ARTICLE:Clarets bring in Kyle Walker from Manchester City

[No Ney Never]

A few thoughts on this signing.

Many a business engage consultants for their wider knowledge and experience to improve performance, this could be viewed similar, but with the bonus that he can still do a job too.

Connor Roberts, proper competition for the shirt has arrived. Given how we are going to be so much more under pressure defensively, it's also good to have quality to swap out tired legs.

A Walker/Edwards combination on the right, it's a level of quality I didn't think we'd be starting the new season with.

Our Media profile rises, we improve as a sponsorship proposition. We may be more attractive to TV and selected for more games, benefiting from the higher reward payments. More people would be inclined to come and watch us, our fans and opposition. I'm sure they'll be a fair number of new shirt sales with Walker on the back.

Scott Parker did a great job of putting a squad together in a short span of time and had us performing, could he do it again this summer? With each signing, not only is there a growing belief that we are going to at least be competitive, we may actually have a squad that really can maintain our presence in the EPL.

[Middle-agedClaret]

Am I the only one who is not sure about him ?

No

[Middle-agedClaret]

I share Tribesmen’s uncertainty.
He is 35 - relatively old for a high tempo game, as so many are likely to be next season.
I don’t think Pep would have fallen out with him if Pep felt KW still had a major contribution to make to Citeh. And Milan didn’t seem keen to hold on to him.
He has been an excellent player, and I know he played in England’s last game.
I just fear this might be more of a Gascoigne signing than an Ian Wright one.
And I would be absolutely delighted to be proven wrong. UTC.

[Tackler49]

It seems some fans are for and some not sure about the Walker signing remember in the 70’s. we got a good tune out of Keith Newton hope this will be the same

[123EasyasBFC]

I share Tribesmen’s uncertainty.
He is 35 - relatively old for a high tempo game, as so many are likely to be next season.
I don’t think Pep would have fallen out with him if Pep felt KW still had a major contribution to make to Citeh. And Milan didn’t seem keen to hold on to him.
He has been an excellent player, and I know he played in England’s last game.
I just fear this might be more of a Gascoigne signing than an Ian Wright one.
And I would be absolutely delighted to be proven wrong. UTC.

Suppose there’s that risk of being more like gascoigne with any player close to walkers age. If Walker was still at the levels he had been then he wouldn’t be available to us. If it doesn’t work out then there’s not much lost is there, no transfer fee involved unless we are successful

[ClaretPete001]

I would doubt that very much

I doubt it very much as well. Pace owns the shares.

[ClaretTony]

I doubt it very much as well. Pace owns the shares.

And the control

[Indecisive]

I share Tribesmen’s uncertainty.
He is 35 - relatively old for a high tempo game, as so many are likely to be next season.
I don’t think Pep would have fallen out with him if Pep felt KW still had a major contribution to make to Citeh. And Milan didn’t seem keen to hold on to him.
He has been an excellent player, and I know he played in England’s last game.
I just fear this might be more of a Gascoigne signing than an Ian Wright one.
And I would be absolutely delighted to be proven wrong. UTC.

Risk of it being a gascoigne-esque signing.

Err really?

This guy was playing for England last month. Pretty hard stretch to compare him to a completely drink addled gazza.

At 35 he just physically won’t have the speed and sharpness he did in his prime, but my god, never in a million years would we be able to sign a world class player of his calibre in their prime.


Can’t for the life of me see how, a serious underlying injury aside, anyone could see walker doing anything other than improving our team.

Got to give props to the guys in charge for pulling this one off. Any signing is an element of risk, but I just can’t be anything other than enthused by this one.

[Middle-agedClaret]

Risk of it being a gascoigne-esque signing.

Err really?

This guy was playing for England last month. Pretty hard stretch to compare him to a completely drink addled gazza.

At 35 he just physically won’t have the speed and sharpness he did in his prime, but my god, never in a million years would we be able to sign a world class player of his calibre in their prime.


Can’t for the life of me see how, a serious underlying injury aside, anyone could see walker doing anything other than improving our team.

Got to give props to the guys in charge for pulling this one off. Any signing is an element of risk, but I just can’t be anything other than enthused by this one.

Are you sure though?

