17 Apr 2026 23:48:50
Apparently Anderson and Wharton are both locked in for transfers elsewhere. This will be an ongoing situation for the next few months until we lock in some transfers in/out.
One name I want us to all remember is that our own, Kone.
By all accounts, he is returning high level performances at Lausanne under the watchful eye of our own technical directors team.
I would love for him to be integrated for next season and I would argue he is closer than any of our youth defensive mids.
Some will say he is too young. Just remember, Max Dowman is 16 and playing UCL QTR finals and chasing a Premier League winners medal.
I think Kone is class, and the best I've seen in our youth mids for a long time.
18 Apr 2026 01:31:15
Manu Kone. Our own Kone, beside him, would be great if he's up to it, but the Roma player is fantastic now.
18 Apr 2026 03:31:29
Playing on the wing is probably the most forgiving position a young player can play.
We've had a few over the years that have done well in patches, like Januzaj, even Garnacho looked good there. Dowman looks decent in cameos, but the game he started against Southampton in the cup, he didn't play well. Coming on off the bench and running at full backs is a dream for a kid.
I'm not knocking Dowman at all, he's gonna have a career at the top it seems, but because one team puts a 15 year old in, doesn't mean everyone should, and centre midfield in the Premier League is tough for the best.
Let the lad grow and play men's football at a lower level for a couple of years before we chuck him in the deep end.
Though we're looking like there are a few younglings that could potentially get some minutes next year, maybe Kone could be one of them.
18 Apr 2026 05:30:32
Take your point, Mumbles, I feel from what I've seen, he is ahead of, say, the Fletcher twins in ability.
He is more athletic than our own Mainoo, who is only a couple of years older, but is a great example of not throwing them in early.
18 Apr 2026 12:09:51
I think if Dowman were more central, we'd see why youngsters are probably not quite ready for the battlefield that is the middle of a Premier League football pitch.
18 Apr 2026 15:55:36
I think we'll see a few of that class get minutes, Jimbo. Definitely a few talents in there, just whether or not they take their chance.
The stars need to line up just right.
18 Apr 2026 16:15:03
Jimbo, are you talking about Dowman or Kone?
18 Apr 2026 16:38:41
I want to see Kone do well, but let's be honest, he's played 134 minutes across 5 appearances while on loan.
He's hardly tearing up the Swiss League, is he.
It's much harder for youth players to break into the first team of a top side if they are playing down the spine of the team.
Sekou Kone might be fine next season as the 5th choice option in midfield.
Although, from what I'm hearing, Christian Orozco, who'll be joining in the summer, is far more likely to be the midfield player who bounces between the Academy and the first team next season. With the club feeling like Kone could do with another loan first.
18 Apr 2026 17:04:42
Shappy, if we get UCL we are gonna be playing multiple times a week, we need to be integrating youth and none better, at this time, than Kone to integrate for cup games against lower league teams. We are drastically thin in midfield with Cas and Ugarte probably leaving.
We may very well end up signing two midfielders for the first team, but that still isnt a very well rounded depth to push on in cups, UCL and the league.
18 Apr 2026 17:53:24
I had high hopes for kone when I fist saw snippets. But his loan spell has been pretty disastrous.
Just the one league start and subbed at half time and a couple of 10 min sub appearances. He was omitted from their Europa league squad he did start a league cup game but again subbed at 45 mins.
He has played less than 90 mins in the league he just can't get into the team.
Maybe the bad injury he got for our u21s has shook his confidence. I suspect another loan unless he comes back strong in pre season. This experience will hopefully help him in the long term. Still very young and raw.
Its a pity he hasn't got many minutes to prove himself as the door is open for a young squad filler next season.
18 Apr 2026 18:18:57
Angel, Kone.
18 Apr 2026 19:05:05
Jimbo, if it is Kone you're talking about, you do know he is a few months older than Mainoo.
He is also getting barely any game time in the Swiss league at Servette.
I like him, but to say he is more athletic than Mainoo, and then say he is younger, is just so bizarre.
18 Apr 2026 19:33:35
Sorry they're same age.
19 Apr 2026 02:04:12
The coach there doesn't fancy him at all. 55 mins in the league since he signed. I don't think they are doing well, so putting a young guy into a poor team, obviously, is maybe not what the coach sees as a good move.
I hope he gets a chance to prove himself.