Liam Cullen

[AKCJ]

4 minutes ago, MGLCFC said:

I'll accept it's a wrong decision on evidence. He's not played a game for us yet. Will you accept you are wrong if he scores 10 - 15 goals this season?

No, because the money should be spent on a striker.

 

I think we'll get 10-15 goals this season from Chaplin and from Page.

 

The evidence is there in front of you that he isn't a player that improves us. Why do you need us to waste £2m and a full season to understand that?

[coolhandfox]

2 minutes ago, MGLCFC said:

But I don't understand why people are writing him off, even before he has signed. He could be another Tony Cottee (albeit much younger)

Tony Cottee was a top striker in his time, playing at an Elite level, who we brought when he was seen as over the hill.

 

Cullen is an average Championship player.

 

It not writing him off, it habe a view on the actual transfer.

 

 

[Brainy]

5 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

To make sensible decisions, spend money on people who have a resale value.

 

We need to create saleable assets.

Hate this resale argument. If we get 5 or 6 years from him, plays on average 30/35 games a season before we let him go on a free, is that really going to be considered a waste of money? Even if he sees out his original contract and plays a decent part before we perhaps outgrow him, what's the issue?

 

Our entire PL winning backline had no resale value at the time of their purchase. They all left at the end of their contracts as legends. I understand the need to have a few of these resale players on our books but this obsession with it and the collective horror of signing anybody over the age of 25 is daft. Especially when the players who drag our average age up substantially are the same ones who are most likely to leave in the next month. 

[coolhandfox]

2 minutes ago, FrankieADZ said:

until September 1st....its hard to tell,we might get a fox in the box type of striker(with some pace) in, 

pretty sure the club are looking at a few

Finger crossed.

 

 

[FosseSpark]

Expecting 2 or 3 announced today/tomorrow/friday. 

Also - would expect to see 1 or 2 out sooner rather than later ie Souttar, Faes or Okoli. Not sure where Mavididi rumours of exit have come from unless someone offerrs £8m+ in the champo.

Feels like Man City have done us a solid for selling them Monga. So, hopefuly that McFarlane is a strong left back and a good addition. 

We must be in the market for another centre back, and looks like Cullen / Adebayo might be in just for numbers and so we don't start the season with no striker. 

We MUST be hoping that we have multiple 10+ goalscorers across Mavididi, Chaplin, Alves, Page + a striker. 

[Tuna]

He seems like a decent player and will be a solid signing, however he just looks too similar a player to Chaplin, and he doesn't excite as a striker signing. Had to google him to find out where he played. Martin endorsement is a positive, but please, can we get  proper number 9.

[coolhandfox]

4 minutes ago, Brainy said:

Hate this resale argument. If we get 5 or 6 years from him, plays on average 30/35 games a season before we let him go on a free, is that really going to be considered a waste of money? Even if he sees out his original contract and plays a decent part before we perhaps outgrow him, what's the issue?

 

Our entire PL winning backline had no resale value at the time of their purchase. They all left at the end of their contracts as legends. I understand the need to have a few of these resale players on our books but this obsession with it and the collective horror of signing anybody over the age of 25 is daft. Especially when the players who drag our average age up substantially are the same ones who are most likely to leave in the next month. 

We are in a total different time, we are having to sell players to cover our costs and cover loans.

 

I'm more worried about going in administration if we can't generate income.

Edited 14 hours ago by coolhandfox

[AyewSerious]

been speaking to swans fans and been told he’s a 10, shit at everything but finishing. how can this be!

 

either way, if he’s a 10 we already have alves, chaplin, bdcr - what’s the point

[Stadt]

36 minutes ago, FoxinNotts said:

The point is here (what you've probably highlighted unintentionally. Also, I going to spin this positively), Is that we've picked up two highly versatile 'number 10s', both still in their 20s, one a current full international, both on reasonable wages (as far as we can research), for circa £2m !

 

Yes, we already had Alves in this position - but so what!

Yes we have BDCR in this postion

 

Fact is we have currently 1 senior winger, Mavididi, and no senior strikers!

 

The fact that all five of the above mentioned players can cover all the positions across all of the front line is surely a good thing, no? - We'll also have a senior striker coming in.

 

Some really mental negative takes on this signing. Jezzz. Chill out! 

We're short in some some areas as you've said and now we'll be overly deep in an area we didn't need to be. You always have to prioritise areas of need but especially when we have so little headroom.

 

Also this a club that has been relegated 3 times in 4 years you just can't give them the benefit of doubt.

Edited 13 hours ago by Stadt

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Stadt said:

We're short in some some areas as you've said and now we'll be overly deep in area we didn't need to be. You always have to prioritise areas of need but especially when we have so little headroom.

 

Also this a club that has been relegated 3 times in 4 years you just can't give them the benefit of doubt.

This.........

[Stadt]

[MaidstoneFox]

38 minutes ago, kingfox said:

Some fans clearly aren’t coming to terms with how Russell Martin operates.

 

Martin mentioned Cullen on his Radio Leicester interview, and specifically classed him as a 9 and wide player. 
 

And Cullen may well be a “False 9” type, but Russell Martin has used numerous players in this type of manner throughout his managerial career. 
 

If Cullen gets played in a wide position, then as Russell said himself, you need different types of players for different games, he also specifically said that he doesn’t want all his wide players to possess pace. 
 

Whether we like this signing or not, Cullen fits in with how Russell Martin likes to operate, but there’s no doubt that some more pace needs to come into this team, I’d be more concerned if we don’t replace Fatawu with a like-for-like.

Agreed. This is more about how he fits into the system that RM plays. He is a player for the here and now and for 70-80 mins he will press consistently, work extremely hard, then be fairly neat and tidy when we have possession. He's also not over the hill, so still has some yards in his legs.