[pureclaret]

Are you sure though?

the only thing Im sure of is death and taxes , however there are risks on every signing be they young or older, an injury can harm or end a career, young ones better chance to recover. But the idea of having a player of Kyle Walker can without playing help around the club, if he is on the pitch he can help and teach younger players. in my opinion we don't have a right back as good as he is when hes fit.
I understand that people very in how they handle an unknown thing be it in life or business , but for me I have hope for the club and support that Parker and co know more about football than me so rock on for the new season with player like Walker coming in I think we are stronger than last week UTC

[dvalley69]

Time will tell if his legs are up to it. But he's clearly not able to do it at the highest level or else City & AC Milan would probably have kept him on for at least another year. Let's hope his experience & nouse will shine for a club who's expected to be battling it out for survival.

[Jakubclaret]

Time will tell if his legs are up to it. But he's clearly not able to do it at the highest level or else City & AC Milan would probably have kept him on for at least another year. Let's hope his experience & nouse will shine for a club who's expected to be battling it out for survival.

It's 1 of them where the doubters presently are all in the wrong but when it all goes tits up (which it will imo) a sudden blanket wave of amnesia will strike & god knows how many excuses will surface. Exactly the same thing happened with WW exactly how the hell was a guy (proven or not elsewhere) was supposed to replicate a guy who knew the league inside & out is a question I'll take to the grave.

[dvalley69]

It's 1 of them where the doubters presently are all in the wrong but when it all goes tits up (which it will imo) a sudden blanket wave of amnesia will strike & god knows how many excuses will surface. Exactly the same thing happened with WW exactly how the hell was a guy (proven or not elsewhere) was supposed to replicate a guy who knew the league inside & out is a question I'll take to the grave.

I'm not so sure it's that obvious whether he'll be a success or not. He's not had the best 12 months & showed for England, albeit in an end-of-season meaningless friendly, that his age is probably showing at the highest of levels. But for us he might just have enough to prove his worth. We can only hope he gets a good pre-season under his belt and gets no injuries, especially early doors in the season. Only then can we really judge his impact.

[Jakubclaret]

I'm not so sure it's that obvious whether he'll be a success or not. He's not had the best 12 months & showed for England, albeit in an end-of-season meaningless friendly, that his age is probably showing at the highest of levels. But for us he might just have enough to prove his worth. We can only hope he gets a good pre-season under his belt and gets no injuries, especially early doors in the season. Only then can we really judge his impact.

The fastest wingers in the league will have him on toast but because he's such a a big name I think a false level of expectation will be unhelpful. He'll be ok I think but I wouldn't expect too much. It's not going to surprise me that some goals will be conceded without having pace to cover or intercept but the same can be said throughout the league to a degree. My perception is firmly grounded in reality.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Those who are undecided need to ask themselves this question -

Who would you pick if you were In charge , Roberts, Sonne or Walker?

Its quite easy

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

I can’t understand any negativity at all. Literally nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Off the field he will be a leader and model professional we need.

On the field he still has his talent. Even if his pace may have dropped a bit. But he will likely be playing in a defence that’s playing backs to the wall and potentially a back five. His touch and technique still will be there.

Let’s put it this way. Would anyone have trippier back? A resounding yes I’m sure. They’re pretty much the same age. And walker has always been a level or two above Trippier. Who himself has been a top player.

[No Ney Never]

Given the number of signings we've made over the years of players who haven't had a great 12 months, indeed managers too, Walker not having a great 12 means he'll fit right in and is likely to be a roaring success.

[karatekid]

It beggars belief that some folk don’t think this is a good signing. Let’s not get above ourselves here. He has played at the very top level for years and maybe he just missed being in the UK last season and the chance to come back to the North West and play fits perfectly with him. Great signing.

[nil_desperandum]

The fastest wingers in the league will have him on toast but because he's such a a big name I think a false level of expectation will be unhelpful.

I would imagine that he is still faster than Roberts, but why the assumption that he will play as a "traditional" right back?
He could well extend his career quite a bit by moving more central, and it's not as though he hasn't done this role for England.

[gandhisflipflop]

It beggars belief that some folk don’t think this is a good signing. Let’s not get above ourselves here. He has played at the very top level for years and maybe he just missed being in the UK last season and the chance to come back to the North West and play fits perfectly with him. Great signing.

It doesn’t beggar belief with me, it really doesn’t surprise me unfortunately.

[boatshed bill]

It beggars belief that some folk don’t think this is a good signing. Let’s not get above ourselves here. He has played at the very top level for years and maybe he just missed being in the UK last season and the chance to come back to the North West and play fits perfectly with him. Great signing.

