13 Aug 2025 08:49:52
One position my be not covered during the current transfer window yet is another defensive midfielder. This is just my opinion as it would be better to gave an actual CDM in a 4-2-3-1 formation to disrupt opponent play and game. If Chiesa and Elliott are both sold we would need another winger.
13 Aug 2025 09:06:23
Personal opinion but can’t see Slot ripping up his play book and going with an out and out Dm. He seems to want ball players in the middle who can also press and win the ball back.
The current one we have In the Squad Endo only played the equivalent of 7% of league minutes last season and almost half of them came after winning the league.
13 Aug 2025 09:08:38
Thought that's why Nyoni was promoted to first team. IMO I'd want us to be all over Baleba but seems there is no urgent desire from those in power to go in for any DM.
13 Aug 2025 09:22:08
Yeah I agree RedScarFace, looks like Nyoni might be coached into being the Gravenberch alternative. He even played CB in the final pre-season game and put in a very good performance. Nyoni and Rio will both get chances this season in the domestic cups I think. Allowing us to keep the likes of Gravenberch and Salah fresh for the important games in the league and Champions league.
{Ed001's Note - I think Nyoni is the one with the chance of making a breakthrough this season from the youth ranks for us. Rio is a more exciting prospect because of the way he plays, but I expect Nyoni to be the one to start embedding himself in the first team squad as a fairly regular player this season.}
13 Aug 2025 09:24:17
There will be some 7-0 wins, some 3-3's and some 4-3 losses this season with the 'new' tactics 4-2-3-1 due to the space being left in behind.
Its going to be exciting, and season of transition, in my opinion.
13 Aug 2025 09:32:52
We don't need another cdm, We've Gravenberch, MacAllister and Endo.
13 Aug 2025 09:34:45
Ed1, hranted haven't seen him enough but Nyoni strikes me as somewhat light for a midfield "battler".
This a fair statement or a mone issue?
Cheers.
{Ed001's Note - bulk can be easily added if needed, it is strength and power that is more important though and that is not necessarily about size. He can gain that without bulking and will naturally as he finishes his growth into full adulthood. He is still growing and developing at the moment.}
13 Aug 2025 09:52:57
Thanks for the answer ed.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate.}
13 Aug 2025 10:06:50
He was a winger before we signed him. Shows how good he is that he has learnt so quickly. Moves like a rolls Royce across the field (only faster) .
{Ed001's Note - Rollers were always quick, the point was that no one inside them was meant to notice, they would just quietly go past other cars, while the occupants were too cocooned in luxury to realise it was speeding along. You must have been always inside them phil, that's why you think they are slow!}
13 Aug 2025 10:39:45
I was really impressed by Nyoni's brief cameo at CB against Athletic Club last week. There was one defensive action he made that showed me he really has game intelligence beyond his years. Looking forward to seeing how he develops.
I will still keep trying to manifest Rennes' Djaoui Cisse though :)
13 Aug 2025 11:47:11
Ed, are you saying size isn't everything?
{Ed001's Note - my missus disagrees, but yes.}
13 Aug 2025 12:04:48
You’re not wrong Ed. Mate of mine picked up a late 70’s silver shadow for about £10k, had a 6 litre V8 and went like s*** off a shovel once it got going but you’d not notice the acceleration cause it was like a yacht. Apparently whenever asked how fast a Rolls Royce can go, Rolls Royce always say “fast enough”.
{Ed001's Note - I used to love the tagline about the loudest thing inside a RR being the clock ticking.}
13 Aug 2025 14:01:39
We had one years ago was really quick, it developed a problem and would just cut out it was like trying to turn a battle the steering with no power. My mate bought a Bentley it had a puncture once and we changing the wheel the jacking point had a sticker on saying no more than 5 persons on board when jacking it up . Must of been for the servants. How the other half live eh.
13 Aug 2025 17:00:52
We also had an RR.
But it was a Reliant Robin.