Anyone think Defoe could do a job from the bench ?
The problem is Dolberg will want first team football whilst we seem hell bent on keeping Rom. Unless Koeman is going to go 4-3-3 I can't see how we will be bringing any forward in who isn't a clear back up sub player like Valencia.
Anyone think Defoe could do a job from the bench ?
For me no, we should only for players who can also start and that won't be DefoeAnyone think Defoe could do a job from the bench ?
European football, big club, 2 year deal. Obviously could play more minutes for palace, Bournemouth etcDefinitely, yes. But at his age he won't want to be a bench warmer...
Not sure. He is player I think could win us points from the bench, or even playing the first 60 minutesFor me no, we should only for players who can also start and that won't be Defoe
Fair enough mate. But just saying that it's not a guaranteed success as the original poster was making
Worth mentioning that this works the other way round too.
One great game doesn't make him a great player.
European football, big club, 2 year deal. Obviously could play more minutes for palace, Bournemouth etc
@hetion has a point but like you say, it's passing on responsibility to another player other than Barkley.
In that respect, you probably will get more out of each player as they'll be able to concentrate on what they're good at.
RE Rooney, he's still a shade above what we have and will more effective in the final 3rd when we're a little hit and miss.
As for pace. Depending on who he gets as a replacement for Rom, Bolasie will play a bigger part. Ross (if here) will probably get more freedom. We're not overly reliant on pace and I think getting another option on the bench will help.
I'd put my house on us NOT signing Defoe.
Yet the signing that looks very like happening is going to be a 23yo keeper mate, which kind of casts doubt on the veracity of what he stated - he also on embargo stuff apparently stated that Walsh and him both have their own agendas on what type of player (age etc) and that Walsh focus is on the 'future' of the team, which instantly opens up the possibility of player out of that 26-29 age bracket.
Reading between the lines - i think Koeman is sending out a 'get me my priority' targets to the board again - maybe VVD or the like
If Dolberg for example is available (which all Ajax players are in reality) for 20-30m and Koeman isn't interested because he's too young, then it's a massive flaw in him as a manager, look past the age and see the player and what he can offer regardless of age.
In short - we don't need to sign loads of young gems, we just need to ensure we sign the bets of them that are available
We'll see what happens Steve.
People (not you) seem to be thinking we're going on this mass FM-style spending spree.
As you said, we'll get the best players available that suit the style, age won't come into that as a major factor, though we won't be going out and buying loads of U23s (even in the Echo article, Koeman pretty much says as much).
As you also rightly said, Pickford (seems to be happening) comes into that category of the best for the role we want to fill, and has the added bonus that he's at a really good age to also build for the future.