Reconstruction time again: the summer 2018 transfer thread

[boltonboris]

Would people play Oztumer over Vela? Vela in an advanced role is a better option surely. Aggressive presser and covers a lot of ground

[GhostoftheBok]

Would people play Oztumer over Vela? Vela in an advanced role is a better option surely. Aggressive presser and covers a lot of ground

Behind a striker, yes. All day and twice on Sunday. Vela works hard, but he's yet to show he's a goal threat. Ozzy scores goals.

I think Lowe sitting, Vela playing as a traditional box-to-box player and Ozzy as a no.10 is a classic English midfield three.

[GhostoftheBok]

I said before, but it's worth repeating - I think improving Josh and Sammy will be the biggest thing for Parky this term. Josh is 24 now and if he wants to kick on and become the player he's always thought he could be then he needs end product. Sammy is 26, if he can add goals to his game then he could still get to the Premier League. This is the biggest season of either man's career and Phil has the job of getting the most from them. He's been talking about signing players and improving them, but he's got two in his squad who need it too.

If you've gone to preseason games then you'll have heard coaches constantly talking to Josh. "Make the run, Josh", "Get into the box", "Finish, finish!" etc. They clearly know what he needs to do more of and are working on it. I've been genuinely encouraged by that.

[Peter Thompson]

Would people play Oztumer over Vela? Vela in an advanced role is a better option surely. Aggressive presser and covers a lot of ground

Yes every time for me....Vela is one of the most over rated players I've known at BWFC, promised so much but goes hiding in too many games, instead of getting on the ball & dictating play....he runs around but does little with the ball IMO

For me if we are to improve this season and create more then Oztumer needs to be in the advanced midfielder role. By the way we still need a 6ft plus enforcer / tough tackling central midfielder more than anything for me.

[Prufrock]

I don't really see much issue at DM (compared to other positions, anyway). Lowe starts, for me. He communicates well and he works hard. He'll get booked, but that's part of his game. He's there to break play and spoil. Not every yellow card is a mistake. Wilson can cover.

If we can find another player who is cheap, great. If not, I'm far more panicked by left back and striker. I won't object to a top player showing up for the sitting role, though - especially if he can pass a football. Anyone have Jeremy Toulalan's phone number?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Veloso

"Miguel Luís Pinto Veloso (Portuguese pronunciation: [miˈɣɛɫ ˈlwiʃ ˈpĩtu vɨˈlozu]; born 11 May 1986) is a Portuguese professional footballer. He is currently a free agent."

[Prufrock]

Alternatively I'm about most Saturdays.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don't really see much issue at DM (compared to other positions, anyway). Lowe starts, for me. He communicates well and he works hard. He'll get booked, but that's part of his game. He's there to break play and spoil. Not every yellow card is a mistake. Wilson can cover.

If we can find another player who is cheap, great. If not, I'm far more panicked by left back and striker. I won't object to a top player showing up for the sitting role, though - especially if he can pass a football. Anyone have Jeremy Toulalan's phone number?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Veloso

"Miguel Luís Pinto Veloso (Portuguese pronunciation: [miˈɣɛɫ ˈlwiʃ ˈpĩtu vɨˈlozu]; born 11 May 1986) is a Portuguese professional footballer. He is currently a free agent."

He's 6'+ in heels. If we can get him some platform boots then he'll meet PT's desire for a midfielder.

[GhostoftheBok]

Alternatively I'm about most Saturdays.

I used to play the holding role in midfield. Unfortunately my professional career was cut short by a severe case of shitness.

[bristol_Wanderer3]

I don't really see much issue at DM (compared to other positions, anyway). Lowe starts, for me. He communicates well and he works hard. He'll get booked, but that's part of his game. He's there to break play and spoil. Not every yellow card is a mistake. Wilson can cover.

If we can find another player who is cheap, great. If not, I'm far more panicked by left back and striker. I won't object to a top player showing up for the sitting role, though - especially if he can pass a football. Anyone have Jeremy Toulalan's phone number?

