Haven't we always been a 'selling club' though? We sold the likes of Dyer to rebuild the squad to get us promoted. Wright & Bramble etc. were sold to bigger clubs because they wanted to leave. This is nothing new and provided we make the situation work for us then I am more than happy with that. A more pertinent example is Brentford, who have consistently sold of their best players and replaced them (with a bit to spare) to become one of the best squads in the league this season. In fact when you look through the league.. Everyone has to sell at some point.. It's just that the likes of Derby have bought players in for prices that inevitably put off potential buyers as they would obviously look to recoup the money and those players haven't increased in value.. But they've had to offload plenty this summer in order to make signings. Hell.. Even Man United are under pressure (from the players and their agents) to sell De Gea to Madrid and Pogba to Barcelona and they are (probably still) the biggest club in the Country.
No in the late 90s we weren't, no. We were properly financed bought players and bar people knocking the doors down for Kieran Dyer, who we received an absolutely astronomical offer for 99 football, £6 mill or whatever from a division 1 club was absolutely unheard of. There was a massive queue forming with lots of the big clubs in England, we couldn't hold onto him. We WERE a big fish in the pond back then. Unfortunately, we're not now. ££££ has taken over, too many ex premier league clubs about now, parachute £££ need I go on!? I mean, I DO like the fact we're at least adhering to FFP. Look at Sheffield Wednesday, transfer ban and season likely over before kick off. Birmingham / QPR also had issues with it this time, and it is SLOWLY but surely starting to bare a little fruit. I don't want us to gamble the clubs future and become another Coventry, Portsmouth etc with a massive road back, but it's a little worrying at times. Sure, big ££££ for Waghorn ( less upset with sicknote Webster going ) and FOR ONCE we're actually spending the sale ££££ a lot more blatently than before - if it finances 3 / 4 players as it appears to do, then great. Issue I have with us, is hand on heart I do not see us getting near play offs this term. Further, if these lads have a good season - no doubt we'll be selling and starting again................ Just feel a bit MEH about us - but an exciting transfer window this time / trying a different approach and that's a story for another day. Good luck Hurst and co, lets have a good season COYB.
Absolute rubbish. Kiwomya, Dozzell, Bramble, Johnson, Scowcroft, Wright. None of these players we could hold onto - some of them even when we were in the UEFA Cup.
Indeed. I was born in the 80's so don't have the knowledge others possess when it comes to history of the club before then, but to add some more weight to your comments we sold Wark to Liverpool, Murhen to Man United and Thijsen to Forest, so even in our glory days we sold some truly great players.
In the 80s Scowey we had to sell players to finance building the Pioneer stand. In the Sheepshanks era we had to sell players to finance development of the North Stand and Churchmans. Now we have to sell players to finance the enormous debt. The only way we are going to get out of that is several seasons in the Premier League.
We will have to see how this season is going to pan out and I understand the different points of view regarding the ins and outs at the Club, but one thing is undeniable, Hurst has rekindled the enthusiasm amongst the fans. There's healthy debate going on both on forums and personally and if further proof was needed I tried to get a ticket for the match at Rotherham a few days ago but they were sold out, such a difference to last seasons anger and indifference.
I don't know if they have got another batch, but they are still for sale online. I suppose one positive from the Evans era is that we have never had a problem trying to get a ticket.
Does anybody realistically expect us to be challenging for play offs this season? We've had one play off season in the last thirteen years and let's be brutally honest, we've not been realistic promotion contenders for years. Last season we were 15 points off the top six and finished smack bang in the middle of the table. As for the season before that, we were four points off relegation! This is a club that does not have the financial clout to compete with the bigger teams in this division, and what money we do have is usually spent on short-term deals and quick fixes. As far as expectations for this season go, we are looking towards a transitional season or two to get a clear ideology in place, laying the foundations for this by hiring a young, progressive manager, adhering to a new transfer policy of targeting highly-rated lower league players, and hoping to shift the apathy that has clouded Portman Road over the last decade or so by playing a more attractive style of football. My impression is that we're finally looking to replicate the success of teams like Huddersfield by developing a team according to a plan, which we didn't have before. Evans, to give him some credit, looks like he is investing more money into the team this summer, largely through the money raised by Mick's successful record in the transfer market (and you'd be a fool to deny Mick's sustained ability to turn a big profit for the club). But does anyone believe that our previous manager would dream of doing the deals Hurst has been doing? Deals with an eye to the future or toward implementing these players in a set style of football? Of course not. One of Mick's problem was that he spent what money he got (and he got more money than he'd have us believe) by signing quick-fix, established footballers on 'free transfers' (while paying big signing on fees), loan deals for bright prospects (again, this usually carried a loan fee), and plugging the gaps in our squads with short-term freebies and 'solid characters'. This was not sustainable. This is not conducive to starting or maintaining an ideology with an eye to promotion. It allowed us to stagnate and ultimately that's what has happened these past few years. The unfortunate fact for Mick is that his legacy is being systematically dismantled to allow for a more technically compatible squad to develop, according to our owner's wishes. If this isn't the evidence that we had no real plan in place for promotion other than to just wing it and hope for a fluke, then I don't know what is.
