Sam Byram

[Irish Ian]

You see this is where all the doubters fck up.

If you seriously think Bert would've hand picked those you simply just do not know him at all.

Tell me the truth, do you seriously think Bert wanted Firpo ?

Yes I do.

He was the first signing we made after the first season in the PL. After consolidation and he wanted to build his own squad. . Signed in June as well.

Bielsa had a record of not playing players if they didn't fit his ethos.

[The Subhuman]

You see this is where all the doubters fck up.

If you seriously think Bert would've hand picked those you simply just do not know him at all.

Tell me the truth, do you seriously think Bert wanted Firpo ?

Yes I do ...

[weasel]

I would say it is likely that Bielsa wanted Firpo, though not Douglas. Firpo fitted more into Bielsa's model of what he looked for in a full back and that was the ability to bring the forward and chip in awith a few goals and assists. Similar though to how people write Dan James off it is worth noting that Firpo only had about half a season under Bielsa and was injured for most of that time. As such to write Firpo off in terms of attaching blame to Bielsa would be the same as writing Alioski or Dallas off after just a handful of appearances at full back for Bielsa - something many fans did but were ultimately proved completely wrong afterthe players got used to the position.

I think Douglas was more of an Orta led signing giving his previous stats. He simply didn't have the pace to be a fullback in a Bielsa team.

[Musicman1965]

Do we really want an injury prone defender that's way past his best.
Focus on the bigger picture for christs sake..... Go forward with new players and a new vision.

[weasel]

Do we really want an injury prone defender that's way past his best.
Focus on the bigger picture for christs sake..... Go forward with new players and a new vision.

Doesn't do any harm to have him around and who knows what our squad will be like once a few more players go out. If Drameh for example leaves then having Byram to compete with Ayling is probably not too bad as likely he won't be on high wages given his lack of appearances in recent years. Byram is extremely well suited to play as an attacking full back, we know that as he has done it for us, he has also shown he can play well when the atmosphere at ER was toxic. Those 2 things are a big plus for me as we have seen countless players struggle at ER. I think it could be a very low risk signing for us if we do pursue a deal, no transfer fee, likely lowish wages, wouldn't be coming in expecting to start every match, versatile to cover at least 3 positions (including left back).

I haven't seen him play in years but the last time I did he looked like Norwich's best player.

[White Riot]

And if this is the best we can come up with, then we're fucked.

I fear it is and we are OM

We'll be back in for Lauren's De Bock and Souleyman Doukara at this rate

Big Douks

[Barlow Boy]

I fear it is and we are OM

We'll be back in for Lauren's De Bock and Souleyman Doukara at this rate

Big Douks

To be fair to Sam, he’s way better than the likes of De Bock, but I take your point.

[geronimo]

we sell our best players or up and coming talents for peanuts then get linked to or buy players whose best days are long since behind them this clubs policy and mentality is staggering to say the least. it's no wonder we ain't won a major trophy in over thirty years

[Kennyb41]

Yes I do.

He was the first signing we made after the first season in the PL. After consolidation and he wanted to build his own squad. . Signed in June as well.

Bielsa had a record of not playing players if they didn't fit his ethos.

Dream on.

Not even worth discussing, end of.

[Kennyb41]

I would say it is likely that Bielsa wanted Firpo, though not Douglas. Firpo fitted more into Bielsa's model of what he looked for in a full back and that was the ability to bring the forward and chip in awith a few goals and assists. Similar though to how people write Dan James off it is worth noting that Firpo only had about half a season under Bielsa and was injured for most of that time. As such to write Firpo off in terms of attaching blame to Bielsa would be the same as writing Alioski or Dallas off after just a handful of appearances at full back for Bielsa - something many fans did but were ultimately proved completely wrong afterthe players got used to the position.

I think Douglas was more of an Orta led signing giving his previous stats. He simply didn't have the pace to be a fullback in a Bielsa team.

Nope not for me he didn't.

Whether he signed off on it i don't know, i've no idea how it works.

There's no way he actually saw these players play live in my view, absolutely no chance, as far as i'm concerned there's only one, and that's DJ, he saw him v Leeds for Swansea and told Orta to enquire about him

The clown brought all the other shite to him, of that i have no doubt whatsoever, i reckon the clown finds the trash, then sets about selling him to Bert with his silver tongue.

And Bert thinking 'well i've got to trust him somewhere, he's the clubs DOF, what else can i do, go look myself?'

Never in a million years would Bert have watched Firpo live and actually signed him, imo, never.

Admittedly on some sort of highlights clips he might've thought he might be able to work with him on his attacking role, but that dickhead cannot defend for toffee, and certainly doesn't have a footballing brain, he's fcking useless and a walking booking/freekick/sending off.

[1964white]

74 appearances in eight seasons, never played more than 18 games a season in that period.

