He is knackered out for a monthI thought he was going to City, Im assuming I've missed something that suggests he may come here?
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He is knackered out for a monthI thought he was going to City, Im assuming I've missed something that suggests he may come here?
He is knackered out for a month
I think its his agent trying to collect some commission,he has looked very poor when I have watched him.I saw that, I just assumed as there was a debate on whether he would be a good signing, that there was something to suggest he may.
Did you read the bit about opportunistically improving the squad incrementally ?
Are you seriously suggesting that we shouldn't bring in an international centre-back with Champion's League experience because we've got :-
Hjelde
Alese (a decent player in the Championship when fit (rarely) and untested at Premier League level),
Seelt (who we haven't actually got, because he's out on loan)
Hume and Reinildo (so long as they aren't actually engaged in playing in their primary positions as full-backs) ?
I really like O'Nein and hope that he remains at the club for a long time, but I think it is naive to consider him as being regularly reliable at Premier League level.
Well I’m just questioning your view, is that alright like?Yes. Of course i trust them. I'm just giving my view on it if that's alright like. I don't think this will happen anyway.
Yes. I'm not precious or sensitive.Well I’m just questioning your view, is that alright like?
Exactly this, for all the talk of 'starters and finishers' no high quality CB with international aspirations is going to be happy to just have the odd 20 minutes every couple of matches. It's only Geertruida's flexibility that has given him sufficient minutes. If he was purely a CB I'd imagine he'd be pretty unhappy with how much he'd be sat on the benchNo, I’m seriously suggesting not doing it, because
a) we need other players, elsewhere and money is zero sum however much people pretend it isn’t;
b) if you have too many centre backs of quality, then the ones not playing will get fed up and the extremely coherent, all in it together, morale could be threatened. We’ve got four top, top quality centre backs. The others are all sufficient beneath that.
There aren’t many teams in the league that have four like Mukeiele, Geeetrudia, Alderete and Ballard all happy. No need to rock the boat.
I accept, without reservation, the fact that a club can have too many players. Indeed, SAFC already has 'too many' players (for example, Poveda, Pembele, Anderson, etc.), which appears to be currently being addressed. And I also accept that the number of overseas players is a relevant consideration.You CAN have too many players to be fair. We are already only a couple of players below our threshold for how many foreign players we can have. Considering the depth we already have in CB I just don't think one of these valuable spots should be taken up by a player in a position we have our most depth in
Hjelde is probably never even given any thought by RLB when he's planning his starting 11 and subs. I'll be shocked if he even gets 5 minutes game time this season.
We aren't spending 20 million + on a Leo Hjelde replacement though. That level of signing would be to replace Alderete or Ballard, if either of those players are on the bench for a significant period they'd want out. Squad spirit as we've shown this season is massively important. You absolutely can have too many good players.I accept, without reservation, the fact that a club can have too many players. Indeed, SAFC already has 'too many' players (for example, Poveda, Pembele, Anderson, etc.), which appears to be currently being addressed. And I also accept that the number of overseas players is a relevant consideration.
However, the test is qualitative and comparative, rather than simply quantitative. I suggested that the club couldn't have too many "GOOD" players. This requires an assessment of whether a player who is being considered for recruitment is an improvement on an existing squad member. I would respectfully suggest that Lucumi would be obviously be an upgrade on Hjelde and as both of whom would count in the overseas contingent, swapping out one for the other wouldn't have a material impact on the overall count.
Unfortunately, for the last six games since Hjelde's return to fitness and as a result of the AFCON departees, Le Bris has had to give thought to Hjelde when he has been planning his subs, because he's been included on the bench. I would agree that Hjelde is unlikely to feature on the field this season. And that is the issue. We have a player who is effectively 'unusable'. Surely it would be better to replace Hjelde with someone Le Bris might actually feel confident in using during a game, perhaps in the event of an injury/booking to Alderete/Ballard/Mukiele, none of which are unusual events.
To be honest the fact you have to go down as far as Hjelde to make the comparison shows how much we just really don't need LucumiI accept, without reservation, the fact that a club can have too many players. Indeed, SAFC already has 'too many' players (for example, Poveda, Pembele, Anderson, etc.), which appears to be currently being addressed. And I also accept that the number of overseas players is a relevant consideration.
However, the test is qualitative and comparative, rather than simply quantitative. I suggested that the club couldn't have too many "GOOD" players. This requires an assessment of whether a player who is being considered for recruitment is an improvement on an existing squad member. I would respectfully suggest that Lucumi would be obviously be an upgrade on Hjelde and as both of whom would count in the overseas contingent, swapping out one for the other wouldn't have a material impact on the overall count.
