Caleb Okoli - new cult hero

[ceebeefox]

50 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

He’s 23, not 17. 

Young for a centre half, they generally mature later.

[l444ry]

You don't get in the Italy squad as a defender if you can't defend. Surprising how many wrote him off before he'd even been given a run in the side. 

[fox_up_north]

If he wants to be a top defender, he has to go into borderline hopeless situations and try his best. Look at Robertson. Played in a one season Hull side who had no chance when they came up and won himself a transfer to Liverpool, where he's won everything.

 

If Okoli can't handle being on the end of some bad scores and having the mentality to keep going, he can't ever make it at the top. 

[ClaphamFox]

45 minutes ago, ceebeefox said:

Young for a centre half, they generally mature later.

Nonetheless, I’m a little surprised by the suggestion that we leave out a 23-year old defender who we signed for £12m because his feelings might get hurt if we lose…

[MGLCFC]

31 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

Nonetheless, I’m a little surprised by the suggestion that we leave out a 23-year old defender who we signed for £12m because his feelings might get hurt if we lose…

I was of the understanding we signed him for €8m rising to €13m with add ons, which I don't suspect he's reached as yet, although I do agree agree it's rather a lame excuse to exclude a player from the starting line up. I'd have thought he'd be chomping at the bit to play against Arsenal.

[Pliskin]

I like him. I thought he looked far better than either Faes or Vesty. 

[ClaphamFox]

1 minute ago, MGLCFC said:

I was of the understanding we signed him for €8m rising to €13m with add ons, which I don't suspect he's reached as yet, although I do agree agree it's rather a lame excuse to exclude a player from the starting line up. I'd have thought he'd be chomping at the bit to play against Arsenal.

I’m sure he is.

[Tielemans63]

Looks quite quick, and he's clearly strong as an ox. He's also very rough round the edges, but I'd give him a run in the side. It's not like the Vesty / Faes partnership has been solid for us, is it? I'm a bit done with Faes anyway, to be honest.

[Foxin_Mad]

46 minutes ago, Tielemans63 said:

I'm a bit done with Faes anyway, to be honest.

A bit done with him? I'm sick of the wooly haired ****. I'd happily drive him back to Belgium before he relegates us fir a second time. The inability to defend basic situations is why we are in the bottom 3. That defending at Everton should never see the partnership of Vestegaard and Faes again. 

[The Doctor]

3 hours ago, ceebeefox said:

Young for a centre half, they generally mature later.

yes, but he's not a youth teamer, he's a first team squad member. We've got 14 games left to save ourselves in what is a 1 from 3 stay up scenario. we've got to target wolves, Ipswich and Southampton as must wins, realistically we'll need at least one other in there, of which you'd look at Brentford. that gets us to 29, you'd be looking for another win and a couple of draws, or 5 draws, to hit 34 which should be enough. We're looking at a realistically needing points from 7 to 9 of our last 14 games, it's unlikely one of those will be arsenal however we don't have the luxury of writing that game off before a ball is kicked, so we need to play our best first team we can

[ceebeefox]

4 hours ago, The Doctor said:

yes, but he's not a youth teamer, he's a first team squad member. We've got 14 games left to save ourselves in what is a 1 from 3 stay up scenario. we've got to target wolves, Ipswich and Southampton as must wins, realistically we'll need at least one other in there, of which you'd look at Brentford. that gets us to 29, you'd be looking for another win and a couple of draws, or 5 draws, to hit 34 which should be enough. We're looking at a realistically needing points from 7 to 9 of our last 14 games, it's unlikely one of those will be arsenal however we don't have the luxury of writing that game off before a ball is kicked, so we need to play our best first team we can

Agreed, and in spite of my comment he’d be my first pick centre half wise due to pace and strength. I remember Brian Clough talking to one of his centre halves, “ you’re a centre half son, your job is to head it and kick it, anything else is a bonus!” Whilst I don’t fully agree with that, it is a good start, Vesty for instance is 6’5” and jumps 5’6”!!

[Mickyblueeyes]

Okoli A N Other for the time being. I’d prefer it to be Okoli plus 2 others but don’t see us changing it.

[moore_94]

Hopefully we can keep hold of him in the summer as I would quite like Nelson and him as a pair in the Championship

[Ric Flair]

Okoli, Nelson and Souttar next season  would be an excellent trio to have. Get Coady, Vestergaard and Faes as far away from here as possible. Add a steady 4th CB on reasonable wages and actually start taking this overhaul seriously. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

Do you try Okoli with Coady? Big strong, quick raw lad with an old head? 

 

I'd clear the decks now of all of the tried dead wood that have cost us so many goals and go with 

                        Madds 

Coulibaly    Okoli  Coady Thomas 

              Wilf       Soumare 

Facundo         Bilal            Mavi 

                        Vardy 

 

Clearly there's no silver bullet with this lot 

 

 

Edited 10 February by CrazyKopCorner

[moore_94]

8 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Okoli, Nelson and Souttar next season  would be an excellent trio to have. Get Coady, Vestergaard and Faes as far away from here as possible. Add a steady 4th CB on reasonable wages and actually start taking this overhaul seriously. 

I imagine we will be unlikely to see Souttar before the end of the year unfortunately

[dannythefox]

Always thought he’s look ok, start him for the next 5 games see what happens we can’t be any worse.

[Guppys Love Child]

19 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

Do you try Okoli with Coady? Big strong, quick raw lad with an old head? 

 

I'd clear the decks now of all of the tried dead wood that have cost us so many goals and go with 

                        Madds 

Coulibaly    Okoli  Coady Thomas 

              Wilf       Soumare 

Facundo         Bilal            Mavi 

                        Vardy 

 

 

Wouldn't mind seeing that line up.  Possibly VK still over Thomas, but neither are brilliant.  

 

Stephy also needs to find some form now, actually take players on and have some belief in his abilities, and when driving forward keep going and not break play and slow down attacks when hitting the oppositions 18Yd box. He like the whole team is guilty if getting a nose bleed when up the pitch, stopping and looking to pass back as default option.  It gets my goat big time.

 

 

[funkyrobot]

28 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

I imagine we will be unlikely to see Souttar before the end of the year unfortunately

He’s out until Christmas? 🥺

[Supergray22]

On 09/02/2025 at 08:51, ClaphamFox said:

Nonetheless, I’m a little surprised by the suggestion that we leave out a 23-year old defender who we signed for £12m because his feelings might get hurt if we lose…

Haha yes. I learnt that lesson playing for king richard road’s under 9s. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

On 07/02/2025 at 22:15, Skidmark said:

Imagine him next to someone who knows how to defend like Souttar.

 

 

Would be very happy with these two as our CBs next season assuming we get relegated.

[Royston.]

Cult hero?

 

get in the que...

[Levi Port]

Doesn't start as he plays hot potato with the ball but we’re going down with Faes and Vestergaard at the back and he’s a better defender than both so he needs a run 

[ourla]

Faes is the biggest liability for me.

Liking the look of Okoli.

 

Vesty and Coady I have less of a problem with.

[murphy]

2 hours ago, Royston. said:

Cult hero?

 

get in the que...

Amartey is no kind of hero.