Summer transfer window

[Hedontplayforyou]

On the Foster/Koleosho thing, I do think that Koleosho needs to be given time to mature and develop those instincts to release the ball, get his head up, slow down at times to execute the delivery etc. he’s effectively coming into his second full season as a senior pro this year after the injury under Kompany .

Foster on the other hand is too unreliable for us. We need everyone available to us in order to give us the best chance in staying up. For me he’s never had a long enough run in the side to really get going consistently in order to show his true ability . He may or may not be good enough when he gets a real run but i doubt we will ever see it.

[Newcastleclaret93]

He was 24, scored 21 with 12 assists. That's a very good season. It's why Sporting paid c£20m. He's gone to Sporting and proven himself to the extent that Arsenal are about to pay £70m for him.

There is no guaranteed profit on any player. Of course the £70m valuation can drop, but that's not the figure you were referring to when you didn't want him here, and you thought there was no profit in him.

Let’s just agree to disagree. But I am pretty confident if we paid 20m we wouldn’t be making any decent profit on him.

[123EasyasBFC]

It's a hell of a reach to suggest that players that were bit part at Championship level are suddenly going to go in and be better players in the toughest league in the world.

I am not sure what being in the Premier League is going to do for Koleosho as regards to his tendency to run down blind alleys, knowing when to release the ball or finding a consistent end product.

Not sure what being in the Premier League is going to do for Foster and his lack of clinical finishing.

We've LK till 2029 and Foster till 28. They've not done anything really to suggest they can be reliable contributors over a full season. If they can't output reasonable numbers or even be first pick at a side that ended up with 100 points at a lower level then I'm not sure the logic that them suddenly competing as PL talent works.

With the size of our squad they'd be amongst the first two I think of in terms of moving on. Loans for both of them or in Fosters case permanently if the offer was right.

I tend to agree with foster but with koleosho, even though his end product isn’t there, I do think he could have an important role to play this season, especially if we are on the counter.

I actually think long term koleosho will actually become a left wing back in a back 5 rather then being a left winger / forward

[scouseclaret]

It's a hell of a reach to suggest that players that were bit part at Championship level are suddenly going to go in and be better players in the toughest league in the world.

I am not sure what being in the Premier League is going to do for Koleosho as regards to his tendency to run down blind alleys, knowing when to release the ball or finding a consistent end product.

Not sure what being in the Premier League is going to do for Foster and his lack of clinical finishing.

We've LK till 2029 and Foster till 28. They've not done anything really to suggest they can be reliable contributors over a full season. If they can't output reasonable numbers or even be first pick at a side that ended up with 100 points at a lower level then I'm not sure the logic that them suddenly competing as PL talent works.

With the size of our squad they'd be amongst the first two I think of in terms of moving on. Loans for both of them or in Fosters case permanently if the offer was right.

Think people are forgetting how good Koleosho was last time in the PL before he got injured. Easily our most dangerous player and kept Odobert out of the side, who we later sold for £30m.

[Spijed]

We don't need time to know that there was profit him given it looks like he's signing for Arsenal for £70m.

Tbf, even Brighton didn't think he was going to become the player he is now:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 7zyr5j329o

"Having failed to make the grade, Brighton allowed him to join Coventry for a small fee in July 2021 after an unspectacular return of three goals in 19 Championship appearances during a loan spell with the Sky Blues".

[taio]

Tbf, even Brighton didn't think he was going to become the player he is now:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... 7zyr5j329o

"Having failed to make the grade, Brighton allowed him to join Coventry for a small fee in July 2021 after an unspectacular return of three goals in 19 Championship appearances during a loan spell with the Sky Blues".

I wasn't referring to 2021. I was on about two years later.

[NewClaret]

I think both Koleosho and Fosters pace will be very important next year - I’d rather we had them in the side than Anthony and Flemming to be honest, because I think it gives us a chance on the break that we won’t otherwise have (assuming no more signings) - but equally wouldn’t surprise me if Parker doesn’t fancy either.

