Lloyd Kelly
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Benvenuto Signore Kelly…Chi e Lui?

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With the winter mercato window finally creaking shut, it appears Giuntoli has managed to secure another CB to help fill the longstanding, recently worsening gaps in our back line. I wish he had made the deals for Kelly and Veiga earlier, for the need to bolster our CB/FB options has been clear for many moons. And yet the deals are now done, the bodies are in the building, so rather than bang on with futile condemnation, I will try to offer some insight into the last new recruit through the door, Lloyd Kelly.

From the giddy heights of Araujo, to sniffing around former target Todibo to a secretive failed medical for Danso (allegedly) we have finished our circuitous hunt with the 26 year old englishman joining on loan from Newcastle until the Summer. Already maligned by a chorus of booooing and hissing, even some growling, from the rising and falling waves of detractors of the much heralded messiah Cristiano ‘Atreides’ Giuntoli, Kelly is considered a blind, last gasp and awful roll of the dice, for a player unable to gain much on field time for a PL side at best mooching around the top 7. Which is true, and I certainly swim in and out of those same tides of criticism for our SD since he moved into overdrive last Summer. And yet…I believe there is more to Kelly’s story, that should be told and known, before we lurch for despondency, burn our shirts and seek a one way ticket to Turin to throw rotten fruit and ghoulish abuse at the team from the stands.

Lloyd began his career at Bristol City, signing up as a 12 year and moving through the ranks to make 48 senior appearances before moving to Bournemouth in 2019. Unfortunately his career was stunted that season due to a series of injuries, resulting in 32 games missed. Much improved fitness wise the following season where he played a strong role in the club’s play-off push, losing out in the semi-final to Brentford.

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The 21/22 campaign saw Kelly more settled at CB (had played often at LB before) and also take on the captaincy. By far his finest season with 42 games played as his side earned automatic promotion to the premier league.

Unfortunately, further injury niggles returned thereafter, though Kelly still played his part in the club consolidating their return to the top flight under the guidance of first Scott Parker, then Gary O Neil.

His last year for Bournemouth was served under up and coming coach Andoni Iraola, most of the defender’s 25 games coming at LB as his side earned an improved 12th place finish.

With his contract coming to an end, Kelly then signed for Newcastle on a free transfer to reunite with former boss Howe up North on Tyneside.

To date, Kelly has made only 14 appearances since making that move. Clearly behind Burn, and the recently returned from long term injury Botman for the CB positions and Hall has been too strong at LB to allow any inroads there. Howe likely had him earmarked as challenging for the LCB role, and whilst reports from the toon army are varied, it seems more a case of Howe sticking to his set first XI choices than Kelly failing to impress when given the chance. Plenty say he is decent, quick, can pass and put in some gutsy defensive performances. Others offer that he is smart on the ball, able to build the play from the back and if given a decent run could well mature so strongly as to walk into the England senior squad.

My personal take on Kelly is that he has not yet found his ceiling. What has been demonstrated, at a high level in a team expected to struggle in the premier league, is a player who can tackle precisely in key areas, can pick a pass from deep, has composure on the ball, and of great pace for a CB. I see so few in our squad able to throw themselves into challenging for the ball keenly and properly, when the opponent is bearing down on goal. Kelly has also shown leadership qualities, and was clearly wanted by Howe, who I consider a pure football man, trusted beyond any corporate demands when judging a player’s worth.

Do not take to heart too much of his lack of progress towards first XI action since joining Newcastle. He has some sturdy english grit. Can play probably at his best as a left footed LCB. Seems to have pushed for the move, knowing it will lead to a lower wage…Is big, strong, quick and can throw in challenges probably with prowess beyond any of our other defenders. Some sing chorus of praise for Locatelli dropping deep, even playing as a CB, yet he is not a CB, and his tackles in the 18 yard box whenever he goes to ground are harrowing. Kalulu is fairly solid, for the fee to pay, the former AC man has proven already a quality signing, yet how often do we see him make key challenges in the box?

Call me old school if you wish, but I stand firm in my ever present demand for a  CB to have fine qualities in the tackle. Lloyd has this. He is also able to pick out a long ball more adeptly than any of his counterparts at the club.

There are clear reasons to be more positive than negative.

Essentially he was signed as cover for the LB and CB roles at Newcastle, which have remained occupied. I doubt Howe would have signed anyone he didn’t consider likely to break in to the first XI mix. The Newcastle boss has a history of holding new signings back for a long time to ‘bed in’ before easing them towards regular selection. Add to this the general trend of managers more likely to use their subs for the outfield areas other than CBs who more often than not remain on the field for full games.

