Love Kolo - hopefully he does well.

    4 days later

    Looks like Okonkwo is also switching clubs midway through his loan - off to Sturm Graz (2nd behind Red Bull Salzburg in Austria), which is a good step up from League Two Crewe. Been getting really positive reviews so far.

      Watched a Wigan game over Xmas break. It was their second 4-1 loss in a matter of days. Good luck to Kolo and Azeez.

      If we integrate Balogun, Patino and Norton-Cuffy over the next 18 months, will be a massive success given how much better the team is now versus when Saka, ESR etc broke through

        Just seen this from a Crewe fan

        "We've lost our on loan keeper Arthur Okonkwo. He's been recalled by Arsenal and sent back out on loan to Austrian club Sturm Graz. Massive loss for us, took him a couple of games to find his feet but after that I don't think I saw a better keeper in this league. I wouldnt like to see how many less points we would have had without him."

          Claudius it’s going to be a lot harder to integrate youth now becasue you can’t really make that sacrifice in the first team, the standards are too high. There’s also no EL games to give them mins. Going to have to utilise the loan system to get them ready first, get these guys into PL sides.

              goon yep. It really will be about the loan performances for the next ones to make it with us.

              I expect Patino to be integrated into the squad this summer, see how he does and then maybe get loaned to a Prem club next January, Wilshere style.

                James His progress currently and style of goalkeeping kinda remind me of Szczesny who had rave reviews like this too

                  Claudius we need to integrate some of them anyway. Patino especially looks a serious talent and its hard to ignore what Flo is doing in France. Not sure Norton-Cuffy is as close as those 2. It'll be interesting to see how we handle them all in the summer.

                    7 days later

                    Asterix Love Kolo - hopefully he does well.

                    He just got sacked. Oh dear.

                      Balogun wins a penalty off Marquinhos, will get scratched off for offside by VAR though.

                      Old Pep would have been out buzzin in the ear of broad in some swanky London bar

                      Balogun gets a goal to get his team a point away at PSG. What a season he is having.

                      Looks a bit taller now. Can’t make up my mind on him. Cool composed finisher but can go through long spells without influencing things

                      By my reckoning he's averaging a goal or assist every 106 mins for Reims. Jesus G/A every 121 mins, Eddie G/A every 138 mins.

                      Output.

                      Should hopefully go a long way to helping us fill up the Bellingham fund.

                      Lol, what's going on in that league? The top 15 scorers all seem to have more goals than matches.

                      Edit: It seems like the "matches" column on the website I checked stopped updating after 13 rounds, while the goal column is up to date. Figures.

                      Balogun goal here - good composure and put his finish at the perfect height.

                      I really think we don't need a marquee striker anymore the way Balogun is developing. Still hedging my bet on him instead of Nketiah.

                      That goal is way more impressive than I thought. Outpacing Marquinhos is no mean feat and then the composure to do that facing such a huge GK like Donnaruma.

                        He looked really alert didn't he - real strikers instinct to be up and away so quickly. It's been a very good loan for him so far - well done to the Arsenal loan team and to him for making it work.

                        Clrnc
                        I would bet on Nketiah currently. His productivity in the premier league right now is about van Persie levels. Obviously he doesn’t look like our favourite Arsenal strikers of the past 20 years, but he’s a goal scorer.

                        But there’s definitely space for both

                        • goon replied to this.

                            Claudius agreed. Eddie is doing it here and now. Defo the safe bet.

                            I’d like to see Balogun get a PL loan next season. Can’t be a shortage of takers after this season.

                              HomeSteak good deal. He needs 1.5 year loan minimum before he becomes a real option for us

                                JazzG

                                Balogun is on fire!

                                Next season we go into CL with the perfect blend of strikers. We will keep them all happy is the question.

                                P.S: big respect to Eddie. Never rated him but was in the stadium when he scored v Utd. He can still be a bit more clinical but he’s changed my mind once and for all.

                                P.P.S : still think Balogun has the highest ceiling. His goal v PSG was outrageous!

                                    Has this come as big a surprise to everyone as it has to me? I thought he seemed talented but a million miles from top level football. I confess I haven’t watched him so no idea what his level is like in the games, but you can argue with that end product.

                                      We need to tie up Balogun quickly. Scoring like that, there will be plenty of clubs looking to take him off our hands.

                                      I agree that Jesus, Nketiah and Balogun should theoretically make for an ideal striking trio.

                                      Tam Has this come as big a surprise to everyone as it has to me?

                                      Yes and no. The talent is clear, like you say. But I wasn’t sure he would go there and make as immediate an impact as he has. Thought it would be a similar sort of loan spell Nketiah had at Leeds, where he would effect games from the bench.

                                        Tam He's always been a massive talent. Physically he looked pretty good already before the loan.

                                        I think with young talented players like that you need everything to click. The most important thing is playing time of course, but you also need a good fit regarding the manager and style. Looks to have the personality and mental toughness required to make it big at the top level.