Djed Spence

[Muttley]

My perspective hasn't changed so much actually. Spence is a good footballer who has some really good skills and could become a good defender if he chooses to obsess over it and improve his craft. Ideally, we would keep him and have the finances to improve elsewhere.

However, what I noticed in a relegation scrap was that he is no dog of war. He's not someone that I would want to be in the trenches with. In those big games where we needed results to stay up, he was very passive in his play. I didn't see him crawling off the pitch and I never really see him take the game to his opposing number. He just did some decent things. He was more likely to take the game to the opposition from the bench like we saw a couple of times for England recently.

He also isn't so much of a goal creator. Example, his assist rate for a full-back over his entire career needs improvement to get to that next level.

I do wish him well though.

 

[robp135]

All the best DJed, criminally underused by the club over his time here, quite a few manager’s culpable in that. Glad he showed what he’s capable of in the end and don’t really blame him for not feeling he has to stay with us or owes us anything. Great opportunity for him, go get ‘em!!

Under used? Hes played a lot of football for us the last 2 seasons.....the worst back to back in living memory as well.

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

Under used? Hes played a lot of football for us the last 2 seasons.....the worst back to back in living memory as well.

So flawed is that rationale, we would have sold MVDV, not have given him a payrise

 

[Gutter Boy]

Gallagher is going too, initially at least be our starting #10, Abbott has been nowhere to be seen over pre season and it’s still putting a square peg into a round hole, with no new signing it will be Gray, if it’s going to be a youngster it’s most likely to be Kyermaten.

Abbott's injured. He's a great player though

 

[Gutter Boy]

Maybe Byfield when he is back.

He's too big and immobile for thsy position. He's definitely a CB

 

[robp135]

He's too big and immobile for thsy position. He's definitely a CB

He’s not remotely immobile.

 

[robp135]

So flawed is that rationale, we would have sold MVDV, not have given him a payrise

More taking issue with the idea he’s been under used. He’s played plenty of football the last 2 seasons.

I wouldn’t have sold Spence for £26M but he’s a lower mid table player and a few good moments at the world up doesn’t change that. His positioning is woeful and cost us a lot of goals the past 2 years.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I'd probably go for Brooke Norton-Cuffy. We should be able to get him with the £30m. Home-grown too

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

More taking issue with the idea he’s been under used. He’s played plenty of football the last 2 seasons.

I wouldn’t have sold Spence for £26M but he’s a lower mid table player and a few good moments at the world up doesn’t change that. His positioning is woeful and cost us a lot of goals the past 2 years.

Sorry thats rubbish

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

Under used? Hes played a lot of football for us the last 2 seasons.....the worst back to back in living memory as well

Yea should have quite obviously played more in the seasons before

 

[robp135]

Sorry thats rubbish

You don’t think we conceded a ridiculous amount of goal at the left side back post last season?

 

[MartyFunkhouser]

You don’t think we conceded a ridiculous amount of goal at the left side back post last season?

I dont think Djeds positioning cost us lots of goals.

We conceeded a ton of goals in all various number of scenarios and situations.

 

[Mikey10]

Transfer rumours regarding Spence started back in June before the World Cup, something has happened at the club that we are not party too regardless of RDZ saying he wants to keep him.

Possibly the attitude issues which seem to have been a problem for most (if not all) of our managers that he’s played under.

 

[clownfoot]

Possibly the attitude issues which seem to have been a problem for most (if not all) of our managers that he’s played under.

Don’t think it’s that myself. De Zerbi spoke about meeting all the players and any who wanted to leave being allowed to, Spence may have been thinking of it and after a good World Cup his stock had rose so more clubs interested than before.

Before the WC squad was announced there was talk of Everton going for him, now he’s gone to the Italian champions who will be aiming to go far in the the champions league. His stock rose and perhaps doesn’t want to be a back up. Will be interesting to see where he plays for inter, left or right

 

[Bishop]

More taking issue with the idea he’s been under used. He’s played plenty of football the last 2 seasons.

I wouldn’t have sold Spence for £26M but he’s a lower mid table player and a few good moments at the world up doesn’t change that. His positioning is woeful and cost us a lot of goals the past 2 years.

Whilst playing LB despite being a RB. You never seen to acknowledge this.

 

[robp135]

Whilst playing LB despite being a RB. You never seen to acknowledge this.

He’s a better left back honestly.

 

[thfcsteff]

I think it's the right thing to do all round.
Spence deserves to continue his ascendant career somewhere he'll be a regular, and we need to be purged of players who don't want to stick around/that De Zerbi doesn't want.
It's a paper profit too. Yes, the good world cup increases value, yet when we sought that value, no-one was prepared to pay it. So I think we've done really well to move him on. And Romero too.
It's really important to De Zerbi (it seems!) that the dressing room be all in-step.

 

[thfcsteff]

Whilst playing LB despite being a RB. You never seen to acknowledge this.

I think he did really well all-told at LB as it is not ideal for him.