It's meat and drink to the more pessimistic element on here.
The very fact that we can sign a player of this calibre should be exciting.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

The fastest wingers in the league will have him on toast but because he's such a a big name I think a false level of expectation will be unhelpful. He'll be ok I think but I wouldn't expect too much. It's not going to surprise me that some goals will be conceded without having pace to cover or intercept but the same can be said throughout the league to a degree. My perception is firmly grounded in reality.

The arrogance of your final sentence is staggering.
I can’t believe the negativity of some posters regarding this signing.
It is a win/win for us.
If Walker turns out not to be good enough, which I doubt very much, SP simply won’t play him and it won’t have cost the club a fortune. If he does turn out to be good enough, it still wouldn’t have cost us a fortune. As I said, win/win.

[123EasyasBFC]

The fastest wingers in the league will have him on toast but because he's such a a big name I think a false level of expectation will be unhelpful. He'll be ok I think but I wouldn't expect too much. It's not going to surprise me that some goals will be conceded without having pace to cover or intercept but the same can be said throughout the league to a degree. My perception is firmly grounded in reality.

Who do you thinks a faster player, Walker or Roberts?

[fidelcastro]

Who do you thinks a faster player, Walker or Roberts?

Almost as daft as asking who is faster between a cheetah and a sloth.

[ClaretTony]

I share Tribesmen’s uncertainty.
He is 35 - relatively old for a high tempo game, as so many are likely to be next season.
I don’t think Pep would have fallen out with him if Pep felt KW still had a major contribution to make to Citeh. And Milan didn’t seem keen to hold on to him.
He has been an excellent player, and I know he played in England’s last game.
I just fear this might be more of a Gascoigne signing than an Ian Wright one.
And I would be absolutely delighted to be proven wrong. UTC.

I’d forget any comparisons with the signings of either Wright or Gascoigne.

Gascoigne was washed up when we signed him, was four years out of the England squad and wasn’t wanted by new Everton manager David Moyes for obvious reasons. He offered us nothing.

Wright was a huge success but as much because of his personality as anything else. His playing days were at an end and he no longer really looked up to it, definitely not when he started in his first four games.

But he helped turn games in our favour coming on as a substitute, notably against Gillingham, Notts County, Oxford & Brentford while giving the whole club an amazing boost. He was the catalyst to promotion.

Walker is so, so different. He’s still very much up to playing at the top level, he’s a current international. This signing is a major coup. So what if he’s not up to playing for City, neither are Grealish or De Bruyne.

We never know how a transfer is going to work out but this looks to be an absolute belter of one.

[123EasyasBFC]

Almost as daft as asking who is faster between a cheetah and a sloth.

It was build up to the fact jakub said the quickest wingers in the league would have Walker on toast due to ‘his legs going’. Imagine what they would do to roberts then.

[fidelcastro]

It was build up to the fact jakub said the quickest wingers in the league would have Walker on toast due to ‘his legs going’. Imagine what they would do to roberts then.

I know, but Jakub is a football expert according to... himself

[Bow]

Have we signed more players from City than anyone else in our recent history?

Walker, Trafford, CJ, Mee, Trippier - any others?

[Hedontplayforyou]

Muric
Hart

[ClaretTony]

Have we signed more players from City than anyone else in our recent history?

Walker, Trafford, CJ, Mee, Trippier - any others?

You can add

Gerry Creaney (loan)
Tony Grant
John Guidetti (loan)
Joe Hart
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (loan)
Stephen Jordan
Arijanet Muric
Kevin Reeves
Mike Summerbee
Gareth Taylor

to your list of five

[Bow]

Muric- can’t believe I missed him

[ClaretTony]

Muric- can’t believe I missed him

Bet you wish you had

[Jakubclaret]

The arrogance of your final sentence is staggering.
I can’t believe the negativity of some posters regarding this signing.
It is a win/win for us.
If Walker turns out not to be good enough, which I doubt very much, SP simply won’t play him and it won’t have cost the club a fortune. If he does turn out to be good enough, it still wouldn’t have cost us a fortune. As I said, win/win.

Is it not wise to reserve judgement on things we cannot be certain about. I find it quite strange the amount of people that are so cocksure about things that appear uncertain. The scenario mentioned about SP not playing him if he's not good enough you do realise he'll still want paying.

[Middle-agedClaret]

I’d forget any comparisons with the signings of either Wright or Gascoigne.