From watching him against Girona I am not convinced Lowe is a defensive midfielder. He seems more of a standard, all round midfielder, a bit like Cullen last season. I see a lot of Championship sides who have decent attacking midfielders getting behind Lowe and creating from there, if he were to play without someone more defensive behind him. Right now, I would take Henry back in a heartbeat.

[Bijou Bob]

Neither Vela nor Ameobi will ever play in the Premier League, barring a Madine like transfer fluke. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that none of our current crop (To be fair, I haven't see Oztumer yet) will ever play higher than the level they are at right now.

That's quite a sad and startling judgement in the cold light of day.

[GhostoftheBok]

Neither Vela nor Ameobi will ever play in the Premier League

They both think they can. The only way for them to get attention from bigger clubs is to improve their end product dramatically.

Whether they can ever reach that level or not, they can both score more goals or create more. Vela has more ability than we've thus far got out of him, as we've seen in the odd game. Ameobi, likewise, is hit and miss. When PP talks about signing players he talks about improving them and turning them into assets. I'll judge him this season on how he does with those two players.

[bristol_Wanderer3]

I think Ameobi will have a good season this season. It is only his second full season, he is still learning and can make leaps in progress from where he is. Parky is working on getting him to better scoring positions. At some point he will surely learn how to use his height to score headers. It would not surprise me at all to see him go to a Premiership club in January or next summer.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don't really see much issue at DM (compared to other positions, anyway). Lowe starts, for me. He communicates well and he works hard. He'll get booked, but that's part of his game. He's there to break play and spoil. Not every yellow card is a mistake. Wilson can cover.

If we can find another player who is cheap, great. If not, I'm far more panicked by left back and striker. I won't object to a top player showing up for the sitting role, though - especially if he can pass a football. Anyone have Jeremy Toulalan's phone number?

From watching him against Girona I am not convinced Lowe is a defensive midfielder. He seems more of a standard, all round midfielder, a bit like Cullen last season. I see a lot of Championship sides who have decent attacking midfielders getting behind Lowe and creating from there, if he were to play without someone more defensive behind him. Right now, I would take Henry back in a heartbeat.

Depends what you mean by a defensive midfielder. He's not Ivan Campo, but the sitting mid isn't the only type of defensive mid out there. Henry didn't used to play that role either, his legs just went and that was what he could still do. Fernandinho isn't a sitting player either, but he's still a defensive mid when City utilise him.

I'd say Lowe is certainly a defensive mid, but he's a terrier. He doesn't get forward much, but he will go and snap at people who have the ball. If you have Vela next to him, then he can do that and Vela can drop in when needed.

It depends what we want to do, as a team. If we want to score more and create more, then we're going to need our defensive mid to be more mobile and have more licence to cut out danger. If you play Lowe next to a sitting midfielder then you're in Gary Megson territory. Especially if the other mid is in there to tackle and head the ball, rather than pass.

[GhostoftheBok]

In terms of our style next season, I'd like to see Parky channel a bit of Ulysses S Grant. Stop worrying about what the enemy will do to you and worry about what you're going to do to the enemy. Get on the front foot, go win the ball and score some goals. Sensible play, sure, but not everyone-behind-the-ball-at-all-times stuff.

[Peter Thompson]

Neither Vela nor Ameobi will ever play in the Premier League

They both think they can. The only way for them to get attention from bigger clubs is to improve their end product dramatically.

Whether they can ever reach that level or not, they can both score more goals or create more. Vela has more ability than we've thus far got out of him, as we've seen in the odd game. Ameobi, likewise, is hit and miss. When PP talks about signing players he talks about improving them and turning them into assets. I'll judge him this season on how he does with those two players.

Yes they both only have one good game in 6 or 7....which is piss poor IMO, for me the two players that will improve us significantly quality & ability wise are Oztumer & Wildschut - but the worry for me is Parkinson, as I doubt he'll know how to fit them in and get the best out of them as he's fcuking clueless with the creative / attacking side of the game....so I can't see them getting much game time which would be a real shame....I really hope Parkinson can find a way of using them, perhaps an attacking coach would be useful ?

