Player Watch - Djed Spence - Genoa

[mr ashley]

Yeah but it's not just

If he comes are you expecting him to be a starter for a CL side then? Fact is we all know Conte well enough by now, if there is an issue with him in training he'll be bombed out as quick as a flash and then what? AC does not accept players that sulk and won't toe his very strict line, is he really that good that it makes this a risk worth taking?

What’s the suggestion that hell sulk?
Since joining forest he’s only been talked up by Steve cooper.
Really hope we’ve done our diligence on his character though.

 

[Guernman]

Warnock said he was a big talent with a bad attitude, and this tweet is supposed to prove him wrong?!? Thinking you are Michael Jordan because you win a playoff game isn’t a good look and this isn’t the stuff of witty banter like Richarlison’s hilarious bus tweet, this just comes across as arrogant and very petty.

I get that Spence is only 21 and we all do stupid things in the moment. But we were already debating his attitude before this as there are multiple sources questioning it.

I’m in two minds about this because he has the player attributes we are looking for and could certainly step up to be a really great buy. On the other hand we have been here before with Ndombele, another supreme talent with a well documented attitude problem.

Ndombele could have taken the PL by storm if you look at his talent alone, but you can’t ignore an individual’s personality and mentality. The warning signs with Tanguy were a matter of record to the extent where we were legitimately questioning our approach to recruitment, and the same can be said here with Spence.

Of course he is young and can change, and maybe Conte is just the man to instil that, but I don’t think we can just turn a blind eye to this and pretend that Spence has the perfect attitude. He is clearly more Dele or Ndombele rather than Kulusevski or Kane

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Yeah but it's not just

If he comes are you expecting him to be a starter for a CL side then? Fact is we all know Conte well enough by now, if there is an issue with him in training he'll be bombed out as quick as a flash and then what? AC does not accept players that sulk and won't toe his very strict line, is he really that good that it makes this a risk worth taking?

Yea if there are serious attitude risks then move on to other targets, we don't want another Ndombele situation and as you can Conte is especially strict.

That being said he's only 21 and a lot of young footballers are quite cocky as they're still figuring themselves out so some tough love from Conte might do him some good if we think he is the real deal but if we have other similar targets with no attitude risk then i'd go for them.

 

[Trix]

What’s the suggestion that hell sulk?
Since joining forest he’s only been talked up by Steve cooper.
Really hope we’ve done our diligence on his character though.

Well I was replying to a post that said.....

"Or is it all just him sulking in training due to lack of opportunities under Warnock ?"

And remember Warnock talked him up as well. numerous times in fact he said he was a very good player that could make it to the very top. He also said he spoke to him many many times about his attitude, and every time he thought he'd turned a corner he did something to let himself down. I know Warnock can be a dick at times but it very much comes across as he gave him chance after chance until he'd finally had enough. Even when he loaned him out he made it clear he thought he had the ability required to get to the very top, but needed a complete change of scenery to get himself straight. We've seen this all before many many times and the list includes a lot of very good players. 9 times out of 10 it ends the same way though and imo if there is any doubt about his character at all we should stay well clear.

Warnock might be a knobber but he's not going to ship out players he thinks are very talented and help his team unless there is a good reason. Perhaps the change in scenery has helped, and being a nailed on starter would have too, but Conte is not going to suffer him if he comes and then acts up, that is a fact.

 

[cider spurs]

Okay, so I'll concede, vast difference in cost. But ultimately at present, Spence is nothing more than a younger version of Traore.

Rapid, with little, to no end product. Again, I appreciate Spence is young, but he has so much to work on relating to his game, that imo, I don't believe he's anywhere near a starter if that's what people are expecting.

Yes he's had the odd great game here and there. So has Harry Winks.

Well worth a read.

Analysing Forest's Djed Spence

Djed Spence has had a breakout season in the Championship with promotion-chasing Forest. Peter Munnely profiels his style, skillset and future.

www.scoutedftbl.com

 

[taidgh]

“A legal but disloyal way”. Ha. He was a kid being a twat in a very public way - which was the exact view held at the time by everyone.

Don’t see what makes it a “terrible comparison”, aside from it detracting from your view.