[kingfox]

9 minutes ago, MaidstoneFox said:

Agreed. This is more about how he fits into the system that RM plays. He is a player for the here and now and for 70-80 mins he will press consistently, work extremely hard, then be fairly neat and tidy when we have possession. He's also not over the hill, so still has some yards in his legs.

Is it exciting? No.

Is he an outright number 9? No.

 

But you just have to take into account how Russell Martin plays, and what he wants in certain positions.

 

When it comes to his strikers and wingers, I expect variety this season. 
 

From what Russell Martin has said in interviews, Cullen is a player that clearly ties in to what he wants.

[VLC86]

30 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Can we add a line that says we are going to moan like **** whatever happens as well, but this is completely fair.

[VLC86]

35 minutes ago, AyewSerious said:

been speaking to swans fans and been told he’s a 10, shit at everything but finishing. how can this be!

 

either way, if he’s a 10 we already have alves, chaplin, bdcr - what’s the point

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?

[Stadt]

28 minutes ago, VLC86 said:

Can we add a line that says we are going to moan like **** whatever happens as well, but this is completely fair.

No complaints about Chaplin really, bar a minor quibble that 3 years is perhaps too much.

 

95% of our bad signings were obviously going to be rubbish, I didn't like any of those signings - I actually think relatively Cullen is a decent player we just don't need him but it's like going on your fourth holiday of the year whilst your roof has blown off.

Edited 13 hours ago by Stadt

[StanSP]

10 hours ago, honeybradger said:

What part of the logic is incorrect.

 

We simply do not have room in the 18 man match day squad to play academy players.

 

                 Cullen

Mavididi Chaplin Alves

           Skipp Braybrooke

Thomas Nelson Okoli Aluko

               McCarthy

 

Bench:

 

Stolarczyk

Choudhury

Faes

Mcfarlane

BDCR

Adebayo

Page

 

I don't consider the likes of Alves and Braybrooke as academy talent really as their involvement in the first team is long overdue and they are both clearly our best players.

 

No room on the bench for the likes of Evans, Hutchinson, Otchere, Carr, Joseph in a season when we are in league one is actually shocking. Our squad is beyond bloated.

 

People were worried we were going to have to play the academy this season as well.

Faes, Okoli  and Nelson almost certainly won't be here so that's 3 spaces opened up... 

[ALC Fox]

RM said that it's not just about having depth but having different types of player to provide different problems in the same area of the pitch, for example not having two quick wingers who play on the same side but having a quick one and one who can come inside, to provide different solutions to different problems.

 

Perhaps this Cullen signing is a bit like that. Different type of CF to Otchere, different type of AM to Alves or Chaplin.

 

Also just because we might be signing this guy, doesn't mean they're not working on an out-and-out CF. Some deals are easier to do than others so one player could take a couple of weeks, another could take a couple of days.

[LCFCJohn]

1 hour ago, StinckleyFox said:

Just ignoring the fact that he played striker under RM and has played as a striker for the majority of his career then?

 

Someone else also posted something from RM himself where he spoke about Liam Cullen and the fact that he can play up front or on the wing. So perfectly covers the two problem positions that we are crying out for?

I mean given Swansea had an actual number 9 leading their line who was also the top scorer in the league…..

 

I said elsewhere, I’m open to the fact players can adapt to new positions. But there’s a difference between ‘can play there’ and natural in that position. For example, you see more in positions such as a centre midfielder who becomes a defender or vice versa or wingers who have good defensive traits who later in their career become competent at full back. I’m more concerned about whether a player who has predominantly come through as a midfielder has the natural instincts to be the main striker for us. 

[Richmondfox]

Another player at the end of his nothing career. 

[Scotch]

8 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

I mean given Swansea had an actual number 9 leading their line who was also the top scorer in the league…..

 

I said elsewhere, I’m open to the fact players can adapt to new positions. But there’s a difference between ‘can play there’ and natural in that position. For example, you see more in positions such as a centre midfielder who becomes a defender or vice versa or wingers who have good defensive traits who later in their career become competent at full back. I’m more concerned about whether a player who has predominantly come through as a midfielder has the natural instincts to be the main striker for us. 

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. 

[FosseSpark]

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.

[Finnegan]

1 hour ago, Stadt 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. 

 

[FoxesWalk]

Does he improve the first XI? If not, we shouldn’t be signing him, free, fee, loan or otherwise. 
 

Im not convinced he does. 

[Bluearmyfox28]

1 hour ago, Stadt said:

Any combination of Cullen, Alves, Chaplin just looks far too similar to me, if opposition defences sit deeply and double up on Alves there aren't a lot of options to mix it up. 

 

Cullen and Chaplin score their goals from very similar positions, look:

 

 

I actually disagree to be honest. Whilst they are very similar players in profile, there positioning is very different.
 

Chaplin likes to come short and help in the build up play in comparison to Cullen who appears to start in more of a second striker position. Then in terms of attacking the box, Chaplin is known for pulling off and waiting for the pull back option, where as Cullen appears to attack the 6 yard box. That’s an important detail as their opposing movements complement each other. 
 

What is interesting to see is the majority of Cullen’s goals and assists in that video appear to come from a left central area which would be the exact position Russel Martin’s left sided 10 will take. 
 

As a 10 I’d be happy with this signing, gives you depth with the left side having Cullen and Page and the right side having Chaplin and Braybrooke. Good balance of youth and experience. 
 

As a striker I find this very underwhelming. I wouldn’t be surprised with us signing another striker as well as Adebayo with Cullen offering depth as 3rd choice with Otchere going out on loan.