Borja Baston

[ozzjim]

Suso is absolutely fucking working his magic.

I think there are grounds for criticism of Suso, but I’m not too critical of this deal in particular. I think that the brief would have been to find a back-up striker, for no money, who can play as a lone striker, who is already acclimatised to the league. My criticism would be that we have over-relied on the Belgian market, which I don’t think is reliable enough for the money we have spent. However, everything that we have done since promotion has been to build an EPL standard squad, largely from scratch, on a fixed budget (due to FFP). I will wait until we (hopefully) have secured our EPL status and can improve the squad in a more measured and sustainable way, before passing judgement on Suso. If we aren’t unearthing talents, and getting good value out of the market at that point I will definitely be critical.

Acclimatised to the league? 20 games, 1 goal. Hmmm.

I don't mind signing a player like this, my concern is the degree to which we're reliant on him plus another signing who has never kicked a ball in this league.

It's asking a lot of Samatta to adapt quick enough to impact this season, but he is going to have to, because he IS our first choice striker.

Spot on. Baston isn't an awful signing for a body to be 3rd choice, but Samatta and Drinkwater are being carried now to hit the ground. Only plus is SJM might be back by mid March, and we have 2 weeks off in Feb so that brings it closer.

[Steve67]

I've never heard of him.

But, we've signed him.

There were loads of clubs looking for a new striker. ManU, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Palace to name a few. They've not signed anyone either and that shows the difficulty in this window.

We've done some business, time will tell if its any good. However, the way some were talking earlier, they'd want their dead granny rather than  no one.

We'll see.

My dead Granny is a far better player than Danny Drinkwater. 

[Ian.]

I’ll judge Suso at the end of the season.

Having to rebuild a whole squad fit for purpose was going to be tough. So far our signings look pretty good at times, but also prone to error and lack of either form or confidence.

I like Luiz and Fred is proper ace. Marvelous has played well lately and also did at the start of the season. Targett has looked so much better in his wing back role, also I thought he was ok before November. Obviously there is a big question marks over Wes.

Pepe looks the business and a great replacement for Heston.

Who signed Mings? Was that Suso?

I like the look on Konsa too, a very promising young player.

So over all that’s pretty good, especially if financial constraints were in place.

It’s going to the wire I’m sure, unless we put a few wins behind our belts to lift us away. There’s very little in 9th down to second bottom so it’s in our hands too survive and have the premier league windfall we so need.

[ozzjim]

Squad wise, to rebuild completely for 140 million ish including this window, getting in 16/17 players is a bloody tough ask. I think their value is significantly higher now, and some have shown a lot of promise. Stay up its a squad that can grow a lot, but it's going to be a bloody white knuckle job to the final whistle.

[Steve67]

It will be really tough and I'm glad that we haven't become isolated, we are still very much in touch with mid-table sides but tomorrow is a massive game.  I think our home record is key to us staying up. 

[ozzjim]

Sad thing is, this points tally any other season now would be 5 or 6 clear. Its really bloody competitive this year. Tomorrow is a must not lose more than a must win.

[David_Nab]

I've never heard of him.

But, we've signed him.

There were loads of clubs looking for a new striker. ManU, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, Palace to name a few. They've not signed anyone either and that shows the difficulty in this window.

We've done some business, time will tell if its any good. However, the way some were talking earlier, they'd want their dead granny rather than  no one.

We'll see.

This Windows has been has seen hardly anything happen in the top leagues , as you say many clubs where after strikers.We got 2 in meanwhile Spurs/Chelsea both got no one , United have taken taken a player they haven't even had time to give a medical and West Ham have punted big on Bowen from the Championship who could be Hugill mark 2 for them.

It's not the most exciting signing but I wish him well and hope he surprises us

[JJ-AV]

What I would say is that we need a centre forward and there haven't been any that have moved that I'd have taken that we could have got. Ighalo would have been a good one but we couldn't have got him now.

His goal record is shit, maybe his link play is decent? In all honesty, lets hope we never see him because Samatta is bagging.

[Toronto Villa]

Weren't the reports at the time that like a lot of the Chinese signings he was on mental wages?

Edit: I'm on about Rondon.

Ighalo is on £300k a fucking week. Ighalo not Messi. Man U won’t pay all of it but no wonder we didn’t go for him or anyone else out there.

[Footy-Vill]

If it helps: I can give an insight to how he is as a striker .
So he would be comparable in style to Rondon in that he has some power and directness.
And is more an involved goal poacher than Javi 'Chicarito' Hernandez. But does hang out in the penalty area.
Has better footballing ability for the quick link up than Troy  Deeney or Ashley Barnes but is comparable by  type as has similar lack of pace and a competitor but of lesser ability in winning the ariel battles than Barnes or Deeney.
Baston a more refined version of those UK players and a European mix of Rondon And Chicarito.

Has an applied work rate for team and overall goal scoring heading ability as good as Ashley Barnes , Deeney or Rondon maybe better
Work rate is evident though his focus in being in the goal zone.
Physicality could be better but not weak.
Not a straightforward target man though with not burning pace it's the football intelligence from his team mates and his own positioning which give him the opportunity for goals.
As I say he like to be in the box and leading line but not totally traditional way.

Interesting to see how suited his playing style as can develop into team  and on song Baston has ability to net goals.

Welcome and up the villa.

*From what Villa linked I would not say he's anything too majorly dissimilar to Sliminai in profile (apart from less pace) and Giroud- borja slightly more mobile with and without ball.

[purpletrousers]

Where did you watch him Footy?

[West Derby Villan]

Thanks for the summary Vill I An

[Steve67]

Cheers Footy.

[West Derby Villan]

3rd choice by the sounds of it, what more could anyone expect on a "free?"

[Small Rodent]

Both in Spain and in England divisions.
I'm trying to look at positives and comparable quality.
Profile wise its that Rondon , Barnes , Giroud with shades of Chicarito due to being in box desire .
No way near the leader or aggression of Deeney but competitive nature.
And perhaps shall we call a European touch of sensitivity
I saw him live twice in Spain.
I'm not saying he's all the answers but he could be well ok
Good luck I say.
I'm out till march.
Just wanted to give insight to flavor of what we just signed.

He may not be all the answers. But if he can fill gaps in our forwards line I will be happy.