[123EasyasBFC]

I think both Koleosho and Fosters pace will be very important next year - I’d rather we had them in the side than Anthony and Flemming to be honest, because I think it gives us a chance on the break that we won’t otherwise have (assuming no more signings) - but equally wouldn’t surprise me if Parker doesn’t fancy either.

Dropping Anthony really? Not only does Anthony have the best control of the ball in the team, works unbelievably hard off the ball. For me Anthony will be key again

[PremierLeagueClass]

I think both Koleosho and Fosters pace will be very important next year - I’d rather we had them in the side than Anthony and Flemming to be honest, because I think it gives us a chance on the break that we won’t otherwise have (assuming no more signings) - but equally wouldn’t surprise me if Parker doesn’t fancy either.

That’s some take.

[Jakubclaret]

Think people are forgetting how good Koleosho was last time in the PL before he got injured. Easily our most dangerous player and kept Odobert out of the side, who we later sold for £30m.

Wasn't it £25m including add ons to £30m it's strange how when selling we automatically just assume it's the £30m & the conditions have been met but in traffords case when selling £14/15m take your pick potentially rising to £19m the conditions haven't been met.

[NewClaret]

Dropping Anthony really? Not only does Anthony have the best control of the ball in the team, works unbelievably hard off the ball. For me Anthony will be key again

He does and for that reason I think Parker will trust him over Koleosho, although I thought he was our hardest working player in the Premier League last time out. It’s not as if he’s work shy anyway.

But I can’t see Anthony scoring a goal like Koleosho did at Leeds. He wouldn’t have the raw pace, in my view, which I think we’ll need in the “backs to the wall” games that will be all of our matches next year. Anthony obviously makes much better use of the ball in a possession based system where you’re building slowly and probing.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

I wonder if the same people having arguments with yet more same people ever get tired of having the same arguments day in, day out.

Just a thought

[superdimitri]

Pointless argument. Most of our players would be dropped if we were basing it on whether they were good enough at this level. If Anthony was up to it Bournemouth wouldn't have shipped him out. If Koleosho was he would have done well in the championship.

Both will struggle just the same as all our players.

A lot will depend on who we play at left back. Who knows who will play better with Hartman and we may end up playing 541 which will be a completely different role for both players.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Ugochukwu available but for a permanent only.
Would be a beast alongside Cullen

[jojomk1]

Ugochukwu available but for a permanent only.
Would be a beast alongside Cullen

Chelsea certainly have a number of young guys who are unlikely to feature this season
Ugochukwu, Lavia, Chukwuemeka, Amougou plus Dewsbury-Hall
And the same could be said of City

[Newcastleclaret93]

Ugochukwu available but for a permanent only.
Would be a beast alongside Cullen

I think he would be a good fit for us tbf

Wonder how much Chelsea want

[123EasyasBFC]

Ugochukwu available but for a permanent only.
Would be a beast alongside Cullen

Just seen that, can’t say I saw much of him at saints last season, did he have a good loan spell?

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Just seen that, can’t say I saw much of him at saints last season, did he have a good loan spell?

When I’ve seen him, he broke up play as a very athletic defensive 6. Southampton I guess it was just too much with the suicidal way they played ?

Chelsea have just spunked 120mill on Gittens, Pedro and Delap. They have to move some people on to stay PSR stable.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

I think he would be a good fit for us tbf

Wonder how much Chelsea want

Paid 27m but now they’re under PSR pressure after Gittens, Pedro, Delap, Estevao, the Portuguese guy I can’t remember, the kid from Ecuador, and possibly Mike Maignan?

Cheeky 12m bid plus add ons I reckon

[123EasyasBFC]

When I’ve seen him, he broke up play as a very athletic defensive 6. Southampton I guess it was just too much with the suicidal way they played ?

Chelsea have just spunked 120mill on Gittens, Pedro and Delap. They have to move some people on to stay PSR stable.

I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t at least on our scouting reports, given we seem to have looked down the young French player market

[Newcastleclaret93]

Paid 27m but now they’re under PSR pressure after Gittens, Pedro, Delap, Estevao, the Portuguese guy I can’t remember, the kid from Ecuador, and possibly Mike Maignan?

Cheeky 12m bid plus add ons I reckon

I suspect slightly more (I think 15 rising to 20).

