Rate The New Players (5 Viewers)

Briles

Well-Known Member
None of our strikers can create something out of nothing. They need service and we don't have it.
 

Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue

Well-Known Member
Given that it is another international break, why not break down our new signings and discuss them...

I have no doubts this will be overwhelmingly positive!

Haji Wright - 4/10: Scored a few goals, yes. Cost a fortune, yes. Should be doing better? Undoubtedly yes. The application seems a bit mixed, and for a player of his build you would expect more physicality. Instead he just seems like a bit of a pussy. I know for that price a lot of people expect some sort of Gyökeres replacement, which might be a bridge slightly too far, but you would expect some sort of stand out ability, yet he doesn't look even close to that at the moment. I still think he can contribute something decent, but so far he has been disappointing for me.

Ellis Simms: - 4/10: Scored in only one game this season. For me this is where I wonder moreover how much the problem with our new players is down to the management. He seems to be trying to make things happen, maybe even been a bit unlucky so far, but it just hasn't really been clicking. His fee is still very high too, which I think gets mitigated because Wright cost so much, but I would also be expecting more from him. The return so far has been poor.

Liam Kitching - 5/10: Hasn't played a lot, so it is quite hard to score him. I guess the first place you start again is to look at the return versus the cost. An astronomical fee at this current moment in time, which also works against him. I think he has looked relatively good at times, and against Stoke was part of the team that kept a clean sheet. Think he will probably be strong for us as time goes on, and I like that aggression. Worth the cost we paid though? Hard to justify at this very moment.

Milan van Ewijk - 5/10: Has had moments where he looked very good early on (the first game aside if I recall), hence the appreciation thread. That said, he seems to have regressed and doesn't look stand out at all. One of the highest rated defenders in the Dutch league, yet there would be a genuine debate at the moment whether you would actually start him. Another ridiculous situation given the 4+ million euros we paid for him. The Dutch league isn't great, but even so, he has the attributes you would think would add something better than what a lot of other teams have, but so far doesn't seem to have been the case. Also has a long throw that Robins refuses to use. Hopefully he will bounce back.

Bobby Thomas - 6/10: I think he's actually been pretty good. Certainly a lot better than some of the names listed above. Made a few mistakes, yes, but I think he'll iron those out after time. Seems to be some kind of threat from set pieces, which is almost unheard of for us, but hasn't really made that count for much yet either. Wouldn't be surprised to see him play most weeks going forwards.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto - 5/10: No idea how to score him. Seems to be high intensity and certainly works his arse off, but where does he fit in? I have no idea. For several million you would also expect some sort of end product, but that hasn't come yet. Not being used correctly by the manager in my view either, and Robins also seems unable to give the lad any praise when he's been good too, which to me at least seems quite strange. Would probably be rated lower if it wasn't for the fact he tries so hard.

Brad Collins - 5/10: Gone straight down the middle due to the fact he's played next to no minutes at all and it would be unfair to go too high or low. Looked comfortable against Stoke, which is good, but I am still unsure the justification in signing him given that we have two other goalkeepers. Of course, that might all make sense if he keeps the number one spot and plays well throughout time. I suppose my questions would be more towards the goalkeeping situation as a whole.

Jay Dasilva - 5/10: I have to say I am baffled as to how he has been golden boy all season. Until the last game Bidwell hasn't had a look in, and for what? Another one where Robins has reacted late, and the results proved themselves in the last game. Bidwell a breath of fresh air and man of the match by a country mile. JDS I think has some relatively decent attributes, but they seem to come in flashes. Was playing as a wing back and seems to also have next to no end product. Suspect defending at times too.

Joel Latibeaudiere - 7/10: Would go as far as to say he's been our best new signing, and he was free, which makes it slightly comical. Pretty strong and capable. Can play in a few different positions, but if we stay in a back four, which I think we should - he will do alright at RB. Where that leaves MvE, I have no idea.

