The Official Silly Season January Transfer Thread 2021/22

[bencher]

Fulham's are confident they can get Diawara on loan this window with an obligation to buy if we go up, if we cannot get him on loan in this window, we will go back for him permanently in the summer. Struggled for from for Roma but was excellent at Napoli prior

This is v exciting if true.

I know nothing about him if I'm being honest but why do we need a DM?

Reed is so obviously better in that role rather than as an 8. We have seri, Chalobah, and to a less degree Onomah as back up.

I don't understand the signing really, surely a new winger or fullback is more pressing.

I think a top, top class DM would transform the team. You could argue that all of those recent long rangers that we've conceded could to some extent have been prevented by a more mobile, imposing DM. As you say, it's not really anyone's position at the club bar Reed. I see Chalobah, Seri and Onomah all as more advanced midfielders.

I have no opinion on Diawara, but I think that having a top quality DM could only enhance the team. Reed is popular because he breaks his neck every game, chasing after everything like a whippet, but sometimes less is more. You didn't see Makelele do that, because his reading of the game meant it wasn't necessary to put in last ditch tackles constantly.

It was also one of the big failings of the 18/19 recruitment splurge, because Seri is not a DM, more of a Xavi/Pirlo type deep lying midfielder, and Anguissa loves to get forward but isn't a shielding midfielder.

It is clear that this position was identified as weakness by someone in recruitment, as you will remember we were chasing William Carvalho last summer, another typical DM.

[Lordedmundo]

Fulham's are confident they can get Diawara on loan this window with an obligation to buy if we go up, if we cannot get him on loan in this window, we will go back for him permanently in the summer. Struggled for from for Roma but was excellent at Napoli prior

This is v exciting if true.

I know nothing about him if I'm being honest but why do we need a DM?

Reed is so obviously better in that role rather than as an 8. We have seri, Chalobah, and to a less degree Onomah as back up.

I don't understand the signing really, surely a new winger or fullback is more pressing.

I think a top, top class DM would transform the team. You could argue that all of those recent long rangers that we've conceded could to some extent have been prevented by a more mobile, imposing DM. As you say, it's not really anyone's position at the club bar Reed. I see Chalobah, Seri and Onomah all as more advanced midfielders.

I agree with this. Currently Reed is the only DM we have to be a consistent performer.  I think this is Chalobah role, but I haven't seen enough of him to say whether he is good enough if we go up.

In all honesty, I think we also need an upgrade in the advanced midfield position.  Personally I would release Seri at the end of the season - he is on massive wages and I think we need someone with a bit more physicality. Sadly, I have seen nothing to suggest that Onomah is a top Championship player, let alone someone good enough for the Premier League...

[JEEVES]

Fulham's are confident they can get Diawara on loan this window with an obligation to buy if we go up, if we cannot get him on loan in this window, we will go back for him permanently in the summer. Struggled for from for Roma but was excellent at Napoli prior

This is v exciting if true.

I know nothing about him if I'm being honest but why do we need a DM?

Reed is so obviously better in that role rather than as an 8. We have seri, Chalobah, and to a less degree Onomah as back up.

I don't understand the signing really, surely a new winger or fullback is more pressing.

I think a top, top class DM would transform the team. You could argue that all of those recent long rangers that we've conceded could to some extent have been prevented by a more mobile, imposing DM. As you say, it's not really anyone's position at the club bar Reed. I see Chalobah, Seri and Onomah all as more advanced midfielders.

I have no opinion on Diawara, but I think that having a top quality DM could only enhance the team. Reed is popular because he breaks his neck every game, chasing after everything like a whippet, but sometimes less is more. You didn't see Makelele do that, because his reading of the game meant it wasn't necessary to put in last ditch tackles constantly.

It was also one of the big failings of the 18/19 recruitment splurge, because Seri is not a DM, more of a Xavi/Pirlo type deep lying midfielder, and Anguissa loves to get forward but isn't a shielding midfielder.

It is clear that this position was identified as weakness by someone in recruitment, as you will remember we were chasing William Carvalho last summer, another typical DM.

Yeah, we could have done with Harrison Reed in the 18/19 season

[humussapiens]

Italian news said yesterday "unsuccessful attempt by Fulham to get Diawara to England". Who knows what will be...

[Deeping_white]

Fulham's are confident they can get Diawara on loan this window with an obligation to buy if we go up, if we cannot get him on loan in this window, we will go back for him permanently in the summer. Struggled for from for Roma but was excellent at Napoli prior

This is v exciting if true.

I know nothing about him if I'm being honest but why do we need a DM?

Reed is so obviously better in that role rather than as an 8. We have seri, Chalobah, and to a less degree Onomah as back up.

I don't understand the signing really, surely a new winger or fullback is more pressing.

