Enzo Barrenechea - on loan at Benfica

[Demitri_C]

I think it makes sense for these two players to loan them out. If they're not quite where we need them to be, and they're not going to get there sitting on our bench occasionally, then sending them on loan to get a full season of football is, in the long term, better for us. Its not like we've loaned them to West Brom or something.

I would agree if the squad was massive but the sad reality is it isnt.

We have already had cash injured and kosta a q8 year old is being thrown in the deep end as we have no one else. If he gets injured konsa goes rb. Then who plays with pau? As carlos ia injured. This is just one example.

If onana gets injured enzo would play as kamara is still injured. Now we would have to go for dendonker who for me isnt good enough

[AV84]

^ look at the benches from our first two league games though. There was no room for the two Juve lads. We possibly have to name a smaller squad for Europe because of the homegrown thing, so maybe they weren't going to be included there either?

I get what you're saying about injuries, and I know our record is bad in that respect, but I think keeping them here just on the off chance that a specific player got injured, would be a waste of their time. Iling-Junior will be playing CL where he is, and might not have made our squad for it if he's stayed.

[SoccerHQ]

Kamara must only be a month or so away from returning to full training.

Feels odd to let him go so soon if Kamara won't be back in contention until December.

Our midfield has looked fine so far but we know from last few seasons it's only a matter of time before injuries hit in that area.

[Demitri_C]

Kamara must only be a month or so away from returning to full training.

Feels odd to let him go so soon if Kamara won't be back in contention until December.

Our midfield has looked fine so far but we know from last few seasons it's only a matter of time before injuries hit in that area.

We should ahve kept him until January seen how kam is then loan him. This just crazy. Kamara is going to need time. Honestly if onana gets injured we are screwed. Id rather have enzo there than dendonker

[Dante Lavelli]

I think it makes sense for these two players to loan them out. If they're not quite where we need them to be, and they're not going to get there sitting on our bench occasionally, then sending them on loan to get a full season of football is, in the long term, better for us. Its not like we've loaned them to West Brom or something.

I agree.  we are trying to build a sustainable club for the long term.  For that, some signings need to be for ‘next season’ or even further out.  As I suggested previously, a good season for Enzo and we will reluctantly cash in on Kamara in summer 2025 for big money.  Onana fills that void and Enzo becomes the back up having established himself during two full seasons playing in two different leagues.

The Kamara money buys a Tielemans/McGinn understudy so the succession plan is in place for the next phase.

[Demitri_C]

I think it makes sense for these two players to loan them out. If they're not quite where we need them to be, and they're not going to get there sitting on our bench occasionally, then sending them on loan to get a full season of football is, in the long term, better for us. Its not like we've loaned them to West Brom or something.

I agree.  we are trying to build a sustainable club for the long term.  For that, some signings need to be for ‘next season’ or even further out.  As I suggested previously, a good season for Enzo and we will reluctantly cash in on Kamara in summer 2025 for big money.  Onana fills that void and Enzo becomes the back up having established himself during two full seasons playing in two different leagues.

The Kamara money buys a Tielemans/McGinn understudy so the succession plan is in place for the next phase.

It would be great dante if the squad was bigger and we didnt have such a demanding amount of games. We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs) add that to league, carabao and fa cup. Thats a hige amount of games with 4 players coming back from long term injuries.

[Dave]

We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs)

I'm on board with the squad being a little bit lighter than I'd like, but we played fourteen matches in the Conference League last season.

Thinking we'll play 16-18 Champions League matches strikes me as very optimistic.

[cdbearsfan]

We played two qualifiers against Hibs last year so the total European matches even out. Hopefully we will have more domestic cup games this season (though we definitely won't be losing a replay again).

[Ads]

We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs)

I'm on board with the squad being a little bit lighter than I'd like, but we played fourteen matches in the Conference League last season.

Thinking we'll play 16-18 Champions League matches strikes me as very optimistic.

If we're in a European seni-final come May with a 4/10 window, then imagine what a 5/10 would have delivered!

[Duncan Shaw]

Something must have changed during the week though, Unai was praising him highly last week, saying he'd be part of the squad etc. and now we have shipped him out.  I guess they are wiggling to the limit to see if we can get someone in, or they were confident of getting rid of Donk.

[Demitri_C]

We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs)

I'm on board with the squad being a little bit lighter than I'd like, but we played fourteen matches in the Conference League last season.

Thinking we'll play 16-18 Champions League matches strikes me as very optimistic.

Yeah i would agree we are unlikely to get to 16-18 stage.

I guess if we go out in CL group stage it would allow us to focus on the league. Just think having enzo here is handy for the cup games and potential injuries

[Ads]

If we go out in the League Stage, that would be disappointing.

[Dave]

We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs)

I'm on board with the squad being a little bit lighter than I'd like, but we played fourteen matches in the Conference League last season.

Thinking we'll play 16-18 Champions League matches strikes me as very optimistic.

Yeah i would agree we are unlikely to get to 16-18 stage.

So we wouldn't have an extra two games in Europe next season. We have plausibly six fewer, and if we even end up having even the same then we'll have done far better than anyone expects us to.

So all good on the number of games front.

[Demitri_C]

We have 2 extra games compared to last season  in europe (potentially a further 2 if we get to the play offs)

I'm on board with the squad being a little bit lighter than I'd like, but we played fourteen matches in the Conference League last season.

Thinking we'll play 16-18 Champions League matches strikes me as very optimistic.

Yeah i would agree we are unlikely to get to 16-18 stage.

So we wouldn't have an extra two games in Europe next season. We have plausibly six fewer, and if we even end up having even the same then we'll have done far better than anyone expects us to.

So all good on the number of games front.

.yeah i didnt take into consideration the qualifiers we had with hibs to bw honest dave forgot about those. But they were pretty easy games in comparison to these tough CL games we will have

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Very disappointed he's gone out on loan as he looks a real quality footballer. That said, he's 23 and needs to be playing games it's just a shame he won't be getting the minutes at Villa Park. It would appear Unai prefers Barkley to replace Onana who obviously can't play every single game.