Recruitment Ratings - 2025/26

[trueswan16]

Interested to see if fans think the same, I’ve just rated the main recruits that have played this season:

Galbraith (8.5) - the pick of our summer signings, incredibly technically gifted and dictated how we played from multiple positions. Makes the game look so easy at times the way he floats over the pitch and manoeuvres the ball. Still think there’s room for improvement, he can travel with the ball too much at times but no doubt will be a premier league player in the near future.

Widell (7) - started off the season slow struggling to get to grips with the physicality of the league but as the season has gone on, he’s become quite pivotal to the press and intensity we play at. He’s been impactful both as an 8 and out wide which isn’t easy. Has been quite unlucky with shots cleared off the line but couldn’t go above a 7 with 1 assist and 0 goals all season, that will have to improve next season, not just him but all our forward thinking players to make up for Vipi’s goals. Confident he’ll be one of our star players next season.

Stamenic (6.5) - games against Watford and Sheffield Wednesday made him look like prime Busquets early on but then his performances fell away sharply and I started to wonder what he adds to our midfield. Similar to Widell, as the season wore on, he started to show those physical qualities our other midfielders don’t have and I think he’s seen as one of the leaders in the team now by Matos. Think there’s a lot of potential there, just want him to demand the ball more at times and dictate the game.

Burgess (7) - think he got unfair stick at the start of the season when Ben was just as bad if not worse but being captain, Burgess was always the scapegoat. Played every minute, dominant in the air, probably gave us our most enjoyable moment of the season and is a leader in the team which does sometimes go unnoticed. I just think him and Ben are too similar hence if we want to progress, one of them (and it will be Burgess) will have to make way. Against the better sides in this league, one of our CBs has carry it out and beat the oppositions press without hoofing it back and with both our CBs unable to do that - it limits us when building up.

Idah (6) - been unfortunate that Vipi had the season he had and when he did get a chance, he picked up an injury to keep him out for 3 months. Still only 25 so yet to hit is prime and there’s definitely a player in there. To be that size physically whilst being quick over 10-15 yards is quite rare for a striker. Gives us something different to Vipi but also lacks the finishing quality that Vipi brings. He’ll have his chance next season I predict so needs to take it.

Yalcouye (6) - should have had far more game time than he ended up having over the season. Loved the fact he always wanted the ball regardless where he was on the pitch and brought a different dimension to the midfield. Long term not sure if he’s a 6 or 8 as he’s not the most physical and isn’t the most creative. He’s kind of in between that but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s around Brighton’s first team in a couple of years.

Inoussa (5) - probably the one I was most excited about last summer. Watched the usual YouTube highlights and thought we were signing the next Sadio Mane. Has shown glimpses of his ability to skip past full backs at times throughout the season and why we forked out so much money for him but just lacks basic game understanding at times and is rash in his decision making. Not going to give up on him as we saw what happened with Vipi second season but he’ll have more competition than he did this season so needs to hit the ground running.

Walta (5.5) - difficult to judge to be honest as he was coming off the back of pre season in Sweden and had to build up his fitness pretty quickly through fleetingly cameos. Last game of the season will do him wonders going into next season and I think most fans are excited to see what he can bring. Loves to shoot from distance and is a set piece specialist which we’ve lacked. Will be interesting to see whether Matos trusts him in the 8/10 positions or he prefers him from the left flank but excited to see what he can add to this side.

 

[Swanseaboy2003]

Interested to see if fans think the same, I’ve just rated the main recruits that have played this season:

Galbraith (8.5) - the pick of our summer signings, incredibly technically gifted and dictated how we played from multiple positions. Makes the game look so easy at times the way he floats over the pitch and manoeuvres the ball. Still think there’s room for improvement, he can travel with the ball too much at times but no doubt will be a premier league player in the near future.

Widell (7) - started off the season slow struggling to get to grips with the physicality of the league but as the season has gone on, he’s become quite pivotal to the press and intensity we play at. He’s been impactful both as an 8 and out wide which isn’t easy. Has been quite unlucky with shots cleared off the line but couldn’t go above a 7 with 1 assist and 0 goals all season, that will have to improve next season, not just him but all our forward thinking players to make up for Vipi’s goals. Confident he’ll be one of our star players next season.

