03 Jun 2026 15:03:26
Regarding Casper Widell, he fits the profile in that he's young (23), tall (6'3) and is captain at Excelsior.
I watch a fair bit of Dutch football and, from what I've seen, most of his headers and clearances go straight to the opposition and he is poor with the ball at his feet. He also runs like he's towing a caravan.
Blackburn are linked with him too so make of that what you will.
03 Jun 2026 15:32:48
So sounds like Propper part Deux.
03 Jun 2026 15:48:54
Toot Toot.
03 Jun 2026 16:01:28
Big Jorg, I watched a YouTube video of him and what you have said is exactly what I thought. Hard to tell from a short video, but he didn't fill me full of confidence that he was made for the game up here.
03 Jun 2026 16:23:29
What has Blackburn interested in him got to do with anything? Make of that what you will? Maybe we should try and sign Konate before Real Madrid. ?
03 Jun 2026 16:34:18
Storm. ?
03 Jun 2026 16:39:21
Haven't seen anything of him, but the description did immediately make me think of Propper. Our recent record from Dutch football hasn't been the best.
03 Jun 2026 22:16:38
Could he be a new Helander, though? Not fast, but good positioning and timing?
03 Jun 2026 22:24:37
Helander would struggle in a high back line, Huey, I can't see a cb signed without decent pace.
04 Jun 2026 02:47:46
Spot on, in his highlights every header or clearance goes straight into dangerous areas and usually to an opposition player.
The boy Victory looks the better option out of the two.
04 Jun 2026 06:07:39
We have interest in both Scottish centre halves at Dundee and Aberdeen, Luke Graham and Jack Milne. ? That went a bit quiet for now. ?
04 Jun 2026 08:15:40
When does the window open? Is it not 5 days time or something. We are always the same, want announcements before we can.
Shankland was a different kettle of fish.
04 Jun 2026 08:43:27
Geesadodothat, we can announce any new signing and do any deal just now without the transfer window open mate. ? It's just we can't register/make official any new signing until I think the 15th of June. ?
04 Jun 2026 08:49:01
So I have watched Widell on YouTube but also went a bit more into his stats and scouting reports.
He is described as more of an anchor CB. He is no-nonsense. Priority is defend first, play second. Of 34 games he appeared in, he played the full 90 minutes of all 34 games. Across those 34 games, he only had 1 error leading to a shot, which was a penalty he gave away, which was missed. He also only received 2 bookings across those +3000 minutes.
He is very good at protecting the front post, strong physically, wins his duels, positioning and reading of the game described as superb.
He also has good acceleration and doesn't dive into tackles. He is strong in the air in both boxes and has a very high interception rate.
Since when did clearing with a header and it landing back at the opposition become a criticism of a CB? Are we expecting him to clear the danger into a through ball for one of our wingers to explode down the wing? Priority is clear the danger, and our midfielders should be in positions to win the second ball.
04 Jun 2026 09:53:51
You make very good valid points regarding Widell, AyrshireMurphy. ???
04 Jun 2026 11:24:31
Ayr Murph, someone who gets it a little more. I've said it multiple times before and will again. Professional football isn't the same as a kick about.
04 Jun 2026 12:20:47
Also Soo and AyrshireMurphy, stats are all good and well, but absolutely don't paint the full picture of any player for me. ? Stats can be misleading if that's all you're going to judge a player on. ? ??
04 Jun 2026 12:47:42
AyrshireMurphy, when a centre half drops weak headers to oncoming opposition midfielders, it is a problem, as he becomes more or less a target man for the opposition. He may be a decent signing, as I said it was only a short YouTube video I saw, but he doesn't look the kind of no nonsense, rugged, centre back we have all been calling for.
Hope I'm wrong if we do sign him.
04 Jun 2026 13:07:34
Wsl, I'm in full agreement that there is little evidence to watch of the guy. Just find it weird that this has become a stick to beat him with before he arrives, and comparing him to Propper when most will admit, until his name was mentioned, most had never heard of him and definitely most have never seen him play.
I actually think Propper was a decent defender, he just didn't have the pace for our league and wasn't the tallest if I remember correctly.
Think he was used to playing in a 3 also, but may be wrong.
Sws, I never said stats were the be all and end all. But what his stats do highlight is availability, good reading of the game and strength. This is also highlighted by multiple guys on X that watch a lot more football than I do and pay for apps/programs that analyse players better.
04 Jun 2026 13:09:56
Never meant to send that there, but was saying these guys get a lot more data and video analysis than most of us can get from a 3-4 minute YouTube video.
The guy could flop and he could succeed. We won't know until he's here if we do actually pursue that deal. I get the criticism of his clearances, just never really heard that used before on a site or this forum.
So, either he's the first or it's new, but you could argue that his teammates should be in better positions, and a lot of the videos I watched he was clearing the ball fine, so also depends on what video you watch.
04 Jun 2026 12:55:23
So he goes out his way when clearing headers so they fall to the opposition, Wslgers, deary dear man.