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Eberechi Eze

BehindEnemyLines

Twisting a Melon with the Rev. Black Grape
Apr 13, 2006
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We really paid for it in that 2017-2021 period where we just seemed to stop focusing on talents emerging closer to home.

Not saying we'd get all of them but Grealish, Maddison, Eze and Olise could have been here for cheaper. I suppose you could say, in Eze and Olise's case, that they needed to move to a team like Palace to play regularly but they have been brilliant since they joined (although Eze did get a serious injury immediately)
We tried to sign Eze when he left QPR, so not as if we were blind to him as a prospect.
 

JUSTINSIGNAL

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
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We tried to sign Eze when he left QPR, so not as if we were blind to him as a prospect.

Yeah this narrative that we missed out on all these youth prospects that are now triple the price is very reductive. Back then we were an established champs league team looking to push on. Many of these players would have wanting to get regular first team top flight football at that stage of their career rather than warm our bench.
 

14/04/91

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2006
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5,792
We tried to sign Eze when he left QPR, so not as if we were blind to him as a prospect.
We definitely weren’t blind to him. By all accounts the recruitment team loved him.
But I don’t think we ever actually tried to sign him. Story goes that Mourinho vetoed; whether he didn’t rate him or felt it was too much money on a prospect, who knows. The latter would be my guess, he probably wanted to buy established.
 

BehindEnemyLines

Twisting a Melon with the Rev. Black Grape
Apr 13, 2006
4,655
13,490
We definitely weren’t blind to him. By all accounts the recruitment team loved him.
But I don’t think we ever actually tried to sign him. Story goes that Mourinho vetoed; whether he didn’t rate him or felt it was too much money on a prospect, who knows. The latter would be my guess, he probably wanted to buy established.
I think we were put off by some of the clauses and conditions that QPR were trying to build into any deal........whatever the final reason, I think he has developed better as a result of his time at Palace than he would have with all the pressure of playing for Spurs at a young age.
 

archiewasking

Waiting for silverware..........
Jul 5, 2004
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So would I but that player has to be obtainable.

Same goes for the winger position.

If those top class upgrades aren't obtainable at DM (Ederson, Onana, Zubimedni) or WF (Williams, Neto, Kvara) then we're looking at either better value (Fofana, Chiesa, Lauriente) or longer term upgrades (Archie Gray, Nusa etc).

Most of our squad depth positions (GK, LB, RB, LCB, 2nd WF, 2nd CF) are in part self financing. That is to say we need to sell players to free up squad space anyway, which will cover most of the cost.

So the question then is how do we best strengthen in order to really compete next August?

At which point Eze looks an attractive deal to immediately strengthen AM and LWF whilst a Nusa type finds his feet.

With hopefully Europe and 5 subs he'd make a measurable impact, and right now would be starting ahead of Madders.

I think we have to be open minded on the moving parts of all the other deals before we can say for sure.

I also think the mentality needs to be we're still replacing the impact of Kane, which is impossible in one player, so go as big as possible across the attack.

May not get him due to City, but we shouldn't shy away from it if it turns out to be the best option.
Good player and I'm probably on my own in this, but I'd rather City get him and we relieve them of Grealish. He might go back to Villa, but they do say never go back for good reason generally. He imo would be key in unlocking those low block defences we struggle with.
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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Good player and I'm probably on my own in this, but I'd rather City get him and we relieve them of Grealish. He might go back to Villa, but they do say never go back for good reason generally. He imo would be key in unlocking those low block defences we struggle with.
He’s on 300k p/w. I don’t know who offers him that if he moves but I don’t see him significantly cutting his wage demands. Given he’s 29 this year i don’t think we would seriously consider him given the financials involved.
 

felmani26

SC Supporter
Jan 1, 2008
24,662
43,733


He also goes on to say we will be looking for a winger in the 25-40 mil range

Do we infer that Eze is seen as the rotation option with Maddison as a 10?

I'll be honest, I like Eze but i'd sooner see funds allocated elsewhere but there does seem to be the suggestion that we'll be looking at a significant outlay across the board this summer.
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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I guess the fallback is wener for less than that range if we struggle.
Most likely. He also says the plan is a “CB CM/CDM LW or RW and CF if Richie goes” but also doesn’t really talk about Eze as if he’s one of the option for the wing. He implies it’s sort of alongside that so not really sure how he fits in.
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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64,270
Do we infer that Eze is seen as the rotation option with Maddison as a 10?

I'll be honest, I like Eze but i'd sooner see funds allocated elsewhere but there does seem to be the suggestion that we'll be looking at a significant outlay across the board this summer.
Yeah from what he’s saying in the replies it sounds like he wouldn’t be the winger.
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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I still struggle to see us getting him despite what the ITK suggests. Considering the amount of work we seem to want to do I just can’t see us spending that much on one player but we shall see.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
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He also goes on to say we will be looking for a winger in the 25-40 mil range


What top end quality to you get for that these days? Lol.

So it will be more punts on young talent and then it will be they need time to develop etc (which is fair)

But the point is we need some top end quality who have developed and can hit the ground running, otherwise its not complete backing is it?

You cant say he's backed by just buying potential.

Its easy to see why we go round in constant circles with all this.

If we're serious we need to do what Arsenal and Liverpool did, no fucking about.. or at least to a similar extent
 

Ghost Hardware

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
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Just what we need when our attack is woeful
Tbf you could get the likes of Chiesa, Guðmundsson, Doué, Soulé, Nusa, Cherki, Guirassy, Uzun, Roger, kılıçsoy, Gassova, Luciano Rodriguez, M. Beier, karim konate, Gloukh, Summerville, around or lower then that I’d imagine. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Probably David also will be around 40 given his contract. There’s also a number like Williams, Luis Guilherme and Marmoush who will be just above the 40 mil mark. Not saying I think we should target all of those or that they would come but just saying there are quality attackers both in the prospect and developed category out there who are decently priced.

I know it would be amazing to sign a higher value attacker but I’m not even sure who I’d pick at this point. Kvara is the dream but he would be more like £70/80 mil plus I’d imagine. I’m personally not even convinced we should be spending £60+ on Eze given how much work needs being done and i wouldn’t spend that on Raphinha ether. Olise and Neto would be great if they didn’t have injury issues but as they do I think it’s too much of a risk and beyond that who actually is there? Sesko, Bakayoko, Olmo and Baena are all exciting options who would probably be in the £40 to £50/55 mil range so shouldn’t be completely out of the question especially if we can do a favourable deal with add ons or maybe a player going the other way.

So much of the success of this window will come down to how well we scout. But even from an amateur perspective there certainly are very interesting targets out there who won’t cost the Earth and would improve our atrack. Whether we target them or not is another matter tho.
 

GutBucket

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2013
6,887
11,598
Wouldn't have to worry about Maddison's form if we had Eze. It's hard to find better HG talent and one who is available. Knew he would end up this good and it was super smart of him to join Palace and develop there. Can Levy resist buying someone like Gibbs-White for less money instead?
 
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