Kone's Next Destination

I didn’t . I responded to someone else’s post .

I’m aware of the facts around Kone and his situation before and during his move to the UK. It’s a set of events that wouldn’t be out of place as a documentary on Netflix and who knows one day that may well happen. He’s a young man with undoubted talent who had a dream to make it playing football and I’m delighted he’s achieved that.

3 Likes

Hmmmm….. I’m waiting until he leaves us before chucking my pennies worth in.

1 Like

Yep, we’ll give it 10mins or so after the sale before saying he was a better finishing, slightly slower, version of Zebroski.

1 Like

Yes, as I predicted (quietly to myself so as not to get abuse on here) , a player and a manager who got lucky at the start of last season, were actually no good, got found out and successfully moved on by the management group. Glad they’ve gone but I think they should have stayed…is there no loyalty in football these days?

1 Like

Where do people think Kone would do better Leicester /Swansea? If he went to Swansea, I think he’d get game time and patience. He could struggle or thrive at Leicester, but they’ll be desperate for a strong start to the Championship season after last year. Following in the footsteps of Gary Lineker or Jamie Vardy might be too much pressure too early on. Still, it would be a life-changing move for him, and great funds for us.

It’s a dilemma for the player, not us really. We can use or lose him based on the next 12 months. He will score goals here. Another level brings another kind of pressure, and he’ll need time to adjust time he was afforded at Wycombe.

Genuinely believe it would be best for Kone to stay at Wycombe for another season. He could start every week for a low championship club or go to a team like Leicester and struggle for game time. Joe Low developed so quickly partly because he was given the opportunity to shine at Wycombe. Anis struggled at first at Bristol City reducing his game time; Matt Ingram has probably played less first team games since he left Wycombe than total appearances he made for Wycombe - Kone has so much talent but still a lot to develop. He’s going to start every week at Wycombe with a manager who is reported to have a real strength in developing young players. To sign a contract extension for another year would afford him the space to continue his development and ensure game time. It must be very difficult to turn down a hefty wage and the thought of playing for a ‘big’ club.

1 Like

Neither would be particular good options as neither side will do much this season.

Leicester have been a mess but the gap is still big, suspect they’ll do much better than the Swans , game time more important than promotion though, otherwise he’ll find himself bombed out on loan like AAH at Ipswich.

2 Likes

Everything you say makes sense but its laced with danger too……

Most players move when their stock is high (like Kone’s) & have a justification for the transfer fee. If Kone was to stay for another year, he might have an average season, could continue his poor league form or be struggle for game time as Fink will be given more opportunity. All of these resulting in Kone losing value & could end up hating or losing his way because we blocked his transfer

3 Likes

Exactly the reasons why I ended up not making the £250m move from my Sunday league team to Liverpool back in 1985.

Well that and being completely rubbish at football!

4 Likes

I never said ‘block his transfer’ entirely up to him if another club meets his valuation.

Tbf Jermaine Easter left while his stock was high and went on to have a, errr, very ‘serviceable’ career at a higher level.

Ibe and Al-Hamadi both took the ‘big move’ riding the crest of a half a season wave. I would argue both would have been better off with some more first team football.

Whilst I’d love to see Kone succeed at the highest level I think a bit of patience is in order. Back your talent and don’t go after the first shiny new offer. It could be the last one you see.

1 Like

Not sure Ibe would have benefitted from another year with us. He played 119 Premier League games with Liverpool and Bournemouth before he was 25. Sadly, through non football problems his career nosedived after leaving Bournemouth.

4 Likes

But there are plenty of success stories to. Russell Martin, Roger Johnson both had very comfortable careers after leaving us

1 Like

Surely the question would be whether he thought another 6-12 months under MD as a coach would help him develop as a player. The evidence from last season would suggest the opposite.

We should remember that pretty much everyone at Wycombe who was part of bringing Kone to the club has now left the building.

He would be foolish in my opinion if there is a half-decent contract elsewhere on offer to stay.*

*But I hope he does and that MD proves me wrong…

5 Likes

https://x.com/SportsPeteO/status/1953049781669896456

Prob a cheaper option

Richard is a great forward but he struggled as the team did second half of the year.

I think half a season to Jan suits us and him/allow him to move on when he’s got his scoring boots again, if goes then dosent could stagnate/stall.

Also do clubs want to spend 5m+ for a player with no proven record above/who might be available for free in the summer? I say this he will likely go if L City pay the right money the ownership group want