23 Jan 2019 23:34:51
Rumours around Cedric are getting noisier - now looks like Inter are having a go at getting him. I'd say if we get around £12m for him AND have someone lined up as a replacement - Maehle has been mentioned and he'd be around £6m I believe - then I'm happy for this to go through as I'm not happy that Valery could see out the season without serious competition at RB.

Cedric has been a good servant to the club without ever setting the world alight and has been inconsistent recently - if Ralph is happy to let him go then I trust him completely.

1.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 10:55:29
I would want a little more than £12m, but to buy someone for £5m 4 seasons ago, and then get a replacement for £6m is good business. I'll personally be sad to see him leave as he's my favourite player at the club and as you said he's been a good servant. But it'll be good for him to move to a club like Inter who are pushing for Champions League football.

The only problem is that it looks like it'll be Ralph's way or the highway, judging by the players we've got rid of already. I don't mind as a lot of our players are showing him the attitude he wants and that is improving the way we play and ultimately seeing us get good results.

That being said, the business we've done already would have trimmed the wage bill. Gabs will have freed up around 70k per week, Davis is on around 60k, Hoedt is on the same, and so will Cedric. So we might have managed to free up around 250k a week in wages. If we can bring 2 younger players who will be on about 30k a week, then we will be saving almost 10m a year on wages.

2.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 11:42:58
I think Cedric has offered very little positive things to the team during last two seasons. Superb free-kick goal against ManUtd, but poor marking, poor blocking, poor crosses far too often. To me, fee around 12m would be a good business, but agree, he should be replaced. We can not rely only on Valery in that position. But Cedric is easily replaceble.

Still, I agree everything Ralph has done so far. Players gone out haven't weakened our side a bit and the same goes for Cedric as well. Hopefully we can get rid of Forster before the 1st February and get a couple ins, too (if the claims are right these could well include Carrillo and Boufal) .

3.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 13:41:17
Looking at his stats from this season, he is statistically the worst fullback in our squad. I don't think Squawka is up to date and how accurate is it, nonetheless according to it in 15 matches (1315 minutes) he has done the following:
- Intercepted the ball 20 times
- Blocked 9 crosses
- Won 16 tackles
- Dispossessed the ball 9 times
- Created 11 chances

Where Valery has done the following in only 2 games (180 minutes) :
- Intercepted the ball 6 times
- Blocked 4 crosses
- Won 11 tackles
- Dispossessed the ball 7 times
- Created 0 chances

If you take his stats and work them out across Cedric's game time, it's obvious that he is the better defender (obviously teams will be more likely to target a young inexperienced full back), but he clearly holds his own. Another option would be to play Reed in this position when he returns from loan.

4.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 14:18:55
I’d like to see Carrillo come back this month to see what Ralph can do with him. From what I’ve seen of him at Monaco and Leganes he’s a hard worker and good hold up forward who’s willing to work and enjoys playing in a two up top.

He’s got 5 in 16 starts this season playing for a bottom six side managed by Pellegrino which I don’t think is an awful return (Higuain has 8 in 22 at Milan by way of comparison) and seeing as Austin’s out of favour it’d give us an extra dimension going forward.

Having already offloaded Davis, Hoedt and Gabbiadini, if we bring him back and do a deal for Cedric and find a replacement I think that’s a brilliant window for a potential outlay of £6m with £25m brought in plus loads of wages freed up.

Even so with our current squad I don’t think we’ll finish much lower than 14th this season.

5.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 15:19:39
Can't see carrillo coming back. Would be surprised. Agree with your post jay. Cedric was great at first but we'll under par the last 2 years. He was a good signing but if he leaves for 12 mill with 18 months on his contract I think that is a good deal for all concerned. With him going maybe we will make an offer for another rb cable of playing cb. or a cb capable of playing rb! One of the two lol.

6.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 17:04:35
Carrillo will come back and be assessed in the summer, as will Boufal. I think RH will play Redmond as our main striker for the remainder of the season. The way we set up on Saturday is best suited to us, at this moment in time. Playing 5 at the back, with the two holding midfielders, we move the ball fast and precisely to beat teams on the counter. This style of play heavier relies on Redmond and Ings getting in behind the defenders.

7.) 24 Jan 2019
24 Jan 2019 17:18:31
Looks like Inter have offered €20m (£17m) - I’d bite their hand off and look at bringing in a young and hungry replacement. Maehle is the only major name I’ve seen linked but from what Iknow about him I think that that is a good fit for Ralph.

Looks like Cedric is going on a loan to buy before the end of the weekend - either way if we get someone in as a replacement I’ll be more than satisfied.