ARTICLE: Fofana is first January signing

[ClaretTony]

Signing confirmed

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/fofana-is- ... ry-signing

[Boss Hogg]

Not enthusiastic about this.

[gawthorpe_view]

Squad number 23.

[boatshed bill]

Not enthusiastic about this.

That's the spirit

[Goody1975]

Not enthusiastic about this.

I'm fine with the signing, just after last night I feel a bit this morning.

We could sign Haaland and I'd probably feel this way.

[Funkydrummer]

A shame that it's more than likely now plastering over the cracks
and not as exciting as it could have been for us.

For me now, just another mouth to feed. Shame really as we could, and
should, have delivered far more this season.

Let's hope a lesson has been learned.

[JimmyRobbo]

Nothing wrong with this signing.

He's got to be a better option than JR at this point. Unfortunately, last night robbed me of some hope.

[bobinho]

Signing confirmed

Are you writing an article at all Tony?

[ClaretTony]

Are you writing an article at all Tony?

It was written but I was on my way back home so quicker just to post a line until I got home. Article now on site and I've changed the thread title and added the link.

[Woodleyclaret]

Chelsea record on loans 3 flops and Ian Maatsen lets hope this guy is up for a fight.

[JimmyRobbo]

Chelsea record on loans 3 flops and Ian Maatsen lets hope this guy is up for a fight.

Cork wasn't a flop.

[ElectroClaret]

A shame that it's more than likely now plastering over the cracks

Suspect this may be the case.
However, if he has the same impact as Ian Maatsen, our last Chelsea loanee, who knows?

Give him a try if the terms are right.

[randomclaret2]

Can he play Left Back ?

[ClaretTony]

Can he play Left Back ?

Or right back or several other positions?

[Goliath]

Weve basically built a glorified u23 team whos job is look technically good to show off their talents rather than to win games. This is probably another to add to the list

[helmclaret]

Another player written off before they’ve kicked a ball!

[ClaretOfMancunia]

Weve basically built a glorified u23 team whos job is look technically good to show off their talents rather than to win games. This is probably another to add to the list

It's a loan with no option to buy, so how does it fit this narrative?

[MDWat]

Lots of people writing him off before he’s kicked a ball. Shock.

[Goliath]

It's a loan with no option to buy, so how does it fit this narrative?

Not always in terms of potential transfer fee.
But its another one who will be technically great in training but what signs has there been of hil being a ready made PL striker? None. So we are hoping he develops into that in the next 6 months?

Probably being harsh on him here because i've not sern him but i cant imagine he will be fighting for the team in the way a Rodriguez would. Will he be back at set pieces marking or keeping a good pressing structure and stopping teams playing through midfield like Rodriguez does or winning/disrupting defenders when a ball comes long into him? Probably not and thats the problem of the whole season. The experienced pros who do the dirty work are being outcast for people who show some nice touches on the ball but dont try a leg off it.

[mdd2]

Chelsea record on loans 3 flops and Ian Maatsen lets hope this guy is up for a fight.

Not in last decade but a lad called Jack Cork wasn’t a bad loan

[daveisaclaret]

No idea if he's any good but as I posted on the rumour thread if it means we can sub Foster off when he's knackered then I'm all for it.

The logic of a loan with no chance of buying him in this position is really baffling. Suppose if we can't find a striker we want to buy it makes a bit of sense.

[BurnleyFC]

Best of luck to the lad. I hope he turns out to be as good as our last loanee from Chelsea.

[Goliath]

No idea if he's any good but as I posted on the rumour thread if it means we can sub Foster off when he's knackered then I'm all for it.

The logic of a loan with no chance of buying him in this position is really baffling. Suppose if we can't find a striker we want to buy it makes a bit of sense.

We could easily have subbed him last night for Jay Rod, we also have Obafemi who could come on. A striker really wasnt priority for me, whats the point of a loan thats gping to come in and sit on thr bench. Its going to annoy Rodriguez and Obafemi and I cant imagine he will de delighted at sitting on the bench either

[Cirrus_Minor]

Good luck to the lad. Let's hope he gives us another option at the start or during the game as a substitute. If I am honest I would have preferred a player for this position who has experience at this level but VK probably stash him away with Redmond and Co.

[It Is What It Is]

Can't really afford Chelsea loan wages in reality.

[Goliath]

Just in addition to this, Ive just read the athletic article on him. See extract below, this sounds like exactly what we need.

'He was a maverick on the pitch in Germany, catching the eye during the Union Berlin’s pre-season preparations, but the excitement about his potential impact faded with infrequent flashes of brilliance failing to make up for his inconsistent decision-making and lack of tactical and positional discipline.

Union were coming off the back of a campaign in which they had qualified for the Champions League but have been unable to replicate that form, suffering the worst run of results in the club’s history (12 straight defeats). In Fofana’s defence, it made it difficult for anyone to shine.

Fofana also had problems with timekeeping. He was late on the day Union players were told Urs Fischer had been sacked as manager and missed the meeting. The feeling was Fofana would have benefitted from having somebody monitoring him on a day-to-day basis to help.

He was suspended for a week after he refused to shake Fischer’s hand when substituted against Napoli in the Champions League in October.

[FCBurnley]

Just in addition to this, Ive just read the athletic article on him. See extract below, this sounds like exactly what we need.

