It's not just the £250k though, it's what it represents. If we'd paid that extra money, we send a message out that we're willing to get mugged off by other clubs for players on short contracts or who are just generally not worth that much. Hard to shake that tag, glad the new owners started off the right way. £750k for a player with 6 months on his contract at a club who are desperate for money... pretty stupid of Birmingham not to sell.
I'll be willing to bet my entire student loan he goes out on loan by the end of March to get his wages off the wage bill anyway. No idea why they didn't sell, if we were offering 500k that's probably over the odds for a player out of contract in 6 months as it is!
I hear what you're saying Marko, but you've got to play the market the way it is. You have to speculate to accumulate. The message GFH have sent out is exactly what that guy tweeted - we're not going for it! £250k is not a lot in the transfer market, especially if it's the 'final piece in the jigsaw' to achieve your (promotion) goal. Personally, I cannot comment on the player as I've never studied him playing. Ask yourself this question, if we miss the playoffs by a narrow margin - "Would spending that extra £250k have made the difference?" Guess we're going to have to wait & see.
All in all I'm happy with the signings we have got in although I don't think we manged to get the WOW player the team craves. With regards to Hall I just don't get why Colin signed him!? It really does puzzle me! Why won't he let Poleon go out on loan until he signs a winger, I'm sure Hall is a winger... I think he's signed him and maybe now he's thinking he's not good enough.
All in all I'm happy with the signings we have got in although I don't think we manged to get the WOW player the team craves. With regards to Hall I just don't get why Colin signed him!? It really does puzzle me! Why won't he let Poleon go out on loan until he signs a winger, I'm sure Hall is a winger... I think he's signed him and maybe now he's thinking he's not good enough.
We might be able to sign him or Boyd as of next week anyway and pay no (or a very small loan fee) fee. Both out of contract at the end of the season and Birmingham are desperate to get players off the wage bill, while Boyd's transfer listed and wants out anyway (plus I mentioned earlier the possibility of loaning Peterborough Hall, shame Warnock won't do it and just leave Hall in the development squad )
Ok, fair comments, let me answer then. Leeds had a game plan against Spurs to hit long diagonals onto their right back for Varney to win and knock across the box. Almost every ball Varney won comfortably, knocked it into a space beyond the first centre back who was marking McCormack, and into the ideal space for our wide right player to ghost into from the blind side....except Green was invisible, and for me simply lacked the vision to gamble and run into that space. Only one of Varney's knock downs hit McCormack who was dragging the centre backs into the near post area. So, for me Green is not the right option wide right because he is not attack minded, can't take defenders on and can't unbalance the opposing defence. White has played with poor left backs behind him and needs the confidence to play with some freedom and not have the pressure of being punished if he takes a risk that doesn't work. He has good pace which is a big plus, and to let him gallop down the left is good because it worries defenders. All he needs is a midfield runner on the inside to support him rather than expecting a cross every time. That way we mix the game up, keep the opposition guessing and that means White has the advantage. So, yes, I do watch games. As for Brown, he has been poor far too often, and off the pace in the final 30 minutes. He dug deep against Spurs, be he won't give us that week in, week out. Now is the time to play a settled eleven every game, and that means players who will deliver consistently, and Brown won't do that.
Other bits - am sure I read on the OS Poleon has gone out on loan Birmingham are in trouble at the wrong end of the table. If they chose not to sell the player which would also get his wages off the books, why would they loan him out? Sounds to me a bit like Beckford - staying to help out the season and then leave for nowt in Summer. There is no benefit to loaning him out anywhere else if they refused to sell him for the last 6 months. So I just don't get it. But have to admit, I have not followed any of it at all, and have no idea if the guy is really important to Brum or was being touted.
Great point Sheldon, the Brum attitude is confusing. Then again, it may be that the 'keeper sale to Stoke allows them to limp along financially to end of season. Warnock wants Burke, maybe we can still do a deal with an up front loan payment and 100% of wages. Holding out for £750k may also mean that's actually what they NEED so could be in a weaker bargaining position when loan window opens. Warnock has said he definitely wants a wide player in, who else is there we can get other than Blind Boy Boyd.
What makes you think that everyone played to the game plan except Green? Isn't it possible that he was playing 'under orders' too? Remember, Bale was on that wing, so conservatism might have been a very big part of the game plan on that wing! I also have to say that Green has impressed me on the right almost every time he's played there (and that's not his favoured position, either!). He's a good link man, defends well, looks after Byram, and creates loads of space. Scores goals too! Varney? Well, I'm afraid one decent game every 15 or so isn't good enough. One swallow doth not a summer make! I don't think we're ever going to agree about this, Billy. He cannot cross to save himself. He just runs into trouble, or turns back on himself & attempts a cross. You could replace him with a horse on the left wing - the horse would probably be able to cross better! If he has a future with us, I think it should be at LB. I accept your point about having a crap LB behind him when he's on the wing, but he's had an even greater handicap at LB with having a crap LM in front of him & crap CBs to his right. I think he's made a better fist of playing at LB. Although far from brilliant most of the time, he's probably done better than could realistically be expected of him, suggesting to me that this is his natural berth. Only time will tell. I think Brown divides us all. I see a consistent performance for 90 mins, match after match. A lot of people do, a lot of people don't. I think with so much choice in CM, we've got to trust Warnock on this one. He can't afford to play duffers (Have to take this opportunity to say that I'm quite disappointed in Austin so far. Perhaps I expected too much of him - whereas I didn't expect too much of Brown).
Jocko, I'm not saying Green didn't play to the game plan, just saying he's not attack minded enough. He doesn't actually trouble defences, and to push on and cement a playoff place we need to start dismantling teams. I agree with Green defensively, he does work hard tracking back, but that said he did leave Byram exposed a bit towards end against Spurs. I want to a see a wide man running at defenders and scaring the bejesus out of them. Enough of safety first, let's attack and score plenty and get wins.
I don't actually disagree with you on that. Green does well, but an exciting, direct winger would create merry hell, as you suggest. I'm all for that.
Have we added strength in depth - Probably Have we added any player that is going to make a big improvement on the team? Tonge, Hall, Morison, Warnock, Habibou - None starting today
Ristac, normally if I don't agree with you I understand your point, but that's a bit of a silly comment. We played brilliant vs Spurs and so the vast majority of the side was always going to remain the same! Hall is the signing none of us understand, Morison's injured and Habibou has literally just come into English football - Tonge wasn't going to replace Brown or come in ahead of Green/Barkley down the right, and Warnock's not in because White was (for once) decent against spurs and deserves his spot.
So the signings we made were not much better if any than what we already had? We signed more average players no?
Ristac, the only way we will see if the new signings are average is once they get a run in the team. I still want Tonge to start, with two wide players. We need to create!
