January transfer thread

I think its bizarre that you think fans following players on Instagram is strange.
Most players put training videos and stuff on which can give you an idea on their fitness rather than relying on news reports. I knew Dan Neil and Patto were hitting the gym as early as June ready for this season, I also saw that Dajaku was sat in a yacht drinking in the Mediterranean with his mates in July whilst most of his team mates had started preparing for the new season.

 

Players also train for a few hours a day then their time is their own. I know a few of our old academy lads who are still professionals who used to spend their afternoons in the bookies throwing money into roulette machines. Loads of young players spend their time gaming. I’m not sure what you expect a 21 year old lad to be doing when he’s supposed to be resting. Watching Dickinsons Real Deal?

 

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Could do worse.

 

I think people lose all context when it comes to football.

Dejaku didn't do a thing wrong, he was on holiday during his allowed time off. You're begrudging a 21 year old some fun before pre-season just because you saw other players in the gym once or twice. Dejaku is clearly in excellent shape, he'll have been going to the gym on his holiday too, but you've made complete judgements based on what they decided to share on their social media.

I guarantee that at 21 years old you (or most people on this board) didn't have their head screwed on half as well as any footballer at our club.

 

Whats more bizarre again is a load of blokes tossing themselves off over he’s mam then tweeting or tagging her when first he signed. He’s probably thought f**k this I’m going somewhere with a normal fan base

 

That is definitely creepy mind

 

Perfectly fine if you don’t think Dajaku is good enough but questioning his attitude is just wrong. The lad played out of position all last season and got on with it, played a bit part this season and every time he played he put the work in. **** all to do with instagram

 

I often think that if I were a footballer, you'd aim to play places like that. South of France, Italy, Switzerland etc. You hear of these young players that go to the MLS and get questioned for their decision, imagine playing in the lower leauges and you have the chance to go and play in Denver or somewhere like that. Leon can go to Switzerland, speak the lingo and hopefully improve.

 

I'm not actually judging him on that, I'm just throwing that out there so you can see the kind of content that players share on instagram. All players around the world get followed from the fans of their team on there.
My opinions of Dajaku are based from what I've seen of him on the pitch and in my opinion he's league 1 standard at best. Hes still young enough to fulfill the talent he obviously showed as a kid though, so like I said previously I hope he buckles down and grasps this loan opportunity with both hands

 

Ashley Cole blamed his affair on having nothing to do after training.

 

I wish Dajaku well and hope he makes a success of it. Personally I have seen flashes of talent but also stuff in his game that is a fair way off. Plenty of time for him to progress yet but it just feels to me like we have stepped up a couple of levels in the last 12 months and he hasnt kept pace. Maybe the run of games will help, but like others I find the location he has gone to quite telling. I always felt Diamond was sidelined a bit too soon for Dajaku when he first came in, but that wasnt his fault. Certainly dont expect both to be in our squad next season, one at most and probably neither in reality. Cant win them all.

 

Too much flair for Parkinson.

 

Yep, it's a hard life

 

Dajaku is a strange one when it comes splitting fans. It seems we give grace and bedding in time to young players that have left their home land to get used to not just English life, but North East English life yet a 19-20 year old German lad is public enemy number 1. For me, he hasn't had enough game time. Is it attitude? Don't know. I just find the whole thing, odd regards to the split.

 

Mate of mine once told me that he seen Bolo walk out of the stadium with a Supermodel girlfriend on one arm and the keys to an Aston Martin in the other hand. His life must be terrible.

 

damned with faint praise......we could do a lot better

 

Thought he would be decent back up for Clarke on the left but I guess Bennette would cover that.

 

I have never really had the sense he is public enemy number 1 mate. I think him and the keeper (cant remember his bloody name) were welcomed with open arms when he got here and through the Johnson part of last season got plenty of praise and chances. I suspect he has just fallen down the pecking order and others are now deemed better than him by the club and fans. In some ways I think fans are more patient and supportive of players from overseas than those from our own doorstep, but there isnt any sciencd behind that, just an opinion.

 

Mowbray comments in the chronicle are worrying. Regarding strikers.