Confirmed Signing Alex Iwobi

[TheBigIguana]

136 games
15 goals
19 assists

Winger. Avoid.

Not sure where those stats have come from. What I see is 100 games 11 goals 19 assists (in the PL). That's not bad. But he's made a ton of sub appearances. He's played 5900 minutes which is about 66 games. 30 in 66 or a goal or an assist every 200 minutes or so isn't bad for a winger. Especially between ages 18-23. And there's more to his game besides that.

I said this earlier and I'll repeat it: he's the player people think Bernard is. Works hard, good buildup play, good at moving the ball forward and solid creativity. His only problem like Bernard is his goal threat but he offers a lot to make up for it.

 

[windymiller]

Not sure where those stats have come from. What I see is 100 games 11 goals 19 assists (in the PL). That's not bad. But he's made a ton of sub appearances. He's played 5900 minutes which is about 66 games. 30 in 66 or a goal or an assist every 200 minutes or so isn't bad for a winger. Especially between ages 18-23. And there's more to his game besides that.

I said this earlier and I'll repeat it: he's the player people think Bernard is. Works hard, good buildup play, good at moving the ball forward and solid creativity. His only problem like Bernard is his goal threat but he offers a lot to make up for it.

The other 36 are international games. He doesn't offer enough in terms of performance or potential to justify the fee suggested, it's that simple for me. I can only assume that we are currently linked with so many PL players because we are concerned about our home grown quota because I cannot balance our proposed expenditure with the relative quality of the personnel linked for any other reason.

 

[TheBigIguana]

The other 36 are international games. He doesn't offer enough in terms of performance or potential to justify the fee suggested, it's that simple for me. I can only assume that we are currently linked with so many PL players because we are concerned about our home grown quota because I cannot balance our proposed expenditure with the relative quality of the personnel linked for any other reason.

I don't really care too much about the price. Both him and Zaha would be overpays. Both would also improve our left flank. If signed both we could groom Iwobi to replace Gylfi potentially while having fantastic wing depth. If they money is available we shouldn't worry about spending it.

 

[DaChunk]

If he's going to cost twice what we got for Lookman he better be twice the player.

 

[windymiller]

I don't really care too much about the price. Both him and Zaha would be overpays. Both would also improve our left flank. If signed both we could groom Iwobi to replace Gylfi potentially while having fantastic wing depth. If they money is available we shouldn't worry about spending it.

That is exactly how we ended up with Mirallas, Bolasie, Besic, Niasse, Schneiderlin, Martina, Sandro etc... Most of them will be drawing a wage from us on their various loan deals which impedes our ability to improve the squad. A lot of progress has been made this summer on rectifying those mistakes, I would hate to see that undone with rash, last minute decisions that will affect us for four or five years (depending on the length of the contract).

 

[TheBigIguana]

That is exactly how we ended up with Mirallas, Bolasie, Besic, Niasse, Schneiderlin, Martina, Sandro etc... Most of them will be drawing a wage from us on their various loan deals which impedes our ability to improve the squad. A lot of progress has been made this summer on rectifying those mistakes, I would hate to see that undone with rash, last minute decisions that will affect us for four or five years (depending on the length of the contract).

It really isn't though. Zaha and Iwobi are much smarter signings than all of those. The problem with those is we paid them too high wages for their ability.

 

[windymiller]

It really isn't though. Zaha and Iwobi are much smarting signings than all of those. The problem with those is we paid them too high wages for their ability.

I'm not sure why you keep drawing an equivalency between Zaha and Iwobi. Zaha is overpriced but is a much safer bet. He has been a regular starter, and the star player, for a current PL team whereas Iwobi is a peripheral player for a team we are seeking to usurp. The risk involved in spending very large sums on fees and wages for Iwobi is markedly higher for Iwobi than it is for Zaha. At £40m + he will be expecting first team football regularly and a wage to match. Not worth it.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I'm not sure why you keep drawing an equivalency between Zaha and Iwobi. Zaha is overpriced but is a much safer bet. He has been a regular starter, and the star player, for a current PL team whereas Iwobi is a peripheral player for a team we are seeking to usurp. The risk involved in spending very large sums on fees and wages for Iwobi is markedly higher for Iwobi than it is for Zaha. At £40m + he will be expecting first team football regularly and a wage to match. Not worth it.