The only change I can see from last season is that we'll lump it to Donaldson, instead of Madine….and just to add Lowe is better than either Pratley & Henry.

[Peter Thompson]

In terms of our style next season, I'd like to see Parky channel a bit of Ulysses S Grant. Stop worrying about what the enemy will do to you and worry about what you're going to do to the enemy. Get on the front foot, go win the ball and score some goals. Sensible play, sure, but not everyone-behind-the-ball-at-all-times stuff.

Hallelujah, best post in months - can someone forward it to Parkinson - with Oztumer & Wildschut we now have the tools to open teams up a lot more, as the Ghost has said let's stop worrying about stopping the opposition & concentrate on giving them problems.

We need to build a team to get the best out of Oztumer & Wildschut, create chances & score goals - take the pressure off the defence.

[TANGODANCER]

Classy Defensive Mid? Didn't Ivan Campo once say just give him a call and he'd be happy to help out? Gee, if only...

[GhostoftheBok]

A good start would help Parky. Most managers have a way of playing that kicks in when they come under pressure. With Parky, it's route one and pretty ugly. He was under real pressure last season after a woeful start and we played "safety first" stuff.

I don't mind Parky. He's done a good job with sod-all to work with. Like any manager, he has weaknesses and the attacking side of the game is one. Still rather have him than Coyle, by a million miles - and I like Owen as a person.

If we start well (by which I mean win a game in the first couple of months) then we may see Parky more willing to give the 4 attacking players in his system freedom to express themselves. He will hopefully have more quality available to him than last term.

[bristol_Wanderer3]

I don't really see much issue at DM (compared to other positions, anyway). Lowe starts, for me. He communicates well and he works hard. He'll get booked, but that's part of his game. He's there to break play and spoil. Not every yellow card is a mistake. Wilson can cover.

If we can find another player who is cheap, great. If not, I'm far more panicked by left back and striker. I won't object to a top player showing up for the sitting role, though - especially if he can pass a football. Anyone have Jeremy Toulalan's phone number?

From watching him against Girona I am not convinced Lowe is a defensive midfielder. He seems more of a standard, all round midfielder, a bit like Cullen last season. I see a lot of Championship sides who have decent attacking midfielders getting behind Lowe and creating from there, if he were to play without someone more defensive behind him. Right now, I would take Henry back in a heartbeat.

Depends what you mean by a defensive midfielder. He's not Ivan Campo, but the sitting mid isn't the only type of defensive mid out there. Henry didn't used to play that role either, his legs just went and that was what he could still do. Fernandinho isn't a sitting player either, but he's still a defensive mid when City utilise him.

I'd say Lowe is certainly a defensive mid, but he's a terrier. He doesn't get forward much, but he will go and snap at people who have the ball. If you have Vela next to him, then he can do that and Vela can drop in when needed.

It depends what we want to do, as a team. If we want to score more and create more, then we're going to need our defensive mid to be more mobile and have more licence to cut out danger. If you play Lowe next to a sitting midfielder then you're in Gary Megson territory. Especially if the other mid is in there to tackle and head the ball, rather than pass.

The problem then becomes Wheavers. They have to defend deep due to lack of pace, but they aren't capable of covering ground in front of them, thus making interceptions or engaging a Romaine Sawyers or a Pablo Hearnandez. There is going to be room for opposition attacking midfielders, and a lot of teams in the Championship have decent attacking midfielders, to create. Last season, Henry was essentially a fifth defender and it was only with him in that role, with the running power of Vela and Pratley covering in front of him also, we started to look remotely solid. Of course, then our only way to get up the pitch is the long ball, hence the need for a target man. We are going to have issues early in the season.

[TANGODANCER]

If we start well (by which I mean win a game in the first couple of months) then we may see Parky more willing to give the 4 attacking players in his system freedom to express themselves. He will hopefully have more quality available to him than last term.

I was hoping we'd learn from Croatia. Attack for ninety minutes, shoot on sight and throw yourselves at everything. English reserve got a lesson there, hope we learn from it.