It's the boards job to sign players. There will be a lot of employees at the club working specifically just on that. That we didn't get anyone in, regardless of how difficult I'm sure it is, is the fault of the board. They work in this industry, they've done it time after time, they know how difficult it can be. I'm sure they would take responsibility for that so I don't really understand how you can say it's not their fault. Ultimately it's their job, and they failed. This isn't me just dieing to put blame on someones door, I just don't get how people can say it's not the boards fault. We may get away with it, but just like the Summer and not signing a striker, it's a massive risk. I'd be interested to know (although we probably never will), if we would have taken these, on the face of it, needless risks if it were not for the looming takeover. Now I'm going to be more subjective. I would imagine we would have been looking to replace Fonte this summer anyway, even before the whole Euro-fuelled-ego-explosion-debacle. 6 months after we find our Fonte wants out we end up selling him (without assurances that we can get someone in) and the next day VVD got injured. If alarm bells weren't ringing before, they should be now. Given all the money that we have made on transfers in the last few seasons. Pay an extra £5m to get that defender in now. And yes, I know its not that simple, but if there was a case to spend more to get a player in now, this was it, given VVDs injury, our lack of form and looking at the wrong end of the table, AND our first major cup final for 15 years on the horizon etc etc. The fact that we failed to get anyone in, even a loan is very very poor because CBs will have been right near the top of our list since the summer.
Beefy is there much truth to us refusing to go over what we valued Schar at. Seems a bit short sighted to me if we did and lays even more fault at the boards door if true.
Seems to me that's the attitude that put us in this predicament. Do you not believe in being proactive rather than reactive.
That's fair enough then regarding him. But if there was no negotiation to that deal it wouldn't have taken up any time to move on the the next target.
Stupid me I thought that was the point of a forum. Are we only allowed to discuss the good bits about the club. Sorry my bad.
Big fan of Les and they way he has done business over the years, but he is accountable, and there's a certain danger when people get beyond that. Its not about being punished, its about rectifying mistakes & learning from them. The cash cow needs a new barn. Buy one, don't leave it out in the rain.
I'm glad we didn't get Sakho. Liverpool's weakness for the last two seasons has been their defence, & he can't even get in that.
Also, the next time they come knocking it would be worth reminding them that they were dicks. No deal.
I agree with you. If the rumours are true he's another one though that we tried and failed to get. Although in his case I'm quite pleased that deal didn't come off.
I didn't say you couldn't talk about it. Now you're twisting my words! You accused me of not being proactive because I didn't want to talk about Virgil leaving. That isn't a prospect I can bear to think about right now, thanks very much.
Chilo, you kinda did jump down his throat. Don't worry about, its a stressful time for us lot though, we just need to keep our **** together.
If something happens to Yoshida we are in trouble IMO. Stephens and Gardos at the back does not bear thinking about. It's not impossible that an injury to Yoshida could see us slide alarmingly close to the relegation zone. I'm not saying it's going to happen but Gabbiadini will need time to settle in, and we can't rely on some Boufal magic to bail us out. At the moment, I can't see us winning when we concede one goal, especially if it's the first one. So, I have to say I'm not impressed at all that the board haven't replaced Fonte.
