Liam Cullen (signed, official)

[LCFCJohn]

12 minutes ago, Scotch said:

He came through the youth system as a striker. He's played more as a 9 than in any other position. He played as a striker under our current manager. It's only in the last few years, he has been transitioned elsewhere. 

 

Not to say, he'll be a good signing. I've never seen him play so I don't know. I'm just saying that I don't think he falls into the category of "he can do a job as a striker". He IS a striker who has been moved out of position. 

If that’s the case, fair enough. Even the poster I replied to and many who are jumping down the throats of anyone questioning the transfer, are using terms like ‘can play there’ or ‘has played there’. 
 

I honestly don’t know much about him which is why I am not making any judgements about ability, character or traits etc. But looking the player up, it shows him as a more attacking midfielder, second striker rather than an out and out instinctive striker and honestly his stats would back that up. 
 

He may be able to score enough at this level but are we settling in for an extended stay in L1 or have ambitions of getting back up and staying up? I’d really hope if we get back up, we could bring in a more natural striker not someone who has been moved around. You have to ask why he has not just made that position his own and stayed there?

[Bluearmyfox28]

The more I think about this signing the more I feel I understand it. RM has expressed the need for different profiles in each position. Let’s then put that into perspective with our current needs:

 

We already have a direct wide left winger in Mavididi, therefore a different profile would be an inverted winger to which Cullen can provide that.

 

Our variety of No. 10’s is already good, you have the goalscoring options in Chaplin and now Cullen, you have Page who offers the ability to carry the ball forward from deep and then the ball retention and creativity provided by Braybrooke. 
 

Finally, the different profiles as a striker. Ideally you want a pacy forward, a target man you can play into and a false 9. The eventual signing of Adebayo gives you the option of a target man, Cullen will give you the option of a false 9 and all that leaves is a pacy forward. 
 

The signing of Cullen provides cover in 2 positions of need whilst also giving you more quality from a squad perspective in the No.10 role. 

[Ric Flair]

39 minutes ago, FosseSpark said:

i think it's clear he's a striker from the fact he's played more games there than anywhere else. Martin knows him and, along with Bellamy, trusts that he is of above League One standard. I think beggars (ie people with less than no money) can't be choosers so in he comes. 

Martin's job is to keep a couple of motivated olders who we haven't sold, blend them with youth and loans/new signings and hope they develop some confidence early.

 

If we started with 

 

McCarthy

Aluko Nelson Souttar McFarlane

Skipp Braybrooke

Alves Chaplin Mavididi

Adebayo 

 

with Page, Evans, Cullen, Otchere, HutchinsonChoudhury, Thomas etc on the bench we have a fighting chance of stabilising and not going down again.

As Swansea fans have said, he's a striker but one who has to play in a front two. Who's playing with him then?

[Ric Flair]

42 minutes ago, Scotch said:

He came through the youth system as a striker. He's played more as a 9 than in any other position. He played as a striker under our current manager. It's only in the last few years, he has been transitioned elsewhere. 

 

Not to say, he'll be a good signing. I've never seen him play so I don't know. I'm just saying that I don't think he falls into the category of "he can do a job as a striker". He IS a striker who has been moved out of position. 

IN A FRONT FCUKIN TWO

[teblin]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

IN A FRONT FCUKIN TWO

 

Breathe, Rick, breathe. This football club is bloody frustrating, I know.

[coolhandfox]

5 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

IN A FRONT FCUKIN TWO

Wasting your time mate.

[FoxinNotts]

5 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

IN A FRONT FCUKIN TWO

Yeah come on chill out a bit. So what if he can (only) play / has played in a front two. Options will be changing, rotating, swapping here and there, all season, depending where and who we are facing.

 

Far to much onus is put on selecting a rigid starting 11 and people on this forum saying 'this is it', intending that to be the whole season starting 11 !

 

People here have obviously joked about versitility, but it's actually very important thing to have in a handful of your squad.

[whoareyaaa]

Don’t know much about him would be good to get him Ballard and Adebayo

[foxesfan98]

I'm open to this signing and think that we should all just get along and see how the season pans out.

[FoxinNotts]

Just now, Ric Flair said:

As Swansea fans have said, he's a striker but one who has to play in a front two. Who's playing with him then?

@Ric Flair, come on mate! I appreciate you're not happy with this signing, or maybe even any signings, but the negativity (not just from you btw) goes a bit too far sometimes.

