If we are judging on current form I could quite easily cut that squad down to 10 foreign players. Where shall I start ?
I'm getting fed up of signing continental players that most of us have never heard of before; lets face it how many of them have actually come good for us? Most of them either have not adapted to English football or are regular "sick notes". It's time to invest in some good old fashioned established home grown talent! OK, they might cost an extra few bob in many cases, but while we are a PL team we can afford it. In fact we have to afford it, otherwise we could lose that PL status and what sort of false economy would that be.
Errmm... the Observer are reporting that Paredes is in line for a recall to the squad as Walter is considering switching to a back four. Surprised no-one at the club has pointed out that a) he's not very good b) he's far more of a wing back than a full back c) this is going to make signing other Johnny Foreigners even harder! http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...ejoin_squad_with_Mazzarri_considering_u_turn/
For f u c k's sake, this is beyond a joke. He's the least like an actual right back of any of our right wing backs! He was also mostly **** in the Championship and lost his place there, so god help us if he starts getting fielded as an orthodox right back in the prem. That being said, that article is high on hearsay and guesswork and short on any actual facts, thankfully.
Sounds like Walter is trying to get sacked so he gets a big cheque before picking up a job back in Italy where he speaks the lingo.
I'm sure that this question has probably been answered many times before but how does the squad list work during the transfer window? Can we just move people in and out of it as we wish? i.e. could we register Paredes and Dja Djedje for a game or two as long as we unregistered some others?
Thanks. Begs the question, why wasn't Paredes in the squad for Stoke and Spurs rather than on holiday in Ecuador? He's not a long-term answer but given that we played a centre back at right wing back in one of those games, maybe his presence could've been useful? Seems like very poor planning from the club.
All WFC Players: - Keepers:- Gomes, Pantilimon, Arlauskis, Gilmartin (HG). U21 and eligible to play: - Bannister, Gartside, + U18's: - Lacy & Thomas. Defenders: - Britos, Kaboul, Prodl, Mariappa (HG), Cathcart (HG), Zuniga, Jannmat, Holebas, DjeDje, Kabasele U21 eligible to play: - Stevens, Mason, Rowan, Eleftheriou +U18's: - Forster, Huja, Jones, Rogers, Sesay. Midfielders: - Amrabat, Behrami, Doucoure, Watson (HG), Capoue, U21 eligible to play: -[/B] Lewis, Ovenden, Stewart. + U18's: - Charles, Cruz Crabrera, Empson, Pereira, Roe, Ryan, Stray. Forwards Deeney (HG), Success, Okaka, U21 eligible to play: - Obi,+ U18's: - Adedji, Johnson. Some players are currently out on loan, but might be able to be recalled e.g. Hoban (HG) @ Blackburn and Berghuis @ Feyenoord. We also now have our 3 new recruits: - Midfielder Cleverly (HG), Forwards Niang & Zarate.
A week to go and this is the current state of the squad. It looks like Zarate will be added to the above list, possibly in place of Pereyra. That will still mean no room for Dja Djedje and two home grown spots free. I guess the biggest decision will be around who gets the chop if we go for another overseas signing, I'm sure Guedioura would probably be most people's choice but interested to hear any other suggestions. As for the ones in limbo, there are reports in Turkey that Besiktas have offered to take Oulare on loan with an option to buy at 4 million euros. Paredes' agent has told the Ecuadorian press that he wants to leave this window and has various options. There seems little point keeping Dja Djedje if he's not going to make the squad, surely he could be loaned somewhere too?
I'd be amazed if DJJ doesn't make the squad now his fit again,the only question is in place of who? (whom?) Maybe Iggy'll be off so problem solved
So, with Niang signing and Zarate, who gets the heave-ho? Gueds and Iggy, Pereyra in recovery allows Niang Zarate and DjeDje to take their places.
If Zarate is a loan & Niang is a loan With Dja Djedje available it probably means that Zuniga goes back.
First of all I would leave out Pereyra as he is injured, and 3 others: - Guedioura, Kaboul & Iggy, which would free up 4 overseas slots in the squad. One we can fill with Djedje, and we have two other irons in the fire to replace the others, M'Baye Niang to replace Iggy, and Zarate in for Pereyra, as for the other spot, maybe bring back the kid from Feyrnorrd, or bring in another as yet unknown player. This does not mean we should not be looking in the HG market as well, Ashley Young on loan would be great and I have not given up on the lad from Brentford either, plus I am sure there are others that could help improve our team.
Leaves us potentially low on CB cover though, especially if we're going to continue playing 3 at the back.
Mariappa, Cathcart, Britos, Prodl, Kabasele, Janmatt can also play CB, plus we also Have Hoban that we could recall, and if you don't think that is enough we could bring in someone else too!
What chance of a shock move with Behrami loaned to Udinese for the rest of the season? I could see Gueds being sold too and even Amrabat.
I think is what will happen. Having DjeDje means Mazzarri can play 433 as he is the only out and out FB we have. If a top quality CM is signed ( which is rumoured to be on the wanted list) then I guess Doucoure would get loaned out although personally Id get rid of Capoue as its clear he is not going to play to his potential in more than 1/3 of the games he plays.
Belgian media saying that Oulare has passed a medical at Willem II and will be presented this afternoon. Loan with no option to buy, let's see if he gets more game time at a mid-table Dutch team than a title-challenging Belgian team... Photos of him holding the shirt appearing on Twitter so safe to say this one is done. https://twitter.com/bdwillem2/status/824600344655265792
HG: Cathcart, Cleverley, Deeney, Gilmartin, Mariappa, Watson Foreign: Amrabat, Behrami, Britos, Capoue, Doucoure, Dja Djedje, Gomes, Holebas, Janmaat, Kabasele, Kaboul, Niang, Okaka, Pantilimon, Prodl, Zarate, Zuniga U21: Sinclair, Success Left out: Arlauskis, Guedioura, Ighalo, Paredes, Pereyra
I agree with your assessment, though I am not too keen on Kaboul so I would not mind finding someone to replace him, and I would like to bring in 3 HG players, (as I would like to offload Gilmartin) either permanently or on loan, to bring the squad up to 25.
In an ideal world we sign a top class HG 'keeper (like Pickford) and a new left-footed CB who can take Kaboul's place in the squad. Maybe a new left back.
There's still a lot of rumours flying about regarding Ranocchia, wouldn't surprise me if that one happens. Gawd know how we're gonna fit them all in the squad!
Dje Dje, Zarate and Niang in for Iggy, Gueds and Pereyra it seems. Anyone expecting a last minute Gino mega deal with the China money?