Aside from the awkward phrasing, you think handing in a transfer request is the same as calling out a former manager via social media? It's very different, and to maintain it's not would be blinkered.

 

[easley91]

It's one tweet after Warnock joined twitter. It's harmless banter. Really don't see the issue?

If Paratici and Conte have done their due diligence and still want him then so be it.

 

[Trix]

It's one tweet after Warnock joined twitter. It's harmless banter. Really don't see the issue?

If Paratici and Conte have done their due diligence and still want him then so be it.

This bit I completely agree with.

 

[arunspurs]

Yeah but it's not just

If he comes are you expecting him to be a starter for a CL side then? Fact is we all know Conte well enough by now, if there is an issue with him in training he'll be bombed out as quick as a flash and then what? AC does not accept players that sulk and won't toe his very strict line, is he really that good that it makes this a risk worth taking?

If players dont go with AC, they will be sidelined or booted out, whether its Ndombele or Lo Celso or if we sign Spence

No one can predict future, even if its Conte. We will do the reference checks. If in it, Spence is seen not worth the risk, we may not sign him...

Here & now, I will take Spence. Whether he will be a starter in CL game, that remains to be seen. He gave 3 brilliant performance in FA Cup for a championship side against 3 good PL sides (Leicester, Arsenal,Liverpool) - that says to me, he has potential to step up in big games.

 

[mr ashley]

Well I was replying to a post that said.....

"Or is it all just him sulking in training due to lack of opportunities under Warnock ?"

And remember Warnock talked him up as well. numerous times in fact he said he was a very good player that could make it to the very top. He also said he spoke to him many many times about his attitude, and every time he thought he'd turned a corner he did something to let himself down. I know Warnock can be a dick at times but it very much comes across as he gave him chance after chance until he'd finally had enough. Even when he loaned him out he made it clear he thought he had the ability required to get to the very top, but needed a complete change of scenery to get himself straight. We've seen this all before many many times and the list includes a lot of very good players. 9 times out of 10 it ends the same way though and imo if there is any doubt about his character at all we should stay well clear.

Warnock might be a knobber but he's not going to ship out players he thinks are very talented and help his team unless there is a good reason. Perhaps the change in scenery has helped, and being a nailed on starter would have too, but Conte is not going to suffer him if he comes and then acts up, that is a fact.

Sorry. It’s hard to distinguish between your insider knowledge and when you’re just responding to the previous post sometimes.
I don’t disagree with a lot of your points.
Firstly I’m sure that after all the years in the game, Warnock can spot a wrong’un.
The tweet by spence proves warnock right just as much as it proves him wrong.
I’m all for us scouting the players character as much as their ability, because that’s what will be tested in the big games.
You’ve been against the idea of signing him- who do you see as a credible alternative?

 

[Timberwolf]

I suppose with Spence, even if he is a bit of a knob and doesn't work out, we can probably get most of our money back on him.

Unlike Ndombele the fee will be reasonable and we won't put him on stupid wages straight off the bat. Those are the two real problems we have with Tanguy - we can't shift him because no-one can afford him. If he was affordable I'm sure one of the big clubs would've taken a punt by now.

If we pay 12-15m for Spence, unless he goes full Jack Clarke, we can probably get around 7-10m in a couple of years if need be. I mean Joe Rodon was being linked to Brighton for more than we paid for him, despite barely playing a minute for us.

The main downside would be the time and energy wasted - we need to get this RWB slot right for next season and if we really think Spence will play a big part in the first team we're taking a big risk.

 

[Trix]

Sorry. It’s hard to distinguish between your insider knowledge and when you’re just responding to the previous post sometimes.
I don’t disagree with a lot of your points.
Firstly I’m sure that after all the years in the game, Warnock can spot a wrong’un.
The tweet by spence proves warnock right just as much as it proves him wrong.
I’m all for us scouting the players character as much as their ability, because that’s what will be tested in the big games.
You’ve been against the idea of signing him- who do you see as a credible alternative?

