2019/20 Marcel Brands

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Marcel..

On Iwobi: not an easy transfer as he’s played a lot of games in PL and CL for his age. We wanted him as he plays in many positions and behind the striker - give Gylfi competition. Experienced for a 23 year old.

On Sidibe: after finding a great loan for JJK (he promised JJK we would find him a good loan so he can get first team experience), we wanted a loan instead of a perm signing as we wanted to see how Kenny does and follow his development compared to Sidibe’s performances.

On Delph: His character is one of the main reasons for signing him. Began speaking to City a few months ago and it was a tough negotiation as we didn’t want to spend big money on a 29 year old. Delph excited with the club’s plans and Brands visited his home to discuss everything with him - he prepared the stats and a video to show him where he can fit in with us.

Later in the same day Delph’s agent called Marcel to say he wanted to join and that they were very impressed/excited by the presentation. Says the small details like this make a big difference when convincing players with the team and the club.

On Lossl: Virginia had a great season in u23s and he wanted to send him out on loan. Lossl was number 1 target for Pickford’s competition - free transfer and a good age. Both Marcel and Marco very happy with the 3 goalkeepers we have. Called Virginia “a very talented young player”.

On Gomes: The biggest help in bringing Gomes back was the fans. In negotiations with Barca the fact he wanted to come back because of how he loved the fans/the club made it much easier as he felt at home from day 1. Interest from other clubs (as well as in England), but Gomes only wanted to come here and made it clear throughout.


No mention of the players/positions we didn’t get sorted though. Great insight in the detail Brands goes into to convince a player to join - not surprising as a player of Delph’s level and experience would need this kind of treatment.

@davek
 

Yeh still deadwood but a lot less. Few contracts running out next summer too. We want say 25 players.

....agree, a few contracts up next summer and if Tosun goes it probably leaves us with Bolasie and Sandro to shift. Good work from Brands. There has been a lot of criticism on here (not mentioning any names) about him not moving the surplus on permanent deals. They are a bit quieter now.
 
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Marcel..

On Iwobi: not an easy transfer as he’s played a lot of games in PL and CL for his age. We wanted him as he plays in many positions and behind the striker - give Gylfi competition. Experienced for a 23 year old.

On Sidibe: after finding a great loan for JJK (he promised JJK we would find him a good loan so he can get first team experience), we wanted a loan instead of a perm signing as we wanted to see how Kenny does and follow his development compared to Sidibe’s performances.

On Delph: His character is one of the main reasons for signing him. Began speaking to City a few months ago and it was a tough negotiation as we didn’t want to spend big money on a 29 year old. Delph excited with the club’s plans and Brands visited his home to discuss everything with him - he prepared the stats and a video to show him where he can fit in with us.

Later in the same day Delph’s agent called Marcel to say he wanted to join and that they were very impressed/excited by the presentation. Says the small details like this make a big difference when convincing players with the team and the club.

On Lossl: Virginia had a great season in u23s and he wanted to send him out on loan. Lossl was number 1 target for Pickford’s competition - free transfer and a good age. Both Marcel and Marco very happy with the 3 goalkeepers we have. Called Virginia “a very talented young player”.

On Gomes: The biggest help in bringing Gomes back was the fans. In negotiations with Barca the fact he wanted to come back because of how he loved the fans/the club made it much easier as he felt at home from day 1. Interest from other clubs (as well as in England), but Gomes only wanted to come here and made it clear throughout.


No mention of the players/positions we didn’t get sorted though. Great insight in the detail Brands goes into to convince a player to join - not surprising as a player of Delph’s level and experience would need this kind of treatment.

Longer interview now available for members. The extra detail..

Overall thoughts: 20+ players have left and similar last summer. Wants to have 2/3 in, 2/3 out each summer to bring stability. Exciting window and he‘s happy overall.

He and Marco met months ago with his scouting team to put together the plans and they were close to hitting all of their targets. Only failure being CB.

Has to be careful with club finances and it’s not so easy. Farhad is very ambitious but it’s not as easy as the owner putting money in, you have to be careful as we’ve spent a lot in the past and will need to think in future seasons to make sure we meet rules and regulations.

On CB: Really wanted a CB and in particular Zouma but it didn’t happen because of Chelsea’s ban. Gives Holgate an opportunity and says he is a very talented player. He also thinks Gibson can step up after a great pre season which he thinks is important as it gives perspective to the academy that players can come through.

