If we go up, I think Kone gets bought by a PL side over the Summer. He may well come back to us on loan, but I'd be very, very surprised if he signs a new contract.
Replacing a striker is not a new thing for us. Having minted owners with an extra £10m in their pockets and being a club either in the championship or chasing it is a far cry and a damn site easier than trying to do it at the bottom of Division two without a pot to piss in.
Hope he stays for years but we do obsess about players going unduly and there are always good players out there wanting clubs.
I think you're underestimating just how highly rated Kone is in football circles. It's been reported earlier in the season that Crystal Palace sent scouts to watch him play - they are renowned for buying EFL prospects and turning them into successful PL players. I'd just be very surprised if he signs a new contract, even if we go up (though of course I hope I am wrong!)
There were some reports Ipswich have been tracking him too.
Whatever happens he will move on in the summer sadly as he’s going to get some incredible offers. I think a top end Championship club will be his next move. If he wins the golden boot and we go up that will only add to the fee we get.
For now though let’s enjoy the immense talent we are lucky to have and hope he is the difference to get us over the line.
My guess is that if we go up the vultures will let him have a few months to prove himself in the Championship before swooping in January. Fair enough. He's destined for great things and it was nice to be part of his journey.
Ipswich may be slightly more cautious given their experiment with Al-Hamadi. Admittedly AAH 2.0 looked like a headless chicken when playing for us, so I'd back Koné to do better in higher divisions
Just watched Kone's goal from last night back again. I think in amongst the need to win and the fact that it had been a pretty ropey performance up to that point, it's rather got lost that it was an absolutely brilliant team goal. Great play from Grimmer deep inside his own half, nutmegging his opponent and laying off a lovely pass to Simons in the clear. Simons runs half the length of the pitch drawing defenders towards him before laying it off to Leahy who delivers a pinpoint cross for Kone to power home. Similar quality to the Onyedinma goal at Lincoln and completely out of keeping with the quality of the match. Would certainly recommend another watch taking in the full build up from back to front.
Would I would say is that for the last third of the game, for the first time under Dodds, there felt a bit of the invincibility from earlier in the season. It felt like we would score, whereas in other Dodds games you hoped we would score.
Yeah, what’s a shame is it proves how officiating is a lose / lose situation really.
Ok so the ref missed it, he’s human and the assistant referee wouldn’t have had a great view with players in his line of vision. But, fourth official is there to be an extra pair of eyes wherever possible as well as controlling the benches etc.
So rather than the fourth official being praised for making such an important and correct decision that could even decide a promotion race he is moaned at by Evans.
Agree with this. It was a clear error, it wasn't something that required endless TV replays to see. If the referee has missed it for whatever reason then it was correct for the 4th official to make the call. Quite brave as well with Evans standing next to him!
That's a really good point. As fans, I think when officials miss a call it is important to think about their angle. Thankfully they don't have VAR to ruin the game help them, and they can't be everywhere at once.
For instance, the penalty Scowen gave away a couple of games ago would definitely have looked worse based on the angle. I also think of the foul on Max at the end of the Portsmouth away game (last season?) where a lot of us didn't even realize it was a foul until we got the reverse angle from where the linesman was standing.
Still bitter about Horgan, though. Could have sailed an Armada through the onside distance.
Wingbacks might be the answer, but we played two fullbacks as wingback and an actual wingback as, well, nobody knows what, on the wrong side of the pitch.
Comments
If we go up, I think Kone gets bought by a PL side over the Summer. He may well come back to us on loan, but I'd be very, very surprised if he signs a new contract.
Replacing a striker is not a new thing for us. Having minted owners with an extra £10m in their pockets and being a club either in the championship or chasing it is a far cry and a damn site easier than trying to do it at the bottom of Division two without a pot to piss in.
Hope he stays for years but we do obsess about players going unduly and there are always good players out there wanting clubs.
He's not joining a premier league team. When did anyone in their 20s go from league one to Premier league team in a transfer?
I'd rather we battled the teams around us with a chance to take points...than go into the run-in against 'struggling' sides and blow it!
I think you're underestimating just how highly rated Kone is in football circles. It's been reported earlier in the season that Crystal Palace sent scouts to watch him play - they are renowned for buying EFL prospects and turning them into successful PL players. I'd just be very surprised if he signs a new contract, even if we go up (though of course I hope I am wrong!)
SE: "We all know what the elephant in the room is"
yes steve, yes we do.
There were some reports Ipswich have been tracking him too.
Whatever happens he will move on in the summer sadly as he’s going to get some incredible offers. I think a top end Championship club will be his next move. If he wins the golden boot and we go up that will only add to the fee we get.
