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Transfer thread

metalgear said:
i am with you here. we have too many weak players by epl standards.
we are so impressed with the strength and physicality of paulinha and kudus - probably the best in the squad - but we need that in more than half the squad
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One of things you forget about the Poch years is what beasts that team were. Eriksen and Son seemed like the weaklings in that team and they're both, what 5'11 and no push overs physically. Rose probably actually the smallest but again no shrinking violet to a bit of rough and tumble. Jan, Toby, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Alli, Kane, Lamela, Chadli etc all 6ft or over and absolute animals.
 
Silly McSilly Face said:
Spence isn't a left back. We look so much better attacking wise when a natural left footer plays there
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He's not left footed. But he's played left back many many more times than right back. He's experienced at left back. What I would ask is how much is Spence being 'wrong footed', and how much is the lack of established left winger? Udogie hasn't pulled up tress either with his left peg.

I'd say getting the team settled, with players linking up and working well together, is more vital than a players prefered foot. Spence defensively is amazing. Sensational. Underated. He earnt a call up to England playing left back for us. When 1-1 against the best attackers in the game, he's hyper focused and alert. Strong, quick. And going forward there are signs....its not clicking yet. The potential advantage is Spence being able to cut in, to curl crosses towards the far post from deep, and he is perfectly capable of pulling back the ball accross goal with his left peg. I would say the limitations are not so much about his footedness, and more a need to settle the left side. Spence has probably looked the most up for it of all the incumbants along that side of the pitch. Whether with Muani or Odobert, we need Gray (or the CM of the day) and forward to help create triangles and help open up that side of the pitch.

Signing someone likely won't change that. Only a handful of players beat defenders without movement, team coordination, stretching defenders out of position etc.

So you sign a new LB. Do they need to be better than Spence and Udogie? Who is that? And then you have to sell one of Spece and Udogie when fit as they won't get enough game time.
 
If a talented LB was available then I’d add them too. But more pressing is:

1. A left winger
2. A midfielder (might be more vital than a winger as Odobert and Muani can come good with games and patience)
3. A quality forward if one becomes available.
4. Another CM.

Then a LB.

Some might shoe horn a Keeper int that list somewhere. I think Vicario will improve under Frank as the side beds in and gets more unity. He has to improve his distribution which Frank will get him working on daily.
 
SpurMeUp said:
He's not left footed. But he's played left back many many more times than right back. He's experienced at left back. What I would ask is how much is Spence being 'wrong footed', and how much is the lack of established left winger? Udogie hasn't pulled up tress either with his left peg.

I'd say getting the team settled, with players linking up and working well together, is more vital than a players prefered foot. Spence defensively is amazing. Sensational. Underated. He earnt a call up to England playing left back for us. When 1-1 against the best attackers in the game, he's hyper focused and alert. Strong, quick. And going forward there are signs....its not clicking yet. The potential advantage is Spence being able to cut in, to curl crosses towards the far post from deep, and he is perfectly capable of pulling back the ball accross goal with his left peg. I would say the limitations are not so much about his footedness, and more a need to settle the left side. Spence has probably looked the most up for it of all the incumbants along that side of the pitch. Whether with Muani or Odobert, we need Gray (or the CM of the day) and forward to help create triangles and help open up that side of the pitch.

Signing someone likely won't change that. Only a handful of players beat defenders without movement, team coordination, stretching defenders out of position etc.

So you sign a new LB. Do they need to be better than Spence and Udogie? Who is that? And then you have to sell one of Spece and Udogie when fit as they won't get enough game time.
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I think you've missed the main problem though. Spence rejects using his left foot when he should be crossing. He's also put in bad crosses with his left when he has chosen to do that. He also compresses the play by coming on the inside when his team mates need him sprinting on the overlap.

I think it's great that we have Spence as an option but having to use him as much as we do down the left isn't optimal. It's made worse by no natural lefties in there with him except for VDV.
 
SpurMeUp said:
He's not left footed. But he's played left back many many more times than right back. He's experienced at left back. What I would ask is how much is Spence being 'wrong footed', and how much is the lack of established left winger? Udogie hasn't pulled up tress either with his left peg.

