We've got two loan spots still available and two squad places (for players over 21)
Plus the option as in January 2015 to sell, release and loan players out..
Jamal Blackman - Dejan Stojanović 28yo
Jason Steele - Brad James 22yo
Mustapha Carayol - Sammy Ameobi 29yo
Emmanuel Ledesma - Toyosi Olusanya 24yo
Miloš Veljković - Connor Malley 21yo
Luke Williams - Josh Coburn 18yo
Bradley Fewster - Malik Dijksteel 20yo
James Husband - Jeremy Sivi 19yo
Richard Smallwood - Cain Sykes 19yo
Does that collectively put enough money in the kitty? For the big show?
After flicking through my comprehensive files and listening to Neil Warnock's pressers on repeat I've come to the conclusion that WE NEED DARYL DIKE!!
2nd only to Adebayo Akinfenwa in the strength ratings on FIFA 21
ALL IN FAIR WARNED.. THIS ARE MY FINAL TOP PICKS FOR THE JANUARY 2022 TRANSFER WINDOW
3 Daryl Dike 21yo - Orlando - (loan to buy) agreed fee with Barnsley was no where near $20m
5 Heitor Rodrigues 20yo - Internacional - buy
26 Folarin Balogun 20yo - Arsenal (loan)
30 Ciaron Brown 23yo - Cardiff - buy
45 Keinan Davis 23yo - Aston Villa (loan)
Now I've stuck Folarin Balogun and Keinan Davis in there but I'd be looking at brining in one or the other to play on the left side of our attack. Out of the two I think that Keinan Davis would be most suited to the championship, Neil Warnock and our budget.
If you're looking for a championship front three that no one is going to beat.. look no further!
Dike--Ikpeazu--Davies
Dike (Dee-kay) 6'2 likes to come in from the right wing, 2nd strongest player according to fifa with 9 goals in 19 championship games
Ikpeazu 6'3 currently the 2nd strongest player in the EFL a pure battering ram who is into his 2nd season of terrorising the championship.. forget about doubling down.. lets go for the triple threat!
Davis 6'3 a predominantly left sided player excellent hold up play, progression halted through injuries and not so much with the end product
(Middlesbrough striker through and though)
Orlando City knew Dike was ready to test himself in Europe when they loaned him to Barnsley in the EFL Championship. The idea was that he would develop as a player, help Barnsley in their drive for the playoffs, and increase his value for a potential transfer. It's safe to say he's done all of those things. Before scoring both of the Tykes' goals in their away win over Luton Town, Dike's attacking output was already above average for a
Premier League striker:
Dike is also a supremely aggressive defender for a striker, but his ball retention is really low. It's not because of any lack of skill on the dribble; Dike is outstanding in ground duels when he has possession. Rather, the low rating stems from Barnsley's direct, high-tempo style, which encourages players to take a lot of risks. Here's a comparison of Dike's style at Orlando in 2020 and last season with Barnsley:
Dike is actually dribbling less than he did in MLS! And he's clearly defending more, in line with the avid pressing demanded by Valerian Ismael. But the big change is his passing – Dike never linked up much, and now his passing is more adventurous than ever. You can see it on his smartermap, too:
Whether coming through the right channel or getting touches along the diagonal coming in from the left, Dike has been trying a lot of incisive pases toward goal. You can also see that his shot locations have been excellent on the whole:
Dike has popped up in prime positions in front of goal, but he's also been dangerous at oblique angles from the GK's left. He hasn't needed many shots to score, either. In fact, he's been scoring at about double the rate we'd expect for a generic player, given the locations and situations of his chances. But it turns out that's nothing new for Dike. He was a deadeye in MLS, too:
So what can we expect from Daryl Dike in the future? Well, here's a comparison to a couple of players who had similar styles of play at roughly the same age:
Ollie McBurnie, like Dike, is the sort of player who likes to come inside from the wing, but Dike is probably a better finisher. For more comparisons, you could throw in Marcus Thuram's early days at Guingamp.
So there are strikers in Europe who've achieved success from a similar starting point. Yet Dike's current profile may not be a natural for the Premier League, where strikers are expected to be more active in the box. Lets get him on board for the pure Warnock experience.. never mind strength in numbers.. lets have strength in strength. They say pace is king.. but in the championship strength rules the roost.
LETS GET STRONG!
