[Albion] Facundo Buonanotte **On Loan To Leicester 10/08/24**

[The Fits]

Imagine Fac was here but at Christmas got injured. And his pre Christmas form was the same for us as it was for Leicester. There isn’t one Albion supporter that would be suggesting selling him.

 

[North Carolina Supporter]

Our attacking line-up for next season is exciting, if unpredictable. I'm beginning to wonder whether we see Georginio as the natural successor to Danny. He's the most physical of our strikers, great feet and holds the ball up well, even though Danny with him in the 10 role has been, I think, our best this season. And I still haven't written off 20 year old Ferguson. There is a player in there somewhere.

Then we have Gruda, O'Riley, Goodnight and Enciso looking at the 10 role (and this is assuming Joao Pedro is on his way).

Defensive midfield seems well covered with Baleba, Weiffer, Hinsh, Ayari and Gomez.

Mitoma, Minteh, Solly, Adingra out wide, and this is before the youngsters coming through and returning from loan.

When are the fixtures out .....

Our attacking line-up for next season is exciting, if unpredictable. I'm beginning to wonder whether we see Georginio as the natural successor to Danny. He's the most physical of our strikers, great feet and holds the ball up well, even though Danny with him in the 10 role has been, I think, our best this season. And I still haven't written off 20 year old Ferguson. There is a player in there somewhere.

Then we have Gruda, O'Riley, Goodnight and Enciso looking at the 10 role (and this is assuming Joao Pedro is on his way).

Defensive midfield seems well covered with Baleba, Weiffer, Hinsh, Ayari and Gomez.

Mitoma, Minteh, Solly, Adingra out wide, and this is before the youngsters coming through and returning from loan.

When are the fixtures out ......

I agree on the midfield- especially with Baleba, Gomez and Weiffer… we are stout defensively with young players that will only improve… I’m not 100% sold on Ayari’s defense. But his intensity and hustle make up for lacking physicality.

On the wings, I hope we can see dynamic attack of Mitoma and Minteh again! I’d like to see loanees like ACD and Osman get a chance in preseason… the real question for me is the revolving door at the 10. I don’t see Enciso distributing selflessly. (My hunch is that he’ll be sold) Enciso seeks stardom over assists. I could imagine us with Gruda or Buononatte ahead of O’Riley. But my best bet would Georginio in the middle with Welbz, or a reinvigorated Ferguson at striker.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Definitely want to keep him and incorporate him into the squad next season.

Would much rather sell Ferguson, Adingra and Enciso ahead of Buonanotte.

 

[GT49er]

I agree on the midfield- especially with Baleba, Gomez and Weiffer… we are stout defensively with young players that will only improve… I’m not 100% sold on Ayari’s defense. But his intensity and hustle make up for lacking physicality.

On the wings, I hope we can see dynamic attack of Mitoma and Minteh again! I’d like to see loanees like ACD and Osman get a chance in preseason… the real question for me is the revolving door at the 10. I don’t see Enciso distributing selflessly. (My hunch is that he’ll be sold) Enciso seeks stardom over assists. I could imagine us with Gruda or Buononatte ahead of O’Riley. But my best bet would Georginio in the middle with Welbz, or a reinvigorated Ferguson at striker.

ACD and Osman will really have to go some in pre-season. I realise Ayari surprised us, but those two are way behind where he was after his loans.
We've got Veltman, Pervis and Kadioglu to play the full back positions (and Lamptey if he stays). I would be having a very careful look at our young FBs before flashing the cash there.

 

[Stato]

Here's a list of current EPL players who scored the most EPL goals whilst under the age of 21. Buonanotte is in the top ten and is third in a very impressive total of six Brighton players. (including those two feisty youngsters Welbeck and Milner ) Enciso is just outside the top twenty with four. I've omitted Greenwood as, although he's still on Man Utd's books, he pretty obviously won't be back.