Injury history is slightly concerning though hardly a repeat of Milik or Ramsey –

Wages may be an issue. As with may free signings, much of the fee ordinarily paid (for a player in contract) is paid instead to the player. This certainly seems to have happened in Kelly’s case. With no transfer fee paid, he appears to currently earn a gross wage of EU10.1m per year (inc. bonuses). Is this within the range of what CG is aiming for? Perhaps as part of the transfer conditions a lower wage was discussed for his potential Juve contract, which brings me onto this from Di Marzio>>>

“Unlike the other dry loans [Kolo Muani and Veiga], in Kelly’s deal, there is an option that can become an obligation of very favourable objectives and other easy bonuses, it is as if it were a definitive transfer,”  JuventusNews24.

“The loan will cost Juventus 3 million euros, in addition for 14 million for the redemption and 4-5 million in bonuses . So we’re talking about a very important operation in terms of figures for the Newcastle player.”

Reports suggest that the Newcastle hierarchy was not instantly keen on a loan, or any transfer, but the fee rumoured proved too good to turn down to others in upper management – beyond Howe,  vis-a-vis the solid profit realised for a player who cost zero transfer fee last Summer.

“I’ve seen a bit of speculation about him. We’ve certainly had no offer remotely close to getting the club to make a decision on that. Lloyd is an integral part of what we’re doing from my point of view. His challenge is to try to work his way up the team. He’s just arrived, so I think he’s got a lot to achieve here.” – Eddie Howe 24 Jan 2025

Rumours suggesting Howe did not want Kelly sold tie in with Howe’s statements on the matter. Add to this the supporters club fanzine suggesting the player pushed hard for the move. The final, slightly annoying part of the story is that the player’s agent suggested we were scouting the player, even interested last Summer, when he was available on a free.

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I am unsure as to whether it was Giuntoli who pushed for the purchase obligation, the club or the player. I suspect it was the club management operating outside the manager’s demands(rings any bells??). As the general consensus amongst their fans is that Kelly was earmarked for deeper involvement with the first XI in due course, when Howe felt he was ready.

A former England U21 international (1o apps), Kelly appears to bring a solid amount of premier league experience, is of a good age and is likely eager to cement regular football. The approximately 20m fee is reasonable. Whilst he can play at LB and has done many times, he is not naturally prone to offer much support in the final third when placed on the flank and seems more a CB.

As with the other loanees, Muani and Veiga, I urge patience with Kelly, for none of them have had regular football for some time and may need time to regain their sharpness. Changing clubs, leagues, cultures, languages can also need a transitional period.

If he can stay fit, it is fair to hope Giuntoli has brought in a reliable, modern defender, who may well surprise a few people.  Added to Veiga, with Kalulu hopefully not out long term, Cambiaso set to remain at least until the Summer and the new lad Costa, Motta now has more than enough options to put out a back line comprising of players in their natural roles.

Are they of the proven quality to immediately improve our form? The answer is debatable. And will be for the next few games.

The Como fixture, at least on paper, feels a great opportunity to give all the newcomers a taste of first team action. It is tempting to roar for Motta to aim to pick up where we left off against Empoli, which was running them ragged and sticking to playing on the front foot even after taking the lead. Muani moved from the roaming CF role to accommodate Dusan’s entrance to the fray, and they quickly seemed to find clear hints of a potential partnership. Having two CFs able t0 play off each other, hunt in a pack,  could well be the key to unlocking what has seemed all season a shackled offensive unit too often spread out, unable to form those connections needed to work the ball past resolute rearguards. Im a big believer in sticking with what was working well. Motta seems of a different persuasion!

The two ties against PSV, sandwiching the derby d’italia, are huge games for this season. Not much time for the newcomers to bed in. I suspect Gatti could do with a break, so perhaps Kelly will get his chance this coming weekend. A weird positive is that we have no settled first XI. Motta’s rotation policy and subs have been curious to say the least. The upshot of this, is that there is no long settled selection which would be risky to adjust. Even during the first half against Empoli of late, a few seasoned supporters were commenting, quite rightfully, that we appeared a team who had never played together before!

There is far more to discuss of the meandering, scrambling nature of Giuntoli’s efforts through what has proven a fairly hectic winter window. The main thrust of this overview concludes with the advice that whilst Costa hasn’t yet played a minute, our only close to permanent signing I believe is more likely to bring value to the cause than many appear to presume. There is more to suggest he could be a strong addition tot he squad, than there is to encourage any valid wailing…

As always we must live in hope and dreams!

Forza Juve.

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