Yasin Ayari - 4/10: Looks out of his depth. Been picked and played at times which have also confused me. Can be alright on the ball and has some skill, but off it he looks like a complete passenger. Not something you want from a midfielder. I don't think it is as extreme as he should be going back to Brighton in January, but from what I have seen so far I would only be using him sparingly until we see some signs of improvement.

Luis Binks - 7/10: Another one of the better signings on performances so far, but has had to really work to get into the team. Also adds to the circus giving that he was free (on loan, I know), but looks capable to me. Would certainly want to see him play regularly from what I have seen so far.



I know a lot of people are concerned about the recruitment, but I actually think we do have some good players in here. They aren't all terrible, although it is easy to think that when you balance the cost versus the return on many of them. Amazingly the cheaper or free signings seem to be some of our best. You would expect the higher money signings to have some more positive impact quicker, yet they seem to be struggling. The fact they aren't playing that well is troubling. The system? The management? Struggling to settle? Maybe a combination. I think we will get better, but many of my questions for me at the moment sit more with the management than anywhere else.

Will be interesting to revisit this thread at the end of the season and see how we progress. Hopefully some of these scores get higher!


Simms shit, Thomas shit, Kitchin shit, Da Silva shit, Ayari shit. Haji Wright big shit. Saka quick but shit.

Who would have thought the football director of St Albans City would blow £20M on shit, shit players.
 

SkyblueDad

Well-Known Member
If you put your opinions on here fine but speak truth
The football director as you call him has signed nobody Robins has said a number of times it is he who decides who we sign so who is the shit one ?
 

Sick Boy

Super Moderator
Simms shit, Thomas shit, Kitchin shit, Da Silva shit, Ayari shit. Haji Wright big shit. Saka quick but shit.

Who would have thought the football director of St Albans City would blow £20M on shit, shit players.
I think you’re overestimating how much power he actually has. He’s not the one that agreed the fee and sanctioned the signings.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
If you put your opinions on here fine but speak truth
The football director as you call him has signed nobody Robins has said a number of times it is he who decides who we sign so who is the shit one ?
But by the same measure Robins hasn't signed anyone either as he doesn't have authority to sign off the finances - DK does.

DK relies on MR to tell him who we should sign with the money available. And MR relies on his scouting department to tell him.

And if we then go into 'MR chose who to head the recruitment team' then again that can't happen without DK's say so.
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
If you put your opinions on here fine but speak truth
The football director as you call him has signed nobody Robins has said a number of times it is he who decides who we sign so who is the shit one ?
Nobody knows for sure the process but it wouldn’t be advisable to say he doesn’t at a fans forum with the owner.
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
On a per minute basis he’s been one of our best players this season, it’s not his fault Robins isn’t choosing to play him and we can only go on what we’ve seen so far from each player, if he’s had limited minutes then so be it but he’s still performing to a very decent standard almost every time he plays.
Sure he’s a busy and exciting to player to watch but in terms of actual productivity to help us win football matches there’s been little to none (xG 0.63, xA 0.86, 0 goals, 0 assists) to warrant your 8/10 rating
 
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Deleted member 5849

Guest
Given that it is another international break, why not break down our new signings and discuss them...

I have no doubts this will be overwhelmingly positive!

Haji Wright - 4/10: Scored a few goals, yes. Cost a fortune, yes. Should be doing better? Undoubtedly yes. The application seems a bit mixed, and for a player of his build you would expect more physicality. Instead he just seems like a bit of a pussy. I know for that price a lot of people expect some sort of Gyökeres replacement, which might be a bridge slightly too far, but you would expect some sort of stand out ability, yet he doesn't look even close to that at the moment. I still think he can contribute something decent, but so far he has been disappointing for me.

Ellis Simms: - 4/10: Scored in only one game this season. For me this is where I wonder moreover how much the problem with our new players is down to the management. He seems to be trying to make things happen, maybe even been a bit unlucky so far, but it just hasn't really been clicking. His fee is still very high too, which I think gets mitigated because Wright cost so much, but I would also be expecting more from him. The return so far has been poor.