Stamenic (6.5) - games against Watford and Sheffield Wednesday made him look like prime Busquets early on but then his performances fell away sharply and I started to wonder what he adds to our midfield. Similar to Widell, as the season wore on, he started to show those physical qualities our other midfielders don’t have and I think he’s seen as one of the leaders in the team now by Matos. Think there’s a lot of potential there, just want him to demand the ball more at times and dictate the game.

Burgess (7) - think he got unfair stick at the start of the season when Ben was just as bad if not worse but being captain, Burgess was always the scapegoat. Played every minute, dominant in the air, probably gave us our most enjoyable moment of the season and is a leader in the team which does sometimes go unnoticed. I just think him and Ben are too similar hence if we want to progress, one of them (and it will be Burgess) will have to make way. Against the better sides in this league, one of our CBs has carry it out and beat the oppositions press without hoofing it back and with both our CBs unable to do that - it limits us when building up.

Idah (6) - been unfortunate that Vipi had the season he had and when he did get a chance, he picked up an injury to keep him out for 3 months. Still only 25 so yet to hit is prime and there’s definitely a player in there. To be that size physically whilst being quick over 10-15 yards is quite rare for a striker. Gives us something different to Vipi but also lacks the finishing quality that Vipi brings. He’ll have his chance next season I predict so needs to take it.

Yalcouye (6) - should have had far more game time than he ended up having over the season. Loved the fact he always wanted the ball regardless where he was on the pitch and brought a different dimension to the midfield. Long term not sure if he’s a 6 or 8 as he’s not the most physical and isn’t the most creative. He’s kind of in between that but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s around Brighton’s first team in a couple of years.

Inoussa (5) - probably the one I was most excited about last summer. Watched the usual YouTube highlights and thought we were signing the next Sadio Mane. Has shown glimpses of his ability to skip past full backs at times throughout the season and why we forked out so much money for him but just lacks basic game understanding at times and is rash in his decision making. Not going to give up on him as we saw what happened with Vipi second season but he’ll have more competition than he did this season so needs to hit the ground running.

Walta (5.5) - difficult to judge to be honest as he was coming off the back of pre season in Sweden and had to build up his fitness pretty quickly through fleetingly cameos. Last game of the season will do him wonders going into next season and I think most fans are excited to see what he can bring. Loves to shoot from distance and is a set piece specialist which we’ve lacked. Will be interesting to see whether Matos trusts him in the 8/10 positions or he prefers him from the left flank but excited to see what he can add to this side.

Genuine question why has Widell been ranked so high?

As far as im concerend hes an attacker and he hasnt scored a goal all season and only got 1 assist? Even Walta has betterd that tally and he joined half way through and without a pre season.

He brings energy but his quality on the ball has been so disappointing compared to how hyped he was when he joined.

Stamenic has had more of an impact than Widell.

 

[sit_down_jack]

Genuine question why has Widell been ranked so high?

As far as im concerend hes an attacker and he hasnt scored a goal all season and only got 1 assist? Even Walta has betterd that tally and he joined half way through and without a pre season.

He brings energy but his quality on the ball has been so disappointing compared to how hyped he was when he joined.

Stamenic has had more of an impact than Widell.

I’d say it’s because Widell is our best presser and that’s what our style is. There is a noticeable difference in us when he isn’t on the pitch. I would argue that apart from Franco, Widell is the only other elite presser we have. I’d like to see him contribute more goals and assists but I can see value in him outside of that personally.

 

[trueswan16]

I’d say it’s because Widell is our best presser and that’s what our style is. There is a noticeable difference in us when he isn’t on the pitch. I would argue that apart from Franco, Widell is the only other elite presser we have. I’d like to see him contribute more goals and assists but I can see value in him outside of that personally.

Exactly what I was just about to say. I get the G/A is poor for someone who needs to be contributing in that aspect. I just felt that when Widell wasn’t in the side, the midfield didn’t have any sort of intensity to it both in attack and defence. If you took out Stamenic, Fulton came in and you didn’t see a massive difference in the way we played.

 

[sit_down_jack]

Exactly what I was just about to say. I get the G/A is poor for someone who needs to be contributing in that aspect. I just felt that when Widell wasn’t in the side, the midfield didn’t have any sort of intensity to it both in attack and defence. If you took out Stamenic, Fulton came in and you didn’t see a massive difference in the way we played.