Unfortunately, for the last six games since Hjelde's return to fitness and as a result of the AFCON departees, Le Bris has had to give thought to Hjelde when he has been planning his subs, because he's been included on the bench. I would agree that Hjelde is unlikely to feature on the field this season. And that is the issue. We have a player who is effectively 'unusable'. Surely it would be better to replace Hjelde with someone Le Bris might actually feel confident in using during a game, perhaps in the event of an injury/booking to Alderete/Ballard/Mukiele, none of which are unusual events.
I wonder if we are still working towards some sort of model though, cash constantly flowing in and the club growing, could be succession planning going on.We aren't spending 20 million + on a Leo Hjelde replacement though. That level of signing would be to replace Alderete or Ballard, if either of those players are on the bench for a significant period they'd want out. Squad spirit as we've shown this season is massively important. You absolutely can have too many good players.
To be honest the fact you have to go down as far as Hjelde to make the comparison shows how much we just really don't need Lucumi
This. And Nordi should be first choice RB with Ballard and Alderete as the CBs so that’s another option out. I basically see us having 09 as cover and that’s it. If we can get a favourable deal for a decent CB I’d be all over it. Whether it’s this bloke or notDid you read the bit about opportunistically improving the squad incrementally ?
Are you seriously suggesting that we shouldn't bring in an international centre-back with Champion's League experience because we've got :-
Hjelde
Alese (a decent player in the Championship when fit (rarely) and untested at Premier League level),
Seelt (who we haven't actually got, because he's out on loan)
Hume and Reinildo (so long as they aren't actually engaged in playing in their primary positions as full-backs) ?
I really like O'Nein and hope that he remains at the club for a long time, but I think it is naive to consider him as being regularly reliable at Premier League level.
Nordi is better centre back than right back imoThis. And Nordi should be first choice RB with Ballard and Alderete as the CBs so that’s another option out. I basically see us having 09 as cover and that’s it. If we can get a favourable deal for a decent CB I’d be all over it. Whether it’s this bloke or not
He’s been unreal at RB and is a better RB replacement for Hume than he is a CB replacement for Ballard/AldereteNordi is better centre back than right back imo
Don’t think you’ll get many arguments thereHe’s been unreal at RB and is a better RB replacement for Hume than he is a CB replacement for Ballard/Alderete
Back 4 when fit of:
Nordi - Ballard - Alderete - Reinaldo
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Unless you are Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman, Florent Ghisolfi or possibly Regis Le Bris (are you, by the way ??!!) you cannot, with any degree of certainty say - "We aren't spending £20 million + on a Leo Hjelde replacement"We aren't spending 20 million + on a Leo Hjelde replacement though. That level of signing would be to replace Alderete or Ballard, if either of those players are on the bench for a significant period they'd want out. Squad spirit as we've shown this season is massively important. You absolutely can have too many good players.
To be honest the fact you have to go down as far as Hjelde to make the comparison shows how much we just really don't need Lucumi
I actually disagree. I think Geertruida should be the first choice right-back and Mukiele continue to be one of the best performing centre-backs in the Premier League. That said, I do believe that Mukiele would perform admirably at full-back and Geertruida would, similarly, be very good as the right-sided centre-back. And Hume is not to be discounted either. But yes, beyond the Geertruida/Mukiele/Ballard/Alderete cohort, the drop-off in quality to the next available options is frighteningly stark and improving the level of quality should be part of the immediate/short/medium term plans.This. And Nordi should be first choice RB with Ballard and Alderete as the CBs so that’s another option out. I basically see us having 09 as cover and that’s it. If we can get a favourable deal for a decent CB I’d be all over it. Whether it’s this bloke or not
Not many right backs out there that speed up play. Honestly our fans at times...As good as Nordi is, the play slows down a bit when we are in the final third. He doesn’t knock crosses in like he did against Newcastle very often.
As a defender though, he’s as good as anyone we’ve had.
Cycle clips round your ankles will stop thatSounds like they’ve shit themselves in the foot. He’s running his contract down and we won’t pay what they want.
I’d agree but good as they are our cbs could lose form- Alderete was seized by the spirit of Jack Baldwin at Brentford out of nowhere- and then there’s injuries. We’ve been lucky so far but Ballard is always prone to a niggleThis. And Nordi should be first choice RB with Ballard and Alderete as the CBs so that’s another option out. I basically see us having 09 as cover and that’s it. If we can get a favourable deal for a decent CB I’d be all over it. Whether it’s this bloke or not