I'd say getting the team settled, with players linking up and working well together, is more vital than a players prefered foot. Spence defensively is amazing. Sensational. Underated. He earnt a call up to England playing left back for us. When 1-1 against the best attackers in the game, he's hyper focused and alert. Strong, quick. And going forward there are signs....its not clicking yet. The potential advantage is Spence being able to cut in, to curl crosses towards the far post from deep, and he is perfectly capable of pulling back the ball accross goal with his left peg. I would say the limitations are not so much about his footedness, and more a need to settle the left side. Spence has probably looked the most up for it of all the incumbants along that side of the pitch. Whether with Muani or Odobert, we need Gray (or the CM of the day) and forward to help create triangles and help open up that side of the pitch.

Signing someone likely won't change that. Only a handful of players beat defenders without movement, team coordination, stretching defenders out of position etc.

So you sign a new LB. Do they need to be better than Spence and Udogie? Who is that? And then you have to sell one of Spece and Udogie when fit as they won't get enough game time.
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Football is a team game. Exceptional or not we look unbalanced when Spence plays left back and we look far better for me when Udogie plays.
 
Muttley said:
I think you've missed the main problem though. Spence rejects using his left foot when he should be crossing. He's also put in bad crosses with his left when he has chosen to do that. He also compresses the play by coming on the inside when his team mates need him sprinting on the overlap.

I think it's great that we have Spence as an option but having to use him as much as we do down the left isn't optimal. It's made worse by no natural lefties in there with him except for VDV.
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Plus Porro looks absolutely cooked having had no rotation (which is what Spence should be doing)
 
Muttley said:
I think you've missed the main problem though. Spence rejects using his left foot when he should be crossing. He's also put in bad crosses with his left when he has chosen to do that. He also compresses the play by coming on the inside when his team mates need him sprinting on the overlap.

I think it's great that we have Spence as an option but having to use him as much as we do down the left isn't optimal. It's made worse by no natural lefties in there with him except for VDV.
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I’ve seen him sprint into space by the corner flag and pull back balls with his left. I totally concede that Spence isn’t as good at running down the line with the ball at his feet on the left - more able to cut in. Which can work, creating an angle to pass to the winger on the line or shoot.

As outlined already: how much is the issue his footedness and how much is getting a side to settle and gel? That Udogie hasn’t pulled up any trees when he’s played this season using his left peg hints that - of course - there are a lot more variables than your preferred foot. And I personally do not think Spence has been as bad going forward as many seem to. The issue is team coordination not Spence pe se. Udogie is first choice when fit, Spence amazing cover imo.
 
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SpurMeUp said:
I’ve seen him sprint into space by the corner flag and pull back balls with his left. I totally concede that Spence isn’t as good at running down the line with the ball at his feet on the left - more able to cut in. Which can work, creating an angle to pass to the winger on the line or shoot.

As outlined already: how much is the issue his footedness and how much is getting a side to settle and gel? That Udogie hasn’t pulled up any trees when he’s played this season using his left peg hints that - of course - there are a lot more variables than your preferred foot. And I personally do not think Spence has been as bad going forward as many seem to. The issue is team coordination not Spence pe se. Udogie is first choice when fit, Spence amazing cover imo.
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Again it goes to the team and team shape beating individuals and individual performances. I don't think Spence has been bad in an attacking sense. In fact I think he's been good. He's had a good season and played well. Its just that his attacking intent tends to be inside, cutting in, one-twos around the box, it isn't that he is playing badly its that there's a natural shape issue and condensing/slowing down of the play when he plays.

This doesn't so much hurt us away as the home team naturally come out a bit more, but at home when we are trying to stretch a low block, its an issue.
 
As posted, totally concede Spence going on the outside on his left foot isn’t ever going to be as good as Udogie doing the same. But this is classic human oversimplification. We want to attribute a simple cause to an effect. Spence right footed = less play down the left. Yet rarely is there just one variable at play. For example: we have Kudus on the right and no one settled on the left wing, so of course there's more to this than Spence being right-footed. That Udogie hasn’t torn it up himself this season with a left foot, also hints that there’s more going on.

Spence cutting in needs more coordination. For example, he can cut in and attack the far post with a deep cross /shots. Or have the left winger ready for a ball from Spence out to the left wing when he cuts inside - making an angle to free the winger with a pass. Or allowing a CM to bomb on with Spence playing a through ball to them (as he now fills that CM space). Far less predictable and dynamic. Point is, it can work with development of the side. Development of the side is the issue, more than Spence’s foot.

