yeh I’m so conflicted. Everything was going well. I don’t know why this is needed. But on the other hand he’s clearly a very senior operator in the footballing world and Speakman, let’s face it, isn’t yet.
He obviously has ethics coming here over the mags and Saudi but to get him over Juventus is a massive statement
I did think of the too many cooks when I first read about it. I will say I do have confidence that KLD wouldnt make such a big appointment without having full confidence that it will be the right structure. Wouldn’t be surprised if Speakman had a say, surely he’s trusted enough to have one. Maybe the demands are too much on speakman and it’s lifting the weight a bit on some elements of his role. Always a nervy one mate when it’s an appointment in this kind of role, but I’m feeling quite excited about it at the moment. Fingers crossed.
I find this part interesting Ghisolfi worked at Nice with INEOS between 2022 and 2024, where head coach Francesco Farioli had wished to retain his services before Roma saw off interest from Monaco to secure his signature last summer. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Farioli come in at some point if RLB has a bad run, we’ve previously been linked to him!
The Farioli part is interesting. Obviously heavily linked here before Yeah it's 100% exciting, beats the days of Richard Hill doing the transfers
I’m gonna risk being seen as captain hindsight here and perhaps this is a tad harsh. But whilst Speakman has done brilliantly in the market overall, it’s also true that we’ve seemed perhaps a bit slow, perhaps missing out on targets in negotiations etc. The whole previous striker rigmarole Perhaps this guy is coming in to take over on negotiations and dealings with agents etc, allowing Speakman to concentrate on academy, coaching, the initial player identification etc
Aye that’s promising. I mean he’s just been at Roma. Feather in the cap that he’s chosen us. Only 40 too. Feels like it fits us. Let’s see, I assume he signed ELF for Roma which is promising.
My only worry would be timing but if this has been in the works for as long as they say in the articles planning has probably been there with expectation for him to come in great cv, good transfer record, big clubs after him and wanting to keep him. expanding our contacts abroad, this feels like a MASSIVE step in the right direction to establish us in the premier league as he will have a big contact list than Speakman and a bigger reputation. I mean he’s turned down huge clubs to come here. That says something
Ghisolfi's track record is very similar to ours under Speakman so I don't think there will be a conflict of ideas there. A lot of big fees on young talents and older heads signed on frees.
Speakman has done a great job but it has been mentioned a lot that his stubbornness has sometimes cost deals. He does act in the clubs best interests though and I wouldn’t want to lose him
Let’s hope he’s not better at getting deals for the likes of Cannon, Akpom or Armstrong over the line quickly
i suppose this also shows the pull of the premier league and same pull applies to player were gonna smash it and stay up
100%. this is about playing to strengths and growing the club. I just hope speakman’s ego takes it (I’m sure it will)
Whatever happens, it doesn’t feel like an appointment that a club that’s happy to just make up the numbers in the premier league would make. It feels like we’re planning to have a really exciting and successful future. And to think 4 years ago we were in league one and today we’ve sold out our season tickets and appointed a DOF that juve we’re after
Piggy back on this... he's struggled to get the European market right too. This bloke could help us get top talent. And I'm a big KS fan
Richard Hill left us on the 17 July 2020. less than 5 years ago. His ultimate replacement within 5 years has turned down Juventus to come to us.