Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Aye totally agree with you its a good scenario to be in thats the business model, sell for £17m guy who cost £3m and then reinvest it all as the cash at bank would choke a family of yawning hippos ffs

 

17m for Kuhn would be good business , never going to be a full season player , I know most wingers have off days but with Kuhn it’s usually a few off games and when he’s off it he’s really off it

 

Balikwisha, Orjasaeter and Nygren all capable of playing either side those 3 would get plenty of minutes while Forrest again showed towards end of the season that he's got plenty still to offer as 4th choice. Signing those 3 for £15m or go get into a bidding war for Kvistgaarden and pay £12m for him alone.

You can see why Rodgers thinks it would be easier to keep Maeda as a striker and sign a couple of quality wingers

 

All have the capability but
Balikwishi looks every bit a left winger cutting in on his right
Orjasaeter maybe a bit more flexible but predominantly a lefty
Nygren has played left but looks easily more comfy on the right or central (where i like him)

I don't wanna rely on Forrest as 4th choice, no matter how good he still is. His body won't be able to hack it over the course. We'd need another..

 

A 4 of Orjasaeter, Balikwisha, Nygren and Forrest, with option of using Maeda gives us far better options out wide than we had last season.

Our wide options last season for champions league were Khun, Maeda, Forrest, Yang and Palma.

Nygren has essential played as a right winger for past 2 seasons, I really don't see him even being considered as a central option. He is 100% Khuns replacement

 

Dont want to digress but I think Stralec name will raise its head soon as a striking option

 

I love hatate but while I don't disagree with you regarding his attributes I just don't think he's decisive enough to be a 10. Id hope to be wrong.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

Always dangerous to judge any player based on a highlight reel, but this guy’s video isn’t that exciting.

 

That isn't enough for me though..

Maeda's now the main number 9 and never a right winger
Balikwisha doesn't look a right winger at all
Orjasaeter is very much a left winger but does drift
Nygren fine might be the main right winger but can play centrally
Forrest still has class but should never be the very next in line over a 60 game season at this stage. He should be the other other option..

That would realistically only leave 4 wingers with Maeda elsewhere, Jota out for most of the season and of that 4, a 34 year old in a few weeks James Forrest..

 

It's still miles ahead of where we were last year.

It's not football manager and as much as we all would like to have 4 starting wingers as it's just not gonna happen.

In general we play with 3 upfront and have 3 more forward options on the bench.

So if you take Orjasaeter, Maeda and Nygren as the starting 3 you would then have Idah, Balikwisha and Osmand on the bench.

Forrest isn't even making the bench so don't see where the 4th choice fits in either and injured or not we are still paying Jota a big wage. So really don't see it happening

 

Aye he'll have to be sold this summer..

Agreed on the wings needing real investment. Feel there, someone in centre mid (possibly 2 if unlikely) and centre half partner for Carter-Vickers is where big signings should be made..

I can't see Idah and Osmand both taking places on the bench every week. Sometimes but no always..

If we sign Balikwisha and Orjasaeter then I'd imagine seeing as we've been keen on Balikwisha for over a year that he'd be the starter as older with more pedigree at this stage..

The right still wouldn't be strong enough though. Losing one of our best players and right siders, replacing him with what looks a very good signing and then Forrest after? No the greatest..

A young up and comer like an Osmand for the right with real pace and ability to go by a man and I'd be very happy. Doesn't have to be a blockbuster signing at all..

 

So what do we have the now

ST - Maeda, Idah, Kenny
LW - Jota (but crocked), Maeda
RW - Kuhn, Forrest, Yang
AM - McCowan, Engels or Hatate at a push.

If we go to 4-2-3-1 and sign some of the players linked we could have:

ST Maeda, Idah, Osmand
LW Balikwisha, Orjasaeter, Jota (crocked)
RW - Nygren, Kuhn, Forrest, Yang
AM - Nygren, Balikwisha, McCowan, Engels or Hatate, Osmand

Based on the above and the likelihood Kuhn goes we could really do with another right winger, as a direct replacement but that all probably depends on where we see Nygren playing is he an attacking midfielder or winger?

Like if Kuhn does go do we play

AM Balikwisha
LW Orjaesaeter
RW Nygren
ST Maeda

Which would leave Idah, Osmand, Jota (when fit) but probably need another right winger player.

On the other hand if Maeda was to remain a left winger I don’t think signing both Balikwisha and Orjasaeter makes sense again you would be better with another striker and right winger.

 

As I said mate, Forrest showed that despite his age he's still got plenty to offer. Him as a 4th choice winger until Jota returns id be fairly happy with that and knowing how we do business, I think it's what we will get

 

If we are going to 4231 then a proper creative AM would be a much more likely and necessary signing than a 4th winger.

So many games teams come and park the bus and we just resort to the horseshoe of death. A Tom Rogic type, capable of penetrating low blocks is vital domestically at least.