January Sales
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Comments
But it's still like 35/40 strikers we've brought in.
Scamacca ✖️
Ings ✖️
Antonio
Bowen
Given our two fit strikers are also our RW options, I'd say we probably need another forward option in this month. Either a striker, or a winger to offer cover/competition on the wing if Bowen has to play through the middle.
I have zero confidence that Ings' injury will be the short term absence that seems to be being reported; Cornet was only supposed out for a few weeks back in October after all.
Tbh, the thing that surprises me most about the dreadful Emiliano Sala incident is that it wasn't us that signed him.
I do hope we're actively looking for his replacement. It seems almost certain that we'll need to fill a rather large hole in our midfield next season.
I expect I will get pelters but this is another young player we have let go!
The counter arguments will always be 'how many of those that we've let go have done well' and 'Moyes sees them in training so will know best'. Both are valid (although I don't know how involved Moyes is with regards to the youth teams), but for me the takeaway is that our young players don't appear to see a path to the first team.
We've lost Alese, Perkins and now Ekwah, with Ashby reportedly close to leaving too. Money (agents) seem to be playing a part in this, but I don't think Ekwah's comments are a coincidence. He's done well for the U23s, has captained the team, but even in a season where our midfield has struggled, he hasn't had an opportunity at first team level.
I worry about Scarles, too. Clearly the club rate him, and he put in a MOTM performance in the ECL, but hasn't had a kick since. By all accounts he's performing incredibly well for the U18s, but despite Cresswell's struggles and Emerson seemingly not to have Moyes' trust, he hasn't had a look in. I get that he's young and may be content to carry on in the youth teams for now, but there needs to be a realistic path for those that are performing well otherwise they will want to leave, and young players may well be put off from joining if this is the perception of our club.
I’m less fussed about Ekwah, but Alese is the one that bothers me still.
I agree about Alese though. He's a left-sided centre back so was an option to cover Ogbonna and play ahead of Cresswell in a back three and I honestly don't think he'd have done any worse.
Deeney tells top clubs: Get Birmingham's Hall now
Troy Deeney has hailed the potential of Birmingham City team-mate George Hall - and claims he has even spoken to some clubs like West Ham to tell them to sign him.
Teenage midfielder Hall is having a breakout season at Birmingham aged 18, with Deeney waxing lyrical about what the player can go on to achieve.
Birmingham captain Deeney told the Fozcast: "We've got George Hall, who I think is going to be a [expletive] player by the way.
"I've warned about five or six other teams that I know - like Nobes [sporting director Mark Noble] at West Ham - 'get this player now'.
"He's only 18 but he's mustard. When he plays, he's impactful. I can't tell you what he does good. But he scores goals, he's rapid and every time he's on the pitch... he stands out all the time."
Sorry just butting in.
I'm not claiming to be an expert on our youth teams, but from what I've seen of him, Ekwah has always looked very capable.
Probably nonsense, but it's not what I'd call unbelievable.
As I see it, if Moyes wants to play with a back three, ideally you'd have five CB options to cover injuries, suspensions and the ECL and cup games.
We have four, but one of those is reportedly injured and Moyes benched Kehrer for Dawson, so looks to have gone off him. I think a six month loan of a PL defender would be ideal, and then look at Ogbonna's long-term replacement in the summer.
And come March we'll be back to the Thursday/Sunday schedule. Staying with the four is putting a hell of a lot of trust in Zouma and Ogbonna's knees, IMO.
If there was nothing internal to be factored in to the gaffer's decision.. what about external. Might he prefer one over the other because of the nature of the opposition? Or our formation? Or maybe he was trying to show Daws a bit of love...
A big leap, IMO, to say the manager's gone off Kehrer. Not enough evidence.
I get the argument that he needs time to adapt to PL pace etc, but given our need for results, time is a luxury that we simply do not have.
Just my tuppence worth
Kehrer dropped a couple of rickets, against Leeds I think it was, and was then benched. Evidence would suggest that Moyes has lost trust in him.