'He was a maverick on the pitch in Germany, catching the eye during the Union Berlin’s pre-season preparations, but the excitement about his potential impact faded with infrequent flashes of brilliance failing to make up for his inconsistent decision-making and lack of tactical and positional discipline.

Union were coming off the back of a campaign in which they had qualified for the Champions League but have been unable to replicate that form, suffering the worst run of results in the club’s history (12 straight defeats). In Fofana’s defence, it made it difficult for anyone to shine.

Fofana also had problems with timekeeping. He was late on the day Union players were told Urs Fischer had been sacked as manager and missed the meeting. The feeling was Fofana would have benefitted from having somebody monitoring him on a day-to-day basis to help.

He was suspended for a week after he refused to shake Fischer’s hand when substituted against Napoli in the Champions League in October.

Sounds perfect

[claptrappers_union]

Sounds just the type of player we need for a relegation battle.

[Jakubs Tash]

Good luck to him!

At least he looks and sounds happy and excited to be here in the clubs official interview with him. A good start.

[gandhisflipflop]

Welcome David! Ignore the pathetic negativity around these parts and enjoy your football!

[Boss Hogg]

PL experience was needed in the last window and probably this to have any chance of trying to stay up. The entire transfer policy can’t be just a young lads trial and error approach. Anyway let’s hope he’s another Maatsen and not a Tresor/ Ramsey.

[Westleigh]

Has the media team done a video yet ?

[forzagranata]

Yes there is an interview with him - where he was asked what he learnt in the Bundesliga and said he didn't like it because they expected him to run, run, run.

[Pickles]

Yes there is an interview with him - where he was asked what he learnt in the Bundesliga and said he didn't like it because they expected him to run, run, run.

Also describes himself as lazy. Whether it's a joke or language barrier, maybe just cut that out or get him to rephrase it? It's a weird one.

[forzagranata]

I can't help but imagine that interview with Dyche as manager.....

[ksrclaret]

Well, at least this guy has had the good grace to let fans know in advance that he's not going to be putting a shift in for us.

Honesty is a redeeming feature, I suppose.

[Jakubs Tash]

Lots that is lost in translation in his interview - the above comments aren’t really fair. How does his English stack up against everyone else’s Ivorian/French…?

“Lazy” clearly means he’s a chilled character off the pitch.

Why didn’t anyone quote the positive things he said in his interview?

[123EasyasBFC]

Shambles of an Interview team, there’s the lazy and running comments but then asking if the number 23 means something because of the famous names who have wore the shirt and the interviewer says Jamie carragher hahaha can’t believe it

[Casper2]

If Kompany thinks it’s a good idea to bring on Tresor and Larsen , then bring Cork on with less than a minute to play , it’s hardly surprising posters are questioning this signing.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Also describes himself as lazy. Whether it's a joke or language barrier, maybe just cut that out or get him to rephrase it? It's a weird one.

He will definitely get on with Tresor then

[DCWat]

This feels very much like the majority of our summer business.

Unless two or three more come in, in the positions that we so blatantly need reinforcements, I’m concerned that this will prove to be yet another strange transfer.

Hopefully I’m wrong, but based on the summer business, I find it a little difficult to see another outcome.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I was excited about this signing yesterday.

Feel totally deflated following the result yesterday and it all just seems a bit pointless now

[Shaggy]

I was excited about this signing yesterday.

Feel totally deflated following the result yesterday and it all just seems a bit pointless now

For the second time in the last 24hours I agree with you.

[123EasyasBFC]

I was excited about this signing yesterday.

Feel totally deflated following the result yesterday and it all just seems a bit pointless now

Couldn’t have put it any better, really hard to get excited about any signing after that last night

[Newcastleclaret93]

Couldn’t have put it any better, really hard to get excited about any signing after that last night

I think this is the problem, I just don’t feel any kind of attachment to any of these players. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so deflated about the club. You can’t even have a favourite player anymore because there’s so much movement in the team.

[forzagranata]

"Infrequent flashes of brilliance failing to make up for his inconsistent decision-making and lack of tactical and positional discipline."

Should fit right in.

[123EasyasBFC]

I think this is the problem, I just don’t feel any kind of attachment to any of these players. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so deflated about the club. You can’t even have a favourite player anymore because there’s so much movement in the team.

Your right even someone like Beyer has been out the team to much.

The only players to genuinely excite me this season are Berge, Amdouni (I know he doesn’t do it for you) Odobert koleosho and foster and worryingly they will be the players who will leave if we have to generate funds in the summer

[Newcastleclaret93]

Your right even someone like Beyer has been out the team to much.

The only players to genuinely excite me this season are Berge, Amdouni (I know he doesn’t do it for you) Odobert koleosho and foster and worryingly they will be the players who will leave if we have to generate funds in the summer

Yep I suspect all of them players will leave in some capacity.

It looks like he’s fallen out with last seasons favourites as well, I would love to see benson but for one reason or another he will be gone in the summer.

The only way I can describe this season is just deflated and losing a connection to the club

[Wokingclaret]

For the second time in the last 24hours I agree with you.

Yes, signing too late, imagine him coming on last night.

[Vegas Claret]

Tella was beyond average before he turned up. Anything that helps us can only be looked on as positive. Still the 19th best team in England