Confirmed Signing Jake O'Brien

[Tony’s Carp]

Heard he has a back injury…..

Very unlucky to have picked up three injuries at once.

 

[bluelife]

Never heard of the load, but basically looks like an Irish Branthwaite so must be decent.

 

[irishblue11]

This lad is a very good player, good in the air and comfortable on the ball. He was very highly thought of at Lyon, definitely a good prospect going forward

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

What are our scouts doing? Why can’t they catch these signings earlier? What price did he go for 12 months ago? £1m?

Are you serious?

 

[MichaelEFC96]

Pickford
O'Brien - Tarkowski - Branthwaite
Harrison - Garner - Gana - McNeil
Ndiaye - Lindstrøm
Beto/Chermiti
​

Not a bad team on paper. Myko and Coleman can cover both wing back and wide centre back positions. Keeps Doucs off the pitch mostly. Add Gnonto to compete for one of those attacking midfield spots and we would actually have the makings of a decently balanced and competitive side.

With all that said I would be shocked if Dyche actually changes his system.

​

This should be our team when we're playing a less attacking outfit, I suspect Coleman and Mykolenko would come in when we're up against it.

I think this system suits us best for the players we have but I wish we could get a better no 9

 

[Neiler]

An Seamus Rua!

 

[windymiller]

Are people pretending to know about an Irish footballer playing in France?

Of course, this is GoT!

I can state, with absolute certainty, that the only player we have signed this summer that I can remember ever seeing kick a ball is N'Diaye. And that was ages ago, when he was at Sheffield United, and I barely remember that. I'd never even heard of Iroegbunam or Lindstrom and I've probably only heard of O'Brien because of all the Irish lads on here.

I have, however, seen Gnonto play a lot and I don't want him. I assume he'll be signing forthwith.

 

[Osamabindiesel]

Our new RB

 

[kenada_blue]

Potentially we'd be left with just Tarkowski next summer if we don't sign a centre back so a bit of forward planning.

Thought we might get a cheaper more versatile player from the continent but this guy seems a prospect.

100%

 

[windymiller]

Why not going with that formation, the personnel we have suit to that better

Because 3-5-2 under Dyche is actually 5-4-1.

 

[kev]

Yes please, Everton HAS to have an Irishman.

Well at 6'6" he's no Leprechaun that's for sure.

 

[Eidean]

There’s absolutely no chance Sean Dyche plays an attacking 3 at the back, he’s not going to start doing it this far into his managerial career.

Hes either replacing an injured Tarkowski, Branthwaite’s off or somehow they’ve convinced him to be 3rd choice until JB goes next summer.

Exactly the type of transfer we should be making, especially for the price knocking about. Most centre halves will do fine in a Dyche back 4. Oh whoever it is says he’s “painfully slow” on here, couldn’t be more wrong

 

[COYBL25]

Also think this suggests either Branthwaite is leaving or more likely, one of him and Tarkowski has an injury

Or Dyche can see that an injury to either one of them means bringing one of the Chuckle Brothers in as a replacement.

 

[Zatara]

17m

Awful lot of money

Media reports have been quoting £25mil for him. Its basically Godfrey + £6mil.

Hopefully hes levels above Keane and more like Branthwaite & improves season on season (apparently improved over last season per the media).

Looks more like a Tarky backup in terms of play. Good in the air and loves a diag

Weirdly the quote from @Victus below states hes not good in the air defensively, only offensively

Definitely right sided.

Very unpopular opinion here.

We paid 25m for Michael Keane.

Most will consider that a complete waste of money, personally I dont, we got an "England International CB" that has played 212 times for us, I personally consider that a decent buy. Hes had some very, very bad games, but hes also played very well at times and contributed to us staying in the league for the last 7 years.

So 17m for Obey? Im unfazed, if hes tosh, its big money, but if hes average, its a snip, if hes The Irish Branners, then we Gucci.

I posted a week ago that any forward playing against Branthwaite, Tarkowski & / or O'Brien will know theyve been in a game.

It will be very interesting to see how well he does...may even keep Tarkowski out of the team

Keane had a certain pedigree in that he was a premier league hardened operator before he signed for us.

This guy no one can comment on because he has no body of work

Massive risk this.

If theres one position id trust Dyche in, its centre back. Has he ever signed a centre back and not improved them?

Huge threat on corners/fk with his 1.97m (5g/2a this season all on set pieces), but paradoxically not the best at defending in the air. Legitimately one of the fastest players in Ligue 1 last season, despites his height. But his acceleration on the first few steps is not the best, and he does take a while to turn. His speed allows him to save some of his still questionable positioning at times.

Agressive in duels, warrior and leader mentality, that never gives up and always gives his all : he arrived on the last week of the window and was not even intended to be in the squad at first (expected to be loaned to Molenbeek). He ended up our revelation of the season and basically the only player that shined during our disastrous first half of the season. While still being a starter during our legendary 2nd half, showing some personality with ball-playing qualities that nobody expected of him with some nice passes and line breaking runs.

One thing to remember is that though he's 23 y.o it was his first season at the highest level (after truly focusing on football later than usual, at 14 years old), and he kept improving significantly games after games. Adapting from a minimalistic counter attacking playstyle in the first half of the season to a dominant possession-based one in the 2nd half. So he will keep improving, and it's impossible to know what his limit will be right now.

Edit : We are selling him because after buying him for 1M last summer his market value this summer is near impossible to refuse. With no guarantees that it would be this high in the future, and the need to sell for 100M this window and not a lot of players that can be easily sold...

From a Lyon fan.

Concerns
Slow on the turn
Low acceleration
Poor at defensive headers

 

[Bristol Blue]

I don’t know loads about him, but remember him being highly rated when he was coming through at palace a few years back.