Forren/Mayuka?

[Saint Garrett]

But if we had a better player to play in midfield, then J-Rod might get more of a game up front. The fact is that Lallana and Gaston have been in and out of the side, and Lallana has been poor for a lot of this season. JRod offers a much more there, even out of position.

 

Surely it's not easy for the club to judge how Rickie will do? They know he's a good player and what his strengths & weaknesses are, but how are they meant to judge future form? They can estimate but I'd rather have a versitile JRod as backup and can also play in either wide area.

[The Kraken]

But if we had a better player to play in midfield, then J-Rod might get more of a game up front. The fact is that Lallana and Gaston have been in and out of the side, and Lallana has been poor for a lot of this season. JRod offers a much more there, even out of position.

 

Surely it's not easy for the club to judge how Rickie will do? They know he's a good player and what his strengths & weaknesses are, but how are they meant to judge future form? They can estimate but I'd rather have a versitile JRod as backup and can also play in either wide area.

 

I don't see your point about Lambert. Its the club's job to gauge whether he'll step up or not. Its a footballing decision, the likes of which every club makes each season.

 

You're welcome to your opinions about Rodriguez, I just don't share them. IMO he's a striker and not a midfielder, and I don't think he was a wise purchase. I don't think £3M+ was a wise purchase for Mayuka. We have made many wise purchases before; in fact that £3M for Mayuka is around about the same total we spent on Cork, Schneiderlin and Lambert put together. So lets not pretend that both young and old talent can't be bought for smaller prices. I listed 7 players who have been our stand out players this season; Boruc, Clyne, Shaw, Cork, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Lambert. The sum total of their transfer fees does not come to the same total as we spent on Rodriguez.

 

The club has previously done very well to ascertain who will step up from one league to another, as the jump from L1 to the Championship and then straight to the PL proved. This summer, for me, was much less successful.

[RobM]

I think we've looked much better when we've played JRod up front, since MP came onboard. Playing him as a midfielder is, IMO, stupid and a waste of money and plays to none of his strengths and all of his weaknesses. JRod is good with the ball, has pace, is very fit, is not afraid to run at defenders and has very good shooting ability. His weakness is he doesn't make things happen himself, he relies on being fed good balls into him in and around the box. But with a good midfield behind him and SRL next to him, that's something we can afford to carry.

 

I agree with the point that we don't have the quality in midfield to allow JRod a run of games up front. Sadly, Gaston isn't doing it and Lallana isn't showing his best form. We need quality attacking midfielders who are comfortable on the ball, something we lack at the moment.

 

Mayuka seems a waste of money. NA didn't rate him enough to start him, MP hasn't changed that. It seems we signed him on the back of one very good ACON tournament, something that wasn't repeated this year. If we manage to stay up this year, we'll need to strengthen next year... is it likely Mayuka will be any closer to contention then?

[Saint Garrett]

The club has clearly gone a different way this season though. Not sure why, and not sure which transfers were down to who. Certain transfers have been used to raise profile across the world for sure....Yoshida, Lee, Mayuka for example.

 

As much as 3m has been a waste of money for Mayuka so far, I can't judge him because I've only seen him once or twice. My original point about him is exactly that. Whats the point in spending £8m on Forren and him, when they don't play.

 

I think people can discuss on this forum about our transfer activity this season, and everyone has their own opinion on it.

 

I think some signings have been good value for money, others less so. I am kind of sat on the fence a bit here.

[Saint Garrett]

I think we've looked much better when we've played JRod up front, since MP came onboard. Playing him as a midfielder is, IMO, stupid and a waste of money and plays to none of his strengths and all of his weaknesses. JRod is good with the ball, has pace, is very fit, is not afraid to run at defenders and has very good shooting ability. His weakness is he doesn't make things happen himself, he relies on being fed good balls into him in and around the box. But with a good midfield behind him and SRL next to him, that's something we can afford to carry.

 

I agree with the point that we don't have the quality in midfield to allow JRod a run of games up front. Sadly, Gaston isn't doing it and Lallana isn't showing his best form. We need quality attacking midfielders who are comfortable on the ball, something we lack at the moment.

 

Mayuka seems a waste of money. NA didn't rate him enough to start him, MP hasn't changed that. It seems we signed him on the back of one very good ACON tournament, something that wasn't repeated this year. If we manage to stay up this year, we'll need to strengthen next year... is it likely Mayuka will be any closer to contention then?

 

But J-Rod has never really played up front. There was once or twice but not often. And our system doesn't suit 442. The few games in which he played up front, Rickie played in Gaston's role in behind.

[RobM]

But J-Rod has never really played up front. There was once or twice but not often. And our system doesn't suit 442. The few games in which he played up front, Rickie played in Gaston's role in behind.

 

And in those games you quote, we seemed much better. He seemed to take that role against City where I thought he was very good, for instance.

[Saint Garrett]

I thought he played on the left vs Man City. He came on on the left Vs Everton and yesterday and started on the left vs Wigan and Man Utd. He hasn't played up front once under Poche.

[RobM]

I'm obviously reading the game differently to you then. Against City at least, he seemed to be further forward than anybody else a lot of the time. It was the reason for our first goal, chasing the ball high up the pitch.

 

For MP's tactics to work he needs fit players who can run with the ball, chase players down and who have a solid first touch - all JRod's strenghts, IMO.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Our transfer policy over the summer was a complete shambles. Priority given to spending £7M on a striker not good enough for the first team and £12M for a very hit and miss South American youngster. Key areas such as CB and GK were not adequately addressed until late in the window and beyond, and even then with cheaper options. Bizarre outlays on Mayuka and Gazzaniga, around £5M or so on potential prospects for the future yet we didn't spend that much on areas for the first team that blatantly needed more urgent reinforcement.

 

Aye.

 

'Shambles' is exactly the right word to describe last summers comedy transfer activity, we'll be bloody lucky to get away with making mistakes of that magnitude. We know Adkins had precious little input into the key decisions, so the blame must lay at the chairmans door I suppose - not that it is likely to stay there long ...

[SaintNeil90]

I think some people are still having a love affair with Lallana.

 

Personally think he has been disappointing this season. I think we look better when Rodriguez is on the left.

 

And to the person who laughed at Saint Garret for saying Gaston is an improvement on Lallana, he is, FACT.

[SaintNeil90]

Aye.

 

'Shambles' is exactly the right word to describe last summers comedy transfer activity, we'll be bloody lucky to get away with making mistakes of that magnitude. We know Adkins had precious little input into the key decisions, so the blame must lay at the chairmans door I suppose - not that it is likely to stay there long ...

 

No we dont!

[Dan83]

Forren's absence from the matchday squad does seem very odd. Have to remember that he was on trial at Liverpool in January, and as far as I'm aware we basically poached him from under their noses by coming forward with a bid. My guess is he must have some sort of injury, but that he is definitely seen as a first-choice once fit. If we'd left it until the summer, the likelihood is we would've had a lot more competition for his services (whether that be Liverpool, or not).

[Dan83]

And for what it's worth, I do agree the signing of Mayuka can not be considered anything other than poorly-judged. Given we were always looking to play 4-3-3/4-5-1 this season I don't see why we spent such money on someone who was only ever gonna be 3rd choice. I guess, if Lambert had picked up an injury, we probably wouldn't be discussing the merit of JRod's and Mayuka's signings.

 

Come the summer, we will no doubt look to strengthen again and Mayuka will follow the trail that Tadanari's trodden.... away from the club having not had much of a chance!

[teacher]

It think both need a run out. If Forren isn't match fit then why hasn't he appeared for the reserves? Mayuka I feel needs games as well.