Purely in hindsight and extremely speculative I know, but if we had dug deeper into our pockets to get Tella last window ....do you think he would have made a huge difference as to where we are now in the Prem?

No, same position I’d say.

We’d still be playing weak players for this league from goalkeeper right through to striker.

The boy was a finisher & looking back at some of the gilt edged chances created & missed even making allowances for the higher league, it's reasonable to assume he would have made the net bulge more than it has done thus far. So without a shadow for me it'd be higher.

His pressing was a HUGE contributor to our success last season, we didn't replace that. Hard to say if we would have done better with him but it's fair to say we couldn't have done much worse than we have this season without him.

We’d still be conceding too many goals but I think we’d be scoring more and thus have perhaps turned a few of the closer defeats into draws.

Even if you disregard replacing his goals, we haven't replaced his amazing first touch and close control, hold-up play or most importantly, his raw direct pace!... He also knew our system inside-out and had a never-say-never attitude... We'd be far better off with him in the team!

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 12, 2024 6:43 am

Even if you disregard replacing his goals, we haven't replaced his amazing first touch and close control, hold-up play or most importantly, his raw direct pace!... He also knew our system inside-out and had a never-say-never attitude... We'd be far better off with him in the team!

With regards to knowing the system inside out (which I agree, he did) how long do we think it actually takes players to get to that point? Didn’t take last years lads too long. Are our summer signings just morons who can’t take it on board?

We soon changed 433 to 442 because the midfield couldn't cope.
Not sure Tella could play as a genuine wide man with tracking back duties.

He'd have been injured and hardly figured, so no.

To get the best out of Tella we'd have had to be picking Muric, so really it wouldn't have made much difference (imo)

Amazed people still think Tella would have ripped up the prem

The fact that no Premiership club came in for him,and he's not making any headway in Germany,I think suggests that he would not be as effective in the prem

Nobody said ripped up, I think we would have converted more chances, a similar position to say Palace.

It's not about Tella as an individual per say, though we have dfefinitely missed his inbehind threat/pressing ability on the right -

It's more about hitting the league with players that knew the system and not having so much change, which is a big part as to why it's taken so long for everything to gel.

& Tella is starting to play more of a role for Leverkusen who are sat top of the table with 0 losses all season...

People are throwing shade on Tella for not ripping the Bundesliga up - neither has David Fofana for Union Berlin who are nearly sat in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga...

Starting to play more of a role ?

Last 7 league games

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Came on 81st min when winning comfortably
Came on 81st min when winning comfortably
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StayingDown4Ever wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 12, 2024 6:49 am

With regards to knowing the system inside out (which I agree, he did) how long do we think it actually takes players to get to that point? Didn’t take last years lads too long. Are our summer signings just morons who can’t take it on board?

How long did it take that pony Lyle Foster? Interesting to see you are back to name calling our own players.

BOYSIE31:

Amazed people still think Tella would have ripped up the prem

Show me one quote of someone stating that?... Just one will do!

What sensible people are saying though, is that he would have improved our squad and team.

StayingDown4Ever wrote:
With regards to knowing the system inside out (which I agree, he did) how long do we think it actually takes players to get to that point? Didn’t take last years lads too long. Are our summer signings just morons who can’t take it on board?

Do I honestly need to explain bedding in at a comfortable level compared to being dropped into the deep end?

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 12, 2024 8:25 am

How long did it take that pony Lyle Foster? Interesting to see you are back to name calling our own players.

I don’t think he has learnt it fully yet. Three or four decent games out of nearly 30 appearances for us and mugs on here think he’s a world beater.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:01 am

We soon changed 433 to 442 because the midfield couldn't cope.
Not sure Tella could play as a genuine wide man with tracking back duties.

Not soon enough.....

His movement was outstanding, he was a goal scorer, he worked hard, he had terrific pace, he was full of confidence and the fans were fully behind him.
Highly likely we would be in a better position.

He was so often the get out long ball for Muric. Muric always seemed to know where he was, the pass was accurate and most importantly, it stuck!

You wouldn't bet against him scoring a couple v Luton tonight.
Ideal game for his press and pace.

Bit strange the love in for Tella. He was a good player at Championship level, not exceptional. 17 league goals in a team absolutely tailor made to get the best out of him. Its not a groundbreaking record by any means and there wasnt much to suggest hed be anyrhing other than a bottom half premier league player.
I think thats why we didnt seem to try that hard to get him, it was unlikely wed be able to make much profit on the £20 million or so that they wanted.

It Is What It Is wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 12, 2024 2:18 pm

You wouldn't bet against him scoring a couple v Luton tonight.
Ideal game for his press and pace.

Interesting one. He was non-existent when we played Luton away last season, completely bullied all game.

No, not particularly

In my opinion Amdouni will go on to be a better player than Tella. Even this season, not much difference certainly in points. I think Maatsen has been more of a miss.