us.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I want to see a viable alternative for Udogie in the squad, one that doesn't significantly lead to a change in threat level and style down the left, and I don't mean hoiking Van der Ven out of central defence

Back Donely for that role and spend all out funds on the best RWF we can get

 

[Bishop]

One thing I think is often overlooked about BJ is that he has a really good instinct. I have an ST and sit above the goal. It’s really easy to see how BJ drives into a POMO (sorry - Allardyce terminology there - position of maximum opportunity) much more than someone like Timo.

Hes bagged a few goals that look like tap ins but he’s done the hard work by getting on the end of things.

Thats why BJ has a really respectable goals per minute and Timo doesn’t. Timo drives me mad, always 5 or 10 paces behind when a dangerous ball comes in.

Also, just to note, BJ ‘only’ played 2333 minutes last year (lots of sub appearances early on) and many of those minutes were on the left where he wasn’t suited and didn’t seem to know the role of an inverted winger.

I actually dislike wingers playing on the side of their natural foot (most prolific wingers now days are inverted) but I think he gave a pretty good account of himself last season.

I actually do think he's quite good at sniffing out danger spots but his finishing has been poor in those situations. If he was finishing more of those chances off then there would be a good argument for him based on efficiency alone.

My issues with him relate to his poor technique, the lack of dribbling is a concern for a winger or wife forward, he's constantly struggles beat his man especially on the right. I actually preferred him on the left as it kind of forced him to run inside onto his defenders weaker foot and opened up space for him to shoot. On the right he can't beat his man unless the ball is ahead of him and the defender and if we are going to play against packed defensive see especially a wideman who needs space and ball played into space isn't the quite ideal. All imo of course.

 

[harr1984]

Think its pretty obvious Spence will be the backup LB for this season.

As for Johnson, I think this will be his breakout season and has high potential. But he like all other of our wingers can't beat a defender from a standstill position, only dangerous when the ball is fed into them in open space to run onto. The opposition know this and will set up accordingly, and this is our biggest problem and why I'd be happy with someone like Eze.....

 

[Finney Is Back]

Back Donely for that role and spend all out funds on the best RWF we can get

Donley still has LOADS to learn to play in that role (and I'm nowhere near convinced that will actually end up being his role anyway).

 

[Finney Is Back]

I actually do think he's quite good at sniffing out danger spots but his finishing has been poor in those situations. If he was finishing more of those chances off then there would be a good argument for him based on efficiency alone.

My issues with him relate to his poor technique, the lack of dribbling is a concern for a winger or wife forward, he's constantly struggles beat his man especially on the right. I actually preferred him on the left as it kind of forced him to run inside onto his defenders weaker foot and opened up space for him to shoot. On the right he can't beat his man unless the ball is ahead of him and the defender and if we are going to play against packed defensive see especially a wideman who needs space and ball played into space isn't the quite ideal. All imo of course.

It's because he is often busting a gut to get there and then doesn't have the luxury of having time to find the finish.

I always find it strange though that players who post good numbers but miss a few chances seem to get more criticism than players who post worse numbers but don't miss many chances (as they're not getting themselves into the positions to miss them).

Johnson doesn't have poor technique. I also think it doesn't matter a jot about a 'lack of dribbling' (which I don't think is true anyway). Very, VERY few players in world football are able to beat their man one on one and then stay ahead of them (and when they do they typically just get fouled anyway. Johnson will have a lot more success in playing it inside and then going on the run to receive the ball back ahead of his opponent and then being in a great position for a chance creating action versus a player who specialises in beating a player one on one (e.g. a Zaha type) where typically the opposition just tuck in a player behind their full back anyway.

 

[Bishop]

It's because he is often busting a gut to get there and then doesn't have the luxury of having time to find the finish.

I always find it strange though that players who post good numbers but miss a few chances seem to get more criticism than players who post worse numbers but don't miss many chances (as they're not getting themselves into the positions to miss them).