Thinks it’s very important to spend money only in the right way. If they need to buy at a level lower than they want it’s better to not spend money and to give young players a chance especially when we have players close to the first team.

On average age: wants to buy at value, whether it’s younger players with future value or older players at the right price.

On selling players/Gana: sometimes it’s not easy and we refused the offer in January and we promised Gana we would consider selling him if a good offer from PSG came in again in the summer. We have to be fair with players when clubs like PSG come in.

He loves Gana as a player but it can be the right time to sell a player at the right age and replace with a younger player.

On Marco and their way of working: always try and bring in players that they both agree on - would never want a player the manager didn’t want. They plan together and as DOF his preseason starts from 1st September preparing for future windows as it takes time to get the right players for the positions they need.

Very happy working with Marco and thinks that he is a manager that improves every player like he did last season.

On the window: business started later than usual in England and then big transfers happen such as AWB that trigger the rest of the window. He doesn’t like waiting until later in the window to buy players but for example some targets were held up by Arsenal’s business (Pepe/Iwobi).

It’s a tough role as DOF and high pressure but he’s used to it with 20+ years in the job.

On Moise Kean: took months, started speaking to Juve/Moise in January about a loan but he then started playing in their first team and it wasn’t an option. Thinks he is a great fit for the PL. Kept an eye on his performances for Juve/Italy and though his great performances would make it very hard to buy him.

Says Moise was nervous about moving but he convinced him by saying he would be given time here and the fans would love him.

On Gbamin: Tried to buy him for PSV before he went to Mainz but Mainz paid more at the time. He’s done well since going to Germany. When there was interest in Gana he pushed for Gbamin but it wasn’t an easy transfer as there was other interest in him.

Thinks he has the right profile/physicality to do well in the PL, they have a detailed process looking through stats to judge whether a player can do well in the league/squad. Also takes character seriously to make sure each player is right for the dressing room - which is what Marcel thinks we did well with last summer.

On picking loans for young players: Steinsson is his main man for picking these clubs and he takes a lot of care in this as picking the wrong club can ruin a career.

On watching players on loan: make a detailed log and he/his team watch them closely. He has a “loan group” who have their own responsibilities including the non-football matters which he thinks is important - they meet at least monthly but discuss each player regularly.
 
Turns out the man has done a similar interview which is about to appear on the club website.
Just watched it. Very interesting. Said that he enquired about taking Kean on loan in January but he started getting in to the Juve team and the national team. He said that he knew this would make a deal harder - well done for getting your man Marcel.

Also said that he tried to sign Gbamin for PSV when he moved to Mainz who could pay more money. Says he has developed well in Germany.

Said that the Iwobi deal was impossible earlier on in the summer and he had had to wait as Arsenal git some of their targets.

Said of a CB that it was disappointing not to get one but that he didn't want to sign someone for the sake of it. He said that we need to bring the quality up with new signings. Says Mason is talented and has a chance to stake a claim after allowing Jagielka to leave. Also talked up Gibson as a very talented boy with a future at Everton and that he may get a chance but has a lot of developing to do.

Overall an interesting interview. Obviously a calm presence and has a plan. I still would have like another cb and forward though!

EDIT: Just seen your second write up come in as I posted mine!
 

Just watched it. Very interesting. Said that he enquired about taking Kean on loan in January but he started getting in to the Juve team and the national team. He said that he knew this would make a deal harder - well done for getting your man Marcel.

Also said that he tried to sign Gbamin for PSV when he moved to Mainz who could pay more money. Says he has developed well in Germany.

Said that the Iwobi deal was impossible earlier on in the summer and he had had to wait as Arsenal git some of their targets.

Said of a CB that it was disappointing not to get one but that he didn't want to sign someone for the sake of it. He said that we need to bring the quality up with new signings. Says Mason is talented and has a chance to stake a claim after allowing Jagielka to leave. Also talked up Gibson as a very talented boy with a future at Everton and that he may get a chance but has a lot of developing to do.

Overall an interesting interview. Obviously a calm presence and has a plan. I still would have like another cb and forward though!

Comes across very well.

I’m glad he explained his stance on the CB situation especially when he said that it gets to the point where the only players he can bring in aren’t the level required, so he doesn’t want to waste money and would rather play young players.
 
What about Zaha Brands kid?

Let us down there Brands mate Zaha could have had us top 6 this year. Instead its fighting it out with Wolves and Leicester again for 7th and 8th.
 

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