The Official Silly Season Summer Transfer Thread 2018/19

[Madman Maddle]

Don't think that Fonte would work in midfield just because he is a technically gifted striker (is he really?). Spraying passes from midfield and the positioning are something he's never done before. If I remember correctly Jokane tried Fonte in an advanced midfield position in a couple of games, and while I was a fan of the move at that time, he just didn't cut it. There are lots of positional transitions in football, but you rarely see strikers converting to central midfield.

[Tabby]

Don't think that Fonte would work in midfield just because he is a technically gifted striker (is he really?). Spraying passes from midfield and the positioning are something he's never done before. If I remember correctly Jokane tried Fonte in an advanced midfield position in a couple of games, and while I was a fan of the move at that time, he just didn't cut it. There are lots of positional transitions in football, but you rarely see strikers converting to central midfield.

We had an example at the club not too long ago with Mousa Dembele. Not that I think Fonte is anywhere near that level.

[Deeping_white]

Apparently Bristol City want Button - perhaps we should tell them we want to swap him with Joe Bryan

[MJG]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

[Tabby]

We're interested in Ilya Kutepov according to Russian media. Another CB, rumored price is €12 million.

http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-linked-e12m-world-cup-defender-presented-ahead-west-ham-interest/

[Twig]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

totally agree

I really do not understand the view held by a few posters that Fonte is somehow more suited to the Prem.  he failed in the Championship and the Prem us a big step up.  Defenders tend to be quicker, more tactically astute, better on the ball and into the tackle and play more effectively as a unit. They just rely less on pure physicality.  Now why would a failed Championship level forward player be more suited to that?

It's not impossible that a Striker who struggled in the Championship does well in the Prem. See Josh King. Personally I think we should try Fonte out in a Centre-Mid role in some of the Pre-Season games, because he can read the game quite well.

And who would you drop to make room for him?

It's Pre-Season. Give him a go in the Cairney role and a go in the Johansen Box-to-Box role. I'm not suggesting he should start every week in said role, but if Cairney's knee acts up for example we need someone to come in and replace him.

Agreed

How on earth do you see Fonte as a box to box midfielder?

[S.F.Sorrow]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

When Joka was at Watford they played a very direct style of football. It was some of the best football I've ever seen in the Championship. Direct doesn't always mean route 1.

There was an interview a couple of months ago where Joka hinted that our passing style was a result of adapting to the players he had available. This suggests to me that he may actually prefer a more direct style.

Personally I wouldn't mind if we go a little more direct. Possession won't get us any points and our usual sideways passing in our own half is a lot more likely to get us into trouble in the Prem.

[colinwhite]

Oh ye of little Faith!

[Riversider]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

In the 1st play off game against Derby we made 790 passes, drove me mad, and I said on here that has to change, in the second leg we reduced that by over 200 passes and we looked much better,
In the Final we stuck to the "less is more" approach and Villa couldn't live with us
You might want us to go back to 790 passes but I don't.

[MJG]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

When Joka was at Watford they played a very direct style of football. It was some of the best football I've ever seen in the Championship. Direct doesn't always mean route 1.

There was an interview a couple of months ago where Joka hinted that our passing style was a result of adapting to the players he had available. This suggests to me that he may actually prefer a more direct style.

Personally I wouldn't mind if we go a little more direct. Possession won't get us any points and our usual sideways passing in our own half is a lot more likely to get us into trouble in the Prem.

Those who like the drect style keep grasping that one quote. For me Watford were not direct in that sense of the word, what they did was get ball forward quicker with pace, but not launching it.
These seems some hope from some that deep down Joka is a Pulis/Warnock style coach and he just has to make do with players who can pass. Oh well.

[MJG]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

In the 1st play off game against Derby we made 790 passes, drove me mad, and I said on here that has to change, in the second leg we reduced that by over 200 passes and we looked much better,
In the Final we stuck to the "less is more" approach and Villa couldn't live with us
You might want us to go back to 790 passes but I don't.

I have made the point here in the past that too much possession is not good and there are stats to show that you can over pass. The optium passing number for us is in the 525-575 range. Above that we dont do so well and that is reflected as I say in other data.
We averaged 540 and topped the passing stats. I can live with that.

By the way, remember if you quote me, quote me correctly.

[cmg]

Several tmes last season I noted Slavisa looking up towards the sky. As an almost infallible expert on 'body language' I take this as irrefutable proof that Route One football will be employed next season.
It was also widely reported that on a visit with his kids to Madrid Zoo he spent some time looking at the giraffes - certain guarantee that Peter Crouch is on his way in.

