How about being excited about having a potentially huge talent on our hands?
You should see how much flak a few posters gave me for suggesting that signing a young kid with 8 first team appearances might not be compatible with everyone's stated desire to improve our full back positions with a view to challenging for the league this season.
I have no problem with others getting carried away. I just dont feel the excitement in this transfer and I've explained why.
I've been on the Caf long enough to know that those that talk common sense often receive flak.
You're the glass is half empty kind of guy?
No, I am not overplaying Ribalta's position, we have changed scouting system. Ed Woodward needs a advice from scouting department about the target, we just can't go say "OK OK, get whatever you want, we'll deliver for you". Jose didn't have same powers as SAF in giving a final say before, that is one of the reasons why we went after Monchi last summer before he went to Roma. I'm sure next managers won't have a say in this matter after Jose. Ribalta has experience of dealing with young players at Juve. As far as I know, Jose didn't sign younger at the big club in top 5 leagues, it is all down to the director football at Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Thank you for making this point. These are the same groups of fans who want us to sign the next Messi. I think there was a thread here not too long ago.
None of those players were as highly regarded as Dalot is at the moment. They were all really blind punts. Dalot played as 19 year old out of position, and did help keep Liverpool to a goal less draw in one of those games.
You're the glass is half empty kind of guy?
A big IF in that scenario, and a big assumption in bold.
No updates. Release clause is only valid from 1st of July.
Nope, the Cafe is going to start a new thread - 'why don't we ever sign talented young players?'
I meant in the Premier League!
See this is a problem.
to be fair, I still think Lindelof will come good. Rather have him and Bailly than the disaster duo (Small/Jones)
Think an experienced LB should be more of a priority along with a CB and fred as a minimum. Then another CM/RW would complete our business.
"If Embalo is going to Manchester is something that I don’t know at all, but it’s true that we have already met with Benfica and Manchester United, there is no agreement, but there are conversations." according to his agent.
Ok I forgot to add "none of those players bar Ronaldo were as highly regarded". Bebe, Obertan, Dong Fang Zhuo, Djemba Djemba, Buttner, De Laet - who knew of them when they signed for us? I think Rafael did not play a game for the senior team before he joined us as well? Turned out well enough if not for his injuries and LvG's dislike of Brazilians. Even the Ronaldo transfer had a stroke of luck to it as I remember we were linked more with Quaresma at that time, before Ronaldo had that stormer of a game against us in a friendly. I remember watching that match and was hoping we would sign that young winger as soon as possible.
I have to agree to some extent. Lindelof started off poorly, but his more recent showings have been pretty solid and shows his character when under pressure to perform and his willingness to work on his weaknesses. It's like a reverse-Darmian situation, who started off rather well but turned to jelly as the season went by.
Absolutely. I'm always happy when we sign talented kids but we need first choice FBs.
Obertan was heard of, Buttner was quite heard of I remember. He had lots of appearances at Vitesse prior to joining. Djemba Djemba was also heard of in France.
What's wrong with Smalling then?
You sound extremely upset about this transfer for some weird reason. I get it if you think we need an established RB instead of Valencia and we might still get that, but you keep going on about how he only played 7 games and got “pushed out”, as if he was literally born the day before his debut and never played any youth football at international tournaments and never showcased his potential there.
99% of the caf hadnt even heard of the world class potential a week ago. If he was making so much waves at youth level, where was his thread?
I feel the term "world class potential" is being used too frivolously here.
Yes they were heard of, but none of them were as highly regarded. People said Obertan was very raw, and Buttner had lots of appearances yet did not attract any interest from other top teams. Dalot has been eyed by other top teams and has at least played international youth football at all levels. From the few clips that can be found as well as testimonies from Porto fans, he is also very mature on the pitch for his age, and is a physical specimen - all the makings of a good defender.
We don't have DoF and Ribalta doesn't have that much power. We don't pay 20 million just for the sake of it, unless manager is convinced of the player.
I think because defenders are usually off-the-radar till they make their first team breakthroughs and become a regular in their teams. Only the clubs with extensive scouting networks will know of them. People like us will usually only hear about the latest flashy young attacker coming out from a club's production line.
If we had a right winger, they wouldn't. We don't.
Hold on, you’re using the Caf as the measuring stick here? Really?
Not really. Can you name me a RB in his age group that has shown more potential?
Well, let’s hope that getting the cheapish back up prospect, means we are saving the big bucks for said right winger!
No. But in what does this mean that this guy has shown potential?
When speaking about the excitement of caf posters, what else would you use?