Would seem his career has flagged at West Ham, Forest & Norwich.

He wasn't even a regular under Farke at Norwich.

Not a fan of players returning to their old club.

[Irish Ian]

Nope not for me he didn't.

Whether he signed off on it i don't know, i've no idea how it works.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Can I say End of now?

[weasel]

Nope not for me he didn't.

Whether he signed off on it i don't know, i've no idea how it works.

There's no way he actually saw these players play live in my view, absolutely no chance, as far as i'm concerned there's only one, and that's DJ, he saw him v Leeds for Swansea and told Orta to enquire about him

The clown brought all the other shite to him, of that i have no doubt whatsoever, i reckon the clown finds the trash, then sets about selling him to Bert with his silver tongue.

And Bert thinking 'well i've got to trust him somewhere, he's the clubs DOF, what else can i do, go look myself?'

Never in a million years would Bert have watched Firpo live and actually signed him, imo, never.

Admittedly on some sort of highlights clips he might've thought he might be able to work with him on his attacking role, but that dickhead cannot defend for toffee, and certainly doesn't have a footballing brain, he's fcking useless and a walking booking/freekick/sending off.

If you described Firpo's strengths and weaknesses for the fullback position and then did the same for Alioski, Ayling, Dallas ect I bet they would all look very similar. That is why I think Bielsa probably wanted him, maybe out of the list given he was the best. What we have to remember is that most players under Bielsa and Pep struggle in their first year and we saw with Alioski and Dallas that many fans wrote them off, at full backs, very quickly. Bielsa persevered with them and they proved their worth, I have ne reason to think Firpo wouldn't have done similar if Bielsa had stayed. Bielsa improves on the strngths of his player so their weaknesses aren't exposed as often - i.e. if Firpo predominantly was going forward then he looks really good at that so you start to focus less on his defensive frailities

The above is also why I just don't see Douglas as bening a player Bielsa wanted but someone Orta found out was available, looked at the stats for assists and goals, creamed himself and then bought him.

[Kennyb41]

If you described Firpo's strengths and weaknesses for the fullback position and then did the same for Alioski, Ayling, Dallas ect I bet they would all look very similar. That is why I think Bielsa probably wanted him, maybe out of the list given he was the best. What we have to remember is that most players under Bielsa and Pep struggle in their first year and we saw with Alioski and Dallas that many fans wrote them off, at full backs, very quickly. Bielsa persevered with them and they proved their worth, I have ne reason to think Firpo wouldn't have done similar if Bielsa had stayed. Bielsa improves on the strngths of his player so their weaknesses aren't exposed as often - i.e. if Firpo predominantly was going forward then he looks really good at that so you start to focus less on his defensive frailities

The above is also why I just don't see Douglas as bening a player Bielsa wanted but someone Orta found out was available, looked at the stats for assists and goals, creamed himself and then bought him.

I must admit that the jury is still out with me on Firpos attacking strengths, which is most definitely the strongest part of his game.

But fck me his defending and timing of the tackle along with his positioning is woeful, that woeful that i'm pretty sure Bert couldn't fix him.

I totally agree re Dallas and the BUnny, with both never ceasing to amaze me what he did with them, especially the bunny, whom i still don't know to this day how he popped up all over the pitch, i'm pretty sure he drove Bert daft, but he loved him for it.

[White Riot]

Do we really want an injury prone defender that's way past his best.
Focus on the bigger picture for christs sake..... Go forward with new players and a new vision.

Exactly mate

We are doomed if we keep tolerating mediocrity

[KinPer]

https://twitter.com/LUFCFANZ0NE/status/ ... _&ref_url=


Won't be happy if this is the standard of player we're looking to get!

I wouldn't say the pros and cons are commensurate. I read a recent article here - https://sloteire.com/blog/pros-and-cons ... it-casinos - about Irish casinos. So in choosing players we should also evaluate the pros and cons!

They write that it will be a free transfer. And that's a good thing. But I doubt Byram will help the team in the way it needs.

[lufc1304]

From what I've read, Sam is a free agent. He's training with us, that's it, but if Farke sees something that suggests he could add some depth, then why not? No fee, probably isn't on high wages and, as others have said, knows what the pressure of performing at ER is like. Could be good experience around the place.

[eastyorkshirewhite]

The Byram link is just paper talk imo!

looks like he is getting quite a fair bit of game talk.So might not be paper talk.

[1964white]

looks like he is getting quite a fair bit of game talk.So might not be paper talk.

Sam played very well against Forest last night, pleased for him.

[andrewjohnsmith]

looks like he is getting quite a fair bit of game talk.So might not be paper talk.

It's looking like he will be part of the squad this season. Definitely useful as back up at left back. Might end up in midfield if we don't sign someone, although interestingly Farke has preferred Shackleton, Gray, and Gyabi.