To answer your question; It would depend on the game situation. Could even be our young players that can play striker, Ochtere, Evans or Hutch

 

[LCFCJohn]

1 minute ago, FoxinNotts said:

Yeah come on chill out a bit. So what if he can (only) play / has played in a front two. Options will be changing, rotating, swapping here and there, all season, depending where and who we are facing.

 

Far to much onus is put on selecting a rigid starting 11 and people on this forum saying 'this is it', intending that to be the whole season starting 11 !

 

People here have obviously joked about versitility, but it's actually very important thing to have in a handful of your squad.

It is important and versatility is good.

 

But it’s fair to be cautious about going too far the other way, which is jack of all trades but master of none. 

[Bluearmyfox28]

20 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

As Swansea fans have said, he's a striker but one who has to play in a front two. Who's playing with him then?

Specifically as a second striker Ric. Realistically the amount of teams that play a deep low block against us, our 10’s will be playing like second strikers around the edge of the box and making runs behind the striker the exact same way a second striker would.

 

We seen this under Enzo the likes of KDH spent more time in and around the box for a good portion of games. So in them scenarios you would rather someone with second striker traits rather than someone coming short all the time rather than attacking the box no?

 

Yes, he’s similar profile to Chaplin, but the way they attack the box is different, their preferred positioning in build up is different and one prefers to be on the left where as the other prefers to be on the right.

 

IF this is our striker signing then I would also be disappointed, but with the additions of Cullen and Adebayo I still expect us to sign one more forward who gives you the option of pace in behind.

[honeybradger]

6 minutes ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

Specifically as a second striker Ric. Realistically the amount of teams that play a deep low block against us, our 10’s will be playing like second strikers around the edge of the box and making runs behind the striker the exact same way a second striker would.

 

We seen this under Enzo the likes of KDH spent more time in and around the box for a good portion of games. So in them scenarios you would rather someone with second striker traits rather than someone coming short all the time rather than attacking the box no?

 

Yes, he’s similar profile to Chaplin, but the way they attack the box is different, their preferred positioning in build up is different and one prefers to be on the left where as the other prefers to be on the right.

 

IF this is our striker signing then I would also be disappointed, but with the additions of Cullen and Adebayo I still expect us to sign one more forward who gives you the option of pace in behind.

So what is he? A striker or a 10?

 

If he's a box crashing 10 we already signed Chaplin and still have BDCR on our books. Not forgetting he would be blocking Page from the team.

 

If he's a striker he's only good in support of another striker.

 

Either way something is not adding up.

[Lambert09]

21 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

@Ric Flair, come on mate! I appreciate you're not happy with this signing, or maybe even any signings, but the negativity (not just from you btw) goes a bit too far sometimes.

To answer your question; It would depend on the game situation. Could even be our young players that can play striker, Ochtere, Evans or Hutch

 

In fairness to @Ric Flair, we just endured 5 years of daka who could only play in a 2, under utilized nacho because he was better in a 2, then signed Ayew who has only ever done well in a 2…., surely if the club wants to continue playing a single striker we sign someone who can actually do it 

[Bluearmyfox28]

1 minute ago, honeybradger said:

So what is he? A striker or a 10?

 

If he's a box crashing 10 we already signed Chaplin and still have BDCR on our books. Not forgetting he would be blocking Page from the team.

 

If he's a striker he's only good in support of another striker.

 

Either way something is not adding up.

The truth is, he’s neither. If there was such thing he’s a 9.5  

 

I do agree with you with BDCR however, I suspect he will be gone by the end of the window on a loan move prior to his contract expiring.
 

He’s a free agent premier league signing so his wages are going to be a lot higher than most expect as wages are increased due to the lack of transfer fee. 
 

The blocking Page comment I disagree with. This team is likely to play around 60 games this season. If Page, Braybrooke and Alves start 25+ games this season I would say that is a very successful season for a youngster. 
 

2 players at each position is going to be essential.

[happyfox]

Not really sure where this idea of only in a front two has come from (bar “some Swansea fans”). 
 

From memory and from what I can find online, Cullen mostly played in a flexible front three with Piroe and Patterson in which they all moved about and interchanged. This is what I’m expecting to see with Chaplin, Alves etc. Hopefully another pacey option is brought in too.

 

I very much want us to play and use the younger lads like Page and Braybrooke as they are our future, but it would be foolish to rely on just them especially with Page’s age (I always forget how young he actually is) and Braybrooke and Alves injury records. 

[AyewSerious]

1 hour ago, VLC86 said:

A couple of immediate thoughts, was Andy King that great at anything other than shooting? I’m not saying he will have the same impact, but it shows that sometimes it’s more about the system and what others don’t bring.

