If you are thinking of making a Fanni pun, please read the rest of the thread first. If the same pun has already been done fewer than fifteen times then by all means go for it.
If you are thinking of making a Fanni pun, please read the rest of the thread first. If the same pun has already been done fewer than fifteen times then by all means go for it.
Now lost all respect for Riga over this signing after poo pooing the west ham youngster because he'd never heard of him This one's hardly a proven player at this level
He didn't sign Oxford because he didn't want an inexperienced player in that position.
Plus Oxford turned us down
Colin, we're not talking about your university application.
Most on here were wetting themselves when we signed Vaz Te, look how that worked out.
Not quite sure what your point is?
I think his point, if the same as mine, would be that had we announced the signing of Vaz Te tonight instead of a month ago, lots of fans would been getting excited tonight and it turned out a massive flop.
Personally I hoped for something more solid in terms of British players with league experience, positions I'd want to improve (centre half, left back, left mid). Once again, a rumoured big money bid suggesting we have money available to spend in this window fails and doesn't get shifted onto a replacement, for the third consecutive January window.
Those two signings carry risks and I was hoping for some squad strengthening that carried less risks, given the situation we are in. Johnson already feels to me a wasted signing.
Now lost all respect for Riga over this signing after poo pooing the west ham youngster because he'd never heard of him This one's hardly a proven player at this level
I wonder how Fanni may do at LB and how many times he has played there? Certainly Solly has swopped several times (pre-injury) and looked pretty comfortable. Also we haven't played diamond for a while - has Riga tried it? People seem to be forgetting Poyet and we are not playing a holding MF. Still think Ba always looks forward. JC energy. More movement, more options. Don't necessarily need a creative mf if you mix it up. Like to see JBG head of a diamond, Solly and Berg/THD bombing forward, Igor and Lookie, pace everywhere. Options for next year.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
Now lost all respect for Riga over this signing after poo pooing the west ham youngster because he'd never heard of him This one's hardly a proven player at this level
He didn't sign Oxford because he didn't want an inexperienced player in that position.
Plus Oxford turned us down
No he didn't. Riga didn't want him, as he lacked experience.
If you are thinking of making a Fanni pun, please read the rest of the thread first. If the same pun has already been done fewer than fifteen times then by all means go for it.
I wonder how Fanni may do at LB and how many times he has played there? Certainly Solly has swopped several times (pre-injury) and looked pretty comfortable. Also we haven't played diamond for a while - has Riga tried it? People seem to be forgetting Poyet and we are not playing a holding MF. Still think Ba always looks forward. JC energy. More movement, more options. Don't necessarily need a creative mf if you mix it up. Like to see JBG head of a diamond, Solly and Berg/THD bombing forward, Igor and Lookie, pace everywhere. Options for next year.
could play the vajazzle with fanni sitting at the base of a well spread diamond - just in front of the hole but capable of pushing right up and sitting deep in the box - thankyou and good night.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
With respect, it's a position we completely needed to strengthen. Solly gets injured and with our already existing centre back crisis the go-to right back cover appeared to be... a 17 left back/winger. That's asking for trouble especially as we know that anything that is bad enough to put Solly out tends to keep him out.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
I'm gonna guess this blokes a better Cb than Lennon.
Do we not play 4-4-2 away and against top 5 teams until the end of the season? We have players who can counter.
I can't see Riga getting an understanding of most of the players of 4-3-3. Maybe the new guys who have played at a higher level may help with that but the only times I saw Luzon and Fraeye go with it, we looked very poor.
Struggle to see immediately who would play as 1 in a 4-5-1, maybe the new signing Nogoals?
Depends who we are playing and clearly need to keep the opposition guessing as to where players will move within the basic contstruct.
Question is whether we will get enough points playing a solid 4-4-2 with players who are good enough.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
I know some people on here are totally incapable of recognising when the senior management team make a sensible decision, but not so long ago Solly could not play more than 1 game a week due to the state of his knees, so to risk playing the rest of seeing out the rest of the season with only one experienced specialist right back would have been madness! Not to mention being detrimental to Sollys health for the rest of his life.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
I'm gonna guess this blokes a better Cb than Lennon.
Then if he is to play CB then I'd rather we brought in a CB rather than a RB who has been playing in Qatar in a nothing league.
Just my opinion, fully appreciate if others think I'm being negative. Perhaps I'm just too old skool in approach but if I was assessing what a Championship team needed to get out a relegation zone with three months to go, I would have gone down a different route with signings.
So that's another two foreign players (one of whom his coach at Ajax did not rate) with no experience of the Championship. Singularly unimpressed but I will reserve judgement until I see them in action.
For me both signings are about playing style and team balance.
For Sanogo - if we have made a decision to stick with playing Makienok up top then we have to adopt a style of play to suit him. At that point the squad needs someone of similar physique and style who is going to a) compete with him b) be his back up? c) give an option to double up
As it stood if Makienok were injured/ loses form you would have to completely change the style of play. I have no idea whether the lad can deliver at this level but then to be honest neither have 90% of you.
