ARTICLE: JBL is back with the Clarets

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Scored some cracking goals, including his goal at Luton! Superb finish.

Reminds me of Scott Arfield in playing style. Which is no bad thing.

[Guppyspotter]

Something to be said for getting players you know about rather than signing players who come in and then we find the you tube video wasn't the real story.

[Clive 1960]

A decent signing but we need better to stay in the Premier league if we are serious about staying up..

[xxmunkyennuixx]

Not a position of weakness for us. The squad os already bloated to an extent whilst lacking depth up front or in centre midfield. Bit of a strange signing.

[beddie]

Not sure about this if I’m honest. Good player but we need players in other areas.

[Darnhill Claret]

Scottie getting his Cup squad sorted.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Really really strange signing.

I like him and he was one of the guys I thought came across as a genuine bloke from our last time in prem.

However I just think it’s a waste of resources he’s not likely to ever start a game (as we have better already).

We are going to have to shift loads of players out. Part of me wonders whether JBL might be a quick flip?

[RVclaret]

Really really strange signing.

I like him and he was one of the guys I thought came across as a genuine bloke from our last time in prem.

However I just think it’s a waste of resources he’s not likely to ever start a game (as we have better already).

We are going to have to shift loads of players out. Part of me wonders whether JBL might be a quick flip?

Out of interest, who is better already?

And no, part of you is obviously wrong.

[Ightenhill_Claret]

Was reported that he’d suffered another long term injury

He really doesn’t have much luck does he. Such a shame for the lad if he’s picked up another long term injury.

[Zom Zom]

I like this signing. He looked a really good player to me last time around. Direct, aggressive and with no little skill. I was really disappointed when he left.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Out of interest, who is better already?

And no, part of you is obviously wrong.

Right now I would say Anthony and Edwards are better.

Tough to say on the others but given we spent the best of 30m on Tchouna and Tresor I would like to think both of them are also.

Why is it obvious? If he’s not going to feature regular could you not see us trying to flip him like we did with Gudmundsson?

[agreenwood]

Arguing that this is a waste of resources is really only valid if JBL has been signed instead of or at the expensive of positions of more need.

I’m not sure we really needed another wide man either, but I’m pretty sure his arrival will have zero bearing on whether we strengthen the central midfield and forward areas.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Arguing that this is a waste of resources is really only valid if JBL has been signed instead of or at the expensive of positions of more need.

I’m not sure we really needed another wide man either, but I’m pretty sure his arrival will have zero bearing on whether we strengthen the central midfield and forward areas.

That’s a fair point, but I would argue it’s a waste of resources purely in the respect that it’s our most resourced area of the pitch.

I would go as far as saying I think it’s actually the last position on the pitch we needed another body

[agreenwood]

That’s a fair point, but I would argue it’s a waste of resources purely in the respect that it’s our most resourced area of the pitch.

I would go as far as saying I think it’s actually the last position on the pitch we needed another body

Well that largely depends on Parker and the clubs plans for the existing wingers. I’d imagine we’ve already decided several won’t be anywhere near the team barring an injury crisis.

Benson is never fit and probably not good enough for the PL. Agyei has a long term injury. Tresor probably won’t feature and is likely to be moved out on loan.

I can’t see much beyond Anthony, Edwards, Koleosho, Tchaouma and now JBL for a spot in the match day squad.

With 9 subs, having two wingers on the bench seems about right. So having 5 wingers to choose from every week seems
pretty reasonable.

[Boss Hogg]

I liked JBL previously. He is a threat at PL level and looked good in a poor side and set up. Just surprising signing now as we look well covered in his position but I we don’t know who is going. Central midfield and striker needed now and preferably some proven experience in the middle of the pitch. This is where we may need to spend for the now and not future profit.

[Pearcey]

I have a feeling we’ll move Koleosho on.

[RVclaret]

Right now I would say Anthony and Edwards are better.

Tough to say on the others but given we spent the best of 30m on Tchouna and Tresor I would like to think both of them are also.