For now though let’s enjoy the immense talent we are lucky to have and hope he is the difference to get us over the line.
100%. He's a joy to watch.
Agreed. I think he would be a good fit for Brentford or Brighton to develop. They would then send him out on loan to a Championship club for a year
My guess is that if we go up the vultures will let him have a few months to prove himself in the Championship before swooping in January. Fair enough. He's destined for great things and it was nice to be part of his journey.
Ipswich may be slightly more cautious given their experiment with Al-Hamadi. Admittedly AAH 2.0 looked like a headless chicken when playing for us, so I'd back Koné to do better in higher divisions
Spend it on a few more Danes?
Looks like Christian Eriksen will be looking for a club in the summer.
Just watched Kone's goal from last night back again. I think in amongst the need to win and the fact that it had been a pretty ropey performance up to that point, it's rather got lost that it was an absolutely brilliant team goal. Great play from Grimmer deep inside his own half, nutmegging his opponent and laying off a lovely pass to Simons in the clear. Simons runs half the length of the pitch drawing defenders towards him before laying it off to Leahy who delivers a pinpoint cross for Kone to power home. Similar quality to the Onyedinma goal at Lincoln and completely out of keeping with the quality of the match. Would certainly recommend another watch taking in the full build up from back to front.
Somewhere in south Bucks perhaps?
But most of the harder teams are late on, when hopefully autos have gone, or they've missed the playoffs
Orient will hopefully be beached by game 45, and hopefully Stockport and Charlton can't come top 2 by then so are resting players.
Players in their 20's
Ashley Westwood 22, (Crewe Alexandra to Aston Villa)
Jordan Bowery 21, (Chesterfield to Aston Villa)
Dwight Gayle 23, (Peterborough United to Crystal Palace)
Ivan Toney 24, (Northampton Town to Newcastle United
Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson 25, (Charlton Athletic to Burnley)
Antonee Robinson 23, (Wigan Athletic to Fulham)
Mads Anderson 25, (Barnsley to Luton Town)
Ronnie Edwards 21, (Peterborough United to Southampton)
Tyler Bindon 20, (Reading to Nottingham Forest)
Players under 20
Fabian Delph 19, (Leeds United to Aston Villa)
Jonjo Shelvey 18, (Charlton Athletic to Liverpool)
Nick Powell 18, (Crewe Alexandra to Manchester United)
Ademola Lookman 19, (Charlton Athletic to Everton)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin 19, (Sheffield United to Everton)
Would I would say is that for the last third of the game, for the first time under Dodds, there felt a bit of the invincibility from earlier in the season. It felt like we would score, whereas in other Dodds games you hoped we would score.
We have been at our best when teams go for it against us so it might not be a bad thing that teams have something to play for against us.
I think it was a bit of a freak incident where the players boot blade got caught in his lace and ripped it
Yeah, what’s a shame is it proves how officiating is a lose / lose situation really.
Ok so the ref missed it, he’s human and the assistant referee wouldn’t have had a great view with players in his line of vision. But, fourth official is there to be an extra pair of eyes wherever possible as well as controlling the benches etc.
So rather than the fourth official being praised for making such an important and correct decision that could even decide a promotion race he is moaned at by Evans.
Did we take a balaclava for the fourth official?
Agree with this. It was a clear error, it wasn't something that required endless TV replays to see. If the referee has missed it for whatever reason then it was correct for the 4th official to make the call. Quite brave as well with Evans standing next to him!
I’d be reasonably sure he’d be able to outrun Evans if needed…
That's a really good point. As fans, I think when officials miss a call it is important to think about their angle. Thankfully they don't have VAR to
ruin the gamehelp them, and they can't be everywhere at once.For instance, the penalty Scowen gave away a couple of games ago would definitely have looked worse based on the angle. I also think of the foul on Max at the end of the Portsmouth away game (last season?) where a lot of us didn't even realize it was a foul until we got the reverse angle from where the linesman was standing.
Still bitter about Horgan, though. Could have sailed an Armada through the onside distance.
Jon Stead as well, I think? (Huddersfield to Blackburn)
https://youtu.be/e_77MAhOMio?si=8U2JE3eoNB9O0wvy
For those who wondered why Adam Reach was played “up front” yesterday.
And whoever described him as vey one footed!
Wingbacks might be the answer, but we played two fullbacks as wingback and an actual wingback as, well, nobody knows what, on the wrong side of the pitch.
Thanks @micra , quite a show reel for Adam. How was he without a club? Will be really important to us for the run in.
Perhaps Dodds thought Reach was our answer to Salah and Saka who are totally left footed but play wide right for their clubs.