Sam Westley, defender, aged 22 so if we would like the possibility of playing him he needs to be named in squad. More likely we had a place left over and he fills it.
I think he's the only Dev squad player over 21? (Not sure on this.)
So all the others can play anyway, but he would need to be named.
In my mind theres no doubt we are in a much stronger position than last season and the recent transfer window has (hopefully) addressed the issues from last season. The main issue for me was we didnt have that option centrally to go through teams, we would often be reduced to going wide for alot of our attacking play; which isnt bad if you have the great deliveries from cresswell, Antonio, Payet, etc, etc but we did need that plan B and greater variation to our game in order to be more flexible and to bring others into play more.
In Nordvedit we have someone to sure up the defense and midfield which should provide a better platform to attack from tactically, we have Feghouli who is both direct and intelligent with his movement off the ball and end product, we also have Zaza who can provide that threat in behind and has the ability to receive the ball in a deeper position on the half turn, and of course Andre Ayew who should tie everything together very nicely as he's tidy on the ball, intelligent and well rounded, IMO he makes a great combination with AC up top,
The only real concerns for me is whether we can keep them fit and whether we can keep them all happy and cohesive because theres alot of people who will miss out on regular football if the injuries subside but with the high level of internal competition and the options available, there should be more rotation; theres no doubt missing out on the europa is a big blow for squad opportunities. The club have done alot of good business in the past 2 summer windows and hopefully its reached a stage where we have a squad for the long term, where we dont need to do much in the next few windows, especially with so many of our brightest acadamey products out on loan at good clubs+ at a good level. ;thumbsup
Biggest problem last season was our defence. We were one of the top scorers, but were quite open at the back. We seem to have attempted to address this by scrapping the Antonio plan and signing as experienced a RB as you could get to compete with Byram. We've signed a LB who looks capable of playing as a first choice, and we've signed a specialist DM. The only issue is that many would say none of them should start in our first team ahead of other options (Byram, Kouyate/Noble, Cresswell) so, if that is the case, the problem positions from last season are not resolved.
Ayew replaces Valencia, which is 100% an improvement. Zaza replaces Sakho, who unfortunately looks like he'll never play again, and Calleri adds extra competition to the three forwards we had last season. Whether Zaza is good enough to replace Sakho (who got 12 goals in his first season), we don't know. We have replaced our No.1 forward from the past two years with Juventus' fourth choice forward. The fact we tried to sign Vardy, Batshuayi, Bacca and Lacazette ahead of Zaza means I have to rate our business as 6/10. Had we signed who we wanted, it would've been 7-8/10.
Keeping Payet is a great achievement. Am surprised nobody made a concrete, public move for him. Lanzini signing was also important, because we would've lost him had he not. Those two being in the side will mean we always have a chance of winning matches.
Wise words young Luke.....
;ok
I agree with you on the defence piece, it was clear last season that we either got undone by other teams (Spurs, Watford away, Swansea) or we did ourselves no favours (Bournemouth, Norwich, Palace etc) with some comical defending and apart from having to bring in Artur (who is a top player in my book), due to Cresswell's injury, then only time will tell if we've done enough at the back - We may have to score 4 to have a chance of winning ;lol
If we'd got our first/main targets, which I think were Lcazette or Batshuayi then I'm not sure we'd of seen so many others come in? Especially ones that cost us money.
If we had of signed who we wanted, then I'd of have to rate that an 8-9/10, the fact we didn't for whatever reason leaves me somewhere around 7-8/10.
Keeping Payet never crossed my mind..............
Double or quits for January?
;biggrin
I think we've got a great squad now, if we can keep these pesky Injuries and Ref howlers down then we could be in for a right treat.
Carlos Bacca's agent Sergio Barila has given an update on his client’s status at AC Milan after a summer of speculation surrounded the Colombia international.
"Our will is to win with Milan in the coming years so we are open to a renewal, but we will talk about it later,” he told calciomercato.it. “Now our minds and concentration are only to the pitch.”
The agent also spoke about the offers Bacca was the subject of I the summer, adding: “Many requests arrived but Bacca's will has been always clear for me.
“He wanted to stay at Milan. His family is happy in Milan and this is an important thing.
“West Ham? In the last week of the market, many offers arrived, and not only West Ham ones. At the end Milan said no.”