But with his age and his performances last season I think it would be some good business

[jlup1980]

I think both Koleosho and Fosters pace will be very important next year - I’d rather we had them in the side than Anthony and Flemming to be honest, because I think it gives us a chance on the break that we won’t otherwise have (assuming no more signings) - but equally wouldn’t surprise me if Parker doesn’t fancy either.

I usually agree with the majority of comments you make on here, but I'm struggling with this one. I can see where you're coming from, certainly where Koleosho is concerned, but it's a stretch to suggest either will become mainstays for us in the PL.

Koleosho's pace could be a factor, and I expect he will be involved in the squad this season. He won't start as he hasn't shown enough in the last 12 months, but he's got the potential to offer something from the bench. If he does well, he might force himself into the starting 11. Foster though, really?

If we have two quick wingers in the team who can help us on the counter, then we don't really need a centre-forward in the team who's main attribute is the same. We need someone who can hold the ball up and relieve the pressure in a different way. At our best under SD we had strikers who could disrupt centre-halves and hold the ball up (Vokes, Barnes, Wood). Foster simply can't do this. I'm not convinced Flemming is this guy, but he's more suited to it than Foster.

[Tricky Trevor]

Chelsea have just spunked 120mill on Gittens, Pedro and Delap. They have to move some people on to stay PSR stable.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of football said “f**k u” and just left them all there to stew. They’d have some watchable training ground matches though.

[claretspice]

One of our problems for a little while has been that we have a surfeit of players who want to play off the left hand side, and that includes Koleosho and Foster. I have always thought Foster has something but does his best work from the left side, not as a centre forward, and even we make allowance for his stop-start Burnley career, undoubtedly he's at the point where the theory of what he can offer needs to match the practice sooner rather than later.

I do though think that he and Koleosho may have roles to play this season. As others have said being able to carry the ball up the pitch from deep on transition will be valuable, and we've seen Foster and Koleosho both do that. If we play a 3-4-2-1 this season (as others have suggested) then it's easy to imagine either, or Anthony, taking the inside left role. Both Foster and Koleosho will need to improve their decision making and end product to make a success of it, but they do have raw tools. The question is really whether there is space in the squad to accommodate those two and Anthony.

[HB Claret]

Ugochukwu available but for a permanent only.
Would be a beast alongside Cullen

Hope we do this if only so that I could get a named replica shirt that will fit

[Woodleyclaret]

Time to tie up our new striker deal

[Goliath]

One of our problems for a little while has been that we have a surfeit of players who want to play off the left hand side, and that includes Koleosho and Foster. I have always thought Foster has something but does his best work from the left side, not as a centre forward, and even we make allowance for his stop-start Burnley career, undoubtedly he's at the point where the theory of what he can offer needs to match the practice sooner rather than later.

I do though think that he and Koleosho may have roles to play this season. As others have said being able to carry the ball up the pitch from deep on transition will be valuable, and we've seen Foster and Koleosho both do that. If we play a 3-4-2-1 this season (as others have suggested) then it's easy to imagine either, or Anthony, taking the inside left role. Both Foster and Koleosho will need to improve their decision making and end product to make a success of it, but they do have raw tools. The question is really whether there is space in the squad to accommodate those two and Anthony.

I've thought ever since he joined that the best role for Koleosho would be as wing back with 3 at the back. He has all the attributes that the best in that role have in terms of pace, stamina and work rate. He'd be easily exploitable defensively but that would improve as he got more experience and would be balanced off by the extra centre half behind him.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Chelsea certainly have a number of young guys who are unlikely to feature this season
Ugochukwu, Lavia, Chukwuemeka, Amougou plus Dewsbury-Hall
And the same could be said of City

I’d be very surprised if Lavia didn’t feature he’s brilliant .

[northeastclaret]

I see Ruddy just signed for another year at Newcastle, with Pope supposedly saying he wants to battle it out for his place whatever, rather than leave. Wonder if they are cooling now on Trafford knowing they are not going to get him on the cheap?

Also wasn’t it them that walked away from
the deal last season at the death rather than us?