 

Re Chaplin, just listened to his Radio Leicester

interview and he says he is being asked to play deeper which he is learning about.  BDCR- I’d rather not, Alves has been playing out wide a bit in pre season hasn’t he?

I like the fact bdcr is a last resort option bec he isn’t rubbish, chaplin in the 8 with skipp is like having 2 16 year olds. l1 is too physical so not sure what’s gonna happen. if skipp does leave braybrooke fills in, leaving yoh with the same problem. alves hasn’t done as well on the wing as he has in the middle

[BKLFox]

Did Swansea play a front 2 last season? 

i see a lot of 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 with Cullen playing across the 3rd line or as the 1 ??

[honeybradger]

1 minute ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

The truth is, he’s neither. If there was such thing he’s a 9.5  

 

I do agree with you with BDCR however, I suspect he will be gone by the end of the window on a loan move prior to his contract expiring.
 

He’s a free agent premier league signing so his wages are going to be a lot higher than most expect as wages are increased due to the lack of transfer fee. 
 

The blocking Page comment I disagree with. This team is likely to play around 60 games this season. If Page, Braybrooke and Alves start 25+ games this season I would say that is a very successful season for a youngster. 
 

2 players at each position is going to be essential.

There has been zero noise about BDCR leaving. It's likely he will still be with us next season.

 

2 players for each position means 22 first team players with an 18 man match day squad. That means 4 players miss out, based on last season Page is likely to be one of those 4.

 

You just can't add squad bloat like Cullen and expect academy players to get a chance. Football doesn't work like that, there's only so many minutes to go around.

[Bluearmyfox28]

3 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

There has been zero noise about BDCR leaving. It's likely he will still be with us next season.

 

2 players for each position means 22 first team players with an 18 man match day squad. That means 4 players miss out, based on last season Page is likely to be one of those 4.

 

You just can't add squad bloat like Cullen and expect academy players to get a chance. Football doesn't work like that, there's only so many minutes to go around.

You might be right but he also has been injured the majority of pre-season so there isn’t going to be any noise about him leaving. I personally suspect he will be a loan signing for a club towards the end of the window. That’s my expectation and why I find it hard to comment on transfers until we see what else happens. 
 

With regards to match day squads I do fully disagree, that’s why rotation is key. Some may have to wait for their chance but like you say that’s football.
 

We’re expecting a very intense high pressing team, anyone that’s played football under a team like this knows it’s completely unrealistic to expect these performance levels without depth and rotation. Thats whilst ignoring the likelihood of injuries. 
 

Furthermore, your comment about the matchday squad size further displays the importance of players like Cullen who gives you options in 3 different roles as an inverted winger, No.10 and a false 9. 
 

Football is changing. Look at the World Cup, France’s front 4 were getting such high praise with the ability to interchange positions and the fluidity of their attack. They didn’t have set positions and that’s what made them so dangerous. Am I calling is France, of course I’m not. My point is the ability to play several roles is becoming more and more attractive to clubs and managers due to the ability to have a smaller squad size whilst making it more difficult for oppositions to figure out who’s doing what.

[boosmanana]

20 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

There has been zero noise about BDCR leaving. It's likely he will still be with us next season.

 

2 players for each position means 22 first team players with an 18 man match day squad. That means 4 players miss out, based on last season Page is likely to be one of those 4.

 

You just can't add squad bloat like Cullen and expect academy players to get a chance. Football doesn't work like that, there's only so many minutes to go around.

You've said it yourself though, you're basing this on last season when we were in a different league with 3 different managers. Page also won't play in the same position for us as Cullen would if he signed for us.

[Jobyfox]

42 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

So what is he? A striker or a 10?

 

If he's a box crashing 10 we already signed Chaplin and still have BDCR on our books. Not forgetting he would be blocking Page from the team.

 

If he's a striker he's only good in support of another striker.

 

Either way something is not adding up.

 

[AKCJ]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

 

I want an extra line on there to emphasise that even when the fans of the previous club DON'T rate the player, these same people will still moan on about how you need to give them a chance. 

 

 

That line is: the Ghezzal line. 

 

The Youri Tielemans line.

[South Shire Fox]

Doesnt sound particularly great technically and athletically 😂. Hope Martin knows what hes doing 

[Ted Maul]

Welsh International, lightweight, drifts in and out of games but regularly pops up to score important goals?

 

Kingy regen. GERRIMIN.