Why is it obvious? If he’s not going to feature regular could you not see us trying to flip him like we did with Gudmundsson?

We’ve seen both of them in the Championship. All have different qualities. JBL scored a goal every 200 minutes in the Prem, that’s pretty good? He offers something different (wants to attack space running onto the ball) & strong versatility. Tresor hasn’t played football for a long time, and wasn’t preferred over JBL last time, will he stay?

And he will probably feature regularly, so no, definitely won’t be ‘flipping him’.

[dvalley69]

Think this could be a Scotty Arfield type signing. JBL is very clever in getting into little pockets in midfield/top 3rd. He's also a grafter, a real team player and will stick in shape defensively. We still don't know how the new lad from Lazio is gonna turn out (didn't exactly set Serie A on fire), and there has to question marks over Tresor, Koleosho & Benson, and whether they are up to it. That leaves Anthony & Edwards, who should get the first bash at starting and proving they are up to it. This is a no brainer for me as we know what we're gonna get. JBL grew as the season went on and was one of our better performers that season.

[Rowls]

We seem a little heavy on wingers. Edwards and Anthony don’t deserve to lose their shirt (Edwards you’d have a case as he dipped a little towards the end of the season) but keeping a happy squad is just as important as winning games. Having 2,4 or 5 wingers sulking not playing won’t do anything for harmony of the squad. We need to trim down drastically.

Very happy to see JBL back in our squad but you're right about the imbalance.

Anthony and Edwards were excellent from January onwards. Edwards lost influence as the season went on but it seemed to be because teams were doubling up on him. It left more space in other areas of the pitch and coincided with Anthony coming to the fore. No coincidence.

We've got six wingers who deserve a shot at the PL:

Anthony
Edwards
Koleosho
JBL
Benson
Tresor

On top of this we have several players who can slot in to a wide slot:

Foster
Amdouni
Laurent
Flemming
Hannibal

Of these players, Laurent and Hannibal might offer us a more solid and defensive approach at the expense of attacking flair.

[ashtonlongsider]

Strange and underwhelming signing imo.

[SirBob]

A good squad player for sure. Improves the overall quality of the squad and as we know he can score a goal here and there. Not every signing is gonna rip up trees, but he’s certainly good enough to have a positive impact

[claretspice]

A little surprised by this signing. JBL is a decent and respectable player. He did fairly well last time and has similar qualities to Anthony - he's good positionally, works hard for the team (although Anthony offers more in that respect), and is technically sound with an excellent touch.

However, particularly given these similarities to Anthony, it's not a profile of playe I especially expected us to prioritise right now.

We learned last time in the Premier League that there are only really two slots in the team for more creatively minded players. You can't play with two wingers and a 10 unless one of those is especially good defensively.

Currently we have Anthony, Edwards, Koleosho, Tchoama, Ramsey, Tresor (although I agree with the suggestion he may well depart either on loan or permanently), and Amdouni who would compete specifically for those roles, plus Foster who I think is better used in one of those deeper roles than up front - and that assumes Benson and Banel are not in the equation. Larsen takes that quota to 9. Even if Tresor and Amdouni leave, it's still 7 and that ignores the potential to use Hannibal and if still with us Brownhillin those roles. If we were bringing in another player of that ilk I would have thought explosive pace would have been the order of the day.

Our priorities remain, for me, the spine - centre forward, a central midfielder and possibly a further option at centre half if we assume Delcroix and Ekdal are likely to leave. Plus of course a first choice keeper if Trafford departs as I expect. That means much of the business so far - perhaps excepting Hartmann and Walker- amounts to tinkering around the edges. Some good tinkering sure and it's still quite early, but tinkering nonetheless.

[ksrclaret]

As someone has already said, our squad right now is just really weird. We've a vast array of what you might call squad players, with very few players who you'd say "they're nailed on to start every week". I did like JBL last time he was here, but I think he adds more to the squad player side of things than the nailed on starter.

Obviously we can only judge the squad in it's entirety at the end of August, but as Spice says above, the spine of the team needs reinforcing with some big hitters.

