True. It’s very unfair to cast judgement on them when they haven’t impressed the coach enough to get picked. We should wait until we have seen them have a decent run in the team. If they never manage to get into the team over the remaining duration of their contracts, I guess we will just never know if they were good signings or not.
I think it's fair to say both Kayembe and Kalu were poor signings, as they were signed when we were a Premier League club, and they are not Premier League level players. Of course that's just an opinion, but I think that opinion was shared by the manager at the time and other fans. That's not to say now they might make an impact now we've gone down a league. I think Kayembe may well be a better fit for us now we're in the Championship. I can't say the same about Kalu. He didn't impress me when I saw him last season, and I cannot see where he fits in the Edwards system. A system that doesn't use wingers. Now if we're struggling to get the 'Rule of Eleven' numbers down, it stands to reason these two should be high up on the list for those to be moved on.
Well, Kalu seems to have been written off by the club itself given his very limited game time having joined in January, though the rare glimpses give me a little optimism he'll have some impact in the Championship. He's pacy and direct and not stick thin and so could do something. And personally I think we saw enough of Kayembe to see he's not a Premier League standard player. Incredibly one-footed and nothing about him suggested he has extra gears to change a game. If we aspire to be a PL club we need PL-level players. Those two look highly unlikely to make the mark.
They were excellent signings which did precisely what they were intended to - siphon funds to Bayat. This bloke will be the same. Bought by Charleroi one month ago for 1.5m one month ago, then flipped to Watford for 5m with Bayat and his brother making a cool 3.5m from us.
I guess we may never know but clearly Scott & Gino see the bigger picture and must think there is a benefit otherwise they wouldn’t trade with him ?
There are red flags everywhere (connected parties, concentration of business) so presumably the auditors go through these types of transactions in extra detail.
I assume it is simply that the Bayat business is a net positive in terms of transfer purchases and sales once the sales of Dennis, Lukebakio etc are factored in. Gino doesnt care that it results in a hilariously imbalanced squad full of *****, and key transfer funds for certain seasons are tied up in players we dont need. That is the coaches problem to deal with, and if they can't or they complain, then they are sacked.
Is the Bayat business actually positive? Large losses on Kums, Okaka, Oulare. Future losses on Sarr, Kayembe, Kalu. Not sure if anyone has every totted it up - would be interesting,
Not sure if anyone really can though without doing detailed due diligence on the club's books beyond what's in public filings. Things like Transfermarkt are fun tools but nothing more than football nerds banging in numbers to a website at their heart.
Speculation would be dangerous Why do you think they use him ? They must think that overall it's beneficial.
I think there are intangibles as he may be pretty influential in the football world. There are potential other reasons that make sense but as you say not fair to speculate in the face of zero evidence.
There seem to be those that are his clients, then those he has a "hand in". It's probably impossible to define which he has been involved in and to what extent, though the Belgian police may be able to tell us.
Instructions unclear - currently yelling 'SINCE I WAS YOUNG...' at the top of my lungs in an anechoic chamber.
For transfer fees sure. But without knowing salaries, who paid what during various loans away, agents fees for each deal and the like I just don't think a reliable figure could come up from verifiable information in the public domain.
A bit conflicted on this one, the deal has the stench of the Bayat brothers all over it but he does look a decent player and as others have suggested fits into Edwards system. I liked the highlights vid, nice touches on the ball, plenty of effort, good in the air and has a bit of pace.
Nothing for me will beat the Steve Leo Belleck and Ken Sema highlight reals before they signed. Absolute ballers in video.
€5 million fee apparently: http://sportwitness.co.uk/watford-pay-e5m-secure-quick-signing-barring-improbable-u-turn/ Equates to £4.3m or, in Athletic money, £1.2m.
£4.3m for some bloke who at 25 has scored a couple of goals in the Belgian league, the Slovakian league and the French second division, and who flopped at Celtic in the horrendous Scottish league. He's scored a total of 27 league goals at coming up 26 years old age. Sounds like a fantastic deal.