• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

January Transfer Thread - it couldn't open and close any quicker

Probably as good a January window as you could realistically expect.

Four players out that were never likely to get any game time under Conte, with three of them seriously underperforming whenever they played too.

Two new faces in, players who fit the manager's system and that he also knows from earlier.

Trusting Conte's judgement on those two, we're in a much better position now in our fight for fourth - plus it's a foundation for more strengthening in the summer.
 
SpurMeUp said:
I think top 4 could depend on how our wing play develops.

  • Can Royal develop into a more attacking player? He's accomplished as a more defensive RB, almost nothing gets past him. At 23 he can still become more attacking. He's a better player than Walker, Trippier and many others at his age. But he will never be a flair player; and it is likely he needs the summer to really take a step forward and develop. Does Conte stick with Royal or use an attacker out of position for some games when we need more down the wing to score?

  • Bergwijn, Moura, Kulusevski could all play down the right wing in theory.

  • Can Sessegnon come good and offer us a more attacking left-sided option to Reggie? With Sessegnon you get the feeling a lot of it is in his head. Get him into the right headspace, settled, and he can kick on. He can score, play one-twos and fly down the line. He needs consistent games, and again he might need the summer and a pre-season to get set.

Not an easy puzzle for Conte. Hopefully he prepares one attacking player to fill in on the right-wing. It would actually take some pressure off Royal for some games when we need to score. Then Conte has to get the most out of Reggie and Sesegnon. If we add assists and ideally goals from the wings, then we'll make the CL imo.
Click to expand...

I think you could also see Bergwijn/Moura left if needed, and Son up top. Or Berg up top.

I’m surprised to see so many saying they would have liked a 2nd striker or thought we might sign one.

As soon as Conte opened his mouth last week and said Stevie can play striker I pretty much knew that was that (when you also add in Son’s previous).

I really like the front 5. As long as at least 3 of them can be fit at any one time then I think we should be fine. And with all 5 fit we finally have some decent attacking players on the bench.
 
Robbo said:
Probably as good a January window as you could realistically expect.

Four players out that were never likely to get any game time under Conte, with three of them seriously underperforming whenever they played too.

Two new faces in, players who fit the manager's system and that he also knows from earlier.

Trusting Conte's judgement on those two, we're in a much better position now in our fight for fourth - plus it's a foundation for more strengthening in the summer.
Click to expand...
We just need top 4 now, so Conte can get any long term 'premium' targets in the summer.
 
Robbo said:
Probably as good a January window as you could realistically expect.

Four players out that were never likely to get any game time under Conte, with three of them seriously underperforming whenever they played too.

Two new faces in, players who fit the manager's system and that he also knows from earlier.

Trusting Conte's judgement on those two, we're in a much better position now in our fight for fourth - plus it's a foundation for more strengthening in the summer.
Click to expand...
But still missing a centre forward. Really hope that doesn’t come back to bite us but fear it will.
 
Benny_Lad said:
I think you could also see Bergwijn/Moura left if needed, and Son up top. Or Berg up top.

I’m surprised to see so many saying they would have liked a 2nd striker or thought we might sign one.

As soon as Conte opened his mouth last week and said Stevie can play striker I pretty much knew that was that (when you also add in Son’s previous).

I really like the front 5. As long as at least 3 of them can be fit at any one time then I think we should be fine. And with all 5 fit we finally have some decent attacking players on the bench.
Click to expand...

we still lack the option of a big no9.
 
SpurMeUp said:
I think top 4 could depend on how our wing play develops.

  • Can Royal develop into a more attacking player? He's accomplished as a more defensive RB, almost nothing gets past him. At 23 he can still become more attacking. He's a better player than Walker, Trippier and many others at his age. But he will never be a flair player; and it is likely he needs the summer to really take a step forward and develop. Does Conte stick with Royal or use an attacker out of position for some games when we need more down the wing to score?

  • Bergwijn, Moura, Kulusevski could all play down the right wing in theory.

  • Can Sessegnon come good and offer us a more attacking left-sided option to Reggie? With Sessegnon you get the feeling a lot of it is in his head. Get him into the right headspace, settled, and he can kick on. He can score, play one-twos and fly down the line. He needs consistent games, and again he might need the summer and a pre-season to get set.

Not an easy puzzle for Conte. Hopefully he prepares one attacking player to fill in on the right-wing. It would actually take some pressure off Royal for some games when we need to score. Then Conte has to get the most out of Reggie and Sesegnon. If we add assists and ideally goals from the wings, then we'll make the CL imo.
Click to expand...
Like you say, Royal can still learn. However, I do think it's harder to turn a defensive player into an attacking one than the other way round. Once Romero's fit again I think we'll see a more solid defence, perhaps one that could cover for having Moura (or whoever) at RWB against the bus parkers.
 
Last edited:
FatBloke said:
Possibly because we couldn't offer him game time, quality crosses, or big wages. Burnley could manage two out of three.
Click to expand...

Isn’t he an anti-vaxer as well. Teams playing or think they will be playing in Europe likely to be adverse to buying a player who isn’t vaccinated, I don’t know for fact he hasn’t got the vaccine. As at least for the next couple of years most countries will have some sort of access policy with at least a few meaning vaccines.
 
Robbo said:
Probably as good a January window as you could realistically expect.

Four players out that were never likely to get any game time under Conte, with three of them seriously underperforming whenever they played too.

Two new faces in, players who fit the manager's system and that he also knows from earlier.

Trusting Conte's judgement on those two, we're in a much better position now in our fight for fourth - plus it's a foundation for more strengthening in the summer.
Click to expand...

Yeah gotta trust they fit Conte's vision, which is one of the best in the world.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back