January 2023 Transfer Thread

TC10, you must remember that Orta's ego is one half part of his decision making process while the other half seems to be his relationship with either the player or agent. Go through the list of his first team signings and you see that he is not suited to being the big boss but rather suited to being a second in charge type.

Some thoughts:

Teams get 5 subs these days - which players do you usually sub? Forwards.

As a result you need a set of starters and spares in a squad - we have that now, but not overloaded.

Defenders don't get subbed by routine, so you need less per position otherwise players don't get game time. We have a gap at RCB now Llorente has left, but we have signed a capable young player with a high ceiling as backup instead (Monteiro) - I approve of this.

We have Struijk/Firpo/Wober/Cooper/Koch/Monteiro/Ayling/Rasmussen all fit and Dallas to return too. We don't need another defender unless we're offloading another one IMHO

In the mean time defending is a team effort, not just down to the back 4 - I believe the combination of Adams/McKennie is the most important part of this window - which has been great. Having a double pivot with legs and energy will protect the back line, even allow more "go forward" to the fullbacks, which will help.

We conceded lots more goals under Bielsa in no small part because we had just Phillips on his own in midfield at times. Now we have balance there's so much more to be optimistic about.

Yeah good reply Soopa but unfortunately the defenders at our disposal have a question mark against them.... we may have QUANTITY but would you say we have enough QUALITY!?

Rasmussen, Ayling, Koch, Coops, Strukij, Firpo ALL have mistakes in them.... Dallas is not a proper LB, Wober has played only 5 games and 3 of them have been against Baardiff and Accy, Monteiro is too young....

I don't know if I've mentioned it before but please also remember that I travelled out to Alicante for a friendly which makes me more passionate and knowledgeable than our armchair fans.... 🙈😜🖕🥊🙈

I could almost bow to your fan majesty, but then again I know you have a new year's resolution to maintain 😉

I have felt for a long time, and still feel, that some of the errors defenders have made have been because they haven't been covered by a solid midfield, other errors have indeed been individuals. Llorente and Cooper are the primary culprits.

Struijk needs support to learn his new role and he has that now in Wober. Koch will look miles better with Wober alongside him and McKennie ahead. Ayling fully fit is a lot better than Rasmus and he's nearly there now.

We'll be fine.

With respect if you can play LCB, then you can play RCB. It’s not much of an adjustment. Llorente and Koch played plenty of times together and so did Cooper and Struijk. With Wober, Cooper, Struijk and Koch we already have four experienced CBs on our books. It’s the LB position that seems a bit light.

🤣🙈🤔😜🤬🖕🥊🤣🙈

Yep, fell for it hook, line and sinker!🤣🤣 Good one!

Harrison is a tough one. He isn't signing a new deal and has less than 18 months to go. He needs to sign or go for me.

Not convinced with Zaniolo - he's caused some trouble at Roma, so he's got an attitude on him.

I'm not totally sold on McKennie and worry we might be overpaying for him. However I got it wrong on Wober whose transfer now makes a lot more sense with the impending departure of Llorente, alongside Wober's leadership virtues and his ballplaying skills (insert TC comment).

I see McKennie as the replacement for Stuart Dallas, versatile and able to play in multiple positions, though primarily he's there as cover for Adams. I do feel a bit sad as it effectively marks the end of Dallas' career at Leeds. And Dallas has been an absolute club legend and hero..

Well TC, you may well be right about us needing at least 3 goals to win, but I'm afraid that even with Llorente there, that would still be the case.

Agree Monteiro's one for the future, then again nobody expected Gnonto to be that ready for first team football either.

But it's a very different position & Gnonto certainly is one of a kind.

So next season Cresswell could well be the first back-up for Koch.

I would take an educated guess Monteiro will be backup to Koch next season, possibly with another signing. Ayling out of contract in the Summer.

I really hope Charlie Cresswell will have a good career in football, but I fear not at the upper end of the PL and not with us.

Was sort of expecting JM to team up Wober with Bill at centre back.

Perhaps Coops will be fit, but to play 3 leftfooters in defence...

Must admit that with Ayling at CB we never looked really solid enough.

Don't mind Llorente going & it would balance the books a bit in terms of wages and longer term it leaves the door open to Cresswell's return and perhaps even to the young Portugese lad we're suppose to sign from Servette?

If you can play left CB, then you can play right CB. Cooper and Struijk have both played there, just as Koch and Llorente have played right CB. Swapping the CBs makes much more sense than playing a RB in the centre.

Yeah agree and obviously nobody says anything when 2 right footed CBs play together....

It's just these days most top teams are able to play a right and left footed CB partnership.... I'd rather that than playing Ayling out of position

I was thinking the same thing, almost as though that's it lads, but then he went on to do the interview for LUTV with Bryn and seemed happy enough. If he is to go, then Leicester can f*ck off if they think he is only worth £20million. In my opinion, given age and experience, anything north of £35million would be a starter. Fingers crossed that he manages to sort out a new contract with us!.