I doubt the list drawn up before he comes on board is started again. Maybe he adds one or two names to it, but lets be honest the list will have been built over probably 2 years worth of scouting and referencing. Any veering away would be dangerous in my opinion. We havent only been looking in Europe those years imo.
I imagine we will for free’s or players in their last year but the value for money is atrocious in England and in the PL. Just look at the fees Ipswich paid for championship at best players
Understandable why we’re doing this. There’s a premier league/English tax, so shopping in the foreign market makes more sense for us. Especially as we easily meet the home grown criteria anyways.
It says in one of the reports I read him coming in is to help us attract the top quality talent from abroad that can impact us now not later.
Le fee and Isidor were also players that weren’t on our scouting lists. They were notably recommended by le Bris and they’ve been our most impactful arguably
Speakman’s record with overseas players hasn’t been as good as his recruitment of British players. Maybe this new lad focuses on recruiting foreign whilst Speakman focuses on recruiting British?
Don't think so, plenty of British players in their squad. I just think the value for money for PL and Championship players is just terrible. I'd be looking at PL academy players (like Charlie Gray, I'm incredibly high on him), but the 'proven' ones i'd stay well clear. Ramsdale, Downes, Archer and THB cost €80m, €80m spent in the Bundesliga or Ligue 1 across 4 players would get you some of the best in that league.
Not doubting he is a good appt. Just dont believe he wanders in the door on Monday and the club immediately take some new players on his recommendation. It would be madness, given he has no sense yet of our current squad, academy lads, dressing room togetherness etc. He will help get deals done, maybe sees one player and says we can get a similar on who will be better.
Speakman a fantastic understanding and knowledge of the English youth system and leagues - would expect some players in from all over the UK and Ireland for the 21s and 18s.
It'll still be a team effort, as long as they are all working towards the same vision - which they will be We def should be using his knowledge and contacts across Europe to improve the team
This will have been months in the making mate, he isn’t coming in with a freshly drafted list and saying ‘get these’. If he’s been looking at players who can play for Roma, looking at their potential and character, then that’s a very high standard and a lot of them targets could easily play here. He took Manu Kone, Dobvyk and Soule there, they’d be 3 prime signings here (and coincidentally fit holes we need). Wonder how pally he is with Gianluca Mancini
Why do you think we are appointing him? It’s because he can get us talent that we couldn’t have before. His contacts etc. he’s arguably the best sporting director in France, hence the interested clubs. We’ve also been in contact with him for a few years according to reports he will know a lot more than we think about the squad
I dont necessarily disagree. But sometimes buying clubs when promoted get fleeced. I think we are smarter. I could see a world where we bought a player like Skipp, but at a much more sensible price. We seem very deal savvy these days. Here is an example. We are linked with the lad from Empoli. I am a fan of his. If I had the chance to sign him or THB, for roughly same price, I would need to really think carefully. We know the failure rate of lads failing to settle is reasonably high. Whereas lads already in the country dont bring thay risk. Would I sign the young lad with Prem experience, or the young lad without it? Not an easy call.
Needs to be a mix. Little doubt that our resurgence us been built primarily on a foundation of academy and domestically recruited talent.
True but you’re also got to take into account 30 of our 58 goals scored and created were from foreign players (mayenda and Isidor)