verlaine1979

Terrible first half. Che utter shite. Villa so much better on and off the ball. VAR decision was bad, but aside from that two minute flurry around their box before the disallowed goal we created no sustained pressure at all. Must, must, must drop Armstrong, Che and Diallo. It Orsic and Alcaraz aren't good enough to come in and make a difference we might as well give up.

Commentators on the highlights said he's now top scorer for Burnley. Since they're running away with the Champ and are top scorers in the league, there's clearly goals all over the side, which also possibly explains why Tella's numbers don't look impressive compared to Che and AA. Some of his finishes this season look to have been very tidy. Armstrong had some decent finishes in his YT clips before we signed him, but it should've been obvious to anyone scouting Che that he doesn't know how to kick a football.

Che's build up is okay, but it only stands out in contrast to the utter paucity of his finishing and anticipation in the box. He's moderately good at some things and terrible at others. Broja was (before his injury) very good at being incredibly fast and strong and was a better than average finisher. All three of those qualities IN ISOLATION are more valuable than anything Che is good at.

Didn't West Ham bid over 30m for Broja in the summer? The going rate for pace, height, power and finishing is... above our price range.

They also both did better than Michael Olise in the Championship. Not sure Palace would be up for a swap though.

Considering the US team barely mustered a shot on target with him leading the line at the WC (despite being pretty solid elsewhere on the pitch), this is hopefully one of those fabled "smokescreen" rumours.

Blimey, sounds like we're shaking a lot of trees compared to our usual January activity. 4m would put Toko-Ekambi squarely in Orsic territory - experience that doesn't break the bank. Roughly a goal every 2.5 games during his top flight career across France and Spain (2016-present), so could be a bit of a steal if true.

Eh, he connected well with a header against Everton, but it wasn't really a flick on since it was uncontested. I've yet to see much evidence that he actually wins much usable ball in the air when he's jumping against the CB. Played to feet and chest he shields it well enough, but I just don't see any evidence that Adams is getting much done in the air aside from skimming the odd ball into touch or back to their keeper.

I do have a sneaking suspicion we'll pay for promise and try to loan in experience in deadline day. Big gamble, but if it pays off it would give us the best chance of balancing on-field and financial performance.

Thing is, I don't think you get Ings for a snip of that price - I bet Villa are asking 20m for the reasons everyone has mentioned. Even at 30 year old, he's scoring goals. You just won't get any of that money back. Whether we can afford to spend 20m on someone with no probable resale value is a tough question, but it doesn't sound like it.

Transfermarkt has him playing CF and RW, as do most of his highlights. Haven't seen much of Villareal though, so could be wrong.

If we want a power and versatility to play both CF and RW, then Jackson looks to be the only game in town from the options mentioned.

Was just looking at him on transfermarkt - they have him playing mainly as a CF for Villareal's first team, with RW as his second position. 3 goals, 4 assists in about 1400 minutes of football (about 15.5 games). His touch looks a bit loose for a winger, but he's very fast and about 6'2. A bit arms and legs everywhere style when running, and his YT highlights seemed to include winning a ton of fouls. I'd take Jackson and Doku as loans with options until the end of the season and be pretty happy. Jackson as a cut price Aubameyang with JWP/Orsic/Alcaraz providing the ammunition. Then Doku as an impact sub. That amount of raw pace would frighten plenty of our fellow relegation candidates (much the same as we always seem to lose the plot the minute Wolves bring on Traore).

Watching those few highlights, it's noticeable that in most cases he start sprinting into space immediately after playing the pass. We've needed more movement in the final third for ages, so hopefully he can bring that to the team and encourage more early return passes from the rest of them.

Lovely finish from Beto today. Can't see it happening though. Mudryk is expensive but a fantastic talent. Hope Chelsea don't ruin him.

We looked solid for the most part and played some decent stuff through the middle again (having 3 in midfield has made such a difference). But I hope we replace Adams in the starting line up soon, not least for the fact that it would hopefully remove some of the temptation to just launch it at him. He did well with the assist for the first goal, but Everton backline were running back towards their goal, and the header wasn't contested. When he was up against their CBs he got very little out of them aside from a few that skimmed off his head straight into the air. He does some good things when he comes deep, but I think our attack would be transformed if we had a focal point with more mobility and anticipation (and the ability to finish, obvs). Alcaraz looked nervy and I was surprised he came on, but I guess the Lavia yellow was a concern. Likewise, I'd be surprised if Armstrong has anything over Orsic in terms of pace or workrate, so hopefully we'll start seeing him as an option on the left soon if he isn't starting. If we do secure a starting striker and our other additions become established in the first XI, we could be a totally different proposition without weak links like Adams, Elyounoussi and Diallo in the lineup.

I'd go with similar to what worked against City, but with Orsic instead of Armstrong (assuming he's ready). I just really, really hope he doesn't put Che in. Everton defenders will have him in their pocket, just like every other physical CB pairing he's come up against. Need pace against movement against their backline.

Stats like xG are useful for weighing up the strengths of potential new players and future opponents. But I suspect for most fans, they aren't that revealing for analysing your own team, especially not compared to the accumulated evidence of watching games. Adams and Kane being excellent cases in point - the gulf in their xG>Goals performance isn't going to shock anyone who has regularly watched either player over multiple seasons. But for scouting purposes I'm all for it. Especially if it helps us keep away from dire finishers like Adams and Armstrong in future.

Surprised Mara's goal had such low xg. Once he made space, he had a free strike from about ten yards at a ball already traveling with pace. It seems to me that the other major weakness of xg is that it doesn't account for things like Adams being offside or on his heels in the six yard box, when any competent striker would be alive and alert to the defensive line. Very difficult to watch that game and conclude that statistically we deserved less than one goal.

Hope he doesn't do the conservative thing and bring back Adams. When he came on the difference in energy, pressing and movement was absolutely stark. He's just not a good enough target man to make up for the way he trundles around at 5mph. And as others have said, no way he sees or makes Mara's run behind Walker yesterday, let alone finishes in that sliver between the keeper's glove and post.

Aside from his finishing, Che's movement and anticipation are rubbish. He works hard to hold the ball up, but he's generally got no idea where he should be or where to run ahead of the ball.

Lol

I'm taking the fact that he still looks cheerful after a transcontinental flight is a good sign about his character in general. I'd be scowling like a c*nt.

The cautionary tale of looking at goal return from young players is Rafa Silva. When we were linked with him back in 2015 he was 22 and had 12 goals and 2 assists in about 50 starts for Braga. Modest stats and most (myself included) weren't bothered when we didn't get him. That said, I don't see the same level of technique and control in either Jackson or Doku (though the latter's pace is incredible).

Seems a bit reminiscent of Oscar who used to play for Chelsea?