As a youth player he had an outstanding profile but he has struggled for the consistency to make the grade at Arsenal. He will hardly be the first to have suffered that fate and for the past 2 -3 years has like so many young players today become a bit part player wherever he has played.
I am simply not going to prejudge whether the guy can play based on a few cameo appearances here and there.
Lets give the guy some support. Who knows it may be the making of him.
For Fanni - the guy started 22 games at Centre Back for Olympic Marseille in Ligue 1 last season.
He also provides excellent cover at right back if they need to manage/ rest Solly.
Both cover two of the glaring weaknesses (others still remain) in the balance and structure of the squad assembled during the close season.
There is no bigger critic of this regimes recruitment policy than me and I suggest Riga has been instrumental in trying to fix the nonsense he inherited.
With the earlier signing of Texiera he has addressed what was a "powder puff" spine to the team. It speaks volumes to his assessment of the readiness of Sarr & Johnson to contribute this season.
That either of these latter players were signed in the first place is quite another matter.
I think Fanni doesn't carry any risks at all Dan tbh
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
It's a risk imo in that it's a position we didn't need to strengthen, and bringing in another overseas on a 5 month contract, if things aren't going well in the next couple of months, I just don't see these type of signings having the mentality to dig out a tough point on the road etc, probably an unfair generalisation and I'm pretty sure the bloke will prove decent (I'm a huge Diarra fan), but at the expense of Solly?
I'm gonna guess this blokes a better Cb than Lennon.
Then if he is to play CB then I'd rather we brought in a CB rather than a RB who has been playing in Qatar in a nothing league.
Just my opinion, fully appreciate if others think I'm being negative. Perhaps I'm just too old skool in approach but if I was assessing what a Championship team needed to get out a relegation zone with three months to go, I would have gone down a different route with signings.
I don't think you're being negative, you're right to question it. We'll have to see how it pans out. If he has been signed as cover at full back, then fine, we need it, I can't believe his wages are that high, and if Solly picks up a knock or needs a rest, he can jump straight in. If he is used as a CB it will be a strange one and I would agree, a proper CB rather than someone who can slot in would have been a better option.
I said my piece about Sanogo and got jumped on by a few who seem to think that he is the new messiah or something. Anyway, my main concern is that we still lack creativity in the centre of midfield and I hoped this would be addressed during the window, but it seems to have been overlooked.
Comments
Personally I hoped for something more solid in terms of British players with league experience, positions I'd want to improve (centre half, left back, left mid). Once again, a rumoured big money bid suggesting we have money available to spend in this window fails and doesn't get shifted onto a replacement, for the third consecutive January window.
Those two signings carry risks and I was hoping for some squad strengthening that carried less risks, given the situation we are in. Johnson already feels to me a wasted signing.
His experienced and has a fine pedigree, what I will agree with is that it's no risk die to it costing nothing and yet again we haven't spent money
Or as Katrien will know you...Welcome, Customer-ni.
We done that one yet?
I can't see Riga getting an understanding of most of the players of 4-3-3. Maybe the new guys who have played at a higher level may help with that but the only times I saw Luzon and Fraeye go with it, we looked very poor.
Struggle to see immediately who would play as 1 in a 4-5-1, maybe the new signing Nogoals?
Depends who we are playing and clearly need to keep the opposition guessing as to where players will move within the basic contstruct.
Question is whether we will get enough points playing a solid 4-4-2 with players who are good enough.
Any thoughts?
Just my opinion, fully appreciate if others think I'm being negative. Perhaps I'm just too old skool in approach but if I was assessing what a Championship team needed to get out a relegation zone with three months to go, I would have gone down a different route with signings.
For Sanogo - if we have made a decision to stick with playing Makienok up top then we have to adopt a style of play to suit him. At that point the squad needs someone of similar physique and style who is going to a) compete with him b) be his back up? c) give an option to double up
As it stood if Makienok were injured/ loses form you would have to completely change the style of play. I have no idea whether the lad can deliver at this level but then to be honest neither have 90% of you.
As a youth player he had an outstanding profile but he has struggled for the consistency to make the grade at Arsenal. He will hardly be the first to have suffered that fate and for the past 2 -3 years has like so many young players today become a bit part player wherever he has played.
I am simply not going to prejudge whether the guy can play based on a few cameo appearances here and there.
Lets give the guy some support. Who knows it may be the making of him.
For Fanni - the guy started 22 games at Centre Back for Olympic Marseille in Ligue 1 last season.
He also provides excellent cover at right back if they need to manage/ rest Solly.
Both cover two of the glaring weaknesses (others still remain) in the balance and structure of the squad assembled during the close season.
There is no bigger critic of this regimes recruitment policy than me and I suggest Riga has been instrumental in trying to fix the nonsense he inherited.
With the earlier signing of Texiera he has addressed what was a "powder puff" spine to the team. It speaks volumes to his assessment of the readiness of Sarr & Johnson to contribute this season.
That either of these latter players were signed in the first place is quite another matter.
I said my piece about Sanogo and got jumped on by a few who seem to think that he is the new messiah or something. Anyway, my main concern is that we still lack creativity in the centre of midfield and I hoped this would be addressed during the window, but it seems to have been overlooked.