If we sign Savinho I think we will see Spence start to look more effective going forward. The intent is there from Spence already, it will come as the side develops.
 
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Muttley said:
I think you've missed the main problem though. Spence rejects using his left foot when he should be crossing. He's also put in bad crosses with his left when he has chosen to do that. He also compresses the play by coming on the inside when his team mates need him sprinting on the overlap.

I think it's great that we have Spence as an option but having to use him as much as we do down the left isn't optimal. It's made worse by no natural lefties in there with him except for VDV.
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This.

Silly McSilly Face said:
Football is a team game. Exceptional or not we look unbalanced when Spence plays left back and we look far better for me when Udogie plays.
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And this.
 
SpurMeUp said:
He's not left footed. But he's played left back many many more times than right back. He's experienced at left back. What I would ask is how much is Spence being 'wrong footed', and how much is the lack of established left winger? Udogie hasn't pulled up tress either with his left peg.

I'd say getting the team settled, with players linking up and working well together, is more vital than a players prefered foot. Spence defensively is amazing. Sensational. Underated. He earnt a call up to England playing left back for us. When 1-1 against the best attackers in the game, he's hyper focused and alert. Strong, quick. And going forward there are signs....its not clicking yet. The potential advantage is Spence being able to cut in, to curl crosses towards the far post from deep, and he is perfectly capable of pulling back the ball accross goal with his left peg. I would say the limitations are not so much about his footedness, and more a need to settle the left side. Spence has probably looked the most up for it of all the incumbants along that side of the pitch. Whether with Muani or Odobert, we need Gray (or the CM of the day) and forward to help create triangles and help open up that side of the pitch.

Signing someone likely won't change that. Only a handful of players beat defenders without movement, team coordination, stretching defenders out of position etc.

So you sign a new LB. Do they need to be better than Spence and Udogie? Who is that? And then you have to sell one of Spece and Udogie when fit as they won't get enough game time.
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You keep talking as if Spence wouldn't get games on the right. Why wouldn't he? Hes way better defensively than Porro and still has a good attacking game. If he was freed from the responsibility of being the backup LB I see no reason why he couldn't possibly earn the first choice RB role.
 
Bishop said:
You keep talking as if Spence wouldn't get games on the right. Why wouldn't he? Hes way better defensively than Porro and still has a good attacking game. If he was freed from the responsibility of being the backup LB I see no reason why he couldn't possibly earn the first choice RB role.
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I find the argument of playing a RB at LB full time because he has done well there so small time.

We should be looking at another LB and give Soence and Porro the battle for RB which might seen Porro feel pressure on his place
 
Bishop said:
You keep talking as if Spence wouldn't get games on the right. Why wouldn't he? Hes way better defensively than Porro and still has a good attacking game. If he was freed from the responsibility of being the backup LB I see no reason why he couldn't possibly earn the first choice RB role.
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Maybe the limitations going forward are not footedness, just Spence needs to improve his attacking play. When playing RB he hasn’t done as well as at LB, and hasn’t attacked any better despite having a natural right foot. Poro’s crosses and passing ability would be a loss.

As back up to both flanks Spence gets plenty of games.
 
SpurMeUp said:
If he’s done well - so well he got a national call up - odd to call it small time!
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Not really, he is a RB being asked to play LB, he should be pushing Porro at RB and we should strengthen at LB.

Fair play for his performances at LB being recognized, but the lack of depth at English LB and the dog muck level of international football doesnt mean Spence at LB is a long term plan. I also suspect he was there as cover for LB and RB because of this "flexibility"

The Spence at LB idea is small time 100% and that's from someone who was only one of about 3 people who actually backed Spence on this forum to be a success
 
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MartyFunkhouser said:
Not really, he is a RB being asked to play LB, he should be pushing Porro at RB and we should strengthen at LB.

Fair play for his performances at LB being recognized, but the lack of depth at English LB and the dog muck level of international football doesnt mean Spence at LB is a long term plan.

The Spence at LB idea is small time 100% and that's from someone who was only one of about 3 people who actually backed Spence on this forum to be a success
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Yep. No other serious club would leave themselves one injury away from this being argued as some kind of long-term solution......
 
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