I think a top, top class DM would transform the team. You could argue that all of those recent long rangers that we've conceded could to some extent have been prevented by a more mobile, imposing DM. As you say, it's not really anyone's position at the club bar Reed. I see Chalobah, Seri and Onomah all as more advanced midfielders.

Agreed - Reed is very good off the ball but he's arguably the weakest from a creativity/distribution perspective, which I think we need a balance of both from a DM in Silva's system. It's probably why he uses Reed as a #8 and Seri as the #6, because he's got better passing range to move the ball around at the base of the midfield. A good DM who can do what Reed does and have some of Seri's distribution is what we need ideally, especially as next season if we're in the PL we'll need to be even more efficient with the ball than we currently are to create chances against better opposition, whilst retaining some steel in the middle of the park to keep a solid spine.

[jayffc]

Fulham's are confident they can get Diawara on loan this window with an obligation to buy if we go up, if we cannot get him on loan in this window, we will go back for him permanently in the summer. Struggled for from for Roma but was excellent at Napoli prior

This is v exciting if true.

I know nothing about him if I'm being honest but why do we need a DM?

Reed is so obviously better in that role rather than as an 8. We have seri, Chalobah, and to a less degree Onomah as back up.

I don't understand the signing really, surely a new winger or fullback is more pressing.

I think a top, top class DM would transform the team. You could argue that all of those recent long rangers that we've conceded could to some extent have been prevented by a more mobile, imposing DM. As you say, it's not really anyone's position at the club bar Reed. I see Chalobah, Seri and Onomah all as more advanced midfielders.

I agree with this. Currently Reed is the only DM we have to be a consistent performer.  I think this is Chalobah role, but I haven't seen enough of him to say whether he is good enough if we go up.

In all honesty, I think we also need an upgrade in the advanced midfield position.  Personally I would release Seri at the end of the season - he is on massive wages and I think we need someone with a bit more physicality. Sadly, I have seen nothing to suggest that Onomah is a top Championship player, let alone someone good enough for the Premier League...

Release Seri now that he's in fantastic form? No chance, one of the best players at the ACN atm by all reports and might just finally make the step up. IF we get promoted we can easily afford the wages. Move on Onomah, Midfield options of Reed, Seri, Chalobah, Diawara, potentially Anguissa, Cairney and Fabio would be a pretty decent pot to pick from for 3 slots. With how theyre playing this year they deserve a shot together in the Prem imo.

Players I'd ship out:

Fabi
Ream (not because I dont love him but it appears his time is up and he may return to MLS)
Mawson or Hector (one of)
Bryan (and replace him with someone like Aina)
Stephen Sess loan or sale
Onomah
Knockaert
Cavaliero
Quina sent back
Stansfield on loan (assuming we bring in another attacking player capable of covering up top if Mitro and Muniz are out)

[Caedal]

I wont get alot of support for this I'm sure, but I personally dont think Reed is a very good DM. He doesnt read the game very well, and uses his running/determination to try and make up for positional errors. He's not a player that will be disciplined and just sit in front of the back 4 like a Makelele or Kante will, he feels the need to be constantly rushing around pressurising the ball and can get bypassed as a result. Seri, despite it not being his natural position is far more inclined to sit in that role and keep the play moving while offering a shield to the back 4.
Alot of the goals we've conceded recently have been from there being too much space outside the box, which is exactly the position Reed should be in. Thats why he's in the team. This hasnt been happening when Seri was in the deep role. Reed needs to be more disciplined when playing that deeper role. He also 100% cannot play in the other advanced midfield role and he offers NOTHING going forward. He might be pretty good in a system like Chelsea play with the double DM pivot alongside someone who will just sit in while he runs about.

I understand that fans generally like a blood and guts player who will run about alot, but for the way Silva wants us to play, we need more discipline from that position

[St. Andrews White]

Any idea of a possible fee for Diawara in this buy option?

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[St Eve]

JayffC - You would ship out Fabio?

[Sting of the North]

I wont get alot of support for this I'm sure, but I personally dont think Reed is a very good DM. He doesnt read the game very well, and uses his running/determination to try and make up for positional errors. He's not a player that will be disciplined and just sit in front of the back 4 like a Makelele or Kante will, he feels the need to be constantly rushing around pressurising the ball and can get bypassed as a result. Seri, despite it not being his natural position is far more inclined to sit in that role and keep the play moving while offering a shield to the back 4.
Alot of the goals we've conceded recently have been from there being too much space outside the box, which is exactly the position Reed should be in. Thats why he's in the team. This hasnt been happening when Seri was in the deep role. Reed needs to be more disciplined when playing that deeper role. He also 100% cannot play in the other advanced midfield role and he offers NOTHING going forward. He might be pretty good in a system like Chelsea play with the double DM pivot alongside someone who will just sit in while he runs about.

