"Chelsea talent Caleb Wiley (left back) is set to sign a loan deal with Watford" Luca Bendoni on X (reliable source)
I knew my pre-game preview would come too soon with new signings! Wonder if Larouci loan could be terminated?
Looks decent though I think Taylor would have been a better fit for Clevs. He’s been injured since November with a dislocated shoulder though…
Excellent. We'll break him. He'll be a Bridlington Town player by this time next year, mark my words.
To confirm for clarity - this is NOT the player I’ve been alluding to this afternoon. But this is an accurate story. Suggests to me that maybe Taylor isn’t coming.
Luca Bendoni has also suggested that it's likely that Wiley will be joining instead of Taylor. Personally think I would've preferred Charlie Taylor, but at least Caleb Wiley is meant to be highly rated so hopefully works out.
Sounds like yet another injury prone full/wing back who's OK going forward but can't really defend. Coolio.
MLS expert I know says he was the best LB in the league before signing for Chelsea. Very quick, good technically..."but has been dogged by injuries". It's pointless if he isn't fit and Chelsea fans seem confused that he's on the move considering they thought he was out for a while.
Worrying if true. Presume he passed our stringent medical examination "Are you fit?" "Well, kind of. Almost. Virtually"
Also says his strengths are definitely going forward, which is a change in approach from the defensive full-back to play in a back four.
No surprises there. Taylor must know enough people who have told him not to touch us with a barge pole.
Not played for months, never played a minute of English football, recently injured, only made three starts for Strasbourg. Might be a good player but file this under massive punt. If it means I don't have to watch Larouci anymore then that's good but then I also thought he was an upgrade on Jamal Lewis at the start. Speaking of the latter, he's injured and had his loan in Brazil terminated. We really know how to pick them!
Lewis was a good player. Enthesis on "was". We (as usual) got him when he was done with his good spells as Newcastle and Norwich player. We got the Lewis who couldn't be bothered, spent half a season crocked and looked terrible going forward. Less said about his crossing the better. It's another Sissoko moment - we get a player who is well known around the top flight but way past their prime. As for Wiley - looks alright, but the injury prone statement sums us up. Just need us to sign Mega Man now.
Meanwhile Harvey Vale goes off to QPR on loan from Chelsea. He was one I flagged as a good potential option in my Fixing Watford post at the start of the season. Both had pretty similar data profiles last season but with Wileys injury issues and Vales experience of English football, would seem that would be the more astute signing.
Main issue with this is it’s a loan, simply being a loan normally means they’ll be crap and struggle to get in the side, ******* of us, the player and the parent club.
Still pushing for Kyprianou last was told. But it’s really hard to ever be truly accurate. I give the info I’m told - and I literally knew nothing about Caleb Wiley.
I reckon Kyprianou will be Swansea’s Grimes replacement. We probably could have had a clean run at him if we’d stumped up the fee a few weeks ago but now there’ll be more of a market
If we are "pushing", why hasn't he signed yet ? We obviously are hoping no-one offers the asking price, or he accepts he doesn't get a better offer. I really don't think we will sign this guy, I expect the club just wants to be seen to be "trying" without trying enough to actually make it happen.
Well, ‘pushing’ can mean a few things. It could mean ‘the club are trying to do a deal’…but equally, it could mean ‘the head coach is trying to convince his bosses to make a move, but they are too busy telling lies to the local paper so P’boro’s phone line is dead…’
I think Saints wanted a large wage contribution which obviously we are not in a position to offer. A young promising player will be much cheaper overall I imagine.
