Winter Transfer Panic Buying and Misery.

[IBK]

we've messed up on Balogun

with Saka last season, we made him feel he'd be part of the future by playing him every week up to the point he signed a new contract (then stopped playing him so much for a while )

but for some reason with Balogun we're doing the opposite and it ain't working

it's a real messup by Arteta and Edu IMO

Bit of a different situation TBF. Balogun has shone on the few occasions that we have seen him, and Nketiah has been average, but if we look at history, plenty of youth players have looked like the real deal but not turned out that way, and there's no guarantee that Balogun would be another Martinelli in the first team. We only have to look at Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock to see promising players not quite peforming when given the opportunity. Nketiah has not been total shit and is integrated into the first team. Arteta seems to have found an effective blend of forward players at the moment, and there's a danger in trying to make too many first team changes.

I would like to see Balogun get more minutes, but realistically his opportunities were always going to be in the cup comps. He could have played a bit more, but if he decides to leave, I'm not sure that we should have banked the house on him in all the circumstances, or could realistically done a great deal more to convince him to stay.

I am no cheerleader for how we have been approaching contracts in recent years - and if nothing else, the past few weeks have shown us that it is the young players who should be our focus both in the short and longer term, but the Balogun situations falls more into the 'benefit of hindsight' category than the 'mess up' one.

[I am invisible]

Unless there is an option to buy then I don't see any point in this.

We are already stuck with another of there surplus players in Ceballos until the end of the season.

Cheeky swap deal for Ceballos? They won’t know.

[Mac76]

Bit of a different situation TBF. Balogun has shone on the few occasions that we have seen him, and Nketiah has been average, but if we look at history, plenty of youth players have looked like the real deal but not turned out that way, and there's no guarantee that Balogun would be another Martinelli in the first team. We only have to look at Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock to see promising players not quite peforming when given the opportunity. Nketiah has not been total shit and is integrated into the first team. Arteta seems to have found an effective blend of forward players at the moment, and there's a danger in trying to make too many first team changes.

I would like to see Balogun get more minutes, but realistically his opportunities were always going to be in the cup comps. He could have played a bit more, but if he decides to leave, I'm not sure that we should have banked the house on him in all the circumstances, or could realistically done a great deal more to convince him to stay.

I am no cheerleader for how we have been approaching contracts in recent years - and if nothing else, the past few weeks have shown us that it is the young players who should be our focus both in the short and longer term, but the Balogun situations falls more into the 'benefit of hindsight' category than the 'mess up' one.

maybe but i'd disagree on Eddie - and i speak as someone who was at the "Eddie, Eddie..." cup game when he came on and scored two against Norwich - I think he's really poor and not at all up to this level

Balogun should have been given he opportunities Eddie's had this season for sure

[IBK]

maybe but i'd disagree on Eddie - and i speak as someone who was at the "Eddie, Eddie..." cup game when he came on and scored two against Norwich - I think he's really poor and not at all up to this level

Balogun should have been given he opportunities Eddie's had this season for sure

Yeah - I agree that Eddie is not what we need or should be aiming for. My comments were more directed re we should have done in the past rather than more recently, when I agree that Balogun should have been tried instead. But it may be too late now...

[selassie]

Cheeky swap deal for Ceballos? They won’t know.

All joking aside Odegaard is a great young player, he was playing at a very high level for Real Sociedad on loan last season, one of the best playmakers in La Liga. I am genuinely surprised he hasn't got more game time for Real Madrid.

I would be all for this if there was an option to buy, he has massive potential.

[I am invisible]

All joking aside Odegaard is a great young player, he was playing at a very high level for Real Sociedad on loan last season, one of the best playmakers in La Liga. I am genuinely surprised he hasn't got more game time for Real Madrid.
or whoever he has
I would be all for this if there was an option to buy, he has massive potential.

At the very least it's encouraging that we seem to be looking for 'profiles' that fit, instead of just tapping up Kia for whoever the fuck he has lying around.

[Gooner23]

Mat Ryan signed on loan until end of season.

Good move, experienced back up.

[Mac76]

Mat Ryan signed on loan until end of season.

Good move, experienced back up.

sounds like a good upgrade on Runarsson

[Mac76]

At the very least it's encouraging that we seem to be looking for 'profiles' that fit, instead of just tapping up Kia for whoever the fuck he has lying around.

[Gooner23]

sounds like a good upgrade on Runarsson

I think they realised we'd be in big trouble if Leno gets injured. This buys us time to assess options in the summer. If he does well it shouldn't be too hard to make it permanent.