Summer 2017 Window Thread

[Keef]

Reading all this and a few questions keeps popping up,why are all these better players coming in,who's scouting them and why has our scouting suddenly become way better than its been for years?
I understand mendes could be behind the portugese players,but what about the others? Apologies if it's been explained already

 

[Tony Towner]

I would imagine all but the Miranda signing were Lambert's recommendations that we've followed through.

 

[YoungWolf]

Afobe isn't an out and out 9 in my opinion. His best form last time round was just behind Dicko in his first 5 months. That said I don't think he could do the Cav role in your formation either, that's what he tried and failed to do in his second 5 months. If we have him back it would have to be in more of a 4411 than a 4231 otherwise I think we'd get caught in midfield.

On a separate note Cav will be suspended first game won't he? I take it he got a 3 game suspension for violent conduct?

Disagree about that. His worst form for us was when he convinced himself he was a number ten and would drop so deep. He's a goal scorer, not much before that in build up. Good touch, strong, great technically for this level but not creative .

Him and Dicko were a proper front two, but I'd argue Dicko was more important at the time and did a lot more of the dropping into receive the hall. Afobe was one on the end of things, which he was lethal at

 

[Siggy]

From reading Twitter they are saying Neves is a done deal, its Twitter I know but some of these guys seem pretty reliable. A LB and new CM unveiled at the same time cracking stuff.

Dependant on how sturdy he is defensively I would love to see him alongside Ronan certainly against teams we need to break down.

Hang on a minute I think I'm getting carried away.

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

 

[Lycan]

Disagree about that. His worst form for us was when he convinced himself he was a number ten and would drop so deep. He's a goal scorer, not much before that in build up. Good touch, strong, great technically for this level but not creative .

Him and Dicko were a proper front two, but I'd argue Dicko was more important at the time and did a lot more of the dropping into receive the hall. Afobe was one on the end of things, which he was lethal at

Afobe was the best off-the-shoulder striker in the league when he was at Wolves. There wasn't a defender in the Championship who could catch him once he got goal side and he has that upright running style and calmness when 1v1 that makes him such a good finisher. Which is exactly why Ken, with his weird fixation on converting strikers into attacking midfielders, moved him back to #10.

I'd love Benik back here, he'd guarantee us goals and personally I don't think he did anything wrong when he left. Can't see it happening while Thelwell is still at the club though.

 

[Norman Deeley]

Tough choice between Afobe and Thelwell...

 

[Norman Deeley]

Someone on Twitter now suggesting Willy Boly on loan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Boly

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Afobe was the best off-the-shoulder striker in the league when he was at Wolves. There wasn't a defender in the Championship who could catch him once he got goal side and he has that upright running style and calmness when 1v1 that makes him such a good finisher. Which is exactly why Ken, with his weird fixation on converting strikers into attacking midfielders, moved him back to #10.

I'd love Benik back here, he'd guarantee us goals and personally I don't think he did anything wrong when he left. Can't see it happening while Thelwell is still at the club though.

I think he did quite a lot wrong.

a) Agitating strongly for a move in the summer of 2015 less than six months after saying he wanted to "put down roots" here
b) That move to #10 (which he absolutely, 100% cannot do, he hasn't got a clue) was as much about his ego as Ken and his weird ideas
c) Saying in an interview that "my agent said if I went to Wolves and was still there in 12 months then something was wrong"
d) Kissing the badge when in reality, he was angling to leave

He didn't down tools as Britney seems to think he did. That's bollocks, he put it in on the field right to the last game he played. And I can understand his frustration with the way we were playing and the direction of the club. However, he did behave like a fucking bellend.

Would I take him back, probably, that's football, like I'd have taken Kites back three years or so ago. What we do know now is that unlike when we owned him before, there are big question marks over whether he can step up to the PL, I thought he'd have no problem at all when he was on fire here but he's been really quite poor for Bournemouth.

 

[Langers]

I'd definitely take Afobe back. Not particularly bothered about an apology as long as he puts the effort in on the pitch and scores goals.

