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hepphep

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Everything posted by hepphep

  1. I actually think it might be the right kind of approach to take. We have good enough team for this level, but would need to find some gems to compete in EPL. I rather see us focusing on trying to get one or two of such and get them grown into English football during our Championship season
  2. I have to disagree to some extent. Counter-pressing is only one part of the game plan and it really doesn't dictate how we build up from our own end. It actually quite often means that we want to have more possession, as it aims to win the ball back before opponent gains any possession. Someone mentioned Klopp and Guardiola using it and especially Klopp's Liverpool has been doing it extremely well. What it does add to the game is that it provides us chances for quick transitions and winning ball high on the field. If done well, that does mean that we are spending less time passing on our own end, but not that we give away possession as we will have the possession on the attacking end of the field. If implemented well, what does that mean compared to Farkeball? 1) Less back and forth passing on our own end. This is something I'm happy, because we have been very risky on this and haven't had enough ball playing ability in our central defense and in middle of the park to handle this. We have managed this on championship on decent level though, but on EPL it has been disaster. 2) More possession up the field. Involves forward players more to the game and to participate more into playmaking. Also, helps us bring up offensive fullbacks or wingbacks. We have not been extremely good at this earlier, as our offensive players have not been very creative either. So, we would likely need improvement there. Of course, if we are taking more advantage of offensive fullbacks, Giannoulis and Aarons could become assets that could be used to overnumber opponents there. Then we could have players like Dowell and hopefully Cantwell, maybe Rowe, who could cut inside from winger position and provide playmaking more centrally. This part of game is interesting one to see how it builds up. 3) Winning more balls up the field instead of on our own end. Makes us less vulnerable to opponent's counter pressing as places we would lose the ball are higher on the field. This also provides possibilities for creating quickly created chances through transition where opponent is still unorganized. These are something that would likely be perfect for Pukki's movement. However, there are also things how it could go wrong.. It needs extremely fit players with lots of energy. It also needs players to know their duty extremely well and everyone to do their job while pressing. In addition you need forward players who are comfortable with ball and fullbacks that are offensive minded. If not that, we can end up like bunch of headless chickens chasing the ball.
  3. I agree. I think his vision and perception was letting him down quite a bit in many cases as they really did not seem to be on level required in EPL (which is one reason he did not really find Pukki in EPL), but he will have bit more time and space in Championship which possibly can be seen as much improved decision making.
  4. Good question. I dont think our starting eleven needs extra additions for Championship, so maybe it really should be about planning for future. Someone who fights for place in starting eleven for now, but has potential to be good EPL player in near future. I think we really could do with adding goals and creativity to midfield and wings. I know we have plenty of wingers, but they mostly seem like guys who lack vision and quality to get that final pass done. Maybe Rowe could grow to that during season though.. Box to box midfielder with high energy would be nice. However, McLean and PLM are pretty decent there on this level. Getting younger talent to challenge them with loan + purchase option could do well. Maybe the vision and quality to provide chances for Pukki is the one I'd look for most. Either through improvement in winger department or addition of creative midfield. On the other hand, Dowell started to show glimpses of stepping up closer to end of the last season, so could it be his time? He is still pretty young and can have some unleashed potential for growth.
  5. Goal and really beautiful assist. Also played amazing through ball which was missed by his teammate. Interesting fact, Pukki played up together with Benjamin Källman who is just breaking into national team and they played really well together (both scoring from each others assist). Källman has only two weeks left on his contract, so maybe interesting free agent bet for some club..
  6. I still made amateur mistake of celebrating before posting!
  7. And once again you beat me with starting the thread. You're simply magical!
  8. I agree very much with this. He has shown twice in EPL that he can be a very good scorer on that level. Having likely his last couple of years left on top of his game, it would seem reasonable that he would want to compete in highest level possible. He does not seem like a guy who plays for money, but for passion to play and win on top level. In a way, he is too good to spend his last good years in championship. I think that can have lots of weight for his happiness and possible desire to still get transfer (either this summer or when he becomes free agent)
  9. I think he was really good when he joined, but when he came back later he never got up to speed again. I still think he could do it in EPL. What is worrying though, is how mentally tiring the season seems to been for him. When you also take in account Pukki's latest comments how hard it was mentally, it makes me wonder if the team took bigger hits on mental side than with previous relegation. I truly wish that we have right staff to bring out positive atmosphere during pre-season and us fans can do our best to help with it.
