BlackHillsPaul wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 5:46 pm
I understand the point you are making Cjay. You have said that your biggest hangup with the player is his price tag. However, defensive midfield is a position of need for almost everyone right now. So I believe the market is a bit inflated for established players. And given the clubs he has played for, and his Champion's League experience is easy to see why the price is what it is. You and I might think it's too much. But I do believe it reasonably reflects market value.
Since I know your first move will be Google here is what I found. McKennie's value range is 17M-28M. Juve paid 20M for him. And similar players are valued around 23M-40M.
The biggest question for me is if Weston McKennie is a good fit for Leeds United??? And I'm not sure that he is. Particularly if we are going to use him in a 4-2-3-1 double pivot. If we go down the point will be moot. His rights will stay with Juve and he will most likely be sold to another Premier League club.
January Market is always a sellers market and I think McKennie reflects that (as does Rutter).
The money we paid does feel like a bit of a millstone round his neck because it is for us nearly a record (behind only Rutter I think).
So naturally that will bring expectations.
So whereas today had that been Roca having the exact same game as McKennie you'd probably go "yeah decent game" and leave out the but because was paid so little for him.
Adams similar, he gets a lot of praise for his all action buzzing around and rarely gets criticised despite his technical on the ball issues at times
Fans love an all action player and he isn't close to a record signing so it's let go.
Problem with McKennie is for the money we spent and the window it was (when clubs need instant impact and fans expect a difference to be made) he doesn't quite do that.
He does good things, like Adams does and Roca.
But he doesn't make that difference I think fans hope for from a player that price.
It may come but it had to come almost instantly which isn't his fault regarding the price.
Had he arrived in the summer for a similar price to Adams I think we'd be pretty satisfied as a fanbase.
But the timing and the price will always see him judged a bit more harshly
I can see talent.
But is he what we needed is the question?
By himself maybe not.
He seems to me to be a player maybe like Adams who needs a more technical 10 player to compliment them in a 3?
If you put Pulisic in there maybe then I could see it.