Summer 26 Transfer Rumours

The difference is the player himself feels his best position is midfield

 

Get behind the Right-Back FFS

 

Reminds me of when Clarke Odour decided his best position was attacking midfield.

 

The problem with that was hes been scouted playing centre half so its not really due diligence to be signing him as a dcm

 

I do find it a little strange. He may well enjoy playing in midfield, but over the last few seasons he’s been used at CB. So I’m not sure what GA and the recruitment team are basing their assessment on if most of their scouting will have been of him playing in defence.

To me, this feels like more of a utility signing than a midfielder. That said, I wonder if there’s something else going on. Clubs and players may well be demanding more now they’ve seen us receive fees for Metcalfe, Power and Tilt. They’ll also know we’re desperate to strengthen in midfield and we’ve shown we’re prepared to pay transfer fees as well.

All of that makes me think we could be finding it difficult to land our primary targets. Perhaps publicly describing Connolly as a midfielder is a way of easing the pressure a little and signalling that we’re not quite as desperate as other clubs, players and agents might think?

 

Exactly.

 

He's clearly versatile, but I'll reserve judgement. The fans already see him as a CB, which means if he doesn't perform at CM immediately, they'll turn on him quickly. If he performs well in the first couple of games playing there, this will be forgotten. Could be smoke and mirrors anyway - no point in taking any quote at face value. I work in PR - 95%+ of quotes coming out of any organisation were never said, and are to back up a specific narrative.

Even if he actually said it, no guarantees he means it. It could be just convenient to maintain that line until we get someone in - then he can come out with "plans change - after the training and preseason games, we were more effective with him at CB, he gives us cover for midfield later in the season, etc..."

 

I don't think they'll turn on him, but may turn on Alexander if he is played there and Alexander decides to move him back to CB in March next year if it doesn't work out.

 

I will throw this into the Connolly debate, remember Eddie Youds who was a very good centre back at VP however he did play in midfield several times and not just at city either but at other clubs too including Ipswich and Charlton.

 

I'd say that Connolly will have some idea where he feels best playing, even if some random experts on the interweb say differently, and regardless of where other managers have played him. Maybe having a holding midfielder who can play further back if need isn't such a bad thing? I'm firmly in the "FFS give the lad a chance before writing the signing off" camp.

 

All this speculation comes from the Humphrey situation however we have players like T Wright who sees himself as a winger doing well as wing back whilst Touray a full back does well at centre half. In this case if the quotes are true the player himself thinks his best position is midfield where he played at Blackpool Fleetwood and Ipswich. And played out of position at Stockport

 

It is a gamble. In the last couple of seasons we've only had two actual central midfielders in the squad to start the season with others who "can do a job" (another term that needs banning). If he is one of the two and it goes wrong then we're potentially struggling centrally until January and our January recruitment the last two years hasn't been good. So, it's easy to see how fans are sceptical.

 

Let's hope he's a bit of a Vincelot and can excel in both positions

 

Fair, but then any new player comes in at a risk, unless we're in the market for the likes of Mbappe. I would at least put some trust in the gaffer & the players to figure out whose bet where. I know it doesn't always work as well as it should, but we at least have to see. And besides we're nowhere near the close of the transfer window, so if GA thinks there might be an issue there's still plenty of time to bring in more cover in midfield if need be.

 

Great example mate

Fingers crossed.

 

It’s only an issue with some fans the manager and the player says his best position is midfield

 

Another great example.

 

No rumours then

 

How do you know ?
Challenor has a habit, bad or otherwise of playing players out of position . Wootton played half a season at centre back . Doncaster’s McCann played Owen Bailey at Centre Back for the last quarter of the season . Some players are adaptable , most arnt, but suggesting due dilligence hasn’t taken place is a wild leap.

 

Carl McHugh. Played mostly CB for us but then had a good career at DM elsewhere.
Andy ‘Screetch’ O’Brien was also used to good effect at DM at times, I seem to remember.