[ecc]

I can never take anything serious from the Turkish media.

I certainly wouldn't trust their political coverage.

[ecc]

I wonder if the same people having arguments with yet more same people ever get tired of having the same arguments day in, day out.

Just a thought

Hi CharlieinNewMexico,

Seemingly not.

[Silkyskills1]

There is something to this though.

Foster and Koleosho struggled in the championship because we are usually the team that dominates the game, thus the opposition in the championship have 10 men behind the ball most of the time.

I think we will see both of them have good seasons this year. Both in my opinion are at there best when we play on the counter.

That just doesn't make sense at all. Foster( let's just stick with him) has been very poor no matter who the opposition has been. 'High block', 'low block', pressing game or counter attack Foster has shown nothing to suggest to me that he is the answer to our currently hopeless striker situation. Theories can be fine as long as you have substance to support them.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Playing on the counter last time in the prem we certainly saw the best of Foster.

His returns dramatically improved as a result. It’s also the same from his time before Burnley. He got his best returns when playing in a side that plays on the counter.

At Westerloo he got 12 goal contributions in 21 games.
In the prem he got 8 goal contributions in 24 games.

So I think there is a bit of evidence to suggest that’s when he is at his most effective.

For what it’s worth I wouldn’t mind signing someone else. But would likely require one or two to move out. (I’m just not sure the club would want to take a loss on them at this stage).

[NewClaret]

I usually agree with the majority of comments you make on here, but I'm struggling with this one. I can see where you're coming from, certainly where Koleosho is concerned, but it's a stretch to suggest either will become mainstays for us in the PL.

Koleosho's pace could be a factor, and I expect he will be involved in the squad this season. He won't start as he hasn't shown enough in the last 12 months, but he's got the potential to offer something from the bench. If he does well, he might force himself into the starting 11. Foster though, really?

If we have two quick wingers in the team who can help us on the counter, then we don't really need a centre-forward in the team who's main attribute is the same. We need someone who can hold the ball up and relieve the pressure in a different way. At our best under SD we had strikers who could disrupt centre-halves and hold the ball up (Vokes, Barnes, Wood). Foster simply can't do this. I'm not convinced Flemming is this guy, but he's more suited to it than Foster.

I think we’re broadly aligned on Koleosho.

My thinking is that we will likely commit up to 8 players to defensive solidity next year, 5/6 at the back and 2 defensive midfielders. Leaving 3, possibly 4, more attacking roles. If 3, I think it’s crucial all have real pace to counter and Koleosho is presumably one of our fastest players - he looks it to me anyway - whilst also doing his fair share of tacking back (his injury was actually chasing a lost cause and making a tackle on the touchline that I doubt any other player would have chased so hard).

Fair do’s to Anthony though, he has height and is also exceptional off the ball. He’s also more astute in his out of possession positioning, which maybe gets him the nod overall. But starting or off the bench Koleosho’s pace will be vital over the season, in my view.

I don’t want to get another Foster v Flemming debate going but I think Foster holds up well. Not in a traditional “play it up to him, cheat it down, link up” way, but he drops in more looking for it, then gets on the half turn quicker and running at players. All I see from Flemming is the ball bouncing off him and falling over. I seem to be in a minority of one in this though, so I’ll watch more closely next season and gladly say I’m totally wrong (or he’s massively improved) if he does.

So in a low block where we expect high lines to develop, my view is that all of the 3 in the forward line need to be rapid to get in behind. Koleosho - Foster - Tchouna would offer that, I think. Against opposition where we might see more of the ball, which I don’t expect to be too many without some big improvements in our midfield, obviously you’d prioritise other attributes over pace - trickery and technical ability to make the final pass.

[NewClaret]

I certainly wouldn't trust their political coverage.

I don’t trust anything

[alwaysaclaret]

Calum Wilson officially left Newcastle, anybody think we should be interested, although not sure we can afford he's pay packet.

[jlup1980]

I think we’re broadly aligned on Koleosho.

