THB

[Bowclaret]

Now training with the England senior squad.

We missed out big time with this lad !

[Woodleyclaret]

Beyer was the better player and we've got him
Another let down for Tarks who must now realise no matter how well he plays, Southgate will never pick him for England

[boatshed bill]

Southgate likes them young.

[Kilson810]

Definitely, could have used the O'Shea money coupled with the Odobert or Ramsey money and got him.

Shame City didn't do buy one, get one free for THB and Trafford!

[dougcollins]

There was an aura about THB that the others don't have. We missed out.

Ready made captain material. This side is really missing that.

[boatshed bill]

There was an aura about THB that the others don't have. We missed out.

Ready made captain material. This side is really missing that.

I have to say I'd have preferred him to O'Shea, though we never know how prospective deals are worked out.

[Boss Hogg]

We made a right cock up of the window. How could we get it so wrong ?

[DCWat]

I have to say I'd have preferred him to O'Shea, though we never know how prospective deals are worked out.

That looks a no brainer, at the moment.

[CoolClaret]

We made a right cock up of the window. How could we get it so wrong ?

Over reliance on data analytics, imo.

[Florian]

Him over oshea anyday

[ksrclaret]

As a few people have mentioned before, it’s the personality as much as the ability than we’re missing with the departure of the likes of Harwood-Bellis and Tella.

Those lads had something about them.

Our present lot are characterless and look like a bunch of boys being dragged to the dentist.

[Bowclaret]

Yep, he is a fighter for sure and “got” Burnley.

He showed, leadership and steel and heart for sure - we are badly missed that.

[KRBFC]

I think THB is the one I’d have taken over Tella and Maatsen, more for his leadership.

[JR1882]

It’s bizarre that he didn’t end up here really, even on loan. Surely him and City would rather be on loan in the prem than in the championship.

All the money we threw around plus bidding £27m for Maatsen on deadline day and we wouldn’t pay for THB, instead ending up with O’Shea who at best is a backup/cup player in this league on the evidence so far.

Sums up our summer business really!

[Rileybobs]

Just a hunch, but I’m not sure he’ll ever be a regular Premier League player.

[NewClaret]

Just a hunch, but I’m not sure he’ll ever be a regular Premier League player.

Me either.

I think it’s his pace. That’s the only reason that I don’t think we or any other Premier League teams went in for him.

Definite leader though and all round great guy by the looks of things. Wish him all the best and hope he proves me very wrong.

[CoolClaret]

Thiago Silva is still one of the best centre halves in the PL and he’s hardly a Pace merchant any more.

You can question if he could play in a high line - not many players can do it well.

He’d be great for us though if we played more with the tactics that we did against Arsenal, or if we went to three at the back like we did against City. Missing his ability to pass out from the back.

[Vegas Claret]

We didn't go for him because of his lack of pace apparently. I'd say that decision is backed up by not a single PL team going after him at 15 million after the season he had with us (which I was surprised about tbh). I would have signed him for reasons that others have said

[IanMcL]

THB has a way to go.

I seem to remember Dwight getting to train with the senior team too. Just a way of having a look.

Tarkowski is the man missing from an England defence.

[shulgin]

Always thought there was too much hype around THB and his future potential. Cahill looked a better defender whilst on loan and I thought he would go all the way. Still a decent player and I would have preferred spending double the fee instead of O'Shea.

[boatshed bill]

Tarkowski is the man missing from an England defence.

Only in your imagination, Ian.
He got the chance and messed it up...
as did Pope.

[Longsidelenny1882]

Thb future England player all day long utc

[Claretnick]

Could we not bid for him in January? he's only out on loan at the moment...

[NewClaret]

Could we not bid for him in January? he's only out on loan at the moment...

Southampton have an option to sign him if they go up. £20m

[warksclaret]

I think because everything VK did last season virtually all turned to goal it left him feeling everything he did with transfers this last window would make us a serious team in the PL.

In hindsight THB would have been a very good investment-he ticked all the boxes and was a known quantity, relatively injury free too, and a potential skipper. Some have posted he is slow but I would bet he is much faster than Mee, and he wasn't too bad !!!!!

I watched the Arsenal highlights again today and O'Shea was contributory to two of thos goals, maybe all three, and over the season he has been badly exposed. The lad tries but there's no substitute for experience in the PL, and he seems to lack concentration over 100 minutes, as is the norm these days

My only surprise is that THB went on loan again but to the Championship. And why did he not get snapped up by another PL side-he has a great CV . Lets hope Saints don't go up and we get the chance to buy him

[boatshed bill]

I think because everything VK did last season virtually all turned to goal it left him feeling everything he did with transfers this last window would make us a serious team in the PL.