Liam Kitching - 5/10: Hasn't played a lot, so it is quite hard to score him. I guess the first place you start again is to look at the return versus the cost. An astronomical fee at this current moment in time, which also works against him. I think he has looked relatively good at times, and against Stoke was part of the team that kept a clean sheet. Think he will probably be strong for us as time goes on, and I like that aggression. Worth the cost we paid though? Hard to justify at this very moment.

Milan van Ewijk - 5/10: Has had moments where he looked very good early on (the first game aside if I recall), hence the appreciation thread. That said, he seems to have regressed and doesn't look stand out at all. One of the highest rated defenders in the Dutch league, yet there would be a genuine debate at the moment whether you would actually start him. Another ridiculous situation given the 4+ million euros we paid for him. The Dutch league isn't great, but even so, he has the attributes you would think would add something better than what a lot of other teams have, but so far doesn't seem to have been the case. Also has a long throw that Robins refuses to use. Hopefully he will bounce back.

Bobby Thomas - 6/10: I think he's actually been pretty good. Certainly a lot better than some of the names listed above. Made a few mistakes, yes, but I think he'll iron those out after time. Seems to be some kind of threat from set pieces, which is almost unheard of for us, but hasn't really made that count for much yet either. Wouldn't be surprised to see him play most weeks going forwards.

Tatsuhiro Sakamoto - 5/10: No idea how to score him. Seems to be high intensity and certainly works his arse off, but where does he fit in? I have no idea. For several million you would also expect some sort of end product, but that hasn't come yet. Not being used correctly by the manager in my view either, and Robins also seems unable to give the lad any praise when he's been good too, which to me at least seems quite strange. Would probably be rated lower if it wasn't for the fact he tries so hard.

Brad Collins - 5/10: Gone straight down the middle due to the fact he's played next to no minutes at all and it would be unfair to go too high or low. Looked comfortable against Stoke, which is good, but I am still unsure the justification in signing him given that we have two other goalkeepers. Of course, that might all make sense if he keeps the number one spot and plays well throughout time. I suppose my questions would be more towards the goalkeeping situation as a whole.

Jay Dasilva - 5/10: I have to say I am baffled as to how he has been golden boy all season. Until the last game Bidwell hasn't had a look in, and for what? Another one where Robins has reacted late, and the results proved themselves in the last game. Bidwell a breath of fresh air and man of the match by a country mile. JDS I think has some relatively decent attributes, but they seem to come in flashes. Was playing as a wing back and seems to also have next to no end product. Suspect defending at times too.

Joel Latibeaudiere - 7/10: Would go as far as to say he's been our best new signing, and he was free, which makes it slightly comical. Pretty strong and capable. Can play in a few different positions, but if we stay in a back four, which I think we should - he will do alright at RB. Where that leaves MvE, I have no idea.

Yasin Ayari - 4/10: Looks out of his depth. Been picked and played at times which have also confused me. Can be alright on the ball and has some skill, but off it he looks like a complete passenger. Not something you want from a midfielder. I don't think it is as extreme as he should be going back to Brighton in January, but from what I have seen so far I would only be using him sparingly until we see some signs of improvement.

Luis Binks - 7/10: Another one of the better signings on performances so far, but has had to really work to get into the team. Also adds to the circus giving that he was free (on loan, I know), but looks capable to me. Would certainly want to see him play regularly from what I have seen so far.



I know a lot of people are concerned about the recruitment, but I actually think we do have some good players in here. They aren't all terrible, although it is easy to think that when you balance the cost versus the return on many of them. Amazingly the cheaper or free signings seem to be some of our best. You would expect the higher money signings to have some more positive impact quicker, yet they seem to be struggling. The fact they aren't playing that well is troubling. The system? The management? Struggling to settle? Maybe a combination. I think we will get better, but many of my questions for me at the moment sit more with the management than anywhere else.

