With the majority of the squad away down under and the boss due to join them in a day or two I reckon our business in this transfer window is now effectively closed.
I know with the internet and the modern world in which we live, the opportunities to identify and discuss targets are now better than they've ever been but Bielsa really needs to be at ER to be working with Orta and the rest on bringing players in.
Do not be surprised if we line up with a starting 11 on day one containing no further new faces.
Aussie trip closes transfer window early
posted on 15/7/19
If we are “done” then I will be angry / gutted.
(Usual feeling in August & January)
Effectively, we’ve replaced one of the best CBS in the league (that we sold for peanuts) and replaced him with a loanee.
We have Costa (excellent).
We still need another my the VERY least a quality CB and Winger.
posted on 15/7/19
Surely we arent done yet.
We need a quality defender and either a 10 or a winger pending on how we want to use Pablo.
We must have money there sales.
Imagine going back in for Vydra who is struggling for game time at Burnley and likely to be further down the order after they signed Rodriguez.
Imagine the front 6 of:
KP
Costa Vydra Klich Pablo.
Bamford
The back up 6 of:
Forshaw
Clarke Roberts Shackleton Harrison
Roofe
Depth and quality there.
posted on 15/7/19
not sure why people are surprised if this is the case. We’ve got no money we recruited a number of U23s which everyone seemed happy about doing, that rats into what you have to sorbs in first teamers, abd we have an owner who has said he wanted to get into football to develop and sell players.
They think Bielsa can work some more miracles but dint seem to understand the more quality he has to start with the better the end result will be.
posted on 15/7/19
Not sure i'm angry, maybe it's the deja vu of it all, that means i'm not feeling anger right now.
As mentioned, the arrival of Costa was a potentially big positive. But that's been clouded by the departure of PJ.
A replacement CB is essential for me - unless MB is planning on dropping Kalvin in there and/or dipping into the U23s again, as last year. I know we've brought in the lad from Brighton - on loan, but it does feel like we're lighter there now. Pennington came in, with a growing reputation within the Everton ranks, but didn't really settle or perform as we hoped.
I hope business is being kept quiet, not finished. That said, very little if anything in the media that I read linking us with anyone.
posted on 15/7/19
The two signings you mention aza are probably must haves realistically if we want to compete over a 46 game league season and all the demands that brings.
Many lessons to learn from last season but one must surely be injuries will come along and players will need resting .it is not just about the quality of your starting eleven.you can have best coaching and preparation around but you can run out of resources.
posted on 15/7/19
comment by lufc - Harrogate (U6810)
posted 3 hours, 22 minutes ago
If we don't sign at least another player, I would be very surprised.
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Both Mills and Prutton saying we will sign / should sign someone respectively. Think we need just 2 more maybe 3. Think we look lightweight in centre defence, centre midfielder and playmaker
posted on 15/7/19
As worrying as it is wondering if we're going to sign anybody else, what concerns me more is the possibility of players leaving. Why the hell haven't we sorted out Roofe and Klich yet?
These 2 along with KP should have been tied down during the season - not waiting until the window is open. We've gone from dishing out long term deals to players like O'Kane and De Bock to name two, to dithering over players who we need to keep.
Had we done our business properly last summer, we might not be in the position we are now, and seeming not to have learned any lessons.
Becoming seriously hacked off with AR and his slap dash approach to player recruitment.
posted on 15/7/19
I sincerely hope we address the CB issue. Surely we have learned the lesson of last season, being light in that area with no cover for injuries/suspensions. Playing Beradi, Ayling or Philips in there is daft. None of them are CBs. I don't think the teams who went up did this, if they needed a CB they went out and got one even if only on loan.
posted on 15/7/19
comment by VOF - are we there yet? (U17124)
posted 3 hours, 36 minutes ago
A replacement CB is essential for me - unless MB is planning on dropping Kalvin
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If he does that then he needs effing shooting, we are a team of comparable midgets. Pontus was colossal when it came to defending set pieces and causing carnage when attacking. We NEED a tall CB.
When we lost Wood it was very noticeable without him guarding the front post area of the 6 yard box. Then when Pontus was out at the start of the season every set piece was a heart attack moment.
posted on 15/7/19
Our method for defending set pieces will end up having to be the shirt pull or not conceding them in first place as we have minimal height.