In hindsight THB would have been a very good investment-he ticked all the boxes and was a known quantity, relatively injury free too, and a potential skipper. Some have posted he is slow but I would bet he is much faster than Mee, and he wasn't too bad !!!!!

I watched the Arsenal highlights again today and O'Shea was contributory to two of thos goals, maybe all three, and over the season he has been badly exposed. The lad tries but there's no substitute for experience in the PL, and he seems to lack concentration over 100 minutes, as is the norm these days

My only surprise is that THB went on loan again but to the Championship. And why did he not get snapped up by another PL side-he has a great CV . Lets hope Saints don't go up and we get the chance to buy him

I'm not sure any of us thinks O'Shea was signed as a first team starter.
Unfortunate injuries to others has left us with little choice.
Not a management error.

[claret2018]

We appear to have bought Beyer instead, and based on last years performances it was the right call.

[daveisaclaret]

I'm not sure any of us thinks O'Shea was signed as a first team starter.
Unfortunate injuries to others has left us with little choice.
Not a management error.

Started the first game of the season with Ekdal sat on the bench.

[boatshed bill]

Started the first game of the season with Ekdal sat on the bench.

Perhaps I should have inserted the word "regular"

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Better defender than O’Shea and came across as more of a leader which as posted above is an area we seem to be lacking in.

Another defender though who apparently doesn’t have enough pace.

[IanMcL]

Only in your imagination, Ian.
He got the chance and messed it up...
as did Pope.

Played out of position.

[fidelcastro]

Played out of position.

At centre half?

Okay then

[superdimitri]

How can we be sure he's better than O'Shea? He hasn't had to play against the best the Premier League has to offer compared to O'Shea.

We have to be ruthless with recruitment. If he's not fast enough to play a high line then tough. We may not be able to play that way right now, but that's certainly the long term plan. Plus, we already gave Ekdal who lacks pace.

[Claretforever]

Dwight McNeil also trained with the England senior squad a few years ago…

[claretonthecoast1882]

Southgate did the same thing with THB last year along with Gibbs White, Ramsey & Balogun while the under 21s were training. Seems some are thinking this puts him in the squad rather than helping out with training.

[Jakubclaret]

How can we be sure he's better than O'Shea? He hasn't had to play against the best the Premier League has to offer compared to O'Shea.

We have to be ruthless with recruitment. If he's not fast enough to play a high line then tough. We may not be able to play that way right now, but that's certainly the long term plan. Plus, we already gave Ekdal who lacks pace.

Can’t be sure because he hasn’t played in the PL but the growth trajectory appears to be higher, put it this way he’s come through the ranks at Man City & there’s already talk of £20 mil before he’s kicked a ball in the PL & U21 international recognition in contrast to another international (in fairness) who’s been plodding about with the baggies & featured on loan at lower league level. I know which 1 I’d favour given the choice.

[getbennyon]

A limited player with a limited skill set.

We didn't miss him when he was injured, in fact, the team improved.

Southgate picking him means nothing to me as I have zero faith in his judgement of anything football related.

[superdimitri]

Can’t be sure because he hasn’t played in the PL but the growth trajectory appears to be higher, put it this way he’s come through the ranks at Man City & there’s already talk of £20 mil before he’s kicked a ball in the PL & U21 international recognition in contrast to another international (in fairness) who’s been plodding about with the baggies & featured on loan at lower league level. I know which 1 I’d favour given the choice.

I wouldn't describe O'Shea as plodding about. He was a stand out player in that team.
Most players struggle a lot stepping up to the Premier League. I wouldn't be surprised to see THB struggle just the game as O'Shea. We've seen good defenders struggle in the past like Keane, Tarkowski and even Tripper at times. I'd be interested to know which players playing currently made that step up with no issues.

[Jakubclaret]

I wouldn't describe O'Shea as plodding about. He was a stand out player in that team.
Most players struggle a lot stepping up to the Premier League. I wouldn't be surprised to see THB struggle just the game as O'Shea. We've seen good defenders struggle in the past like Keane, Tarkowski and even Tripper at times. I'd be interested to know which players playing currently made that step up with no issues.

Standout that's a major accomplishment west brom are no great shakes been off the boil for a few years, when we signed him I purposely looked at their website to gauge what the fans thought & nobody seemed distraught at the thought of losing him & the general consensus was that he'd struggle going up a level as it's telling now. Regarding THB it's guesswork but we have the surefire knowledge regard DS. If DS had been some standout performer under 24 he would have gone for more than he did & we would have probably faced some sort of competition to sign him it's strange he slipped under everybody's radar if he was supposedly that good.