Gascoigne was washed up when we signed him, was four years out of the England squad and wasn’t wanted by new Everton manager David Moyes for obvious reasons. He offered us nothing.

Wright was a huge success but as much because of his personality as anything else. His playing days were at an end and he no longer really looked up to it, definitely not when he started in his first four games.

But he helped turn games in our favour coming on as a substitute, notably against Gillingham, Notts County, Oxford & Brentford while giving the whole club an amazing boost. He was the catalyst to promotion.

Walker is so, so different. He’s still very much up to playing at the top level, he’s a current international. This signing is a major coup. So what if he’s not up to playing for City, neither are Grealish or De Bruyne.

We never know how a transfer is going to work out but this looks to be an absolute belter of one.

I sincerely hope you’re right, Tony.
As I said in my original post, I’d be delighted to be proven wrong.
UTC.

[Jakubclaret]

Who do you thinks a faster player, Walker or Roberts?

I know historically Walker's been renown for his pace but in some quarters the perception is that it's dropped off significantly & while Connor Roberts is 6 years younger (no spring chicken) himself I honestly don't think the difference would be vast. We aren't really comparing Noah lyles to Craig dawson

[Mattster]

I don't think it'll be the lost pace necessarily that causes the issues, it's that because he's always had that pace his defensive anticipation and positioning haven't had to be up to the same standard as slower defenders because he could recover it with pace. As we saw against Senegal, he wasn't switched on and it cost a goal. We're more likely to see that repeated IMO than him struggle chasing back.

Everyone is pointing to the fact he's got all the Premier League experience and won all these titles, but that's all been at teams that don't spend most (or even much) of the game defending. He's not had to be switched on defending the penalty area for the majority of the game at any point of his Premier League or international career, he's mostly had to use his pace to defend counters. As a one v one defender he's very good, I just don't see it working out for us, especially if used as a centre back.

Hope to be quoted on this as being wrong in a couple of months time. Though I'm sure I'll get slated for it either way.

[Goliath]

I don't think it'll be the lost pace necessarily that causes the issues, it's that because he's always had that pace his defensive anticipation and positioning haven't had to be up to the same standard as slower defenders because he could recover it with pace. As we saw against Senegal, he wasn't switched on and it cost a goal. We're more likely to see that repeated IMO than him struggle chasing back.

Everyone is pointing to the fact he's got all the Premier League experience and won all these titles, but that's all been at teams that don't spend most (or even much) of the game defending. He's not had to be switched on defending the penalty area for the majority of the game at any point of his Premier League or international career, he's mostly had to use his pace to defend counters. As a one v one defender he's very good, I just don't see it working out for us, especially if used as a centre back.

Hope to be quoted on this as being wrong in a couple of months time. Though I'm sure I'll get slated for it either way.

Agreed. People are getting way too excited. I think he's been god awful for over a year now, he was really poor at the last Euros.

We are immediately going to get targeted on that side, teams know Walker gives up shed loads of goals from poor positioning and a lack of concentration. His use of the ball can also be quite poor at times although that may well look a bit different at our level.
I think he's an improvement of Roberts but I doubt he will blow us away with his performances.

He's also a pretty horrible character but we've had that with Barton.

[123EasyasBFC]

I don't think it'll be the lost pace necessarily that causes the issues, it's that because he's always had that pace his defensive anticipation and positioning haven't had to be up to the same standard as slower defenders because he could recover it with pace. As we saw against Senegal, he wasn't switched on and it cost a goal. We're more likely to see that repeated IMO than him struggle chasing back.

Everyone is pointing to the fact he's got all the Premier League experience and won all these titles, but that's all been at teams that don't spend most (or even much) of the game defending. He's not had to be switched on defending the penalty area for the majority of the game at any point of his Premier League or international career, he's mostly had to use his pace to defend counters. As a one v one defender he's very good, I just don't see it working out for us, especially if used as a centre back.

Hope to be quoted on this as being wrong in a couple of months time. Though I'm sure I'll get slated for it either way.

The point you are making about him being in a team that doesn’t really have to defend much is valid. Do you not think potentially the way City defended as a whole last season didn’t help making him look poor, from the naked eye they looked to be defending on the half way line most of the time. You’d imagine under Parker he will be in a much deeper most rigid defence.

Do you not see it working as a cb in a back 5 or back 4?

[123EasyasBFC]

Agreed. People are getting way too excited. I think he's been god awful for over a year now, he was really poor at the last Euros.