[@jolslover]

Mussacchio would be a top signing. Big signing to get excited about.

[toshes mate]

As we are all good football watchers I was rather hoping that by now we would understand that Jokanovic adapts style according to who he has to play.  Give him a world class player and he will find a way of getting just that from the player.  Give him promise but raw, inexperienced or plain unfinished article and he'll find a way to get them to improve - whether or not by that stage they are good enough is another matter. 

[S.F.Sorrow]

Also boyata from celtic.... https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2883728/celtic-star-dedryck-boyata-fulham-world-cup-belgium/

We won't sign Boyata, he's not good with his feet. Very much traditional centre back.

You obviously didn't read what Slava said at the end of last season.
"There will be games in the Premier where we will have to play a more direct style"

That will please a few of the 'get it forward gang' ......Calling Matt Smith

When Joka was at Watford they played a very direct style of football. It was some of the best football I've ever seen in the Championship. Direct doesn't always mean route 1.

There was an interview a couple of months ago where Joka hinted that our passing style was a result of adapting to the players he had available. This suggests to me that he may actually prefer a more direct style.

Personally I wouldn't mind if we go a little more direct. Possession won't get us any points and our usual sideways passing in our own half is a lot more likely to get us into trouble in the Prem.

Those who like the drect style keep grasping that one quote. For me Watford were not direct in that sense of the word, what they did was get ball forward quicker with pace, but not launching it.
These seems some hope from some that deep down Joka is a Pulis/Warnock style coach and he just has to make do with players who can pass. Oh well.

I think we may have a slightly different definition of "direct". The way you described Watford, "get the ball forward quicker with pace but not launching it", THAT's what I'm talking about. That's more or less my definition of attractive direct football. The route1/Matt Smith option is more like non-football to me so it didn't even occur to me that anyone could interpret my post like that.  I really don't think anyone would truly want us to play Pulis/Warnock-style??? And I certainly don't think Joka will.

[hovewhite]

Slav he does improve players,you only have to look at AK when I watched him after sighning I couldn't see how we paid that large fee.But come the playoffs he was unbelievable.

[Texas White]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

totally agree

I really do not understand the view held by a few posters that Fonte is somehow more suited to the Prem.  he failed in the Championship and the Prem us a big step up.  Defenders tend to be quicker, more tactically astute, better on the ball and into the tackle and play more effectively as a unit. They just rely less on pure physicality.  Now why would a failed Championship level forward player be more suited to that?

It's not impossible that a Striker who struggled in the Championship does well in the Prem. See Josh King. Personally I think we should try Fonte out in a Centre-Mid role in some of the Pre-Season games, because he can read the game quite well.

And who would you drop to make room for him?

It's Pre-Season. Give him a go in the Cairney role and a go in the Johansen Box-to-Box role. I'm not suggesting he should start every week in said role, but if Cairney's knee acts up for example we need someone to come in and replace him.

Agreed

How on earth do you see Fonte as a box to box midfielder?

Because we think the opposite of you.
If Slav rates him he will play him. If not he will be gone at Christmas.

Either way support of the players and the team is what counts.

[FFC1987]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

totally agree

I really do not understand the view held by a few posters that Fonte is somehow more suited to the Prem.  he failed in the Championship and the Prem us a big step up.  Defenders tend to be quicker, more tactically astute, better on the ball and into the tackle and play more effectively as a unit. They just rely less on pure physicality.  Now why would a failed Championship level forward player be more suited to that?

It's not impossible that a Striker who struggled in the Championship does well in the Prem. See Josh King. Personally I think we should try Fonte out in a Centre-Mid role in some of the Pre-Season games, because he can read the game quite well.

And who would you drop to make room for him?

It's Pre-Season. Give him a go in the Cairney role and a go in the Johansen Box-to-Box role. I'm not suggesting he should start every week in said role, but if Cairney's knee acts up for example we need someone to come in and replace him.

Agreed

How on earth do you see Fonte as a box to box midfielder?

Because we think the opposite of you.
If Slav rates him he will play him. If not he will be gone at Christmas.

Either way support of the players and the team is what counts.

I must admit, I really don't see how anyone can see him as a box to box midfielder....or at least an effective one and that's from someone who actually rates Fonte for his game reading ability and technical ability....

[RP24]

Krul to Fulham is now on sky's top 10 whispers so maybe that's not dead?

[bigalffc]

Linked to Marvin Plattenhard from Herta Berlin