My thinking is that we will likely commit up to 8 players to defensive solidity next year, 5/6 at the back and 2 defensive midfielders. Leaving 3, possibly 4, more attacking roles. If 3, I think it’s crucial all have real pace to counter and Koleosho is presumably one of our fastest players - he looks it to me anyway - whilst also doing his fair share of tacking back (his injury was actually chasing a lost cause and making a tackle on the touchline that I doubt any other player would have chased so hard).

Fair do’s to Anthony though, he has height and is also exceptional off the ball. He’s also more astute in his out of possession positioning, which maybe gets him the nod overall. But starting or off the bench Koleosho’s pace will be vital over the season, in my view.

I don’t want to get another Foster v Flemming debate going but I think Foster holds up well. Not in a traditional “play it up to him, cheat it down, link up” way, but he drops in more looking for it, then gets on the half turn quicker and running at players. All I see from Flemming is the ball bouncing off him and falling over. I seem to be in a minority of one in this though, so I’ll watch more closely next season and gladly say I’m totally wrong (or he’s massively improved) if he does.

So in a low block where we expect high lines to develop, my view is that all of the 3 in the forward line need to be rapid to get in behind. Koleosho - Foster - Tchouna would offer that, I think. Against opposition where we might see more of the ball, which I don’t expect to be too many without some big improvements in our midfield, obviously you’d prioritise other attributes over pace - trickery and technical ability to make the final pass.

It's a futile debate as I don't think Foster or Flemming will ultimately be good enough for the PL. That said, if we have to go with one of them I would go with Flemming. 14 goals in 37 apps versus 9 goals in 72 apps. It's a no brainer, regardless of whether we think Lyle could run a bit quicker. Goals are vital at any level, and you have to go with the lad running at a goal every 2.5 games over the lad who scores 1 in 8.

[Commy]

I have always liked Wilson. It's his injuries that have been the problem over the years. We need someone who we know can score goals in the Premier and he is definately one who can if he can stay injury free.

[Colburn_Claret]

I see Ruddy just signed for another year at Newcastle, with Pope supposedly saying he wants to battle it out for his place whatever, rather than leave. Wonder if they are cooling now on Trafford knowing they are not going to get him on the cheap?

Also wasn’t it them that walked away from
the deal last season at the death rather than us?

I've read that they only walked away because they couldn't balance their PSR, it had nothing to do with cooling on Traff.

[Steddyman]

Calum Wilson officially left Newcastle, anybody think we should be interested, although not sure we can afford he's pay packet.

I think we will be interested and think he will be in our reach given the Walker signing.

I think our directors are finally realising that payiong a £10m fee to sign someone, then £40k a week wages for two years, is actually more expensive than paying nothing then £120k a week for two years:

Option 1 = £10m + 104 x 40k = £14.16m over 2 years
Option 2 = £0m + 104 x 120k = £10.60m over 2 years

Admittedly no sell on value, but the overall cost for an experience pro is less. I've been saying this for years.

We need a mix of youth, and these more experience pros.

[Steddyman]

Is this Southampton saying goodbye to Ramsdale?

https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1942173749354303605

[agreenwood]

Any club signing Wilson would be crazy if they didn’t heavily incentivise his ability to stay fit in the contract. He’s 33 now and he’s missed over 100 games in the last 5 seasons with an assortment of injuries…

[NickBFC]

Wilson looked way over the hill last season from what I saw of him. A no thanks from me.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Wilson having a medical….so I’ve heard in a WhatsApp group. Could be BS

[Row x]

Hope it's BS.

[123EasyasBFC]

Wilson having a medical….so I’ve heard in a WhatsApp group. Could be BS

It’s not your usual source is it mate? Hahaha I know you’ve been stung a few times

[agreenwood]

Wilson having a medical….so I’ve heard in a WhatsApp group. Could be BS

Will he pass it?

[Tinribs]

Calum Wilson officially left Newcastle, anybody think we should be interested, although not sure we can afford he's pay packet.

Well his pay packet will be empty unless he finds a club

[DCWat]

Assume they could do one over there but isn’t he out in America as a pundit for the club World Cup?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Wilson having a medical….so I’ve heard in a WhatsApp group. Could be BS

Where ever he ends up it is the person at that club who thought it was a good idea who should be having the medical