Agreed. But now we need a creative, attacking midfielder to compliment and challenge Almen. And they are of course fewer in number, more expensive and even more picky about where they end up.
Ecstatic because they're skint and need the money or because they can't believe we paid that much for him?? As has been said before on paper he's a very solid, experienced signing. If I remember rightly at West Ham he was pretty versatile and can also play at right back. I'm not sure how we'd fit all of Capoue, Behrami and Stambouli into the starting line up if we are playing 4 2 3 1 but I guess it's a nice problem to have.
Agreed back! Whether it's by coincidence or design, we've recruited from the back frontwards this pre-season..keeper, central defender, full-back and now two, soon to be three hopefully, defensive midfielders. Like you, I can't wait for the creativity to be added next, the sparkle, the little bit of magic! (I appreciate that had Perotti said yes at once, we'd have broken that sequence of recruiting only defensive-minded additions so far)
Just been in Germany and speaking to some long suffering HSV fans and they're amazed we are interested in Behrami. They weren't keen on him at all and felt him leaving is no loss to them whatsoever. We will wait and see.
as far as i know this fella can play in a lot of different positions. as he did at west ham. unlikely i guess but could he have been bought to play right back? otherwise, if we get the others we are after i cant see him getting a game. not so sure where this leaves watson.
Most Hamburg fans I've seen tweeting about him seemed to like him, especially at the start of the season, tailed a bit at the end for whatever reason. Most don't want him to leave but say it's best for the £££. He's going to be a very solid signing, I'm confident of that. Plus it seems Stambouli is coming so he won't be playing unless he deserves to. Nice to have competition for places.
Looking at lotiman's recent posts, I'm gonna have a stab in the dark and say he's keen for Guedioura to return.
Why would the club sign a player like Behrami and then sign other players to play instead of him? We're getting a quality player here guys who has been playing at the top level in several countries for quite a few years now. Let's have some enthusiasm!
Same here, quite an underwhelming transfer. If it was bournemouth signing him and not us I think everyone would have a different view of him. Hopefully he proves me wrong though and turns out great
To me he's underwhelming due to his style. He isn't a player you instantly look at like "Wow!" like that Vasquez guy. Glad he's here, he'll do a job and a lot of the dirty work.
enthusiasm for yet another defensive mid? I hope this doesn't signal that we are going to be a cautious side this year
Sorry, yet another defensive midfielder? When we've signed one so far? Who on the evidence of Wednesday night could easily play further forward. If Quique is playing 4-2-3-1 we're going to need defensive midfielders, what's wrong with that? And we're going to need 2 or 3 quality ones at that.
Welcome Valon. If anyone feels underwellmed by this signing watch his YouTube video. This guy is the tough niggly tackling midfielder we need. He is here to break up the opposition attacks and get possession back.
Yes. And/or Vazquez maybe. Plus the trail on Perotti may not be entirely cold and Mertens (very ambitious) was mentioned earlier. I reckon we still need at least one of each of an Abdi type and a winger type.
Playing 2 holding players isn't cautious. If anything it's positive because it allows the 4 in front of them a bit of freedom and the full backs can get forward.
For a promotion winning side, we actually conceeded quite a few goals, the run-in apart. Anything that makes us more resolute is to be welcomed. From a solid base, there'll then be the licence for our creators and attackers to thrive. I honestly don't see our summer signings so far as indicating we're resorting to being a 'let's scrape a dull 1-0 win' kind of team. I reckon we'll be deadly from corners/set plays too, with all this extra height!
