We may arguably have better players in the squad, but I don't think there's anyone more important, I don't think anyone else can do what he does to the same level
Yep. Bizarre how Kayembe, who is pretty rubbish, is a key player in this team. Should never have been signed for a PL team but seems to have found his level as a midtable Championship player.
Will be good to have him back . Is it a coincidence that the goals have dried up since he’s been out the side ?
Kayembe has been a huge loss. Livermore, Kone and Kayembe is a really well balanced midfield. Asprilla on the right, Martins on the left and Dennis through the middle. That's the midfield/forward line I would like to see from here on.
Same but Sema in for Martins. Sema is an excellent player at this level and Martins is too inconsistent.
I'd have Sema and Martins together, Sema at LB (I know it's not natural to him, but he can still maraud forward from there and it's not as if Lewis would be much of a loss) and Martins further up as an inside forward
Looked well off the pace when he came on, understandable given his lay off and that the whole team started losing the plot five minutes after he got on the pitch.
A better performance overall, but I think he could have done a bit better for their goal, he wasn't really doing anything while Wright was in acres of space
https://x.com/VoicesOfTheVic/status/1794412309869375799 Played well for us but not sure is he PL quality?
Signed January 2022 on a 4 and a half year contract. That makes 3 more years, I think, and presuming the initial contract length didn't include 1 year options etc.
I can see him being a solid depth option if they want someone to do what Doucoure does for them. But I don't think what we'd want vs what it would cost to get a similar replacement is worth it unless we make a significant profit.
Been fairly poor since coming back from injury, the earlier games he didn't look up to speed, and perhaps the system change when Clev came in didn't help him neither. If you'd asked me a few months ago, I'd have been devastated to see him go, but if we can raise some money for him (we got him for about £4m as a Prem club so a big profit seems a bit far fetched) to help us keep Asprilla I won't mind too much
I thought he did better with Cleverley tbh but maybe that was just the first few games but agree he struggled after the injury at first.
Better under Cleverley than the last few games under Val, but I don't think it's a fair comparison when he was plainly not match fit for the first few games back
Despite our 6 fingered friends having hit the jackpot, there's no way we're getting that much for him
It is isn't it. I doubted myself when posting it was 3 but became convinced the half year took it up the extra one. I'll be honest, my thinking is so full of junk right now I can make a case for both 2 and 3 years! Time to take a long long rest, go back on the medication and stop answering the door to the people nobody else can see or hear.
Not Kone personally. Hits the ground running next season and with consistency, won’t be much stopping him.
Bit conflicted here, I can't imagine the fee we'd get would be good enough for us to part with and not convinced we'll have the funds/knowledge to replace him adequately, especially when some of our CMs (Livermore + potentially a couple from Louza/TDB/Kone and Asprilla) possibly leaving meaning we'd have to build essentially a whole new central/attacking midfield, which is hard to do on a budget, especially when hoping that they all gel. That being said, he's shown glimpses of quality and wouldn't be the worst miss in the world. But would still be a blow if a couple of CMs leave also.
They are fairly similar players, Kayembe is probably better now, but Kone does have more potential, won't be too upset if one leaves and the other stays
I'm doubtful it happens, he's clearly a decent Championship player but at 25 hasn't shown himself to be Prem level and more than likely never will (Ipswich will have a bit of money to spend, they might want him enough as a backup to tempt us, but he's not good enough for them to throw silly money at him when I'm sure they'll be looking at plenty of other players). What would be the kind of fee that would tempt you into parting with Kayembe?