THE FINAL PIECE IN THE JIGSAW

newyddion

Well-known member
Forgive the less than accurate appearance and goals figures.. it's just a quick cut and paste job from wiki.

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What a window! Replacements and improvements made across the whole squad. But what of the missing left back/left sided defender? Names like Jake Bidwell, Ciaron Brown and Kean Bryan banded about.. even another almost obligatory mention for Baba Rahman.

Jake Bidwell enters into the final year of his contract playing most of his games further up the pitch, similar to Baba Rahman. Ciaron Brown clearly fancied by Neil Warnock but not at the price Cardiff were asking, more of left sided defender than Bidwell and Rahman.. much like Kean Bryan (still a free agent) could he be the one? The final piece in the jigsaw?

or is that us done and dusted for reals now? Kebano and Coulson played most of their games Left Midfield and we have Siliki, Jones, possibly even Malley in the mix (left footed?)

When compared to the start of last season.. we had no cover for Nathan Wood, where now we have Sol Bamba (pretty decent cover imo) Roberts started but was later superseded by Watmore. Fletcher was crocked and we had a less than able Britt Assombalonga going through the motions. Chuba Akpom wasn't Chuks Aneke and the likes of Kebano, Bolasie, Mendez-Laing didn't make an appearance until January.

Yes Ameobi is injured and Browne is still several months away.. but it feels like we're there or thereabouts. Cover for Marc Bola would be the icing on the cake for me, a left sided defender in the form of Kean Bryan would give me a little more confidence.

We could always dust off 'Newyddion's Moneyball Excel Spreadsheet' - I see an old favourite Ali Adnan is available on a free transfer after visa issues working playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.. Karen Nelson might have her work cut out on that one!

"Ali Adnan is somewhat the Iraqi Ian Harte, a left-back with a ferocious set piece. He is a tall and physical but fast player, which lends well to Iraq’s counter-attack philosophy, and to Turkish media, Adnan is known as the new Gareth Bale or Asia's Gareth Bale or the "Iraqi Roberto Carlos". Adnan is an attack-minded left back, possesses a strong physique and a powerful long-range shooting ability. Adnan bursts from the back straight into the opposite half of the field with some sublime footworks propelling him to go past defenders and midfielders with ease. Always brimming with energy and full of athletism coupled with his unrivalled strength, opponents find it a tough task taming the wild and audacious left-back who is often than not, seen in the third half of the field entertaining viewers with dazzling skills and screamers from long ranges. Adnan has still managed to stand out on account of his marauding runs down the left wing, as well as his useful habit of popping up with vitally important goals. In spite of his attacking prowess, Adnan serves as a good pillar for his team when defending. He is also very adept at playing long passes and crosses into the penalty area."


FUN FACT: He's under the same agency as Anfernee Dijksteel & Marc Bola
 
Onel Hernandez is in there twice, not sure if that's deliberate?!

It's going to take some time to see how this is going to play out, but there are some reasons to be excited for sure
 
Forgive the less than accurate appearance and goals figures.. it's just a quick cut and paste job from wiki.

View attachment 23716

What a window! Replacements and improvements made across the whole squad. But what of the missing left back/left sided defender? Names like Jake Bidwell, Ciaron Brown and Kean Bryan banded about.. even another almost obligatory mention for Baba Rahman.

Jake Bidwell enters into the final year of his contract playing most of his games further up the pitch, similar to Baba Rahman. Ciaron Brown clearly fancied by Neil Warnock but not at the price Cardiff were asking, more of left sided defender than Bidwell and Rahman.. much like Kean Bryan (still a free agent) could he be the one? The final piece in the jigsaw?

or is that us done and dusted for reals now? Kebano and Coulson played most of their games Left Midfield and we have Siliki, Jones, possibly even Malley in the mix (left footed?)

When compared to the start of last season.. we had no cover for Nathan Wood, where now we have Sol Bamba (pretty decent cover imo) Roberts started but was later superseded by Watmore. Fletcher was crocked and we had a less than able Britt Assombalonga going through the motions. Chuba Akpom wasn't Chuks Aneke and the likes of Kebano, Bolasie, Mendez-Laing didn't make an appearance until January.

Yes Ameobi is injured and Browne is still several months away.. but it feels like we're there or thereabouts. Cover for Marc Bola would be the icing on the cake for me, a left sided defender in the form of Kean Bryan would give me a little more confidence.

We could always dust off 'Newyddion's Moneyball Excel Spreadsheet' - I see an old favourite Ali Adnan is available on a free transfer after visa issues working playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps.. Karen Nelson might have her work cut out on that one!

