A bit divided on this, I don't suppose, without Dennis and Sarr funds, we'll get a quality striker (unless on loan), but at the same time, it's kind of refreshing that we're not pinning all our hopes on them staying (especially as the January window is a thing too!)
If we actually keep Sarr and Dennis, then I think we only need to bring in 2 ball-playing CBs and we’re done. Midfield possibly a bit lacking too, but is already overstocked. Don’t know who we could realistically move on.
But we’ve got 5/6 of them. If we’re starting 2 each week then we can’t be signing more. I expect we’ll gamble on Kayembe, Louza and TDB stepping up, as well as Cleverley and Gosling being passable at this level. Honestly we don’t have good enough midfielders to get away with only 2 and I think Edwards knows it too. He wants to play 352 but knows if Sarr and Dennis are available, we have to use them (which means 343).
Suspect he'll be used sparingly but deliver a few magic moments. Sent from my SM-S908B using Tapatalk
Really? Seems a well-regarded player and has appeared multiple times in Conte’s squad. Also been linked to QPR. Would prefer Norton-Cuffey from Arsenal (on loan) but would be smart to get a more forward thinking young player to rotate with/backup Gaspar.
By age 21 you'd expect him to have had a loan to an EFL club. He was on trial with us a couple of years ago and clearly we didn't fancy him then. But yes, the profile is what we should be looking at in terms of age as Gaspar isn't going to play every minute and Kamara on the right makes my eyes bleed.
Didn't recall that he was on trial, although he stayed at Chelsea and then went onto Spurs. Player development is weird - some players don't drop down through the loan system and try and go up through the club instead. Others do but only really make an impact as a senior footballer at a later age. Again, no idea if he's any good but wouldn't write him off just because of that and with Gaspar coming in we can afford to take on a riskier profile as a backup if we want.
Just cannot see the point in us taking on another teams young RWB on loan and progressing him when we have Ngakia here. Seems counter-productive to me.
Depends on whether we're planning on keeping Ngakia, the fact that Rob seemingly prefers an out of position Kamara to him doesn't exactly scream that he trusts Ngakia at RWB
I agree. Ngakia is an efficient full back at Champ level, but wouldn’t cut it as a dynamic wingback. I’d be surprised if he’s still with us at the end of the window. Only the rule of 11 will be keeping him here if he stays.
Seems to be a controversial opinion, but I actually think Ngakia would do a decent job at RWB. Played there under Ivic (albeit in a more defensive system) the last time we were in the championship and did an excellent job I thought. He’s still young and we’ve got a coach now that will hopefully be able to improve his attacking abilities. Will be fine as a backup for me.
Ngakia is first and foremost a defender, his strengths are in tackling and 1v1 duels Whilst he can also dribble pretty well he can’t cross to save his life. Just can’t see how he ever fits into an Edwards system as a wing back as a result Seems like a nice lad but agree with the poster above, if he wasn’t HG he’d be gone already
Maybe Ngakia just needs a good run in the side. I’ve not checked but what would people say has been his longest continuous spell in the team? His career with us to date seems very stop-start, as he’s been back up to Kiko.
The Watford policy of ruining the careers of younger players is relentless. It's quite impressive how good we are at it. Another aspect of the Pozzo regime that makes me proud of this club.
Ngakia is not a wing-back, and will never be anything more than a mid-table Champ full-back as a regular. We've not "ruined" him as per RS2's comment above, he's been underwhelming since he joined and is generally a limited player. Spam were happy to let him go for a reason. I'd be fine with moving him on in order to accomodate a more attacking young wing-back who at least has an outside chance of more upside. There are plenty about - Kaine Kesler-Hayden has been one of Villa's best players in pre-season, impressing as much as Archer. I've already mentioned Mabaya at Liverpool as well who has a lot of potential and could be a good under-study at this level.
Maybe I should have a go at RWB? I can currently barely kick a ball, but give me a year in the role and who knows what I could do?
Had to look up who this was, as I had completely forgotten about him. We’ve had so many terrible managers.
It's difficult to find information on him given his lack of 1st team football, but there's at least one Spurs fan who likes him and thinks he'd offer them more than Doherty and Emerson. https://thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/threads/antonio-conte.41217/page-472#post-3282810 Another who would prefer him to Emerson: https://thefightingcock.co.uk/forum/threads/summer-2022-transfer-thread.44243/page-217#post-3385937 Here's a couple of clips of him in their reserves. Seems to be quicker than Ngakia with a better first touch at least: https://twitter.com/MarcelLavinier/...^1465729807308705804|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url= https://twitter.com/MarcelLavinier/status/1427378232677081088
I’d be happy to move him on - but if he remains, I just don’t see the point in recruiting another player in that area. He’s young enough to be improve if coached properly under a consistent set up and we might finally have the ability to do that. Whilst he’s back-up and potentially has Gaspar to learn from, I don’t see the issue. It’s not a pressing one. And West Ham weren’t happy to let him go - they offered him a new deal which he turned down. Indeed, some of their fans were unhappy with him because he’d broken into their first-team that season and felt he was making the wrong choice in leaving. https://amp.theguardian.com/footbal...ot-sign-deal-to-see-out-premier-league-season
Ngakia is one of those that I think will eventually become very good, but at present he still looks like a boy playing mens football. Could have done with a league 1 loan the season he arrived, but I doubt he'd have signed with us if we were going to loan him out
Ben Johson was getting minutes ahead of him (and righfully so). He wasn't playing any more. They can spout all they like publicly about being disappointed he wasn't staying, no doubt they'd have much rather got a fee for him, but truth was he was surplus to requirements.
Probably as they knew he wasn't signing a new contract so dropped him. If he was surplus to requirements they wouldn't have offered him a new contract like they did.
Oh come on! This is clearly one time you could just say you got it wrong! Somehow suggesting you know the truth over his manager at the time!
