03 Jul 2026 06:25:09
It's not my money so I don't really care how much a player costs so long as it's the right players for Iraola's system, but what I can't understand is why our scouting team never seem to be able to spot the Rayans, Doue's or Diomonde's of this world and it's other clubs who take the chance with these type of players and reap the rewards when they sell them on.
Maybe the scouts do come upon these type of players but are ignored as we want ready to go 1st teamers, although the signing of the young Spaniard Munoz might hopefully be a sign of things to come. Really hope he works out as he looks a flier and the type of player we need to inject pace into this laboured team.
03 Jul 2026 07:28:23
We did sign Adekoya, Ndukwe, and Ndiaye for our CB position, so it's not like we aren't trying. But, going by the sentiment on here, that still isn't enough because they aren't PL ready and don't have enough experience. It is a balancing act, imo, to buy these types of players and supplement them with experienced players.
At the end of the day, unlike teams like Bournemouth and Brighton, we are competing at the very top, so our priorities are slightly different from theirs. They have the space and time to give opportunities to these types of players, whereas we don't.
03 Jul 2026 07:48:27
I feel like the reason we don't get Rayan's etc is because of the level of club we are. Players who are trying to break through aren't coming to us, as we have an expectation to be the best when we play (I know we have been poor, but overall), and will want to be starters. I don't see a world where we take a punt on a player who is breaking through and let them be our starter. As well as this, if we did say buy Rayan before he had his breakthrough at Bournemouth and he had a run of 4/5 poor games, the media would be on his back and that's hard to shake.
It's easier to go under the radar when you have a bad performance when playing for a mid table club or abroad.
Also look at it from a casual fan point of view and what the club want in the media. Look at the Diomande saga, it is all over the place, but imagine he did not have a big season last year and was still showing potential and we went and bought him for say £45m we'd get one or two articles and that's it, which isn't enough for a club of our stature.
Not saying I agree with that idea but it's how I perceive it
03 Jul 2026 08:19:46
Sometimes we'd come up against permit issues as we don't offer first team game time, but principally we can't provide time to develop on the pitch without microscopic analysis and pressure from the off.
Look at Trey, for example, a sought-after youngster, but we've hardly afforded him game time. It's where the lack of reserve football perhaps holds back some players, and they're then out on loan ultimately.
03 Jul 2026 11:16:46
I don't think it is that the department can't identify these players.
It's just unrealistic that we are going to be in that market.
Part of what enables these guys to make their name is that they are at a club like Bournemouth and not us.