Was there today. Few people saying Jebbsion, Keban and Ogbonna were there too but no actual evidence I’ve seen of that as yet.
https://x.com/WatfordFC/status/1828030883120701787?t=KYiPtiIzVlxme3sSFS9IMQ&s=19 Imminent announcement
Clevs says more of a project much like the Brazilian CB we got, and probably won't see much of him this year. But we'll see.
Glad to get this over the line. Never watched him in my life, but he sounds like the right profile to give Sissoko some rest and the other clubs who have been after him in recent windows is encouraging.
Anyone who hasn’t watched the YouTube highlights reel, I’d suggest you don’t. Not very exciting and the transitions gave me a headache! I’m sure he’ll do well and will impress more than that vid. Main positive to it was he looks very athletic and tall to go with it. Likes to play it simple. So a good starting point and no doubt decent coaching will turn his potential into performances.
Was a regular in the Belgian top flight last season, so he’s surely a lot more ready than a teenager with a grand total of 1 league appearance in his entire career
https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2024/august/26/official-dwomoh-signs-for-hornets/ Bit strange that the article doesn’t say how long his contract is. Just states it’s a permanent deal.
If he is a development player then our squad is still looking rather flimsy in midfield . Kayembe Could do a job . I wouldn’t particularly trust Louzza and that doesn’t really leave much . Doesn’t sound like anyone else is coming in either.
Found it odd that Cleverley has suggested that Dwomoh is lower down the pecking order and more of a project than Doumbia, Baah and Vata, and more like Almeida and Tikvic. Dwomoh has played more football than all of them bar Baah and at a higher level. Maybe he just wants to run the rule over him?
He's 20 and we will be the 6th club he's played for I think. 3rd perm club, the others loans, 2 of which ended in relegation and on one loan the club has now been liquidated. A Mogi deal.
When Khvaratskhelia joined Napoli aged 21 that was the 5th club he’d been contracted to in his career!
It does seem a bit odd. Though I also wonder if it's partly to do with the observation that it's easier or less risky to give minutes to younger attacking players as they play further away from your own goal. The three who Clevs said need more time all play more in the defensive third of the pitch, while the others are all attacking third players.
Only 800k EUR supposedly according to the Wobby, which is much less than was originally mooted. Seems a good pick-up for that kind of fee.
Downloaded some clips for those that are interested. Still not watched them myself mind! Playmaking: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ehyy...king.mp4?rlkey=ty7qtgg3o08je9a7lrx9pojoa&dl=0 Attacking: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/aj4u...king.mp4?rlkey=6lomfopvobdky8odyz9rnu8kw&dl=0 Defensive: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z0s0...ding.mp4?rlkey=z1fxxceo4udapwnga505k1arm&dl=0
I think it’s mostly to do with the fact these are pozzo/network signings of which Cleverley has had not input and likely didn’t even know the deal was happening until happened. saying what he has said gives him a chance to look at these young players in training over a period of time with no pressure and make a decision if he feels they’re ready to be used. No one is going to complain if he gets used earlier than TC has said but people would moan if they thought he was for now and then didn’t get used for most/all of the season
I think that's a really sound analysis. Early days but 'project signing' looks increasingly like Cleverley's code for 'nowt to do with me'. He strikes me as a pragmatist though so as you say, if any of these players he previously knew nothing about look decent in training I'm sure he'll get them involved on match day. Suppose the bit we don't know is what pressure he'll face if results dip and he still doesn't pick them?
Considering even if Louza stays, we are a bit short in the middle of the park, I’d be shocked if Dwomoh doesn’t feature at all for us, in the depths of winter we’ll need someone to come in for Sissoko and TDB. I’m interested to see if he plays today, even Tikvic featured against MK
I couldn’t agree more. I think that midfield position is the area where we are going to struggle the most. TDB doesn’t have much history of playing a full season and sissoko getting old, can’t really rely on them to play a full 46 game season plus cup matches. Doesn’t look like TC fancies Louza much and not sure he’s a great fit to the role anyway. Surprised that we haven’t found a better solution but as you said hopefully Dwomoh can quickly prove his worth
Could be a late PL loan? There are going to be so many players looking for moves before Friday, we will surely be on the lookout for who's available even if it's not planned.
Suppose it depends who’s available and what type of fee/wages we’re talking. Feeling we may dip back in to the loan market for a centre back potentially depending on the Keben situation. Not sure how many more players the club will be looking to bring in as there’s already been a lot of activity this window
I spotted Josh Wilson-Esbrand is leaving Man City on loan, which could be an interesting one. Would image Nat Phillips will want to leave Liverpool, too, but probably for a multi-million pound permanent fee. Could also see Kabasele happening if it's a last-minute thing to cover Keben.