Johnson doesn't have poor technique. I also think it doesn't matter a jot about a 'lack of dribbling' (which I don't think is true anyway). Very, VERY few players in world football are able to beat their man one on one and then stay ahead of them (and when they do they typically just get fouled anyway. Johnson will have a lot more success in playing it inside and then going on the run to receive the ball back ahead of his opponent and then being in a great position for a chance creating action versus a player who specialises in beating a player one on one (e.g. a Zaha type) where typically the opposition just tuck in a player behind their full back anyway.

Well we'll agree to disagree on it mattering or not. It mattered last season and it will matter next season again if we aren't able to play the balls accurately into space for him and isolate him versus his FB. He is poor with the ball at his feet, just look at how often he just runs straight into his defender, that is not the precise control of a technician.

I think he will get improved and get better, he seems a bit of a confidence guy better but his dribbling and close control of the ball is unlikely to improve greatly at this point so we do need to use him better. The give and goes are a good idea, whether we are able to implement that well remains to be seen.

 

[Bullet]

Back Donely for that role and spend all out funds on the best RWF we can get

DONLEY

DON
LEY

 

[Kandi1977]

I actually do think he's quite good at sniffing out danger spots but his finishing has been poor in those situations. If he was finishing more of those chances off then there would be a good argument for him based on efficiency alone.

My issues with him relate to his poor technique, the lack of dribbling is a concern for a winger or wife forward, he's constantly struggles beat his man especially on the right. I actually preferred him on the left as it kind of forced him to run inside onto his defenders weaker foot and opened up space for him to shoot. On the right he can't beat his man unless the ball is ahead of him and the defender and if we are going to play against packed defensive see especially a wideman who needs space and ball played into space isn't the quite ideal. All imo of course.

He missed some he should have scored, and scored some that he easily could have missed. He's pretty much on par for xG

 

[Bedfordspurs]

He missed some he should have scored, and scored some that he easily could have missed. He's pretty much on par for xG

Unfortunately he was way down on that front
Not sure what owns he missed from me or my but is goals scored vs his xg was 11.90 and he scored 5… just get to par in that front and he has improved a LOT…

 

[monkeybarry]

Think its pretty obvious Spence will be the backup LB for this season.

As for Johnson, I think this will be his breakout season and has high potential. But he like all other of our wingers can't beat a defender from a standstill position, only dangerous when the ball is fed into them in open space to run onto. The opposition know this and will set up accordingly, and this is our biggest problem and why I'd be happy with someone like Eze.....

I think so too.
Spence as cover for both Wing backs, and Gray as RWB and CM.

 

[thfcsteff]

There were a small number of us on here stating that we thought Gordon was a really good player and that we hoped we signed him back when we were linked to him before he went to Saudi Sportswashing Machine. However, the majority on here seemed to think he was rubbish and massively over priced.

I remember. I thought sadly it was unlikely we'd get him and Richy in the same window but I allowed hope in (for a bit!) back then. I'd be fooling myself now!

 

[thfcsteff]

I think the most easily upgradable players in our first team from last season were/are: Vicario, Bissouma, Sarr, Richarlison (now done) and Kulusevski

I'd love Kimmich here, would be transformational for us a number 6 type (though I'm happy with us bringing in Gray to become this player over the next year or two).

Eze I like as a player but don't think he upgrades us massively. He isn't really a winger and I'm not convinced he is that much of an improvement to Maddison to make it worthwhile.

I think both you and Bennylad make very fair points re: Eze, and I freely admit that I am somewhat stuck in 'fan mode' when I say I'd like him here.

Can you imagine Kimmich teaching Gray?!!! And yes, I personally lost trust in Biss a fair while back albeit the role is very tough.

 

[Terry Cunningham]

Robinson is great IMO but lots don’t rate him
He is a running machine which would really suit us

Hes a good player who always stands out when ive watched Fulham.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Well we'll agree to disagree on it mattering or not. It mattered last season and it will matter next season again if we aren't able to play the balls accurately into space for him and isolate him versus his FB. He is poor with the ball at his feet, just look at how often he just runs straight into his defender, that is not the precise control of a technician.

