I know everyone always says about former players or not signing them or whatever it might be, and they’re fair points… but in terms of creativity and someone who can play in the 10 role behind the front two, I don’t think there will be a better player out there on a free than Tariqe Fosu…
Can I just say all these new links with Fosu and that he’s now training with us and there could be an opportunity to sign him, I called this over a month ago.
If he can prove any kind of fitness, and he wants to be here, he’d be a great addition and with next season in mind.
Jones is the right type of manager to get the best out of him and with the way his career has gone over the last 12 months or so, he’ll know he needs to join a club with a manager who can get his career back on track.
Fosu played a bit of wing back at Brentford in the championship, so he’s an attacking alternative there and can obviously play as an attacking midfielder like we have seen before
Fosu being unemployed since last summer is a bigger mystery than Wickham. He had 2 loan spells in the Championship last season, where he played regularly for Stoke and Rotherham, so fitness concerns weren't an issue.
Fosu being unemployed since last summer is a bigger mystery than Wickham. He had 2 loan spells in the Championship last season, where he played regularly for Stoke and Rotherham, so fitness concerns weren't an issue.
I think when you have plenty of money you can chose your next career steps a lot more carefully and both might have been waiting for something that suited them.
Fosu being unemployed since last summer is a bigger mystery than Wickham. He had 2 loan spells in the Championship last season, where he played regularly for Stoke and Rotherham, so fitness concerns weren't an issue.
I think when you have plenty of money you can chose your next career steps a lot more carefully and both might have been waiting for something that suited them.
I think that’s possibly true but in the main footballers want to play don’t they ? Hes how old ? 28. Still got possibly five years of career left so best part of a year out seems odd to me. Perhaps he priced himself out of a summer contract but you’d have thought a Championship club would have offered him something after the window. Looks older than 28 to me from a couple of photos I’ve looked at. In Jones we trust.
Was absolutely class when we had him under Karl Robinson but a lot has changed since then. The other thing is we don’t actually play with wingers or even wide forwards as such so struggling to see where he would fit into our current system
Was absolutely class when we had him under Karl Robinson but a lot has changed since then. The other thing is we don’t actually play with wingers or even wide forwards as such so struggling to see where he would fit into our current system
Played his best attacking football under Robinson, as he then did well for him at Oxford. If Robinson wasn't managing L2 Salford, I imagine he might have gone back for him.
I see having a winger as an option off the bench with the current system when chasing a game rather than starting.
As it is only six weeks to go in the season could we 'audition' both Fosu and Lualua to see who might be worth keeping next season? Like Wickham I suspect that they would want to play some competitive football before the close season.
Only problem I see with this is that just like Wickham, neither will be match sharp. That in itself provides problems with seeing them as worth something in the summer. Not enough time or games left for them to both get sharp and make a fair representation of their potential. Looking ok in training is one thing but in first team competition it’s much harder. We’ve seen enough players this season not up to speed and both the player and team have suffered as a consequence.
Fosu being unemployed since last summer is a bigger mystery than Wickham. He had 2 loan spells in the Championship last season, where he played regularly for Stoke and Rotherham, so fitness concerns weren't an issue.
I think when you have plenty of money you can chose your next career steps a lot more carefully and both might have been waiting for something that suited them.
Either that or he was asking for too much money himself.
Was absolutely class when we had him under Karl Robinson but a lot has changed since then. The other thing is we don’t actually play with wingers or even wide forwards as such so struggling to see where he would fit into our current system
He played a bit at wing back for Brentford in their championship promotion season. So he will be good enough to play there for us as a more attacking option.
He has also played as an attacking midfielder for us under Bowyer so that would be his main position in our system, but an option at wing back too and then obviously he can play as a winger if we changed system in-game
Weird thing is that had we said we were signing Wickham ,Fosu and Lua Lua at the start of the season or even in January we would have been more excited than for the ones we did get ( bar Alfie)
Only problem I see with this is that just like Wickham, neither will be match sharp. That in itself provides problems with seeing them as worth something in the summer. Not enough time or games left for them to both get sharp and make a fair representation of their potential. Looking ok in training is one thing but in first team competition it’s much harder. We’ve seen enough players this season not up to speed and both the player and team have suffered as a consequence.
Depends on their motivations I guess. Train with us to the end of the season and if they show enough promise then come back for pre season on a formal trial?
Only problem I see with this is that just like Wickham, neither will be match sharp. That in itself provides problems with seeing them as worth something in the summer. Not enough time or games left for them to both get sharp and make a fair representation of their potential. Looking ok in training is one thing but in first team competition it’s much harder. We’ve seen enough players this season not up to speed and both the player and team have suffered as a consequence.
Again this is where I suspect Jones is looking for more in terms of "proof of concept" rather than expecting or wanting to sign these exact players specifically. Do we need wingers at all, how does it affect the balance of the squad, is bringing in experience worth the money or do we aim for a much younger squad in general etc.
