me neither. I actually don't think we'll sign anyone until first week of July, and everyone will be squirming
Matt Hobbs who was Wolves sporting director is getting the push because he gave Gary O’Neal a new contract at the start of last season and because of wolves steady decline in the last 3 seasons. They are going back to having loads of players from Jorge Mendes, like they did when they first came up under Nuno.
Maybe i'm setting my bar way too high but the links to Singo, Uche and Merlin are the types I want through the door. Proper upgrades in positions of need. Links to Henderson and Gray make little sense even as squad players as they'd more than likely be the top 2 earners at the club if/when they sign and I don't think they improve the first 11.
How important is Premiership experience? If we start the opening day with a starting 11 who have 0 Premiership games, is that perfectly fine? Curious to what others on here think.
most of the starting 11 didnt have Championship exp when we went up from L1, think its all releative really
I think its nice and valuable but not important. I'd be perfectly happy with 0 prem experience as long as the starting line up includes 3-4 new elite players from top divisions elsewhere.
I think we need some but it's more that we need "better" players. A couple of players with premier league experience is a start.
Not bothered personally. Not a big believer in experience unless it's in the specific situation. Quality is king.
tbf we shouldn't struggle to get a mix of foreign talent and pl experience, we have received plenty funds.
You get a lot of benefit from premier league experience but likewise you can get a lot of benefit from somebody coming in from abroad and wanting to impress. Quality is quality. And from my limited viewpoint of european football, there isn't as much difference between Premier League styles and other leagues than there was maybe 10-15 years ago. Speaking English and being an improvement on our starting 11 are to me more important than premier league specific experience.
To add to this, any 'experienced' player who signs has to be able to still play at a decent level. PL experience in particular will come at a high price and we know RLB likes a small squad and Speakman said similar yesterday. Is it worth having your highest earner be a bit part player? Welbeck would be a good signing, Henderson would not. In my opinion.
Personally I think Premier League experience is very important, here's why: One of our best strengths this season has been the unity in the dressing room, how well the lads seem to get on and you can see that on the pitch after wins. I think the implication of "Premiership experience" is that not only is a player adapted to the new higher level of football but presumably integrated into the lifestyle and language, if you watch Wilson and Mayenda they're in on the jokes, the banter is flying and they're part of the ingroup, when you bring in a larger number of players you're always a little worried about the players adapting to the level but it's the off the field stuff that will make them comfortable, so I'd be a little worried about upsetting that balance.
That’s why I think Henderson would be a massive influence behind the scenes, he’s not a pisshead but a very professional athlete and knows how to effect games and would be very good in the dressing room as a leader which he proved with Liverpool and England. last time around, we had plenty of PL experience but they were washed up players wanting a payday and had no respect for the club or fans, with KLD and KS at the helm they will need the like of Hendo’s experience, I for one am really excited about the upcoming season, I think with the right astute signings we will surprise a lot of teams.