Libor Kozák (confirmed post #190)

[Dante Lavelli]

I suppose this could be Benteke's replacement signed a year early.  I can see the logic in that but I'm not sure this is the right guy based on his stats.  Equally I can't say that he is rubbish either, as in I know nothing about him.

[Clark W Griswold]

Agreed on the Barry suggestion (but permanent 2 year deal). It would stick in the throat a bit, but he's exactly what we need right now.

[Clark W Griswold]

I suppose this could be Benteke's replacement signed a year early. 

That had crossed my mind too.

[paul_e]

Agreed on the Barry suggestion (but permanent 2 year deal). It would stick in the throat a bit, but he's exactly what we need right now.

Not mobile enough by a number of degrees, our game, defensively, is to press the ball when they make mistakes and steal possession.  Barry doesn't fit with that.  It's also why we work quite well despite being such a youing side, the fitness plays a big part.

[pauliewalnuts]

These days I can't think of Barry without thinking of another man featuring in the news today.

[ozzjim]

I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.

[Clampy]

It's an interesting one isn't it? I don't think anyone really expected another striker to come in. Maybe he thinks Helanius is going to take longer to adapt than he thought. In any case, it's definatley time to send Bowery out on loan.

[pauliewalnuts]

I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.

A bit of calm experience would be a help, yes, but Barry is far too immobile these days for our midfield.

[bobdylan]

He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.

[ozzjim]

I still think Barry coming home would have been a very good move. Lead the team, teach Westwood a bit, release Gabby and Weimann over the top as he used to Young, and generally add a bit of calm to our game, which in truth we have lacked since Stan fell ill. I am sure this bloke is a decent player, Lambert has not bought a total duffer yet, but not what we need at all.

A bit of calm experience would be a help, yes, but Barry is far too immobile these days for our midfield.

I disagree. He is slow yes, but with Delph and KEA or Sylla or Westwood they would do much of his running. Positionally he is intelligent, and would be a good leader.

[Mister E]

It's an interesting one isn't it? I don't think anyone really expected another striker to come in. Maybe he thinks Helanius is going to take longer to adapt than he thought. In any case, it's definatley time to send Bowery out on loan.

Or, he sees Helenius as the the player in the hole, behind a large front striker.

There are now pletny of options in attacking MF and attack.
I'd like to see the plans for when we do not have possession.

[TheSandman]

I thought we'd done with strikers who didn't score when Ivanhoe left.  Very strange transfer.

He scored 10 goals in 11 starts in the Europa League including a hatrick against Stuttgart. Are you intimately aware of his performances in Serie A were? Did he start all of his games or was he struggling to find the net in sub run outs? His all competitions goal record was 10 in 30 last season, which is not far off Weimann's 12 in 38 and we have no idea about the sub/start balance of those and what kind of player he is (outright striker or someone who gets assists).

I find it interesting that people seem to think they know a player better than Lambert who hasn't really dropped many clangers in the transfer market. Especially when its a player nobody on here had heard of until yesterday and the limit of their scouting expertise is looking at YouTube and Wikipedia.

[darren woolley]

I've never heard of him before but in Lambert we trust like others I would have liked Barry to come back just the sort of player we need.

[eastie]

He probably deems Albrighton and Bowery as not up to it, Helenius and Tonev as back up for Gabby and Weimann and therefore needs a back up for Benteke.

The  quotes H. hodgson put out from his faulkner chat suggested the signing would have a first team impact and make a difference , a back up reserve striker for around Ł7m doesn't fit into that bracket .

He may well be a good signing but i would have liked an attacking midfielder for a similar price who could make a bigger difference.

[ozzjim]

Did you trust the tweets of HHodgson? Strange Eastie. I post tweets as rumour for conversation, but should not take them as the truth.