Akpom, Sammie, Nunez, and if required Phil, Clarke, Taylor, Jens (better suited to that role than CDM).

What’s wrong with our talent ID. It’s like fantasy football, there doesn’t seem to be a clear vision of what we want.

Lots of loans, quality for sure at times, but all similar profiles and even positions.

We swam the channel with Delap.., he wasn’t near the top of our list, as we chased the Greek cheap all summer, and starting to think we just got lucky.

Big, physical, runs all day, and had quality, created lots of space for other players, like a young and more gifted Daryl Murphy - surely that’s the profile we need .., not a fourth number 10, a fiftieth wide right player, or 72nd right back.

And where’s the player for the double pivot we haven’t had since Mass stopped playing and we couldn’t get a tune from Phillips.

Watching clubs like Bournemouth, with a clear plan and vision, sign £10 million players from Timbuktu who are world class, and Brentford signing players from Bulgaria and Belgium who are world class, for less money than we spend on EFL players who aren’t.

Four years in.

At what point do we see the vision, the strategy, the output from what we were told was 100% happening. And that we once played Forest Green, isn’t an excuse or mitigation, almost half a decade later.

We get worse. Developing young talent went out of the window, because we couldn’t stay up, and now it’s loans and journeymen.

I don’t think Mark can begin to articulate what the recruitment strategy actually is. WBA, loans that aren’t good enough, but we are committed to buy, and old timers - not inspiring with our resource advantage.

It might even get us up, but it’s hardly a long term vision. It’s panic and huge resource conflated. No skill, no reach, no long term plan…, hope McKenna can meld a promotion campaign isn’t a recruitment plan.

Ecuadorian International, left footed no10 who can also play on the wing, signed on loan from a Premier League club in the January window, with Town in the top 3 of the championship. Sounds familiar, arise Jeremy II

Akpom can't play a 10 in our formation, he's great in a 442 as the second striker but our 10 needs to be like Nunez, everywhere.
And Cairney is a Central Midfielder so both although as Mariner says, Egelli has capacity to play 10 too.
This would make more sense if he is another wonderkid with loan with obligation potential, can't see him getting much of an opportunity at Chelsea at present

Len_Brennan added 10:44 - Jan 9
https://sportwitness.co.uk/ips



"... They claim the Chelsea man didn’t ‘follow the team’s game plan and often prioritised his own decisions over the collective effort’." Doesn't sound like a McKenna type of player.


I read the same article & am not so sure Len. Sounds exactly like Enciso when he first joined. Rosenior managed this kid at Strasburg & probably thinks if anyone can coach him into being a team player then that person is McKenna

As rosenior was manager of Strasbourg and now chelsea.would think he is coming back to Chelsea to play for Chelsea

He may be versatile and not just a 10 as in the clips he’s often on the right, cutting in on his left.

Looks like an Omari type player and I think we'd all agree that McKenna improved him. Got him playing far more as a team player than he was when he arrived and improved his work rate off the ball etc

Generally, not a fan of loans, but this player looks impressive and it could be a very astute deal … half a season, he will want to impress amd could give us an edge.

If we then sign a CM amd Striker to add to the squad, that would be a good January.

Having said the above, I forgot we already have four loanees … which is probably more than enough?

Definitely need a number 9

Get a bloody center forward !

Seems to suggest we aren’t happy with Szmodics and or Akpom as alternative no10s to Nunez

Akpom has been poor at 10 IMO, and heaven’s knows what’s going on with Smodics.
To whomever said Sarmiento is the answer, he really isn’t. Couldn’t hold down a place in our side, ditto for Burnley last year. Sure, he scored some crucial goals for us, but that doesn’t make him a starting 10.

Still think we need a striker but if we free up a few squad places then let’s bring in some quality replacements like him.

It seems clear to me that Szmodics has issues with town so we need to replace him when he leaves. Kendry looks like a tricky, skilful player with a good turn of pace who could get the pulse racing, and get a few supporters off their seats

Surely not another no 10, midfielder and frontman should be our priority…..also no experience for the Championship

Carlisleaway, what no 10s do we have?? Akpom hasn't looked good playing there, i think hes a better 9, or would be better in a front 2, Szmodics obviously has issues with the club atm hence him not being in the team for a few weeks, so all we really have is Nunez, who as well as he has been playing there, isn't a no 10

Long time lurker and RC Strasbourg season ticket holder. Paez had a fairly positive start to the season here, starting some games and scoring against Paris FC away, but since we lost at home to Marseille in September he's lost his way and hasn't impressed. He was subbed at halftime against Marseille and has only started one league game since along with a couple of Conference League games. He's come on as sub a few times but fairly anonymous performances recently. A few rumours about his off-pitch lifestyle/"hygiéne de vie" and his drop in performance. He's only 18 though. Maybe McKenna could get more out of him than Rosenior, but I'm not sure (very happy to be proved wrong).

Don't get me started on Enciso since he joined Strasbourg.

Many people on here saying 'get him in' why? Based on what this article and the youtube link within it!
Based on this article the boy has not had a sniff at strasbourg wont be playing for chelsea but good enough to play for an ipswich side top 3 in the championship and probably be goingback in the prem!
If mckenna thinks he is good enough that will be good enough for me and should be forvall of us!

As for the omari comment! we dont want any clauses where for hyperphetical reasons he becomes a baller and we are stradded with a 'buyout clause' or give up a percentage of any sales!!

Besides who is he supposed to give competition/replace?
I know smodicz is class but is in some kind of trouble with the club internally!
And i hope it gets resolved ammicabky as he is very good player as allready proved

Strasbourgblue thanks for the info! Interesting insight

South American footballers often have more than a touch of the " off the cuff and don't tie me down to precise systems " . It's why I like them! I can't pretend to know anything about this lad, but it seems there's little to lose if it happens. As for a link above, it begins with " they claim ", so it's not a fact just an opinion. I guess we all have them in here. Personally I always think there's room for one maverick at least in a squad!

Clearly a talented player from the video & if he doesn't count in the squad limit then he seems a good option, but the quality of the opposition might make him look much better than he is. Difficult one, but looks good. KM will know what he's doing, but just hope he would be up to speed immediately or a longer term prospect. We don't have time for the latter.

Never played in England, barely played in France and Rosenior says he's selfish. I don't really doubt his talent, but I don't think he's what we need to secure automatic promotion. A reliable striker is a must, personally I want us to sign Vipotnik who's performing well for a shit Swansea or Awoniyi/Piroe who should want more minutes than they can get in the PL

Never played in England, barely played in France and Rosenior says he's selfish. I don't really doubt his talent, but I don't think he's what we need to secure automatic promotion. A reliable striker is a must, personally I want us to sign Vipotnik who's performing well for a shit Swansea or Awoniyi/Piroe who should want more minutes than they can get in the PL

Never played in England, barely played in France and Rosenior says he's selfish. I don't really doubt his talent, but I don't think he's what we need to secure automatic promotion. A reliable striker is a must, personally I want us to sign Vipotnik who's performing well for a shit Swansea or Awoniyi/Piroe who should want more minutes than they can get in the PL