[CoolClaret]

As someone has already said, our squad right now is just really weird. We've a vast array of what you might call squad players, with very few players who you'd say "they're nailed on to start every week". I did like JBL last time he was here, but I think he adds more to the squad player side of things than the nailed on starter.

Obviously we can only judge the squad in it's entirety at the end of August, but as Spice says above, the spine of the team needs reinforcing with some big hitters.

We do need players that can provide quality and a goal threat off the bench.

Right now, who are our goal threats?

Flemming and ?

JBL at least adds there and has shown that he has quality to score out of nothing and bag half chances.

That was the only negative mark of our team last year and it's looking like we may have lost our top goal scorer in Brownhill.

A rotation player that scored 6 PL goals for us last time out is an absolute no-brainer for me.

[ksrclaret]

We do need players that can provide quality and a goal threat off the bench.

Right now, who are our goal threats?

Flemming and ?

JBL at least adds there and has shown that he has quality to score out of nothing and bag half chances.

That was the only negative mark of our team last year and it's looking like we may have lost our top goal scorer in Brownhill.

A rotation player that scored 6 PL goals for us last time out is an absolute no-brainer for me.

You're right that he could add to the goal threat. As I said, I like him as a player.

I just think we're bursting at the seams with squad players. I know there is still plenty of time but I'd like to see some balance restored and some big players for the spine prioritised.

[CoolClaret]

You're right that he could add to the goal threat. As I said, I like him as a player.

I just think we're bursting at the seams with squad players. I know there is still plenty of time but I'd like to see some balance restored and some big players for the spine prioritised.

Yes, we are - hopefully we have moves lined up to get a lot of the dead wood out of the club over the next few weeks!

[claretspice]

We do need players that can provide quality and a goal threat off the bench.

Right now, who are our goal threats?

Flemming and ?

JBL at least adds there and has shown that he has quality to score out of nothing and bag half chances.

That was the only negative mark of our team last year and it's looking like we may have lost our top goal scorer in Brownhill.

A rotation player that scored 6 PL goals for us last time out is an absolute no-brainer for me.

If we're counting Larsen as a genuine goal threat after 6 goals last time (fair enough) it seems reasonable to also include Foster who scored only one less goal despite a truncated season and indeed would have had a 6th but for a diabolical VAR call at Forest.

They're both players who at Premier League level look likely to chip in rather than score consistently. Same goes for Amdouni (also 5 goals last time albeit from more opportunity), Edwards and Anthony of our currently crop. Theres a bit of a quantity vs quality thing.

[agreenwood]

Wouldn’t be a massive surprise if we’re waiting for Oxlade-Chamberlain to extract himself from his Besiktas contract.

[RVclaret]

If we're counting Larsen as a genuine goal threat after 6 goals last time (fair enough) it seems reasonable to also include Foster who scored only one less goal despite a truncated season and indeed would have had a 6th but for a diabolical VAR call at Forest.

They're both players who at Premier League level look likely to chip in rather than score consistently. Same goes for Amdouni (also 5 goals last time albeit from more opportunity), Edwards and Anthony of our currently crop.

Id say Larsen offers more verticality in his movement and attacks space better than current options. If you go back and review his goals from last season they all, except Luton away, come from this. I found his general play lacking at times, doesn’t really ever beat a man with skill, or look particularly creative - but has good footballing IQ and can finish.

You mentioned above explosive pace - surely Koleosho and Tchaouna offer this, if we want it?

[CoolClaret]

If we're counting Larsen as a genuine goal threat after 6 goals last time (fair enough) it seems reasonable to also include Foster who scored only one less goal despite a truncated season and indeed would have had a 6th but for a diabolical VAR call at Forest.

They're both players who at Premier League level look likely to chip in rather than score consistently. Same goes for Amdouni (also 5 goals last time albeit from more opportunity), Edwards and Anthony of our currently crop. Theres a bit of a quantity vs quality thing.

Yes, but JBL was playing predominantly out wide, right? Not an apples vs apples comparison - I'd expect more than that from players that started more games and that played more centrally.