Fair enough. When you said I don't understand why we are linked with so many PL players I thought you meant Zaha. I personally think Iwobi walks into our team if we don't sign Zaha too so I don't see him wanting first team football as an issue. It is a risk but for me not a huge one because he will have some kind of sell on value at the age he is. And he is already above average without playing a ton of minutes. I think with the right situation he pushes on and is really good and we could be that.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

Not sure where those stats have come from. What I see is 100 games 11 goals 19 assists (in the PL). That's not bad. But he's made a ton of sub appearances. He's played 5900 minutes which is about 66 games. 30 in 66 or a goal or an assist every 200 minutes or so isn't bad for a winger. Especially between ages 18-23. And there's more to his game besides that.

I said this earlier and I'll repeat it: he's the player people think Bernard is. Works hard, good buildup play, good at moving the ball forward and solid creativity. His only problem like Bernard is his goal threat but he offers a lot to make up for it.

Yeah, Iwobi's numbers are ok. Decently creative, some logic that he would improve with more time. He's only 23. Not worth crazy money, but not a terrible player by any stretch of the imagination. But I would absolutely not overpay for him.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Yeah, Iwobi's numbers are ok. Decently creative, some logic that he would improve with more time. He's only 23. Not worth crazy money, but not a terrible player by any stretch of the imagination. But I would absolutely not overpay for him.

I really like the idea of playing him on the left where Bernard is. Gives us a similar player but way more dynamic and better at getting himself into the box. I also like the idea of having him replace Gylfi so that we have a player who can actually do some open play creating and not be a second striker who finishes chances and hits a good deadball specialist. But he's also unproven in that role to the point that I wouldn't count on him there. So ultimately signing him for 40m and Zaha makes little sense in my book because there's too high a chance they step on each other's best position.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

I really like the idea of playing him on the left where Bernard is. Gives us a similar player but way more dynamic and better at getting himself into the box. I also like the idea of having him replace Gylfi so that we have a player who can actually do some open play creating and not be a second striker who finishes chances and hits a good deadball specialist. But he's also unproven in that role to the point that I wouldn't count on him there. So ultimately signing him for 40m and Zaha makes little sense in my book because there's too high a chance they step on each other's best position.

Agreed. I also wouldn't sign him for 40M in any case. We can buy a CM for less than that and move Siggy at times out in Bernard's position.

 

[AndyZ]

I don't really care too much about the price. Both him and Zaha would be overpays. Both would also improve our left flank. If signed both we could groom Iwobi to replace Gylfi potentially while having fantastic wing depth. If they money is available we shouldn't worry about spending it.

What?

 

[TheBigIguana]

What?

He's shown some attributes that translate into playing well in central attacking midfield and there are some people out there that think he could move inside sort of like Oxlade-Chamberlain did. I don't know that I see it but it's possible. Not likely. Not necessarily what I would do. But if we are targeting both Iwobi and Zaha one of them is not going to be playing LW presumably. So I was throwing that one out there.

 

[longers]

Zaha goes Arsenal and we get Iwobi, that's my guess for tomorrow

 

[TheBigIguana]

Zaha goes Arsenal and we get Iwobi, that's my guess for tomorrow

No shot. Arsenal didn't have the money for Zaha before and spent the money they originally offered on Pepe. So even us paying them 40m or whatever leaves them well short again. Plus they are running out of spots to put players with Lacazette, Pepe and Aubameyang already nailed on first teamers. And I think they're signing Tierney so that's more money out.