I understand that fans generally like a blood and guts player who will run about alot, but for the way Silva wants us to play, we need more discipline from that position

:plus one:
Been thinking this for a long time. In my opinion Reed needs to be carried by a better DM and better ball players. Only then will his energy and constant running be really effective. He offers too little in both directions for me.

[JimOG]

I wont get alot of support for this I'm sure, but I personally dont think Reed is a very good DM. He doesnt read the game very well, and uses his running/determination to try and make up for positional errors. He's not a player that will be disciplined and just sit in front of the back 4 like a Makelele or Kante will, he feels the need to be constantly rushing around pressurising the ball and can get bypassed as a result. Seri, despite it not being his natural position is far more inclined to sit in that role and keep the play moving while offering a shield to the back 4.
Alot of the goals we've conceded recently have been from there being too much space outside the box, which is exactly the position Reed should be in. Thats why he's in the team. This hasnt been happening when Seri was in the deep role. Reed needs to be more disciplined when playing that deeper role. He also 100% cannot play in the other advanced midfield role and he offers NOTHING going forward. He might be pretty good in a system like Chelsea play with the double DM pivot alongside someone who will just sit in while he runs about.

I understand that fans generally like a blood and guts player who will run about alot, but for the way Silva wants us to play, we need more discipline from that position

And if we're looking to next season Seri, who will be 31, will be blown away in the athleticism of the Premiership. Onomah hasn't kicked on, Chalobah has looked good from the little I've seen of him so maybe Silva is thinking Chalobah/Diawarra are to fill that role?

:plus one:
Been thinking this for a long time. In my opinion Reed needs to be carried by a better DM and better ball players. Only then will his energy and constant running be really effective. He offers too little in both directions for me.

[Mince n Tatties]

Quina off to Swansea.

[Tabby]

Quina off to Swansea.

Hope so, waste of time and money to have him here if we aren't playing him.

[Fulham 442]

Quina off to Swansea.

Is the current rumour ...no loss whatsoever. Either that or back to Watford, either way gone..

[cmg]

...
Players I'd ship out:

Fabi
Ream (not because I dont love him but it appears his time is up and he may return to MLS)
Mawson or Hector (one of)
Bryan (and replace him with someone like Aina)
Stephen Sess loan or sale
Onomah
Knockaert
Cavaliero
Quina sent back
Stansfield on loan (assuming we bring in another attacking player capable of covering up top if Mitro and Muniz are out)

I'm intrigued as to how these mass 'shippings out' can be arranged.
Do we swap their Nike Mercurials for concrete boots and take them for a one-way ride up the Thames?
It takes (at least) 3 to tango in transfers. It needs to satisfy two clubs and the player (plus agents). This equally applies to 'sending back' year long loans. You can't just get shot of them because you don't fancy them anymore.

[Cookie6262]

To be honest I think that's a decent list and we could
probably manage it.... Fabri and Mawson are out of contract, Quina is just a loan, allow Ream a free transfer to the MLS and sell a few of the others.

[jayffc]

JayffC - You would ship out Fabio?

Fabri* sorry typo!

[jayffc]

...
Players I'd ship out:

Fabi
Ream (not because I dont love him but it appears his time is up and he may return to MLS)
Mawson or Hector (one of)
Bryan (and replace him with someone like Aina)
Stephen Sess loan or sale
Onomah
Knockaert
Cavaliero
Quina sent back
Stansfield on loan (assuming we bring in another attacking player capable of covering up top if Mitro and Muniz are out)

I'm intrigued as to how these mass 'shippings out' can be arranged.
Do we swap their Nike Mercurials for concrete boots and take them for a one-way ride up the Thames?
It takes (at least) 3 to tango in transfers. It needs to satisfy two clubs and the player (plus agents). This equally applies to 'sending back' year long loans. You can't just get shot of them because you don't fancy them anymore.

I was referring to the end of the season fwiw
Not sure why so sarcastic though... look at any other window and you'll see 9 players departing isn't that wild
especially when you factor in 1 will be the end of his loan... 2 will be out of contract - so thats only 6 out now.

That would leave a number of players all capable of getting a lower championship club at least- other than perhaps Sess, with Ream likely returning to America?

I can only assume the tone came from assuming I meant this January - but you'll see I was responding to a message from a guy saying he would get rid of Seri at the end of the season.

Even then - it wouldn't be impossible to manage the above even if it was Jan tbh...but for now there's little need to break things up.

[fulhamfan]

Cav still a good option off the bench imo

[WestSussexWhite]

Any idea of a possible fee for Diawara in this buy option?

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I don't know I'm afraid. Roma signed him for over 20 million a few years ago I believe