My point was yes, we need players around the park that will chip in with 6±2 goals (preferably more). Scoring goals is a good trait to have.

Anthony (who I really like), for example, should have scored far more goals than he did last year - he often did all the hard work, then slotted the ball wide.

Look at JBL's goal against Sheff U in the PL season - that's the type of clinical finishing we need (and need to see more from Anthony).

[claretspice]

Id say Larsen offers more verticality in his movement and attacks space better than current options. If you go back and review his goals from last season they all, except Luton away, come from this. I found his general play lacking at times, doesn’t really ever beat a man with skill, or look particularly creative - but has good footballing IQ and can finish.

You mentioned above explosive pace - surely Koleosho and Tchaouna offer this, if we want it?

I don't know that Tchaouna has explosive pace, but if he dies he and Koleosho can only use it if they get game time. And if you have too many options you can't give players enough game time. Apart from anything else there's a finite number of places in the registered squad.

[billyhamilton82]

JBL has proved he can score goals out of nothing at Pemier League level and seems to have the knack which a lot of players don't, especially high scoring Championship strikers.

Unlike some of our our players who can flatter to deceive, JBL isn't a flowery/fancy player but has end product. (Would be interesting to see his minutes to goals stats from his previous Prem season) and has a first touch similar to Anthony.

He is quick, probably the 4th quickest in the squad after Koleosho, Walker and Edwards.

He scored 6 from 16 starts last time out, in fact he started all of the last 12 games of the season and scored four goals.

Also the fact he is genuinely a "jack of all trades" with the ability to play AM/10, RW, LW and CF gives us a lot of options and helps support the squad with flexibility.

Similar to Humphreys and Tuanzebe he is a capable player in more than one position, including centre forward.

A very valuable player who will pop up with goals and be the "Andy Farrell" for the forward area of the squad.

4 million euros that's another piece of brilliant business IMO and proves you don't have to break the bank to buy quality if you look in the right places.

[Quicknick]

If it is four million euros, it's a superb piece of business I was really disappointed when he left, so glad he's back. Definitely Premier League standard.

[claretspice]

JBL has proved he can score goals out of nothing at Pemier League level and seems to have the knack which a lot of players don't, especially high scoring Championship strikers.

Unlike some of our our players who can flatter to deceive, JBL isn't a flowery/fancy player but has end product. (Would be interesting to see his minutes to goals stats from his previous Prem season) and has a first touch similar to Anthony.

He is quick, probably the 4th quickest in the squad after Koleosho, Walker and Edwards.

He scored 6 from 16 starts last time out, in fact he started all of the last 12 games of the season and scored four goals.

Also the fact he is genuinely a "jack of all trades" with the ability to play AM/10, RW, LW and CF gives us a lot of options and helps support the squad with flexibility.

Similar to Humphreys and Tuanzebe he is a capable player in more than one position, including centre forward.

A very valuable player who will pop up with goals and be the "Andy Farrell" for the forward area of the squad.

4 million euros that's another piece of brilliant business IMO and proves you don't have to break the bank to buy quality if you look in the right places.

He's slower than Foster, Tuanzebe and I suspect Hartmann too for a start and I'm not sure he's any quicker than Anthony either although the direct comparison is hard to do.

[billyhamilton82]

He's slower than Foster, Tuanzebe and I suspect Hartmann too for a start and I'm not sure he's any quicker than Anthony either although the direct comparison is hard to do.

Not according to this:

Although his sprint is down on previous seasons his overall pace is quicker than the rest, especially acceleration.

If he had played in the Champ last season it would have been much more obvious but in the Premier it is obviously less so. He used to have an even quicker sprint speed (91) but I'm assuming the bad injury he had earlyier in his career has slowed him down?

JBL
https://www.ea.com/en/games/ea-sports-f ... sen/227503
Axel Tuanzebe
https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/r ... ebe/231485

Lyle Foster
https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/r ... ter/241173

Jaidon Anthony
https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/r ... ony/243669

Hartman
https://www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/r ... ony/243669

[quoonbeatz]

Quoting ratings from a computer game as evidence is wild.