I think he will get improved and get better, he seems a bit of a confidence guy better but his dribbling and close control of the ball is unlikely to improve greatly at this point so we do need to use him better. The give and goes are a good idea, whether we are able to implement that well remains to be seen.

He created more chances than all but a handful of players in the PL so it clearly didn’t matter very much.

 

[braineclipse]

It's because he is often busting a gut to get there and then doesn't have the luxury of having time to find the finish.

I always find it strange though that players who post good numbers but miss a few chances seem to get more criticism than players who post worse numbers but don't miss many chances (as they're not getting themselves into the positions to miss them).

Johnson doesn't have poor technique. I also think it doesn't matter a jot about a 'lack of dribbling' (which I don't think is true anyway). Very, VERY few players in world football are able to beat their man one on one and then stay ahead of them (and when they do they typically just get fouled anyway. Johnson will have a lot more success in playing it inside and then going on the run to receive the ball back ahead of his opponent and then being in a great position for a chance creating action versus a player who specialises in beating a player one on one (e.g. a Zaha type) where typically the opposition just tuck in a player behind their full back anyway.

Definitely agree with that.

On the last paragraph, also definitely agree. But it is an area he and we would benefit massively from him improving on. Doesn't have to be through dribbling as you say, combination play can also be really useful. But it's an area where he could improve for sure, and I think he has the required technical ability to do so.

 

[Bishop]

He created more chances than all but a handful of players in the PL so it clearly didn’t matter very much.

The amount of chances "he created" isn't really a direct reflection of his play or quality. He plays in a very aggressive front foot side that prioritises attack, almost haphazardly you could say. If he were better with the ball especially in tight spaces or when pressured he would be considerably more effective, the team would lose the ball less, score more, dominant possession and pen teams in more than we do currently.

Considering we neither finished 4th nor won anything I don't think it's out of bounds to suggest that the team and in particular the attack can be improved upon.

 

[Finney Is Back]

The amount of chances "he created" isn't really a direct reflection of his play or quality. He plays in a very aggressive front foot side that prioritises attack, almost haphazardly you could say. If he were better with the ball especially in tight spaces or when pressured he would be considerably more effective, the team would lose the ball less, score more, dominant possession and pen teams in more than we do currently.

Considering we neither finished 4th nor won anything I don't think it's out of bounds to suggest that the team and in particular the attack can be improved upon.

Lol…. Of course it is!

Also from what I can tell Ange’s tactics are not to keep a team penned in. He seems to favour transitions.

Also, as an FYI. Johnson was 89th percentile for miscontrols and 92nd percentile for ‘dispossessed’ so doesn’t really back up your theory about him losing the ball.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Lol…. Of course it is!

Also from what I can tell Ange’s tactics are not to keep a team penned in. He seems to favour transitions.

Also, as an FYI. Johnson was 89th percentile for miscontrols and 92nd percentile for ‘dispossessed’ so doesn’t really back up your theory about him losing the ball.

It really doesn’t
But Bishopnand I have been arguing this since he started I think
Our issue with ball retention in attack star and ends with having a CF doing the basic work a CF would do. With son playing more games there than anyone it showed his weaknesses in that role. We won’t have that with solanke and rich6 who are both significantly better than son at occupying defenders

 

[Bedfordspurs]

The amount of chances "he created" isn't really a direct reflection of his play or quality. He plays in a very aggressive front foot side that prioritises attack, almost haphazardly you could say. If he were better with the ball especially in tight spaces or when pressured he would be considerably more effective, the team would lose the ball less, score more, dominant possession and pen teams in more than we do currently.

Considering we neither finished 4th nor won anything I don't think it's out of bounds to suggest that the team and in particular the attack can be improved upon.

We have signed a CF who had a huge season last year
That’s an improvement of significance
We played last year with half a CF