[CrosspoolClarets]

We’ll have spent close to £70m on defence and goalie if the Maatsen signing had gone through. So it is hard to see how we could justify paying £20m for THB, assuming that is the price based on the Southampton arrangement.

O’Shea I share people’s concerns but in the stats he features quite well in long passes compared to other bottom half players, and also does OK on aerial duals. He has hesitated a few times leading to goals but he does have some growth in him. I’d have preferred THB, but not for £20m.

[willsclarets]

His leadership is one thing but my God his passing is about 10 levels up from o shea.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Standout that's a major accomplishment west brom are no great shakes been off the boil for a few years, when we signed him I purposely looked at their website to gauge what the fans thought & nobody seemed distraught at the thought of losing him & the general consensus was that he'd struggle going up a level as it's telling now. Regarding THB it's guesswork but we have the surefire knowledge regard DS. If DS had been some standout performer under 24 he would have gone for more than he did & we would have probably faced some sort of competition to sign him it's strange he slipped under everybody's radar if he was supposedly that good.

Reading other teams forums for a guide is such a daft move. Imagine visiting fans reading your posts and thinking that's what we all think

[CoolClaret]

We’ll have spent close to £70m on defence and goalie if the Maatsen signing had gone through. So it is hard to see how we could justify paying £20m for THB, assuming that is the price based on the Southampton arrangement.

O’Shea I share people’s concerns but in the stats he features quite well in long passes compared to other bottom half players, and also does OK on aerial duals. He has hesitated a few times leading to goals but he does have some growth in him. I’d have preferred THB, but not for £20m.

What them stats don’t quantify is are those passes leading to chances / leading players to goal or hit with pace/power, same with the headers - seen so many of O’Sheas defensive headers slowly loop out or land to an attacker.

On the eyeball test he’s been terrible, imo. Always slow to react and weak in the challenge.

[Jakubclaret]

Reading other teams forums for a guide is such a daft move. Imagine visiting fans reading your posts and thinking that's what we all think

If say 9/10 people an overwhelming majority are all thinking & roughly saying the same thing it's a pretty good indicator you aren't talking about an odd fan here or there. None of them were bothered I'd say some were surprised he was targeted.

[claretonthecoast1882]

If say 9/10 people an overwhelming majority are all thinking & roughly saying the same thing it's a pretty good indicator you aren't talking about an odd fan here or there. None of them were bothered I'd say some were surprised he was targeted.

So very similar to Huddersfield fans with Arfield then ?

[Jakubclaret]

So very similar to Huddersfield fans with Arfield then ?

We can live & hope & use isolated rare examples, good day.

[bobinho]

He was ok. Better than I originally thought, but it seems some on here have got him mixed up with Virgil….

I saw a lad with potential, but not the same potential as say Gary Cahill. Slower than a week in jail, albeit with a decent range of passes. Struggling to see the leadership thing as well to be honest.

England senior squad? Surprised because it’s Southgate bringing in a new youngster, but unsurprised because it’s Southgate bringing in a youngster who is just not at that level. He’s just Garth crooks with a job…..

[NewClaret]

His leadership is one thing but my God his passing is about 10 levels up from o shea.

Have to say, I got quite frustrated with THB’s passing last year. He put a lot of balls out of play.

But will concede it’s better than O’Shea and he also constantly tried a lot of line breaking, longer passes which were usually the ones he put out of play. Nobody does that now, which is something we miss, I think.

[NewClaret]

I wouldn't describe O'Shea as plodding about. He was a stand out player in that team.
Most players struggle a lot stepping up to the Premier League. I wouldn't be surprised to see THB struggle just the game as O'Shea. We've seen good defenders struggle in the past like Keane, Tarkowski and even Tripper at times. I'd be interested to know which players playing currently made that step up with no issues.

This is basically the point. It’s one thing lauding THB, but none of us know how he’d have adapted.

They’re young and inexperienced and it wouldn’t shock me at all if THB struggled just as much as O’Shea… especially with what’s going on in front of him.

We have to back them all now and hope they cut out the mistakes.

[NewClaret]

How can we be sure he's better than O'Shea? He hasn't had to play against the best the Premier League has to offer compared to O'Shea.

We have to be ruthless with recruitment. If he's not fast enough to play a high line then tough. We may not be able to play that way right now, but that's certainly the long term plan. Plus, we already gave Ekdal who lacks pace.

Agree again.

There’s some stats knocking about that suggest THB has a top speed of 29.5kph vs O’Shea at 36.7kph. I find it hard to believe they can calculate these things so accurately and I’m sure there must be minimum distances, etc.

But I think it’s raw qualities like pace that we’ll have looked at, and at £13m cheaper than THB you could argue he’s better value, but now need to hope he makes the step up.

Ekdal looks a great player but his pace does worry me.