It's difficult to say based on not knowing exactly what Conte plans to do or what attributes he's looking for, but purely on an 'I've seen him and like him basis' I really like Di Lorenzo at Napoli. If we are looking for young and English then I think Isiah Jones is the pick and better than Spence, but I can't see Boro letting them both go.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Okay, so I'll concede, vast difference in cost. But ultimately at present, Spence is nothing more than a younger version of Traore.

Rapid, with little, to no end product. Again, I appreciate Spence is young, but he has so much to work on relating to his game, that imo, I don't believe he's anywhere near a starter if that's what people are expecting.

Yes he's had the odd great game here and there. So has Harry Winks.

Well worth a read.

Analysing Forest's Djed Spence

Djed Spence has had a breakout season in the Championship with promotion-chasing Forest. Peter Munnely profiels his style, skillset and future.

www.scoutedftbl.com

That report concerns me because that’s pretty much what I thought in the small handful of games I’ve seen. Really wish we would go for Frimpong instead even if he’s valued at 20-30 instead of 14/15 like Spence.

 

[Beautiful Yetta]

When people say that they 'basically said...' you can be pretty sure the word 'basically' is doing a lot of heavy lifting, and when it's Neil Warnock you can be certain. Another thing you can be pretty sure about is Warnock laughed when he read his mentions and felt pretty good about his motivational skills, as he should.

I just don't see how Spence's tongue-in-cheek tweet is a sign of anything but a young'un with a personality -- he was hardly nasty or big-headed with it. Seems like he was just acknowledging what everyone had been saying about him and enjoying a chance to have some fun with it when he was pumped-up post-game. Wait at least for a full-length interview before deciding to know his feelings and whether his level of professional respect is suitable enough. And Conte will have that interview before the lot of us. Don't see why we're fretting.

Thought he looked ok, some concerns but lots of promise. If we're really set on a Traore-type I can see why Conte would think Spence would be a preferable project. Can see us adding him and keeping our powder dry on Doherty and Emerson until January. I'd be ok with that. I wouldn't have earlier in the season but after our run-in it seems wise.

 

[PT]

Paratici’s brief includes stocking up a successful Academy with prospects of young age. H may be running the rule over Spence to acquire with a view of owning back out, as per Sessegnon.

Spence is Championship novice level right now, and a huge leap up to the regular requirements of standardsfor the Premier Leage.

A loan back to Forest for next season could be fruitful for both that club and the player.

 

[cider spurs]

That report concerns me because that’s pretty much what I thought in the small handful of games I’ve seen. Really wish we would go for Frimpong instead even if he’s valued at 20-30 instead of 14/15 like Spence.

Agreed, It's pretty much how I've seen his game in the main. Of course barring the occasional excellent display.

It's not a no from me per se, but more my thinking that he's probably nowhere near the difference making RWB crucial to the way Conte utilises them.

 

[Timberwolf]

What’s the suggestion that hell sulk?
Since joining forest he’s only been talked up by Steve cooper.
Really hope we’ve done our diligence on his character though.

Apparently Cooper is an absolutely lovely guy and a giant pussycat. The Forest captain said he "killed them with kindness" in his post-match interview when they won the play-off final. Some players really respond to that type of management.

Conte, however, will kill them a drop-kick to the throat.

It could be the making of Spence at Spurs if he fully embraces Conte's methods, but if he doesn't he'll barely feature at all.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

That report concerns me because that’s pretty much what I thought in the small handful of games I’ve seen. Really wish we would go for Frimpong instead even if he’s valued at 20-30 instead of 14/15 like Spence.

Frimpong is probably who I would go for too. Counts as HG too I believe?

Explosive, absolutely rapid and a good dribbler too. Downside with him is his height.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

Frimpong is probably who I would go for too. Counts as HG too I believe?

Explosive, absolutely rapid and a good dribbler too. Downside with him is his height.

I think so since he came from Citeh's youth rank

 

[Aphex]

people saying well if he doesn’t work out just sell him. It’s not that easy. He will sign a long contract on decent money. We have to be really careful about the people we bring into the club and Spence is no exception. We’ve seen how difficult it is to move on players we don’t want.

I wouldn’t be surprised if HG rules play a big part too. At least one position we recruit for will need to be English. We can’t just sign foreign players all summer.