1) Raheem Sterling 22
=2) Bukayo Saka 18
=2) Marcus Rashford 18
=4) Alejandro Garnacho 16
=4) Gabriel Jesus 16
6) Phil Foden 15
7) Evan Ferguson 13
8) Gabriel Martinelli 11
9) Danny Welbeck 10
10) Facundo Buonanotte 9
=11) Pedro Neto 8
=11) James Milner 8
=11) Jack Hinshelwood 8
=14) Yankuba Minteh 6
=14) Jacob Ramsey 6
=14) Ross Barkley 6
=14) Armando Broja 6
=18) Dwight McNeil 5
=18) Alex Iwobi 5
=18) Dominic Calvert Lewin 5
=18) Richarlison 5
=18) Mason Mount 5

 

[Wardy's twin]

I disagree with this. You're not comparing like with like - Rutter is older than Gruda and has had a couple of seasons in English football, Gruda arrived injured and has barely had six months. However, in these last few weeks he's proved to be a real creative spark - I thought his performance against Liverpool was one of the best of the season and I think he'll be our main No 10 once he gets more used to the EPL. He delivers a mean dead ball, something we haven't had for some time.

But that's not to say there's no place for Buonanotte - you don't get picked for Argentina unless you're a class player and there'll definitely be room for him in the squad.

I was replying to someone who listed 6 players as potential number 10s so that is where the comparison started not with me.

 

[The Optimist]

Here's a list of current EPL players who scored the most EPL goals whilst under the age of 21. Buonanotte is in the top ten and is third in a very impressive total of six Brighton players. (including those two feisty youngsters Welbeck and Milner ) Enciso is just outside the top twenty with four. I've omitted Greenwood as, although he's still on Man Utd's books, he pretty obviously won't be back.

1) Raheem Sterling 22
=2) Bukayo Saka 18
=2) Marcus Rashford 18
=4) Alejandro Garnacho 16
=4) Gabriel Jesus 16
6) Phil Foden 15
7) Evan Ferguson 13
8) Gabriel Martinelli 11
9) Danny Welbeck 10
10) Facundo Buonanotte 9
=11) Pedro Neto 8
=11) James Milner 8
=11) Jack Hinshelwood 8
=14) Yankuba Minteh 6
=14) Jacob Ramsey 6
=14) Ross Barkley 6
=14) Armando Broja 6
=18) Dwight McNeil 5
=18) Alex Iwobi 5
=18) Dominic Calvert Lewin 5
=18) Richarlison 5
=18) Mason Mount 5

Greenwood left Man Utd on a permanent transfer to Marseille.

 

[Stato]

Greenwood left Man Utd on a permanent transfer to Marseille.

Thanks for the correction. He can definitely be discounted then.

 

[The Optimist]

Thanks for the correction. He can definitely be discounted then.

It’s an interesting list. I’d imagine Hinshelwood will climb a few places before he’s 21 in April.

 

[Flounce]

Here's a list of current EPL players who scored the most EPL goals whilst under the age of 21. Buonanotte is in the top ten and is third in a very impressive total of six Brighton players. (including those two feisty youngsters Welbeck and Milner ) Enciso is just outside the top twenty with four. I've omitted Greenwood as, although he's still on Man Utd's books, he pretty obviously won't be back.

1) Raheem Sterling 22
=2) Bukayo Saka 18
=2) Marcus Rashford 18
=4) Alejandro Garnacho 16
=4) Gabriel Jesus 16
6) Phil Foden 15
7) Evan Ferguson 13
8) Gabriel Martinelli 11
9) Danny Welbeck 10
10) Facundo Buonanotte 9
=11) Pedro Neto 8
=11) James Milner 8
=11) Jack Hinshelwood 8
=14) Yankuba Minteh 6
=14) Jacob Ramsey 6
=14) Ross Barkley 6
=14) Armando Broja 6
=18) Dwight McNeil 5
=18) Alex Iwobi 5
=18) Dominic Calvert Lewin 5
=18) Richarlison 5
=18) Mason Mount 5

Facu has been a very lucky boy to score 9 goals, seeing as quite a few on here don’t think he’s good enough to be kept for next season and should be moved on

I am even more convinced he’ll be given a chance here next season having seen the above

Ferguson’s drop off is such a mystery, he’s looked like a ringer to the Ferguson I saw early last season every time I’ve seen him this season. The drop off is just mind boggling, especially as he does not appear to be a billy big bollocks arrogant “I’ve made it” player. Desperately want to see him given a chance here next season.

 

[Gabbiano]

Facu will be a very very good player.

The problem he faces is that he offers almost exactly the same thing as Gruda.