If they do well enough to earn a "proper" trial or even a deal, great. If not, it's still useful information for what we need do in terms of reshaping the whole squad.
I have mentioned it a number of times but I continue to be impressed with the money men in particular in this ownership.
Not only have they provided the funding to ensure the club pretty much get out of the relegation mess but now are proactively looking to the future and funding wages on new players on short term contracts to see if they are worth longer deals.
So far after years of despair with different owners these guys have provided a breath of fresh air. Long may it continue.
I have mentioned it a number of times but I continue to be impressed with the money men in particular in this ownership.
Not only have they provided the funding to ensure the club pretty much get out of the relegation mess but now are proactively looking to the future and funding wages on new players on short term contracts to see if they are worth longer deals.
So far after years of despair with different owners these guys have provided a breath of fresh air. Long may it continue.
Absolutely, feels good being on the up and up doesn't it. Knowing the American corporate culture a bit I hope this end of season money is funded from a current budget or if it is an extraordinary item it doesn't affect the summer war chest.
I have mentioned it a number of times but I continue to be impressed with the money men in particular in this ownership.
Not only have they provided the funding to ensure the club pretty much get out of the relegation mess but now are proactively looking to the future and funding wages on new players on short term contracts to see if they are worth longer deals.
So far after years of despair with different owners these guys have provided a breath of fresh air. Long may it continue.
Agree with this. Even under the more stable owners of the last 10 years it was always felt that they would do enough to see us through this season but without proper investment as the season was going nowhere. There was always the promises of "We'll do it in the summer" but then that was always a half finished job with the promise of "if we are there or thereabouts in January we will invest more" and then we wouldn't be. Rinse and repeat all over again with a few managerial changes thrown in each time.
This lot its different, they've realised their mistakes (possibly the same as others in underestimating the league) and have set about putting them right at the earliest opportunity and are continuing that rather than it being a one off. The summer is key but I think we will look back at this January window and say that some key building blocks of a good side and promotion push were put in place then. The likes of Cov, Gillesphey and REG to name a few.
I have mentioned it a number of times but I continue to be impressed with the money men in particular in this ownership.
Not only have they provided the funding to ensure the club pretty much get out of the relegation mess but now are proactively looking to the future and funding wages on new players on short term contracts to see if they are worth longer deals.
So far after years of despair with different owners these guys have provided a breath of fresh air. Long may it continue.
Ipswich did something similar I seem to remember, an American funding source that obviously decided to speculate to accumulate so to speak and put proper money (and crucially proper planning) into the club and reaped rewards.
Sad to say I think we as a club are a bit behind where Ipswich were and may take longer to replicate their results but it does feel like an example to aim for.
Could it be both Fasu and Lua Lua? Both free agents, and the opportunity to earn a contract for next season? I'd take both, as I think, sadly Chucks is too injury prone and it seems to be getting worse, and Miles will need to work back to fitness again. A set of strikers of Lua Lua, Kanu, May, Wickham and Fosu (with Miles getting back to fitness) would be one hell of a strike force for League 1, that's also assuming we don't keep hold of Ladapo.
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If he can prove any kind of fitness, and he wants to be here, he’d be a great addition and with next season in mind.
Jones is the right type of manager to get the best out of him and with the way his career has gone over the last 12 months or so, he’ll know he needs to join a club with a manager who can get his career back on track.
Fosu played a bit of wing back at Brentford in the championship, so he’s an attacking alternative there and can obviously play as an attacking midfielder like we have seen before
As it is only six weeks to go in the season could we 'audition' both Fosu and Lualua to see who might be worth keeping next season? Like Wickham I suspect that they would want to play some competitive football before the close season.
Depends on their motivations I guess. Train with us to the end of the season and if they show enough promise then come back for pre season on a formal trial?
If they do well enough to earn a "proper" trial or even a deal, great. If not, it's still useful information for what we need do in terms of reshaping the whole squad.
Yes.
Wonder if Fosu or LuaLua will play for the U21s this season?
This lot its different, they've realised their mistakes (possibly the same as others in underestimating the league) and have set about putting them right at the earliest opportunity and are continuing that rather than it being a one off. The summer is key but I think we will look back at this January window and say that some key building blocks of a good side and promotion push were put in place then. The likes of Cov, Gillesphey and REG to name a few.
Sad to say I think we as a club are a bit behind where Ipswich were and may take longer to replicate their results but it does feel like an example to aim for.
Jack Moylan, signed in January on a free is the latest, he has 4 goals in the last 2 games.
A set of strikers of Lua Lua, Kanu, May, Wickham and Fosu (with Miles getting back to fitness) would be one hell of a strike force for League 1, that's also assuming we don't keep hold of Ladapo.