I think Widell was wrongly categorised as an attacking midfielder when we signed him. He has more goals and assists lower down but his numbers in the top Danish league weren’t amazing before we signed him. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t expect more than one assist from a midfielder though. He has come close to scoring quite a few times, I’m hoping he breaks that duck next season.

The interesting thing for Matos is where Widell will fit in. Franco has been ever present and Walta looks a real player who will be hard to leave out. I doubt Widell will be continuing to play out wide next season, so will he just be a bench player? For me he has to feature somewhere because he makes the press function at 100%.

 

[trueswan16]

I think Widell was wrongly categorised as an attacking midfielder when we signed him. He has more goals and assists lower down but his numbers in the top Danish league weren’t amazing before we signed him. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t expect more than one assist from a midfielder though. He has come close to scoring quite a few times, I’m hoping he breaks that duck next season.

The interesting thing for Matos is where Widell will fit in. Franco has been ever present and Walta looks a real player who will be hard to leave out. I doubt Widell will be continuing to play out wide next season, so will he just be a bench player? For me he has to feature somewhere because he makes the press function at 100%.

I think that depends a lot on Walta and whether he can bring the physical side to that number 8 position. He’ll have a pre season to acclimatise to that position but If he can’t, Matos may stick him on the left flank. He didn’t change the shape of that midfield a lot either, like going from the two 8’s to one 10 and two sitters which I’d like to see more of next season. I think it’s a fine line between having ‘runners’ or deviating slightly for more creativity but knowing you lose the physical side from your approach. But those decisions is what Matos gets paid to make

 

[Swanseaboy2003]

I’d say it’s because Widell is our best presser and that’s what our style is. There is a noticeable difference in us when he isn’t on the pitch. I would argue that apart from Franco, Widell is the only other elite presser we have. I’d like to see him contribute more goals and assists but I can see value in him outside of that personally.

Oli Cooper and Ronald are very good at pressing aswell doesn't mean I'd pay 3mill for either of them.

 

[sit_down_jack]

Oli Cooper and Ronald are very good at pressing aswell doesn't mean I'd pay 3mill for either of them.

They aren’t as high energy over the course of 90 mins though and Widell is a better ball carrier than both I’d say. Aside from Franco, I can’t remember the last Swans player I saw who was as effective as he is in pressing situations. He and Franco cause so many turnovers that we definitely should have scored more from those situations. Widell gets called a headless chicken but he isn’t, his pressures often end up with us winning possession. Even if he doesn’t have the most recoveries his relentlessness ends up forcing a riskier pass from the opposition. His contribution has been massive since Matos came in imo.

 

[Swanseaboy2003]

They aren’t as high energy over the course of 90 mins though and Widell is a better ball carrier than both I’d say. Aside from Franco, I can’t remember the last Swans player I saw who was as effective as he is in pressing situations. He and Franco cause so many turnovers that we definitely should have scored more from those situations. Widell gets called a headless chicken but he isn’t, his pressures often end up with us winning possession. Even if he doesn’t have the most recoveries his relentlessness ends up forcing a riskier pass from the opposition. His contribution has been massive since Matos came in imo.

Widell has completed 90minutes once in the league the whole season. For comparison Ronald has completed 12.

I agree he definitely does bring alot of energy but so does our whole front line and midfield. Players like Cullen, Ronald, Franco, Widell can run for days. The problem is we need to have actual on the ball quality from our attackers next season if we want to progress as a team and actually push for play offs.

Players like Galbraith, Walta and hopefully a new winger might not run as much as them but they sure as hell will affect the game with the ball 10x more which is what we need.

I just think for 3 million he's been so so underwhelming and it wouldn't suprise me to see him being a rotation player next season rather than a flat out starter.

 

[VitalSwansea]

yeah I like Widdel and the energy he gives, we do look better when he's on the pitch as he fits in with our pressing style but he's got to offer more next season that just committed legs. He's expected to offer a lot more in terms of assists and goals and he needs to add that to his game. So 7 feels a tad high especially when Stamenic is only a 6.5 which is very harsh given he starts pretty much whenever he's fit.

I wouldn't say I'm a massive fan of his just yet as he did have a long spell where he struggled but we also have to remember he then tragically lost his father which must have affected him, we look a lot worse when he's not in that sitting 6 role.

Burgess a 7 also above Stamenic is way off for me. He's been awful for the majority of the season, frustrated the hell out of me by not being able to make the simplest of passes, let alone his individual errors leading to goals.