2019/20 Marcel Brands

[brian labone]

I think maybe Brands halo is starting to slip. with having lost 2 very imported players in Gana and Zouma plus adding a couple of reasonable players in, I believe the squad in no better than last season. A couple of weeks ago I think most of us were quite happy expecting more, but now at the end of the window I for one am disappointed. I think he put all his eggs in two baskets in Zouma and Zaha and left it to late.

 

[Hawhaw]

Or alternatively you could say that we have 2 first choice CBs who are internationals , backed by Holgate , Gbamin and Gibson

If you’re a sultan of spin that would work. Meanwhile in reality we’re weaker at CB. No doubt about it.

 

[dublinbluenose]

Ballsy to walk away from Rojo deal with no alternative. We deffo would have signed him under previous regimes

 

[malcson]

Yeah I drew a line in the sand with Holgate long ago. This could mean we have to play Gibson and we actually develop a youngster for the first time in years.

Brands has publicly said that Gibson is not ready yet, at 19 that could just be about his physical strength. Holgate at 22 is still incredibly young for a Premiership CB at 22 and he has already feature in 38 Premiership games for Everton. If he can recapture some form he has a massive opportunity this season. Sometimes players are discovered out of necessity because they get a better run of games than they would otherwise have been allowed. It's hard for a young player to play knowing that their performance will determine if they get another game or not, once they develop confidence and can play their natural game you see more of what they are about. I think Holgate did well under Martinez because he felt as though the manager believed in him.

 

[malcson]

I think maybe Brands halo is starting to slip. with having lost 2 very imported players in Gana and Zouma plus adding a couple of reasonable players in, I believe the squad in no better than last season. A couple of weeks ago I think most of us were quite happy expecting more, but now at the end of the window I for one am disappointed.

Nothing he could have done about Zouma or Gueye, and other than a CB I think they are good signings at a decent price.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

Brands has publicly said that Gibson is not ready yet, at 19 that could just be about his physical strength. Holgate at 22 is still incredibly young for a Premiership CB at 22 and he has already feature in 38 Premiership games for Everton. If he can recapture some form he has a massive opportunity this season. Sometimes players are discovered out of necessity because they get a better run of games than they would otherwise have been allowed. It's hard for a young player to play knowing that their performance will determine if they get another game or not, once they develop confidence and can play their natural game you see more of what they are about. I think Holgate did well under Martinez because he felt as though the manager believed in him.

Holgate is much better than many of us give him credit for. Aside from a few bad games here and there when he's been thrust into the fire, I thought he's been decent. And he's still young

 

[Columbo2]

There is another window in January and we are on a journey that will take a few seasons to get right. Deadwood still needs clearing and the wage bill reduced, so there is still plenty of hope as far as I'm concerned. Brands has done some good business and I expect that will continue. Keep the faith.

 

[Lanolin]

Holgate is much better than many of us give him credit for. Aside from a few bad games here and there when he's been thrust into the fire, I thought he's been decent. And he's still young

I don’t rate him at all. Worse than that though, I don’t think silva does either.

To stay on topic, I thought maybe in the long run this window might help us, because people might stop deifying brands seeing as he’s so clearly messed some things up. It seems not though, as I can see some people are somehow spinning things to make it sound like he’s played a blinder.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

He get's a walkover for the amazing business he done getting in Kean.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Holgate is much better than many of us give him credit for. Aside from a few bad games here and there when he's been thrust into the fire, I thought he's been decent. And he's still young

Holgate struggles with the physical side of the game IMO, he gets bullied and knocked about too easily. I always remember him playing out on the right against Stoke, they just bombarded him from the off, he didn't know what day it was, I think his confidence took a big knock after that game as well.

 

[brian labone]

Nothing he could have done about Zouma or Gueye, and other than a CB I think they are good signings at a decent price.

I am not saying he could have done anything about Gana and Zouma what I am saying is that he left it to late to try and replace them when he knew they were going.

 

[Columbo2]

Holgate struggles with the physical side of the game IMO, he gets bullied and knocked about too easily. I always remember him playing out on the right against Stoke, they just bombarded him from the off, he didn't know what day it was, I think his confidence took a big knock after that game as well.

He was and possibly still is a bit susceptible to making an almighty rick, but he undoubtably has talent and is capable of being a decent player. He has a couple of seasons under his belt now so with the right coaching & expose, you never know. I still have that image of him pushing the ladyboy at the front of my mind - that merits giving the lad a chance.

 

[stretford blue]

Zouma felt like our pursuit of giroud under Walsh and koeman left it to long then scrambling round for a player like rojo

 

[Coggy]

If you’re a sultan of spin that would work. Meanwhile in reality we’re weaker at CB. No doubt about it.

That's your opinion mate. The fact is that what I said is factual. Admittedly Zouma finished the season well , but was awful for the first half of the season. Chelsea didn't want to sell and our attempted loan deal for his teammate was scuppered by the Luiz transfer.

 

[ForeverBlue92]

I just hope the hero worship of the bloke ends now.

Everyone at this club should be up for scrutiny when they aint pulling their weight.

5/10 window for me which is massively dissapointing.

6/10 had we not wasted £35-40 million on Iwobi

7/10 had we brought in a decent CB

8/10 had we signed Zaha

9/10 had we signed Zaha/brought in a decent CB