  10. Just read through some Pukki's comments from press conference of national team. Here are some of the main comments translated by me (so if something sounds silly, its me to blame!) "Club used the option, so I'm heading back there for pre-season. That's the current situation. I haven't been thinking about next season a lot. Season was so tough that I haven't been thinking football for last week at all. I have just spent time with my family and tried to recover some strength for national team crunch." "Our goal was to stay in premier league and it did not happen, so the season was disappointment. It must have been one of the toughest seasons in my career. We had lots of games and lots of losses. It's quite annoying to play when you don't win. In that sense it was hard season, both physically and mentally."
  11. So true, with goal conversion rate being 1% lower than Salah, he has really had a woeful accuracy. Should immediately terminate his contract as Pool should do with Salah as well.. Or Spurs with Kane who has even 5% lower conversion rate than Pukki. Who would want a striker with rates like that!
  12. Preparing already for relegation, cut off already 60% of studs.
  13. If we keep Pukki, 1st. If not, then we are likely fighting for spot in playoffs.
  14. He has his moments, but in a way he feels like minor upgrade to Onel. Has pace and is better dribbler, but his final delivery and decision making lets him down most of the time. Seems like trend with wingers we have bought lately..
  15. Same here. Told to my wife that it is so close that it will be judgef against us for sure. What a positive surprise it was when it was shown to be onside! And agreed, Pukki has been just amazing.
  16. I was really impressed the way Dowell played today. Best performance I've ever seen from him. Had also upped his work rate to totally different level than usual.
  17. Actually, finnish paper had interesting notion that it will be two more seasons before Pukki's daughter is at school age. Due to that, I'd guess it is 2 year contract that he is looking for and will decide after that if he and his family wants to move back to Finland or still has desire and steam left to play in top leagues.
  18. Pukki told in Finnish interview during international break that there has been no discussions about new contract with club so far. Se focus has been purely on this season. However, he expected that there will be some discussions in near future
  19. Read from one news site that The Athletic (cannot confirm this from Athletic due to paywall) has article claiming that club's option to extend Pukki's contract comes with £50k / week salary, even if we play Championship. That sure makes decision bit harder than originally thought. So, if the claim is correct, do you think we should still keep Pukki? And do you think club will use the extension option?
  20. I might be alone here, but I don't think last transfer window was disaster. It was not best ever for sure, but not all incoming was bad. Williams - is clearly PL quality player already and grown one of our best this season Kabak - does not seem to make it. Injuries didn't make situation any better here. Gilmour - not happy with him. Even though not been as bad as many think and has improved during season. Rashica - Good player. Getting up to speed and is PL quality player. Sargent - Bit mixed feelings, but I think he is improvement on what we had earlier. Think of him as sort of new Stiepermann in a way Tzolis - Was early on stated to be for future. I knew many wished he'd make it immediately, but it is too early to judge him. Normann - Was one of our best players until had to go to the surgery. Have not reached his peak level after that. PL quality. Gunn - Seemed as bad purchase at first, but had some really good performances lately. PLM - Rotation player for which I think he was bought for. Can jump in to fill some positions when needed. Losing Buendia was massive thing. Cantwell issues was another massive blow. I don't think neither of those were something that Webber could've done anything with anymore. Buendia clearly had some gentleman agreement to be able to leave after staying last champs season. Sure, I'd loved to see that replacement for Skipp. Unfortunately it seems to be one of the hardest positions to find good players, even for the top teams. We would have needed more creativity in midfield as well, this is likely where Gilmour didn't fill the expectations and Normann's injury was massive blow as well. Defensive line has actually performed far better than I expected. Could've also tried to get striker to compete or support Pukki, but we would have had to spend most of our transfer budget to get anyone proven there (and not even thinking about salaries). Many of the players have also been improving during the season (for example Williams, Rashica and Sargent). It takes time to get things to click and our pre-season was ruined with COVID. So, in that sense. I feel it really hard to blame Webber here. At least I don't know how else we should've spent the money, considering limitations in our wage budget. I think that in many ways we had to start sort of rebuilding for the team and many of the players we bought during summer will play major part in years to come.
  21. FIFA has today declared that non-russian players in Russian league are allowed to terminate their contract temporarily, making them free agents who can be signed for rest of the season to other leagues. Seems also apply players in Ukraine league. https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/organisation/fifa-council/media-releases/fifa-adopts-temporary-employment-and-registration-rules-to-address-several There might be interesting chances to grab some reinforcements for reasonable price. I wonder if we see us or any other EPL teams acting on that market.
  22. Ffs. Gunn has played better today than any of our keepers this season. MoM for sure. Earned to keep on starting. Edit. And replied for wrong post, so agreeing totally with you!
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