[Silkyskills1]

We do need players that can provide quality and a goal threat off the bench.

I think the harsh reality of football at this level is beginning to show itself. The latter part of this thread has posters alluding to us being 'top heavy', large numbers but very short on quality to enable us to compete over 38 games. Parker can only do his best but doesn't have the pull that Kompany had. Day by day we look on here hoping for some 'gems' to appear but at the moment, admittedly still early in the window, I just can't see us attracting or swooping for someone that has evaded the sight of any of the other 19 clubs.

[CoolClaret]

I think the harsh reality of football at this level is beginning to show itself. The latter part of this thread has posters alluding to us being 'top heavy', large numbers but very short on quality to enable us to compete over 38 games. Parker can only do his best but doesn't have the pull that Kompany had. Day by day we look on here hoping for some 'gems' to appear but at the moment, admittedly still early in the window, I just can't see us attracting or swooping for someone that has evaded the sight of any of the other 19 clubs.

You say that, but we've just signed a player to a permanent that we could only get on loan before when VK was manager, just signed Kyle Walker and manage to sign Marcus Edwards whilst we were in the Champ - players clearly like SP and want to play for him, there's no problems there.

All I'm saying is that yeah, we might be top-heavy, but if there's a chance of adding more quality without breaking the bank, then it's a no-brainer.

[Silkyskills1]

Think you missed my point. No complaints from me about who we have but a growing concern over our ability to attract 'quality' that is of the level needed in this division. And that is an observation and not a complaint.

[billyhamilton82]

Quoting ratings from a computer game as evidence is wild.

Yes and highly accurate

I didn't have my stopwatch availalable when he played last time, he was too quick

[ollieclarets8]

Yes and highly accurate

I didn't have my stopwatch availalable when he played last time, he was too quick

I assume they still do this but remember reading a few years ago that Sports Interactive (Football Manager) employ a massive network of people who are assigned to specific clubs to collect and maintain player statistics and attributes to make them as accurate as possible, relying on human input.

[brexit]

At last we sign someone with a good fitness record

[CoolClaret]

Think you missed my point. No complaints from me about who we have but a growing concern over our ability to attract 'quality' that is of the level needed in this division. And that is an observation and not a complaint.

Ok that's fair - but that's more just because of our club and likelihood of facing relegation, not a product of not having VK anymore (as we had the same problem with him)

Finances are another aspect as well.

Keep the faith, I think it'll all come to over the next few weeks.

[Bacchus]

Seems to be a fairly wide assumption that JBL is here to bulk out the squad. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was first choice on the right with Anthony on the left. I'd see Edwards as more of an impact sub than someone who really fits into the kind of solid framework we'll need this season. JBL strikes me as having more of the discipline and physical attributes Parker will want in that role.

[Dark Cloud]

I really liked him first time around, but I'm still struggling to work out what's gone on since he left us last year. For a good player it seems a weird year and I'm bothered there's a good, underlying reason for that. We'll see.

[superdimitri]

Stuggart fans seem to rate him as a squad player but they think they have our pants down for the fee.
Their manager is heavily focusing on youth which explains his involvement there.
He's probably a bit better than Anthony.

[Swizzlestick]

Stuggart fans seem to rate him as a squad player but they think they have our pants down for the fee.
Their manager is heavily focusing on youth which explains his involvement there.
He's probably a bit better than Anthony.

They think they’ve had our pants down for a fee of €4m??

[mdd2]

If that 4 million Euro is true and the total cost it has to be very good business

[Alan Young]

If it is four million euros, it's a superb piece of business I was really disappointed when he left, so glad he's back. Definitely Premier League standard.

But seemingly not Bundesliga standard.

[superdimitri]

They think they’ve had our pants down for a fee of €4m??

Yes, they got him for 1.5m and sold him for 4m when he hasn't really developed as a player, is a year older, and only contributed a small amount to their team.