Both 10s who often play on the right due to lack of opportunity at 10. Both very technical and good dribblers. Both good passers. Neither particularly fast.

Gruda is a bit stronger and has better set pieces. Facu scores more.

We've never seen a Facu performance as complete as Gruda's Vs Liverpool.

Is there space for both in the squad? I'm not sure, I think it would require the sale of João Pedro and probably another number 10 (maybe O'Riley?).

 

[Stato]

It’s an interesting list. I’d imagine Hinshelwood will climb a few places before he’s 21 in April.

Hopefully. He looks supremely confident and assured wherever he's played. His comments about discussions with the set piece coach at the weekend show how much he thinks about the game and his ability to improve and contribute. You can see why RDZ was making comments about him being the next Gross.

Facu has been a very lucky boy to score 9 goals, seeing as quite a few on here don’t think he’s good enough to be kept for next season and should be moved on

I am even more convinced he’ll be given a chance here next season having seen the above

We had him sign a contract extension before he went on loan. Seems to me that this season was definitely considered to be part of his development rather than any sort of opening of the exit door. I know that he pushed for a loan because he wanted the playing time. Hopefully, he has seen that despite the competition for places, he has a good chance of getting more minutes if he stays next year. We are a bit over stocked on number tens, but he's younger than all except Gruda and looks like he could have the highest ceiling.

 

[Stato]

Facu will be a very very good player.

The problem he faces is that he offers almost exactly the same thing as Gruda.

Both 10s who often play on the right due to lack of opportunity at 10. Both very technical and good dribblers. Both good passers. Neither particularly fast.

Gruda is a bit stronger and has better set pieces. Facu scores more.

We've never seen a Facu performance as complete as Gruda's Vs Liverpool.

Is there space for both in the squad? I'm not sure, I think it would require the sale of João Pedro and probably another number 10 (maybe O'Riley?).

I get the impression that Pedro has one foot out of the door. With Gruda and Buonanotte both being so young, managing game time will still be a big part of their development. In a world where managers can make so many subs, there should be enough playing time for both as well as O'Riley, especially as each can play other positions as well as number ten.

Ferguson seems the attacking player at risk. On this season's form you wouldn't want to rely on him to deputise for Welbeck or Rutter in the CF position and he hasn't shown that he can really compete with the other second striker options. However, he's also still only twenty, just two months older than FB and we also know that the player we saw when he first broke into the first team is potentially world class. With the even younger Tzimas arriving, playing time at CF is going to be at even more of a premium than at No 10. You do feel that Evan needs a loan that would allow him to start a lot of games. I don't see that being at one of the promoted sides as the pressure they will be under will be too great and too immediate. The Championship would probably seem like a step down. I know the manager who I would trust most to help a young player with such huge potential get back on track and weirdly this means that, unlike most of France, I don't mind that PSG won the Coupe de France. I understand that a knock on effect of this is to put RC Strasbourg into a Euro Conference play off and, if it were up to me, I might be having a chat with Evan, making a phone call to Liam, congratulating him and asking him if he could use a young loan striker for a season at little or no cost.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

What's amazing about that list is Hinshelwood's place on it. For someone who has only just turned 20 and has spent a significant chunk of his playing time at full back to be so high up with time to add another 3-5 goals to his tally before he turns 21 is remarkable.

Well done to Buonanotte too. I hope there is space for him in the squad. I think there will be, he seems like the kind of player that FH would like - good feet, good ball carrier, eye for goal, works hard.

It's a crowded field in his area of the squad but if Pedro and Enciso move on(which I expect they will) then it's only Georginio that I'd say was definitely ahead of him, O'Riley, Gruda and Buonanotte will be fighting for next up on the list.

 

[METALMICKY]

Facu has been a very lucky boy to score 9 goals, seeing as quite a few on here don’t think he’s good enough to be kept for next season and should be moved on

I am even more convinced he’ll be given a chance here next season having seen the above

Ferguson’s drop off is such a mystery, he’s looked like a ringer to the Ferguson I saw early last season every time I’ve seen him this season. The drop off is just mind boggling, especially as he does not appear to be a billy big bollocks arrogant “I’ve made it” player. Desperately want to see him given a chance here next season.