I would say no chance of the top 2 but play offs could happen on the basis of the signings we're making. If we get Jackson in then why not? It's a very fine line between finishing top half and finish 6th. The difference is winning the tight games that could go either way and that's really up to the forwards to score goals and the defenders to be well organised and not gift goals.
Most clubs are actually selling clubs.......if a team has more money or larger profile they will be able to take your players .........players are only in it for the money.........it’s a job and loyalty doesn’t come into it.
I admire your optimism Hampy, but I really cannot see it clicking and happening this season. I think a solid mid-table finish with clear signs of an evolving, improved style of play is a more realistic and attainable goal. Not to avoid talk of play offs, of course, no reason why we cannot target them and put wins together, we should be aspirational, otherwise what's the point in going to the games, but I just can't foresee it this season.
Ha ha, I was born late '40's and when you mention Warky, Arnie Muhren and Thijsen, it's hankie time! But I am quietly encouraged by Hurst so far, and the atmosphere and morale seems a lot higher around the Club. Let's give him time to gell the new faces. A win here, a draw and avoiding a poor run of games and performances thru to October, might see us in the top 10 up to Xmas. I would be happy with that.
I can't understand why anyone would be targeting play offs this year. It's clearly going to be a season of transition. What I want from the upcoming campaign is for us to work on our identity and style of play. I'm hoping that we stay away from the relegation battle so that Paul won't feel pressured to change his methods and I'm not expecting to finish higher than last season. My only worry is whether or not Paul will actually be here long enough to see the project through.
I've already said I'd be happy with a mid table finish if we are playing a better brand of football with some clear plan or strategy which ,hopefully,seems to be the case with PH's approach. Very happy with the acquisitions so far and can't remember looking forward to a Season with as much anticipation/excitement for many years. As to predictions of us being in danger of being relegated/making the play offs there are obviously those drama queens who blow hot and cold and need to manage their expectations better!
It is well documented that in the Sheepshanks era towards the end of the 90s, we had to sell at least 1 player every year to balance the books (when we were in then what was called div 1 - now the championship) as well as dyer, we sold taricco to spurs, Mathie to Reading?, sonner to Sheff Wed amongst others. What we had to replace it was 1) a top academy system and 2) really good scouting allowing us to get players far cheaper than there actual value. Wilnis for 200,000, Clapham 350,000 and wolves paid us money and Venus for sedgley. We also got Mogga for about 650000 (I think). Where Hurst has got a chance in succeeding where previous managers have failed is in the scouting. He knows the lower leagues very well. I am not expecting any sort of promotion push but if we finish mid table and play some decent football along the wat, that’s fine by me
Nuggets, San Diego, ladies and gentlemen. Getting into the play offs is not some holy grail. Winning a major trophy is the holy grail. Every one in four Championship sides will make the play offs. We are no longer in the era of ‘it can’t be done.’ We’re now in a new era of ‘let’s have a go’
You misunderstand me Hampy, I'm of the mindset of 'let's have a go', that's why I go to the games. Please re-read my post, I state that there is no reason why we can't be aspirational and in football, there is not such thing as can't, as almost anything can happen. It's not a case that I don't want to finish top six, and I'm certain I speak for San Diego and others when I say that. I'm simply saying that if I had to predict the final Championship table based on my gut feeling and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of all the clubs, I would not put us in the top six. I obviously hope we achieve this, yet it's heart over head. Fingers crossed we can get a couple more deals done today. Kayden Jackson is almost certainly confirmed, I'd ship out Joey Garner if it enabled us to get both Josh Windass and a centre-back, as I see we have given up on Curtis Tilt. Also Hampy, I take it maths wasn't your strongest subject at school. All things being equal, as they are at the start of the season, every one in six Championship sides will make a play off place.
Nuggets, actually I have a Maths degree! I meant to say at least a play off berth - that is top six. The point I was making is that we have got so used to being pathetic that our normal has become failure. Making the play offs is not even success. Since we are no longer pathetic I think we have a genuine chance. I wouldn't predict a top six finish for us, I'd put us in the nearly pack - but one thing I know in football is that when you have a manager that comes in and gets it right and you have some momentum you can go on a winning streak and if that happens we'll likely end up in the play offs, because we are only talking about 5-10 points over a season between that nearly pack and 6th place.
Did you get that Maths degree at the University of Life? I'm yanking your chain, Hampy, I get what you're saying. I agree we have a fairly decent chance, particularly as there are no real stand out favourites in this division and the relegated clubs from the Premier League look more vulnerable than recent memory can pick out. I do have issue with your statement that making the play offs would not constitute a success. I would argue that for a club like us, making the play offs would clearly be a success and should be considered so if we were to finish top six this season. A reminder, we have only made the play offs once in the past thirteen years. Thirteen years, just think about that. I know you don't win a trophy for participating in and failing to get through the play offs, but clubs often use that experience to develop and evolve the next season.
It's all relative Nuggets. It would only be considered a success by many because our expectations have fallen so far. In the 70s, 80s, 90s or 00s a mid table finish in the Championship would have been deemed a disastrous season. Making the play offs would certainly be progress but I have never lowered my expectations or accepted the terrible drivel we have been served up under McCarthy so for me only promotion would be a successful season. I don't expect us to have a successful season - but I hope we make progress with the style of play and that there is fun and excitement this campaign.
