It's Quiet 18 - Wanna ring the bell?

[Gabriel]

Good to see you take this one. Hardly ever comment in here but agree with everything you’ve said. Problem is, a lot of the potentially good players at the back seem to be left footed. Don’t need more of them. If he’s ambipedal like Cherki then sure.

They were unicorns when we signed Laporte, yet now every time we're linked with a defender he's left-footed. Has their been a breeding programme?

Cherki is such a maverick, isn't he? If he ever gets his head screwed on properly, he'll be a joy to watch.

 

[SebastianBlue]

They were unicorns when we signed Laporte, yet now every time we're linked with a defender he's left-footed. Has their been a breeding programme?

Cherki is such a maverick, isn't he? If he ever gets his head screwed on properly, he'll be a joy to watch.

As far as the “breeding programme” questions, this is reflective of normal “market” shift.

Left-footed players were in high demand for some time because of a number of reasons—more on others below—but one of them was there were simply fewer decent ones available (as most people are naturally right-footed), which meant the ones that were got more chances to play/impress, in many cases preferential development and, if they were good enough, ultimately higher wages. So many parents, coaches, and agents began to prioritise developing their sons, players, and clients who are left-footed (and/or literally took right-footed players early on and turned them in the left-footed players; I actually know two players at the U18 level now whose dads did that when they were still in primary school).

Eventually you get a saturation, and the supply levels off.

That’s not to say there are actually enough left-footed players at every position for the top level of football right now, but there are definitely far more than there were even 10 years ago. The market is still fighting natural biological tendencies.

As far as why we look at a lot of left-footed players, there are tactical and mechanical benefits to having left-footed players, even beyond those specialised to left-sided positions.

This is a decent overview of them (just ignore the use of “soccer”).

Left Footed Soccer Players: Is There an Advantage?

Is there an advantage to being a left footed soccer player? Maybe. Learn the pros and cons of left footed soccer players!

soccernovo.com

 

[Gabriel]

As far as the “breeding programme” questions, this is reflective of normal “market” shift.

Left-footed players were in high demand for some time because of a number of reasons—more on others below—but one of them was there were simply fewer decent ones available (as most people are naturally right-footed), which meant the ones that were got more chances to play/impress, in many cases preferential development and, if they were good enough, ultimately higher wages. So many parents, coaches, and agents began to prioritise developing their sons, players, and clients who are left-footed (and/or literally took right-footed players early on and turned them in the left-footed players; I actually know two players at the U18 level now whose dads did that when they were still in primary school).

Eventually you get a saturation, and the supply levels off.

That’s not to say there are actually enough left-footed players at every position for the top level of football right now, but there are definitely far more than there were even 10 years ago. The market is still fighting natural biological tendencies.

As far as why we look at a lot of left-footed players, there are tactical and mechanical benefits to having left-footed players, even beyond those specialised to left-sided positions.

This is a decent overview of them (just ignore the use of “soccer”).

Left Footed Soccer Players: Is There an Advantage?

Is there an advantage to being a left footed soccer player? Maybe. Learn the pros and cons of left footed soccer players!

soccernovo.com

Very interesting.
It was more a tongue in cheek remark, especially in relation to central defenders. We were paying a premium a few years ago because there was a famine, now it's a glut.

 

[Skrastins]

 

[Delphinho]

Joke of a price and wouldn’t be an upgrade on Oscar Bobb. The likes of Olise/Eze/Ait-Nouri are typical transfer targets for clubs like Tottenham, Newcastle and the rags, not treble winners. All 3 of those would, at best, be squad players/backups. Sign someone who either goes directly into the starting 11 or gives the current starters a run for their money

 

[richards30]

Much better deal than Neto!!

 

[Dialog]

Joke of a price and wouldn’t be an upgrade on Oscar Bobb. The likes of Olise/Eze/Ait-Nouri are typical transfer targets for clubs like Tottenham, Newcastle and the rags, not the treble winners. All 3 of those would, at best, be squad players/backups. Sign someone who either goes directly into the starting 11 or gives the current starters a run for their money

I would have thought our board learned something from the previous window, perhaps not, because we are still looking at players that do not really improve us or maybe we are looking to be a mid table team!

 

[TB369]

Joke of a price and wouldn’t be an upgrade on Oscar Bobb. The likes of Olise/Eze/Ait-Nouri are typical transfer targets for clubs like Tottenham, Newcastle and the rags, not the treble winners. All 3 of those would, at best, be squad players/backups. Sign someone who either goes directly into the starting 11 or gives the current starters a run for their money

I couldn't agree more, if you keep signing mid table players then you become a mid table team. We need to go all out this summer and sign some world class players to replace the ones we lost last season and will lose this season.

 

[footballmanager]

sign a gk specialized in defending pens

 

[bell_mcfc]

sign a gk specialized in defending pens

But then who would score?

Do us all a favour and grow up.