Will be interesting to revisit this thread at the end of the season and see how we progress. Hopefully some of these scores get higher!
Not unfair. As you've said elsewhere it doesn't mean they won't be good signings, and I have hopes for many. But it's hard to mark high when we have so few points, even if I think it's not been as bad as it maybe looks.

Also to join the Sakamoto debate I agree with your current verdict. He does like a stop, check back, and go again, by which point the defence is back in shape and ready for whatever happens. If he can learn a bit of variety he could be excellent, but as if this moment however good he likes in a video clip, he hasn't produced much.
 

Londonccfcfan

Well-Known Member
Collins ...un rated.Not seen enough of him.
Kitching ..6
Thomas...6
JDS..........6
Binks.......6
Lats.........6
Saka.........6
MVE.........5
Wright......3
Simms .....5
Ayari.........4
 

stupot07

Well-Known Member
Collins ...unable to rate as only played 1 game
Kitching ..5
Thomas...5
JDS..........5
Binks.......6
Lats.........6
Saka.........6
MVE.........5
Wright......4
Simms .....4
Ayari.........3



Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Sure he’s a busy and exciting to player to watch but in terms of actual productivity to help us win football matches there’s been little to none (xG 0.63, xA 0.86, 0 goals, 0 assists) to warrant your 8/10 rating

Probably because he’s not had much game time, he’s bound to have not racked up much xGI if he’s not playing as much as other players. I still believe that on a per minute basis he’s been one of our best players this season. Especially when you consider he’s in a completely new country, trying to learn a new language and has played well in 3-4 very different positions. I think he gives his all almost every game and his consistency when he does play is probably better than any of our other players.
 

SeaSeeEffCee

Well-Known Member
Collins N/A
van Ewijk 4
Dasilva 5
Thomas 6
Latibeaudiere 6
Kitching 5
Binks 6
Ayari 2
Wright 4
Simms 4
Sakamoto 5
 

SkyblueDad

Well-Known Member
I'd say this is a fair judgement of a very average bunch, with Lati being the best of the mediocrity.
What a disappointment
But then we have Luis Binks who in my opinion has hardly put a foot wrong in his three or four games possibly man of match a couple of times, strange.
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Totally agree, I don't think we're using him correctly & despite flashes he's not doing enough. Not as simple as him just being "shit" though.

Where should he be playing? He doesn’t look capable of playing in one of the holding roles for us IMO and neither does Robins it seems.
 

Frostie

Well-Known Member
Where should he be playing? He doesn’t look capable of playing in one of the holding roles for us IMO and neither does Robins it seems.
He's very much an 8. Needs to get on the ball deeper & carry it or pick passes from there. You're right though, he's clearly not trusted to play there which makes it look like a bit of a panic signing.

I said this at the time of his signing:
Because he's played the 8 everywhere else previously & is earmarked as a long term successor to Moises Caicedo at Brighton.

I can understand why Robins wants him in the 10 though, wants more creativity in the final third & probably doesn't trust him defensively in our system with the wingbacks pushed on etc.
 

Jamesimus

Well-Known Member
He's very much an 8. Needs to get on the ball deeper & carry it or pick passes from there. You're right though, he's clearly not trusted to play there which makes it look like a bit of a panic signing.

I said this at the time of his signing:

Didn't he play as an 8 against Rotherham where he got resoundingly physically annihilated?

I think he could come good given more time. My only concern is it's a bit too soon for him personally given his age etc.
 

Frostie

Well-Known Member
3 in the middle and a back four should suit him shouldn’t it?
I would have thought so. He could surely have played a similar role to that which Allen did vs Stoke but just starting that tiny bit deeper so he has the game in front of him, driving forward, finding pockets of space & feeding the 3 forwards. We'd be safe in the knowledge that Eccles & Sheaf are covering & we won't likely have marauding wingbacks too.

If he isn't capable of that, then there is little point him being here, it's not going to be providing him, us or Brighton any real benefit at this stage of his career.
 

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