In my opinion BK has done an excellent job of recruitment in this window. Just makes it all the more puzzling why Slimane was signed earlier than needed. Was it something to do with JHT pressure to get the deal done?
What does “earlier than needed” mean? I don’t mean that question in an aggressive way, I may be missing something here If it is really due to doubts about him - I appreciate Slimane was not universally praised, but IMO he had some periods in midfield where he looked totally dominant. So - for me - if the club rated him, then I think getting the deal done couldn’t come earlier. Also, rightly or wrongly I think early signings in the Summer make a team look serious about getting deals done quickly and early to agents, target players and other teams so there is good messaging in having a track record of doing business.
Given that Gunn has joined Forest only on a one-year deal (BBC website), you are probably right that his being home-grown has been what sealed the deal Suffolk.
When Slimane was signed we were 11th in the table, 4 points off the playoffs and Slimane was having an increased presence in the matchday squad, notching 2 goals in the proceeding 9 games. He was a player at a good age, who fit the system and was available cheaply off the back of his misfit status at Sheffield United and existing relationship with JHT. Honestly at that time the signing probably seemed like a no brainer. I don't think we'd have expected to slip to 11 points off the playoffs by the end of the season, have a new manager, new playing style, and heavily recruited in a way that jeopardises Slimane's role. You're never going to have a new manager perfectly mesh with the old squad, and if you did then what was the point in changing manager. If anyone is going to be a casualty of that, at least it's going to be a fairly cheap signing and not the likes of Sargent, Nunez, etc.
Only a one year deal!? Interesting, clearly wasn’t getting offers that met what he considered to be his value. I thought he would be snapped up by another championship team or somewhere in Scotland but perhaps him/his agent were asking for some big wages - may be the reason his contract wasn’t renewed here
Agreed I think most were saying that we had got a great deal at the time we made his move permanent but his performances, as did the teams, took a nosedive after Jan/Feb time. He could still be a useful squad player but he’s down to 5th choice at least at the moment behind Wright, Topic, Nunez and McLean. Hes down little in preseason to push his case forward in that respect - he’s probably behind Gibbs but the club may want to loan him out for some game time this year
Nunez being linked with a move to Turkey - Trabzonspor specifically and almost mentioned with rumours of a move to Spain. With him in his last year of contract and having seen 2 of his closest mates in the squad - Hernandez and Sainz leave, it feels likely he moves on. It would be interesting to see if that means we enter the market again, maybe use the money to bring Mattsson in?
I hope there's nothing in this - Fisher was one of our few bright rays of light last season: https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-everton-plan-move-to-sign-norwichs-kellen-fisher/
Sargent, Nunez and Fisher - if they all go we might as well forget the season already!! Everyone left is still saying hello to everyone else.
I will probably be wrong but I think we have a problem with Duffy. From what my son, who is a casual acquaintance, says Shane is another player who has fallen in love with the area and a girlfriend/wife and his daughter have now moved in. He is 34 in January so probably has 2 more seasons in him. He is on £35k a week and has umpteen millions invested. It is more than unlikely that any Club in the top two divisions would want him and the average wage in Div 1 is probably £5 or £6k a week. So move house yet again to earn £5k a week or see out his current contract and earn £35k a week in the first year and then do a Wes Hoolahan and offer Cambridge - a short train journey from Wymondham - his services for one year for pocket money.Apparently there is no firm indication of interest from America especially at his salary, and no expressed interest from Saudi. I fear that the same problem exists with Long albeit with less finance involved.
The best bet might be a loan where we pay half the wages. On the other hand if Hills leaves and we go on playing 3 CBs, our only backups are McConville and possibly Adegboyega. That might be enough or maybe not.
Best bet for us perhaps but who will pay £17k a week to borrow a 34yo CB and more importantly what is there in it for Duffy. At this late stage in his career I am sure that getting £35 a week to sit on the bench or, better still, his settee at home appeals to him.
