Player Watch: Emerson Royal

[Nebby]

Do you mean Dragusin? I’m not sure he has any experience playing right back? I thought he was an out and out centre back.

He has. He can play anywhere across the back, in a four or a three. He's going to be awesome.

 

[TC18]

Whilst he is happy to be a squad player, then we keep him imo.

how many players are happy to accept being a squad player and are reliable when called upon?

And who can we replace him with that will be on par / better than him, who will be happy to come in? Because we can’t buy someone better or a similar quality to Porro, it would cost too much and wouldn’t make sense at the moment.

 

[tommo84]

The only reason for us to entertain an offer for Emerson is if the offer is sufficiently high to allow us to buy both a replacement who is more suited to Ange’s playing style and help towards a midfield target to replace PEH.

 

[worcestersauce]

Whilst he is happy to be a squad player, then we keep him imo.

how many players are happy to accept being a squad player and are reliable when called upon?

And who can we replace him with that will be on par / better than him, who will be happy to come in? Because we can’t buy someone better or a similar quality to Porro, it would cost too much and wouldn’t make sense at the moment.

That's what I question though, how long will he be happy to be a squad player with less and less playing time?
Seems to me there's a consensus on here that we don't want to sell him certainly not this window, we are also all pretty much agreed that for the right price, for the sake of his career and if we can get a good replacement then we'd be ok with it in the summer.
It's not often we all agree

 

[Styopa]

He has. He can play anywhere across the back, in a four or a three. He's going to be awesome.

I didn’t know that. If Dragusin can do a job at right back, that might well change the way the club look at this, especially if they receive a good offer.

 

[WorthATry]

He has. He can play anywhere across the back, in a four or a three. He's going to be awesome.

Playing as a full-back in Ange's system is very different to having done a job there in the past. I'll be very surprised if we see him anywhere other than in the middle.

 

[Yid-ol]

Unless we can get a player better for same/cheaper than what we get for royal, who will fit into Anges system better than royal, I can't see us selling him.

Not sure who we can get that would be better but be happy to be a quad player.

 

[tommo84]

I don’t understand the view of some that Dragusin’s arrival means we don’t need Emerson as cover at RB. Dragusin was brought in because we desperately needed another CB. If Porro got injured, and Dragusin was needed to start at RB because we’d sold Emerson, not only would we be back to square one re defensive cover, we’d be worse off than before because we’ve now sold or loaned out Dier and Phillips.

 

[Nebby]

Playing as a full-back in Ange's system is very different to having done a job there in the past. I'll be very surprised if we see him anywhere other than in the middle.

Why? Porro and Odogie only played as wing-backs before Ange got to grips with them. Neither played as inverted full-backs like they do now. Dragusin is highly adaptable and extremely comfortable on the ball, which is why Ange wanted him.

 

[shoggy33]

I like him, he's shown immense character to overcome to boo-boys and become a valuable player despite a tricky start for us. Not the most talented player in the squad, but good enough to fill in without it impacting the team, and offers something different to Porro at RB. I wouldn't sell unless he's very keen to leave and we get an exceptional offer for him.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I like him, he's shown immense character to overcome to boo-boys and become a valuable player despite a tricky start for us. Not the most talented player in the squad, but good enough to fill in without it impacting the team, and offers something different to Porro at RB. I wouldn't sell unless he's very keen to leave and we get an exceptional offer for him.

I haven’t read any scouting reports that site Dragusin as “extremely comfortable” on the ball. He’s been playing for a defensive team who mainly counter attack so he really hasn’t been tested as a defender in a possession based team. Most articles say his passing is one area where he could improve.

Personally I think as an inverted full back in Ange’s system you need to be as comfortable on the ball as a centre midfielder. You need to be able to take and protect the ball in tight spaces and have the calmness and ability to either dribble out of those spaces or pick a progressive pass. I’ll hugely surprised if Dragusin has been signed to cover that role in this team.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Any links that Ange is happy to sell Royal this window?

 

[danny32]

You have got to give Royal some respect, got on with the job no matter what he has been asked to do, never complained and has definitely improved. Can't honestly see who you would replace him with even if you sold him for 30-35m.

 

[ItsBoris]

I feel like they just want him because his last name is Royal

 

[Stoof]

There is literally zero point in selling him this window.

 

[bceej]

I don't think upgrading him should be high on the to do list currently but hypothetically if there was an obvious opportunity then it might change things. For example come summer 23 year old Jeremie Frimpong will have a 34 mil release clause become active. 5 goals and 7 assist this season and I'm assuming he would count as HG seeing as he came through the Man City academy. Although he wouldn't be able to cover CB as a RB I think he would suit our system better then Royal. Anyway thats just an example. As i've said before we certainly shouldn't sell him now and even in summer unless there is a clearly available target Ange really likes who wants to come and wouldn't cost the world then we shouldn't be focusing on RB.

Heinrichs and Maehle also look suitable from the Bundesliga, and we've definitely been linked to both over the years. As many have said, Royale is functional, a great character but just not the perfect fit. Would be a loss at this point as I doubt we'd be able to secure a suitable replacement.

 

[sam_mason]

Yeah he has proved himself a valuable squad player but having said that, some of us would still be open to selling him if we were offered a ton of cash.

As we probably should be with anyone in the squad. One of the major benefits of recruitment in this window is if there is a silly money bid for say Romero, we have proper cover for a sale we don't particularly want to sell (and more confidence that there is a plan to deal with it).

 

[PCozzie]

Stand down.

 

[Trix]

Stand down.

Tells you everything you need to know about the Saudi league when prominent journalists are referring to the teams by who plays for them rather than the name of the club. You can buy the players, but you can't buy the support and the tribalism and without that there's literally no point because nobody really cares.

 

[wadewill]

Tells you everything you need to know about the Saudi league when prominent journalists are referring to the teams by who plays for them rather than the name of the club. You can buy the players, but you can't buy the support and the tribalism and without that there's literally no point because nobody really cares.

Yep, China MK II