"Ali Adnan is somewhat the Iraqi Ian Harte, a left-back with a ferocious set piece. He is a tall and physical but fast player, which lends well to Iraq’s counter-attack philosophy, and to Turkish media, Adnan is known as the new Gareth Bale or Asia's Gareth Bale or the "Iraqi Roberto Carlos". Adnan is an attack-minded left back, possesses a strong physique and a powerful long-range shooting ability. Adnan bursts from the back straight into the opposite half of the field with some sublime footworks propelling him to go past defenders and midfielders with ease. Always brimming with energy and full of athletism coupled with his unrivalled strength, opponents find it a tough task taming the wild and audacious left-back who is often than not, seen in the third half of the field entertaining viewers with dazzling skills and screamers from long ranges. Adnan has still managed to stand out on account of his marauding runs down the left wing, as well as his useful habit of popping up with vitally important goals. In spite of his attacking prowess, Adnan serves as a good pillar for his team when defending. He is also very adept at playing long passes and crosses into the penalty area."


FUN FACT: He's under the same agency as Anfernee Dijksteel & Marc Bola
You've sold me on him Newy, get Bausor and Scott on the blower.
 
Onel Hernandez is in there twice, not sure if that's deliberate?!

It's going to take some time to see how this is going to play out, but there are some reasons to be excited for sure
Yeah, 24 games and 4 goals to make up in total
 
Loris Benito 6'0 29yo ex Bordeaux Swiss International. left back can play centre back and left midfield. *NEWYDDION'S TOP PICK

Loris Benito, 29, was a regular fixture in the Bordeaux defence last season, managing 31 Ligue 1 appearances, 25 appearances the season before that, comes with a Champions League pedigree and a reputation as being a solid and reliable player.

The five-cap Switzerland international is an attack-minded full-back blessed with the rare balance of defensive diligence as well. Benito is powerful, strong, has good pace and tackling skills. The Swiss ace is also a good passer of the ball and tends to keep things simple at the back. While he is a good crosser of the ball from the wide areas, the 29-year-old also likes to link up the play and sets up his teammates with key passes. Benito’s game-reading and positional awareness coupled with his decent pace allow him to track back and make recovery runs to cut out the attacks, while his ability to time his tackles to perfection makes him a valuable asset to the backline.


The best of the rest..

Julien Serrano 5'9 23o ex Monaco was on loan at Livingston last season

Milad Mohammadi 5'10 27yo ex Gent, Iranian left back/left winger
 
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Benito better than no one at all. But does he want to uproot to be a back up? Cant understand why club couldnt find nor one promising left back from EFL.who was prepared to bide time as back up and compete with bola when chance comes....had a month to do it.
 
Benito better than no one at all. But does he want to uproot to be a back up? Cant understand why club couldn't find nor one promising left back from EFL.who was prepared to bide time as back up and compete with bola when chance comes....had a month to do it.
Ciaron Brown was mentioned. Big Mick didn't fancy selling him to Warnock!

Kean Bryan also mentioned, i'm guessing we'd still be interested. Maybe go back in for Ciaron in January and run the gauntlet with wingbacks if necessary until then?
 
Who is the current u23's regular LB? Whoever that is they must fancy their chances of making the bench this season at some stage.
 
Ciaron Brown was mentioned. Big Mick didn't fancy selling him to Warnock!

Kean Bryan also mentioned, i'm guessing we'd still be interested. Maybe go back in for Ciaron in January and run the gauntlet with wingbacks if necessary until then?
Dear Emeritus Professor of Soccerology & Lists of Infinite Wisdom @newyddion...............

Could it not be, that with Ciarron's contract being heavily rumoured to only run till January, he is already in his last six months and has signed a pre-contract with us?

Although I have a strong preference for an Iraqi, there's got to be some 'missile' and 'bomb' puns to be had, that Swiss lad sounds decent too. Get it sorted.
 
Dear Emeritus Professor of Soccerology & Lists of Infinite Wisdom @newyddion...............

Could it not be, that with Ciarron's contract being heavily rumoured to only run till January, he is already in his last six months and has signed a pre-contract with us?

Although I have a strong preference for an Iraqi, there's got to be some 'missile' and 'bomb' puns to be had, that Swiss lad sounds decent too. Get it sorted.
I thought about the pre-contract situation, but someone corrected me on here I think about it not applying if it's a player in the same country.

Big Mick seems to think his contract runs out this summer!
 
Impressive.
I trust Neil will have scoured the "free" player market - which this season appears to have been swollen by post-covid austerity?
Its a buyers market and I trust Neil to find us cover for Bola and on the left side(y)
Pretty exciting times all round me thinks.
There were one or two players mentioned for the left back/left sided defender role (as back up) and I can see why it would be worthwhile waiting it out and trying to pick up a free agent from after the window.

Jamie McGrath is an interesting one.. if we were the club credited with an interest at £300k and we decided to take the option on a different player. I can well imagine that player being James Léa Siliki and it makes sense to have several irons in the fire.. but with the past last minute departure of Djed Spence I get the feeling we might even bring in.. ONE OTHER
 
Forgive me repeating what Ive posted on another thread - but this squad looks impressive.
Neils players thus far:



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