It's a total mystery to all of us and poses a problem. Hope he has a great pre season, is invigorated and looks good when he plays? The flip side of that is carries on as when he left us with fleeting appearances looking poor? In that last scenario his value in any permanent move plummets or we struggle to get him a loan move that does anyone a favour?

 

[Stato]

What's amazing about that list is Hinshelwood's place on it. For someone who has only just turned 20 and has spent a significant chunk of his playing time at full back to be so high up with time to add another 3-5 goals to his tally before he turns 21 is remarkable.

Yes, Hinshelwood is the only one on that list to have scored any of his goals from a defensive position. Jack got three of his eight playing at right back, one from centre midfield, two from right midfield and two from his one game up front on Sunday.

He's never scored from left back in six whole games! Slacker! Although I suppose we can forgive him as he was only on the losing side in one of those, against Chelsea last year, a few days after being part of our away clean sheet and victory in Athens. This season at LB he's won two and drawn two and the team conceded a total of two goals in those four games, despite the received wisdom being that he was a liability, couldn't play there and would get embarrassed by Saka.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

What's amazing about that list is Hinshelwood's place on it. For someone who has only just turned 20 and has spent a significant chunk of his playing time at full back to be so high up with time to add another 3-5 goals to his tally before he turns 21 is remarkable.

Well done to Buonanotte too. I hope there is space for him in the squad. I think there will be, he seems like the kind of player that FH would like - good feet, good ball carrier, eye for goal, works hard.

It's a crowded field in his area of the squad but if Pedro and Enciso move on(which I expect they will) then it's only Georginio that I'd say was definitely ahead of him, O'Riley, Gruda and Buonanotte will be fighting for next up on the list.

I'm aware of a poster on NSC called 'Dwayne' – and he reckons Jack is SHITEHOUSE.

 

[North Carolina Supporter]

I get the impression that Pedro has one foot out of the door. With Gruda and Buonanotte both being so young, managing game time will still be a big part of their development. In a world where managers can make so many subs, there should be enough playing time for both as well as O'Riley, especially as each can play other positions as well as number ten.

Ferguson seems the attacking player at risk. On this season's form you wouldn't want to rely on him to deputise for Welbeck or Rutter in the CF position and he hasn't shown that he can really compete with the other second striker options. However, he's also still only twenty, just two months older than FB and we also know that the player we saw when he first broke into the first team is potentially world class. With the even younger Tzimas arriving, playing time at CF is going to be at even more of a premium than at No 10. You do feel that Evan needs a loan that would allow him to start a lot of games. I don't see that being at one of the promoted sides as the pressure they will be under will be too great and too immediate. The Championship would probably seem like a step down. I know the manager who I would trust most to help a young player with such huge potential get back on track and weirdly this means that, unlike most of France, I don't mind that PSG won the Coupe de France. I understand that a knock on effect of this is to put RC Strasbourg into a Euro Conference play off and, if it were up to me, I might be having a chat with Evan, making a phone call to Liam, congratulating him and asking him if he could use a young loan striker for a season at little or no cost.

Given the fact that we will sell several players this summer, I would argue that Joao Pedro, Enciso and Adingra are the 3 for me.

Then, we bring back Facu to backup Georginio at the 10. Welbeck ahead of Ferguson or Tzimas at the 9. Mitoma ahead of Gruda on the left wing. Minteh ahead of Solly on the right… Osman, ACD, Watson and Howell all loaned.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I'm aware of a poster on NSC called 'Dwayne' – and he reckons Jack is SHITEHOUSE.

Yeah, I do think of @dwayne every time I see something that suggests what a good/efficient/successful player Hinshelwood really is.

Sooner or later he'll have to admit that our Jack is not too bad.

 

[Stato]

Yeah, I do think of @dwayne every time I see something that suggests what a good/efficient/successful player Hinshelwood really is.

Sooner or later he'll have to admit that our Jack is not too bad.

To be fair, he already has and said that he was happy to be wrong.

By the way, another little nugget of info: From a perusal of All time EPL goal scorers under the age of 21, I think I'm right in saying that Jack's three goals from right back equals the all time record holder for a player in that position, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and that he needs one more when playing full back to tie with Ashley Cole as the all time highest U21 goal scorer playing at full back on either side. Not bad for someone who isn't even a full back.