I don't think that should be the only reason to sign someone. Cleverley and Kayembe can tackle but are terrible with the ball, I don't know why we've signed another player like that. It's blindingly obvious to anyone with eyes that we need someone who can progress the ball, Louza isn't back for another month and what happens when he gets injured/suspended? Choudhury should be more mobile though which is a plus.
I don't think he'll be starting on Friday. Eligible to start but I think he'll be eased in a little. Would expect to see him on the bench then to come on in the second half.
Adam Leventhal digging out that new information. Surprised we’ve done that tbh, I guess trying to get a fee for him instead of losing him next summer on a free could pay dividends.
Good signing. I think we’re a fast lcb away from a pretty decent squad, although I would prefer a fast RWB and a more creative attacking player.
I don't think he's good, but he's surely an upgrade on Cleverley. Still need at least one more midfielder, especially if TDB is injured long term.
I think we need another signing who can be progressive with the ball. Add this to Louza and we're looking good.
Choudhury in his season (19/20) with most mins vs Kayembe in the PL last season. Not sure it'll be Cleverley dropping out the side sadly.
Why sadly? He doesn't have the legs for it. Perhaps Edwards was hoping that the pre-season reports on Cleverley were wrong and he gave him a chance. He needs to be put out to grass and enjoy his retirement.
I'm agreeing with you - Cleverley should be dropped, but the fact that Hamza profiles so similarly to Kayembe makes me think it's more likely that Kayembe will be dropped rather than Cleverley.
In which case, Cleverley/Gosling will probably stopgap until Louza gets fit again, which could do us a fair bit of damage.
Similar to basically everyone else, I'm torn because I'm not a fan of his, and he seems to lose his head far too much, but he's also clearly better than any option we have available there at this moment, and all the talk of his good character is rare and encouraging. If Reids is right, and he probably is, that he's going to be deployed alongside the geriatric, though, I lose a bit more hope. We have an astonishing propensity to stare overwhelming evidence of our own mistakes straight in the face, and swear blind they aren't happening so we must keep making them over and over and over and over. That would be the true lesson learned, but so far there's no real suggestion we have done so.
An upgrade on what we have and at 24 has scope for development if we start doing that kind of thing now.
This feels like a deal where Gino wanted him last season and has finally got him, regardless of whether Edwards wanted him. We know how Gino likes to revisit players he's previously missed out on.
Possibly less in the Championship than in the Prem - I'd forgotten how much Championship refs allow players to get away with. Add in the refs' directive to allow more physical play this season (which, admittedly wasn't much on show on Monday) and he might stay on the pitch longer than expected.
So possibly a slight upgrade on Kayembe with the added bonus of him being HG and younger? Loan to buy. Seems a fairly decent signing then.
If we can get Louza fit, and pair him with this wrecking ball, we might have a midfield capable of holding their own. Would certainly give us a better chance of pressing effectively and winning the ball back. Both are pretty mobile, with Louza hopefully providing some finesse on the ball.
Was thinking earlier about how technically poor most of our players are these days. Cleverly is one of our most technical players, but he's nothing on the likes of Abdi, Toszer and even Guedioura, Fessi, Vydra in terms of technique. Somehow we have regressed in this regard. Dennis, Louza and Pedro are the only obvious exceptions I can think of.
