KDH and Röhl nominally seem to be most comfortable in the same #8 role but stylistically they look very different and I wonder how they will be employed. Just for his size and mobility Röhl would look better suited to sit a bit deeper and could make his marauding runs from there. 
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It does seem clear Dibling was maybe 4th and last on our list of top RW targets but we were patient landing him, risking coming up empty. On RB we had a price (I was told £10m) within our budget and we missed out on at least two players I was told about because of us holding a firm red line. That financial discipline is very encouraging.
On the flip side we might ponder whether (including add-ons and obligations) tying up £65m on three 8/10 options in Alcaraz/KDH/Röhl felt a bit Koemanesque. Perhaps some of that £ could have gone to RB/CB or a true DM? Just playing devil’s advocate! Previous Message
…I think even if the results hadn’t gone as they have, let’s say we lost to Brighton, and drew with Wolves in addition to the Leeds defeat, I’d still be happy we were patient and making sure we could get the best deals over the line that we could and at the best price rather than do what I suspect many wanted us to do, and get targets perhaps further down our list to join sooner in order to bed in.
Of course I am making all this up, I don’t know the reality of who we approached or waited for or whatever so quite possibly talking out of by backside.
Anyway, as you say we’ve taken a good first step. It’s great to have lowered the age and brought in some actual talented footballers!!! Previous Message
and showed plenty of flaws at Wolves. It is great we won both and I am genuinely enjoying some of the football we are playing. That does not mean our preparation was ideal or that our transfer window was completely successful or that the squad is as balanced or deep as it ideally would be. The added flair in attack has made up for weakness in our injury depleted defence. Our best path to results as we are currently built is goals not clean sheets. That is a big shift from recent years and far more entertaining.
So, we absolutely should look forward with optimism as the club finally looks to be on stronger foundations. We can start to dream about future possibilities whilst still acknowledging what we are, a work in progress that will have ups and downs. A midtable season with some highs and lows but no real worries along the way would represent genuine progress. I’d take that now if offered it. Anything more will be an over achievement. It would be nice if we can continue to ride our luck to deliver that.
UTFT and a whispered choo-choo. Previous Message
...by leaving it too late until signing new players rather than signing any Tom, Dick or Harry earlier... Previous MessagePrevious Message
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on September 5, 2025, 7:38 am, in reply to "