Agree with DW's assessment of his behaviour - there have been far worse examples, Camara and Hennessey spring to mind - it wasn't great but that's modern day football. It was disappointing but not unforgiveable.

 

[Carrotdude]

I think some thought Afobe couldn't be bothered because he has a naturally languid style. I would have him back but I don't expect it to happen, not expecting this Neves thing either - I seem to remember us 'signing' Talisca last summer

 

[b3h]

I think we will deffo sign a striker. With all positive signs so far and the fact that the rest of the XI around said ST is shaping up we only to plonk in a goal scorer. Technically. Not to get to far ahead of ourselves

 

[Lycan]

I think he did quite a lot wrong.

a) Agitating strongly for a move in the summer of 2015 less than six months after saying he wanted to "put down roots" here
b) That move to #10 (which he absolutely, 100% cannot do, he hasn't got a clue) was as much about his ego as Ken and his weird ideas
c) Saying in an interview that "my agent said if I went to Wolves and was still there in 12 months then something was wrong"
d) Kissing the badge when in reality, he was angling to leave

He didn't down tools as Britney seems to think he did. That's bollocks, he put it in on the field right to the last game he played. And I can understand his frustration with the way we were playing and the direction of the club. However, he did behave like a fucking bellend.

Would I take him back, probably, that's football, like I'd have taken Kites back three years or so ago. What we do know now is that unlike when we owned him before, there are big question marks over whether he can step up to the PL, I thought he'd have no problem at all when he was on fire here but he's been really quite poor for Bournemouth.

A) I don't blame him for wanting to leave, we were in a right state as a club back then and there's nothing wrong with him being ambitious.
B) What was he supposed to do? Say 'no gaffer you're wrong. I don't think I can play that role'? Again, I can't blame him for having faith in his own ability.
C) Was his agent wrong about that? If the end goal was establishing himself as a Premier League player then he was bang on about that.
D) He was 22 and had just scored a goal to end a mini dry spell. A little silly perhaps but I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'd also say that you can push for a move but still have some affection for the club, the fact that he left doesn't mean Wolves meant nothing to him.

 

[Lycan]

Someone on Twitter now suggesting Willy Boly on loan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy_Boly

We were linked with him last summer IIRC.

 

[Boozad]

Boly's pretty decent.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

You don't say "I want to put down roots here" and then push for a move inside six months. You can have ambition but don't make up shit when you're asked to speak publicly. The original agitation was when Norwich were after him, the club wasn't up for sale and I doubt Afobe had any knowledge that we were going to be scaling back any kind of ambition as a club.

I don't blame him for leaving, not at all, the way he went about it was horseshit though.

It might just have been Sky pushing an agenda but they repeatedly said in commentary that he'd moved to this weird deep lying position by his own request as he wanted to be more involved in play. If that's right then it's pure delusion on his part, he's far more Ian Wright than Dennis Bergkamp.

 

[SouthWestWolf]

Give the poor lad a break, he was playing in a piss poor team with a piss poor manager and he wanted to try and do his best, whether the experiment worked or not is besides the point, he always worked his tits off and he's only a youngster.

 

[Tony Towner]

I'm with Deutsch in as much as he was massively indulged by Jackett in the first few months of that season, given a licence to go all over the pitch which he wasn't particularly good at and was to the detriment of the team. Wayne Rooney lite.

For the final month before he left he was given the Kevin Doyle role of trying to hold the ball up / run the channels with the ball being launched vaguely in his direction and nobody else with the exception of Graham within 30yds of him. He always gave 100% in this role which given we know it coincided with him looking for a move he deserves credit.

 

[Norman Deeley]

He was 22 FFS - is there anyone on this Forum who'd really want to be held accountable for what they did/said at 22? Jesus, what a complete knob I was. Afobe would come back to us a better player and score a shitload in the Champo. An absolute no-brainer of a decision

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Id have Benik back here at the drop of an hat.

 

[Johnny75]

I put Afobe's words down to the arrogance of youth. I think he'd be great with the players we have at the club now and would love playing in front of the Portuguese contingency we have.

I don't think for a minute he'd come but I'd have him back in a heartbeat.