16 Apr 2025 03:43:29
Been told that we are working on a deal for Huijsen I posted on here a long time ago that we were watching him and I recall Ed’s 001 saying he was struggling in a poor Bournemouth side at the time, but he has improved and has been watched for well over a year.
This could be a deal that actually happens guys and girls!
16 Apr 2025 06:52:56
Really like the look of the lad
Looks like he’s got everything you’d want in a centre half.
16 Apr 2025 07:15:17
Certainly seems the best choice for cb that I know of. Already played a season in premiership, young and if rumoured release price is 50m not crazy money.
16 Apr 2025 07:40:13
Get him and Tah on Free. we can let go Gomez and Quanshah or keep one of them and let go Konate if he is not ready for new deal.
16 Apr 2025 08:40:18
I do like Huijsen. Confidence and calmness on the ball, quality passing range and he obviously reads the game well and wins if not most of his duels.
My one concern is that he does go to ground to make tackles at times. One abilty VVD has that stands above everyone else is his abilty to use his pace, strength and postional sense to stay in his feet and keep things calm.
When I see someone diving in, slide tackling, it suggests to me that he is sometimes out of position.
Obviously young enough to improve on this.
Just wandering what everyone else's thoughts are.
16 Apr 2025 09:24:40
Need to be careful about our home grown quota esp if both English cb’s leave. Aside from Delap not a lot of talk about home grown players.
Thoughts?
16 Apr 2025 09:50:32
If the club can get Huijsen would be a great buy, personally I think a summer of Kerkez or Ait Nouri, Huijsen, Ola Aina on a Free as defensive buys would be great Aina to compete with Bradley at right back. for the forward line it's much more difficult I think we need to sell Nunez and Jota? or at least Nunez and bring in a proper number 9.
{Ed001's Note - Aina is not on a free, he just signed a new deal.}
16 Apr 2025 10:00:35
Was it Paolo Maldini who said.
If I have to make a tackle I have already made a mistake.
16 Apr 2025 10:25:55
oh has he just signed Ed? I thought he was still not signing at the moment shame I think he would have been good with Bradley competing if Trent did go.
16 Apr 2025 10:30:21
dcal, we don't have as much of an issue with HG players as you might think. I posted about this last week and if you search for "McConnell" my post will come up from 10 Apr 25.
Quite aside from that, Slot does seem to favour a smaller rotation hence even if we had no HGs next year, we would still have access to 17 players plus as many U21s as we want.
Given that we have 6 HG players now, plus a further 3 who will qualify as HG next season (the ones who are currently U21), even with leavers (of which Trent is almost certain) we shouldn't have a problem.
Add to which, some of the players who will immediately go into the first team squad (if not the first 11) that we are being linked with - Huijsen, Hato, Gittens and Malick Fofana for example - will still be U21 in the 25-26 season hence will be available in addition to the 17 non-HG and upto 8 HG players.
16 Apr 2025 10:39:50
I think it's a case of we HAVE to get Huisen. I do think they were disappointed that Yoro chose the money at United and that they won't want to miss out on this young'un with Virgil's succession planning in progress.
Let's see if Dickie can do it!
16 Apr 2025 12:14:38
I hope, above all else, that some young players, new or old, and preferably not the 50m kind are able to step up next season and form part of the playing squad.
Slot is supposed to be a champion of Youth, and our youth set up is leagues behind CFC and MCFC at the moment.
Those young players bring some verve and hunger than can be lacking at times, and we need a core group.
Eds, any idea where Chriss Rigg is going and what he's likely to cost?
{Ed001's Note - I don't know mate, I am not sure he will leave this summer. He is not pushing for a move right now.}
16 Apr 2025 12:59:45
Huijsen still needs much work in the weight room, he is quite lean for a CB imo.
Ed001 and members, do you have thoughts on why Quansah has seemed to struggle this year? Confidence?, Slot's system?
Have such high hopes for baby Virgil
Would Bornemouth really sell us two of there starting defenders even with the Hughes connection?
{Ed001's Note - because he is not good enough. Was vastly overrated by Liverpool fans and is not being protected by the midfield now, so his flaws are more obvious.}
16 Apr 2025 13:33:29
I think Quansah has shown that he isint at the Liverpool level, still only young so has time to develop but no better than van den berg or other youngsters which we were happy to leave.
16 Apr 2025 16:44:37
@Vango - we have been watching Rigg for some time, as have other clubs. He’s viewed as a real prospect and already capable. My pal scouts for Sunderland (I lived there for 20 years) and has told me numerous times we have had interest in him. Would be expensive I think for his age but an excellent investment.
16 Apr 2025 19:01:20
Do u know ed1 is this Rigg lad from Sunderland as good as they say? I've read he has the best potential in England since Bellingham came threw.
{Ed001's Note - looks fantastic mate.}
16 Apr 2025 20:42:09
@Gaga it was actually baresi who said it but for some reason everyone always misattributed it to Paolo.
Fitting either way since maldini also tried to avoid diving in. Personally I'd love to sign huijsen he'd be worth every penny and would totally erase any worries when van dijk retires.
17 Apr 2025 02:44:24
Shame Baresi in his prime isn’t available. The chorus of we’d never pay that much would be deafening.
17 Apr 2025 13:01:01
The ideal would be Bastoni at £60m, he’s a racehorse.
Huijsen, if we signed him, should stay at Bournemouth on loan. That’s an excellent set up and he’d get 45 games in the year. He wouldn’t get that with us.
He’d also be working under a top manager there.
17 Apr 2025 19:15:49
Whyowhy I'm done with buying players and loaning them back out. He'd be 3rd choice behind virg and konate. and konate gets regular injuries so he'll get plenty of chance to become vvd partner. Gomez should be sold and quansah still needs time and used as 4th choice.
No more buying players and loaning them out. What a waste of valuable funds.