Konate won't be signing a new desl

[justme]

Because in the end footballers only care for themselves.. the club means more to the fans. Salah and Robertson are the exception to that rule though.
Most of em do not take responsibility, instead do a runner, But then again maybe its because of Slot. who knows. I know its a sinking ship right now

[Insidious]

Be even more questions Sid when gomez and endo are sold lol, but Arne will just slot (geddit) szobo and grav in there when needed. Id be more concerned that we're lkg to spunk huge money on another forward. What's bowens contract situation like at WHU

We would be very foolish to sell both Endo and Gomez. Very foolish indeed.

I'd have probably sold Endo just to free up some wages and would have kept Gomez for his final year - and that's if Konaté was staying!!!!

Now that he's going.....eeeesh. I really wouldn't want us spending any big money on a centre-back at this current time as this team is desperate for goals to turn more losses into draws and more draws into wins.

Regarding Bowen, I really do believe that we need three forwards, unless we are going to a 4-4-2 Diamond (4-1-2-1-2) or a 3-5-2 set-up and two of them could do with being rapid, which Bowen isn't.

Ideally (budget+availability questions) I'd do something like bring in two lads of Diomande/Barcola level (Olise is wholly unrealistic) and then still be able to bring someone like a Bowen in for depth/cover.

I wonder if one of our youth centre-backs is going to end up getting some minutes? Or is Gravenberch going to end up having to cover? He could really do with less game time, not more, to bring out his best again.

Messy this!

[Red October]

As the title says, Konate is off. I'm not fussed. He is error prone and certainly didn't have a good season. We just need to make sure (easier said than done with the Chuckle Brothers in charge of recruitment) that we get in a good, proven replacement. What we can't afford is another Guehi-esque fuck-up.

From your thread title, I'm assuming a car was part of the negotiations?! You will pay the price if you're a fussy driver.

But seriously folks....

I can see us being in crisis next season if we continue to lose players like we have been. Konate was a liability but we'll need a more experienced CB to help VVD now. Otherwise it might get ugly. We have basically a full new backline apart from VVD within a year and if you include Mamar as well that's 4/5 of the defence.

[jr81]

We need a cb. A senior cb that will lead after virgil goes. This is the season to get them in. It should have been done at least 2 seasons ago.

If we go into the season with our cb options as virgil, gomez, Leoni and Jacquet I will be very worried for us.

The defence costs us points last season. It needs to be sorted with the dm.

[Red October]

Right now it looks very worrying for next season. We've just come off one of our worst seasons in living memory in terms of performance. The team looks disjointed and all over the place and now one of our more senior players opts to leave. They really worrying part is that you need senior players to bed in the newbies and show them the values of the club. How many proper leaders do we have right now? VVD, Alisson, maybe Szob. Anyone else? And Alisson is rumoured to leave.

We could be in for a few very poor years ahead unless we get some quality signings in. Also, I have zero faith that Slot will get the best from those signings.

[Insidious]

Speaking of senior centre-backs and given we presumably have a finite budget and we need to bolster our attack and DM areas, what would anyone say to someone like Senesi?

At 28 he is still of a reasonable age for a centre-back, would take a little pressure off the depth of the position, knows the League and is a free agent.

There's bound to be someone we can acquire cost-effectively to keep funds available for the attack?

[sydenham red]

We would be very foolish to sell both Endo and Gomez. Very foolish indeed.

I'd have probably sold Endo just to free up some wages and would have kept Gomez for his final year - and that's if Konaté was staying!!!!

Now that he's going.....eeeesh. I really wouldn't want us spending any big money on a centre-back at this current time as this team is desperate for goals to turn more losses into draws and more draws into wins.

Regarding Bowen, I really do believe that we need three forwards, unless we are going to a 4-4-2 Diamond (4-1-2-1-2) or a 3-5-2 set-up and two of them could do with being rapid, which Bowen isn't.

Ideally (budget+availability questions) I'd do something like bring in two lads of Diomande/Barcola level (Olise is wholly unrealistic) and then still be able to bring someone like a Bowen in for depth/cover.

I wonder if one of our youth centre-backs is going to end up getting some minutes? Or is Gravenberch going to end up having to cover? He could really do with less game time, not more, to bring out his best again.

Messy this!

But what does Endo offer? Comes on occasionally with 15 to go to shore up, gets booked within 3 mins and then can't commit again. Not a CB either, infact im not sure what he is. Hope he has a good WC and sell immediately after that. Gomez must come 2nd in the perenially injured list after Frimpong. Got Bradley and Ramsey for RB and Bradley could come in at RCB and do just as well I believe. Squad players simply have to be available when the unexpected occurs and Gomez/Endo just aren't.

As for Konate he played Mexican stand off with the club over wages just like vvd/mo did but this time the club haven't blinked first. He wont get a move to a big club and be on big wages so don't be surprised if his only option is to renew on his current salary after WC with his tail between his legs. if not we move on and buy a homegrown CB or promote an academy player.

[redgold]

How did we get from a title winning squad to one that looks like it will struggle to compete for top 6 before a games even been played in just one season? That's top class incompetence. Someone has to pay for that.

[Insidious]

But what does Endo offer? Comes on occasionally with 15 to go to shore up, gets booked within 3 mins and then can't commit again. Not a CB either, infact im not sure what he is. Hope he has a good WC and sell immediately after that.

I'd keep Endo and trust him a little more - he is going to be rubbish coming in from the cold all the time.

He's played 240-ish career games at centre-back and 210-ish career games in defensive midfield.

We're going to get such a nominal fee for him that I think he is barely worth selling. For me a player who could have, let's say, 4 starts (all comps) at centre-back and 8 starts (all comps) at defensive midfield bearing in mind League Cup, FA Cup and League phase of the Champion's League.....PLUS can come on for the last 15-20 to prevent burnout for some of our midfielders might prove to be "better value" to keep than to sell.

Saying that, I was saying we shouldn't sell Gomez AND Endo this Summer, so if Gomez stays I am more comfortable with Endo going. I don't want a squad of what I call "bodies" but I do think utility players who can cover a couple of positions sporadically to take the edge off for other players are worth their weight in gold.

He isn't a Milner, but I am reluctant to dismiss some of what he can bring. As a member of the 21st-25th member of a 25-man squad he is fine for me.

[redgold]

How did we get from a title winning squad to one that looks like it will struggle to compete for top 6 before a games even been played in just one season? That's top class incompetence. Someone has to pay for that.

Also, how long does Szoboslai have on his contract? If a top club comes sniffing around him, do you think he'll stay? How long can such a top player fill in out of position for a coach I'm not sure he values.