Scouts from 11 English clubs - including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs - were sent to watch Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Benfica and Besiktas, the Daily Mail report.
Representatives from Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, West Ham, West Brom and Aston Villa were also in attendance at the Estadio da Luz, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their Group B opener.
The Mail claim the scouts were there to keep tabs on four Benfica players who are attracting interest - Victor Lindelof, Alex Grimaldo, Eduardo Salvio and Goncalo Guedes
Yeah don't get why tomkins had to go, pardew wanted him at Newcastle as well I remember so maybe more to do with being wanted and opportunity to play. Shame though
Grey ;ok I saw that, sadly for him tho I Don't believe he will be a 1st 11 regular even when fully fit. Either way if we kept Tomkins I think we all know that would have made it even harder to keep Oxford and Burke as our players, and for that reason IMO it was a good call ;ok
Comments
So all the others can play anyway, but he would need to be named.
He hasn't got a squad number, though.
In Nordvedit we have someone to sure up the defense and midfield which should provide a better platform to attack from tactically, we have Feghouli who is both direct and intelligent with his movement off the ball and end product, we also have Zaza who can provide that threat in behind and has the ability to receive the ball in a deeper position on the half turn, and of course Andre Ayew who should tie everything together very nicely as he's tidy on the ball, intelligent and well rounded, IMO he makes a great combination with AC up top,
The only real concerns for me is whether we can keep them fit and whether we can keep them all happy and cohesive because theres alot of people who will miss out on regular football if the injuries subside but with the high level of internal competition and the options available, there should be more rotation; theres no doubt missing out on the europa is a big blow for squad opportunities. The club have done alot of good business in the past 2 summer windows and hopefully its reached a stage where we have a squad for the long term, where we dont need to do much in the next few windows, especially with so many of our brightest acadamey products out on loan at good clubs+ at a good level. ;thumbsup
I bet they were trying to get rid of him on deadline day too...
Man City: Yaya Toure left out of Champions League squad
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37254318
;ok
I agree with you on the defence piece, it was clear last season that we either got undone by other teams (Spurs, Watford away, Swansea) or we did ourselves no favours (Bournemouth, Norwich, Palace etc) with some comical defending and apart from having to bring in Artur (who is a top player in my book), due to Cresswell's injury, then only time will tell if we've done enough at the back - We may have to score 4 to have a chance of winning ;lol
If we'd got our first/main targets, which I think were Lcazette or Batshuayi then I'm not sure we'd of seen so many others come in? Especially ones that cost us money.
If we had of signed who we wanted, then I'd of have to rate that an 8-9/10, the fact we didn't for whatever reason leaves me somewhere around 7-8/10.
Keeping Payet never crossed my mind..............
Double or quits for January?
;biggrin
I think we've got a great squad now, if we can keep these pesky Injuries and Ref howlers down then we could be in for a right treat.
coyi
;biggrin
Excellent more to come then!
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37312487
Dimi is safe from that, at least. ;wink
BACCA OPEN TO MILAN RENEWAL
Carlos Bacca's agent Sergio Barila has given an update on his client’s status at AC Milan after a summer of speculation surrounded the Colombia international.
"Our will is to win with Milan in the coming years so we are open to a renewal, but we will talk about it later,” he told calciomercato.it. “Now our minds and concentration are only to the pitch.”
The agent also spoke about the offers Bacca was the subject of I the summer, adding: “Many requests arrived but Bacca's will has been always clear for me.
“He wanted to stay at Milan. His family is happy in Milan and this is an important thing.
“West Ham? In the last week of the market, many offers arrived, and not only West Ham ones. At the end Milan said no.”
Scouts from 11 English clubs - including Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs - were sent to watch Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Benfica and Besiktas, the Daily Mail report.
Representatives from Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, West Ham, West Brom and Aston Villa were also in attendance at the Estadio da Luz, where the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their Group B opener.
The Mail claim the scouts were there to keep tabs on four Benfica players who are attracting interest - Victor Lindelof, Alex Grimaldo, Eduardo Salvio and Goncalo Guedes
Think that's 'cos he pranged himself in pre-season.
I saw that, sadly for him tho I
Don't believe he will be a 1st 11 regular even when fully fit.
Either way if we kept Tomkins I think we all know that would have made it even harder to keep Oxford and Burke as our players, and for that reason IMO it was a good call ;ok
Would any PL team?