We are immediately going to get targeted on that side, teams know Walker gives up shed loads of goals from poor positioning and a lack of concentration. His use of the ball can also be quite poor at times although that may well look a bit different at our level.
I think he's an improvement of Roberts but I doubt he will blow us away with his performances.

He's also a pretty horrible character but we've had that with Barton.

‘He’s also a pretty horrible character’ in what way? His off field dramas?

You don’t captain your club and country if you are a horrible character around the club

[123EasyasBFC]

I know historically Walker's been renown for his pace but in some quarters the perception is that it's dropped off significantly & while Connor Roberts is 6 years younger (no spring chicken) himself I honestly don't think the difference would be vast. We aren't really comparing Noah lyles to Craig dawson

Personally I think if you put Walker up against Roberts they would be a vast difference in pace

[Mattster]

The point you are making about him being in a team that doesn’t really have to defend much is valid. Do you not think potentially the way City defended as a whole last season didn’t help making him look poor, from the naked eye they looked to be defending on the half way line most of the time. You’d imagine under Parker he will be in a much deeper most rigid defence.

Do you not see it working as a cb in a back 5 or back 4?

I think most of his defensive errors are lapses of positioning and concentration. I don't think any position which requires him to be defending most of the game and being a key part of a defensive structure will suit him.

I think as a right back in a back 5 he could work. As a centre back or as right back in a back 4 I don't think he will. But hope and happy to be proved wrong.

[Jakubclaret]

Personally I think if you put Walker up against Roberts they would be a vast difference in pace

We don't really know the extent he has dropped off not yet anyway.

[123EasyasBFC]

I think most of his defensive errors are lapses of positioning and concentration. I don't think any position which requires him to be defending most of the game and being a key part of a defensive structure will suit him.

I think as a right back in a back 5 he could work. As a centre back or as right back in a back 4 I don't think he will. But hope and happy to be proved wrong.

As you said as a 1 v 1 defender he is very good and I’d expect him to be defended more but who knows.

Do you not think he could play right centre back in a back 3 with either Roberts or Tuanzebe as the wing back?

[Jakubclaret]

It's very unorthodox to try to shuffle somebody out of their favoured tried & tested position. At least give him a go at what he's best at before trying something different.

[123EasyasBFC]

It's very unorthodox to try to shuffle somebody out of their favoured tried & tested position. At least give him a go at what he's best at before trying something different.

It wouldn’t be trying something different, Walker played right centre back in a back 3 when England got to semi final of World Cup in 2018

[Jakubclaret]

It wouldn’t be trying something different, Walker played right centre back in a back 3 when England got to semi final of World Cup in 2018

He might be versatile but stronger in some positions than others. All I'm simply stating is I'd give him a go in his usual position assess it then & then maybe tinker.

[Mattster]

As you said as a 1 v 1 defender he is very good and I’d expect him to be defended more but who knows.

Do you not think he could play right centre back in a back 3 with either Roberts or Tuanzebe as the wing back?

I don't. His time at centre back was in a team that had a high defensive line with most of the ball. That won't be us. Defending as a centre back, in a 3 or a 2 isn't one v one defending, it's positioning, awareness and concentration I don't think that's Walker’s game.

[123EasyasBFC]

I don't. His time at centre back was in a team that had a high defensive line with most of the ball. That won't be us. Defending as a centre back, in a 3 or a 2 isn't one v one defending, it's positioning, awareness and concentration I don't think that's Walker’s game.

I don’t think we had a high defensive line under Southgate

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

We get the point. A few think that a player that last season played 34 games for Man City and AC Milan. (Plus 15 for England). With 6 Premier League Titles, 6 Domestic Cups, Several Internal Club trophies as recently as two years ago. Was in the Euro 2024 team of the tournament, PFA Premier League Team of the Year (including in 2024) and played for England last month is not good enough for BURNLEY!

Is he likely to be the player he was when City paid £45m for him? Of course not. But does he have the experience, talent and even in game management and off field reputation (in football at least) that we desperately need?

Erm. YES!

Could it fail? Also yes. But so could signing Ronaldo!

[Mattster]

I don’t think we had a high defensive line under Southgate

I remember it differently than you then, it's a while ago and I can't find much by way of stats that far back (I did find a graphic showing we had the 3rd highest line of the teams at Euro 2020, don't think there was a massive change from Southgate in that time) and I've no real interest watching the games back.

Agree to disagree.