09 Apr 2024 12:36:41
Branthwaite for £70m now apparently.
I think that's about right, any takers?
09 Apr 2024 13:16:47
lol. Any other nationality and it's halved.
09 Apr 2024 13:29:06
Havent seen enough of him, everyone was raving about the lad at Wolves 2 seasons ago now at Brentford supposed to be the next big thing, he hasn't set the world light =70 mill is a lot of money.
Although I still say I would go with a front line of Rashford (reluctantly or Another) Diallo, Hojland Garnacho, Antony (reluctantly) if it meant spashing our budget after sales on 2 top Centre halfs and a quality defensive midfielder. not ideal but in short term that would improve us before we look at other areas.
This is where the new regime have to show what they can do regarding recruitment.
09 Apr 2024 13:29:41
There's a reason Everton have the 4th lowest goals conceded in the league.
09 Apr 2024 13:32:59
I’d pay about three fiddy.
09 Apr 2024 13:48:14
I would sign him in a heartbeat. He has everything we need in a CB, strong, good in the air, quick, mobile, good on the ball, great defensive instincts and reading of the game, communicates well and shown some potential leadership qualities.
He's also young and English and its good to have a few of those at the core of your side, and he has the talent and the ability to be first choice for the next decade.
You look at Liverpool and they have had Henderson, TAA, and Robertson (British) who have been core first team players, along with the likes of Gomez, Jones, Bradley, Elliott in and around the first team.
City have had Stones, Walker, Foden, Grealish, Sterling, and Rico Lewis in and around the first team.
Arsenal have White, Ramsdale, Rice, Saka, Smith-Rowe, and Nketiah in and around their first team.
While Newcastle have recruited a core of British players since their takeover, Gordon, Trippier, Burn, Livramento, Barnes, Wilson, Pope, Hall, Targett, and Willock.
To be a top side in the EPL you need a core of top class British players (Homegrown), you should have 3-6 players who should be in and around the national side.
Currently we have Maguire, AWB, Shaw, Mount, Mainoo, McTominay, Rashford, Greenwood and Sancho.
Of that 9 only 3 maybe 4 have a medium to long term future at the club (Shaw, Mount, Mainoo and Rashford) . The other 5 will almost certainly leave either this summer or next, while the 4 I've said could have a longer term future there are question marks over the longevity of Shaw, while Rashford is in poor form and could well be sold if a good offer comes in. Leaving only Mainoo and Mount as players who will definitely be here in 3-4 years time.
Therefore, we should be looking to snap up the best young British talent to become core players for the new team we are trying to build. Branthwaite looks a level above any other British player who may be available this summer, with the majority of the best young British players already playing for the likes of City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Newcastle.
Other potential British players we could sign might be Alex Scott, James Trafford, Adam Wharton, Archie Gray, and Evan Ferguson.
Ferguson would be far too expensive, Trafford could be a good option of Bayindir leaves this summer. Archie Gray looks the pick of the bunch but would be very difficult to sign from Leeds and he also plays in a similar position to Mainoo, its not ideal to have too many young and inexperienced players in the same position.
It's feeling like we missed a trick with Antony Gordon and Cole Palmer looking at how they have played this season. I definitely wouldn't want to miss out on Branthwaite this summer when many of our rivals probably won't be in the chase for him. Liverpool is a no go option for an Everton player, Arsenal are very settled, as are City, while Chelsea have recently signed several young CB's. Maybe only Newcastle would rival us for his signature this summer.
Much like in EtH's first summer, in hindsight we should have coughed up the 70m West Ham wanted for Rice rather than sign Casemiro. Not only would he have had better longevity, he'd have been a long term leader and been a core homegrown player for us.
We need to make sure we are front of the queue for the best young British talent, especially when they are already good enough to be first choice for us and they play in a position of need. Not going for Branthwaite this summer will much like with Declan Rice be looked back on as a missed opportunity.
09 Apr 2024 14:16:45
Did you just call Evan Ferguson British?
It’s like seeing colonialism in action. You start by saying English players, then expand it to British players and then expand Britain to include Republic of Ireland. Oliver Shapwell on the march for domination ?.
09 Apr 2024 14:35:03
Oliver Shapwell. Too funny ???.
09 Apr 2024 14:39:32
Shappy wash your mouth out.
British??.
09 Apr 2024 15:01:41
Can imagine him at City tbh sadly.
09 Apr 2024 15:17:38
I like that Branthwaite has had a bit of a football education abroad too. It’s good seeing more British youngsters going and playing in Europe, really think it helps them. I’d sign Branthwaite definitely in the summer if we have the chance. He’s the sort of signing City would make.
09 Apr 2024 15:32:43
i see a bit of chat about the lad Tosin at Fulham out of contract in summer, don't know about him but tabloiads say Spurs and Lpoll keenon him as a highly rated centre half.
09 Apr 2024 16:17:17
Hands up guys, that was a brain dead moment. Given that he's got 12 cap for Ireland I doubt he'll be doing a Rice or Grealish any time soon.
I was using British and homegrown interchangeably there and I really shouldn't as the two are not the same thing.
Danny, Ideally you want an English core to an English side, just as you should have a Spanish core to a Spanish side or an Italian core to an Italian side.
I think with English sides that extends to the home nations and Ireland as the shared language, culture and upbringing are so similar that you can create a unified core of players who have been brought up in a similar way. I think it helps to create a more unified dressing room and create a team spirit.
Fortunately we have some players in our academy who could also break into the first team squad over the next few years that would help with the homegrown quota down the line. Players like Shea Lacey, Harry Amass, the Fletcher twins, Elyh Harrison, Dan Gore, Charlie McNeil and Ethan Wheatley could all make it into the first team squad. Although Amass, Lacey and the Fletcher twins seem most likely to actually be able to push for a first 11 place.