I'd be more open to letting them go if Jol had already indicated he will be bringing more home grown youngsters through next season, but he hasn't. Frei and Kaca could be our only home grown young talent we see for a while, as I can see both Trotta and Briggs being sold.
Don't forget his goals against Norwich and Arsenal, both were taken well. And I think it's more than pace. Kaca genuinely played well on the wing and created a few goals too. I agree there are shortcomings but these are typical of young players (dodgey decision-making and not knowing when to release), we see these time and time again. Remember when a certain Cristiano Ronaldo was all pace and stepovers but no end-product? The same could be said of players like Bale, Walcott, Lennon and countless more. I'm not saying Kaca will reach those heights but it does mean his shortcomings can be overcome.
http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fu...ps-fulham-youngsters-to-shine-82029-33142201/ Nothing concrete, but a bit of hope Mesca has been travelling with the senior squad lately too.
Certainly some hope there for sure, but are there any rumours of these guys going out on loan to Championship teams? As I can't see them going straight into the first team before Jol has given them some competitive football at a higher level (not meant as a dig at the U-18's)
I think perhaps your Management still thinks we have the same owners that paid 5 million and 45 grand per week for Jimmy Bullard. Mind you, we did get almost 40 minutes out of him. Stockdale is far too 'shaky' at the back and if he is worth 4 million then Kasper Schmeicel must be worth treble that. We have Egyptian owners now who have a very successful business and their 'bean-counters' will balk at that price. There are better options available.
I suspect your owners are going to find that getting Premier players at bargain price will be difficult, unless you are willing to take a gamble on paying big wages for experienced pros. I suppose Bruce will do his usual pleading to Sir Alex to loan him some United 'B' players for the season. How many of your present squad do you think can make it in the Premier ?
You certainly have mate and he certainly is. However, our last foray into the EPL was a disaster even though we kicked @rse at first and survived our first season. We fell the following season and almost went extinct until Assem Allam bought our debts. What we found was that when we approached a Club or Player with a view to signing we got the proverbial "Hull WHO"? followed by "Thanks, but no Thanks"! This left us buying has-been (or never-was) Prima Donna's looking for a swan song pension pay-out. Daniel Cousin for instance who was described by his previous Clubs (Rangers) Fans as "Shudda been arrested for impersonating a fitball playa". Marlon King who much preferred chatting up and snotting girls in Night Clubs and that Dutch Bloke Jan Vinegoor of Hesselink where the fans had to buy two shirts to get his name printed on. When Jimmy Bullard came he was brilliant for 38 minutes and we never saw him again for the rest of the season but he graciously came back for a couple of games (in between many visits to our local hostelries) and sued us because he couldn't seem to stand up long enough to play. There is a rumour going round that Jimmy is polishing his boots again after hearing that we have got new owners and could be looking for new players. (Don't bother Jimmy). Our option, as Super Brian McBride pointed out, is to go begging 'cap-in-hand' to senior EPL Clubs asking for some players. Huge gap between Championship and EPL (as we have found out before) but should we make it again this season we should have learned our lesson and be better for the experience. Hope you guys do well.
I don't know if you have some of the same folk in the heirarchy at the club, but sometimes that learning from a difficult short stay can be very useful (I take WBA as a prime example). I also think most clubs being promoted from NPC have to be on their toes about transfers - get good value; spot potential (and hope that it is realised quickly enough); also get experience - but on affordable contracts, with get outs if it goes wrong. Your guy seems wise enough to know this. The dangers of "just throwing money at it" are becoming more and more severe. I think our neighbours may just get away with it, this time. If they were relegated from the prem next season, the NPC FFP rules would put them in severe jeopardy of points deductions.
What I mean is - I think you should still expect a certain difficulty in getting the team you want, but with patience be able to achieve it over 3 or 4 seasons.
I should think Hull will be fine next season, Brucey will just get in a number of loan players like he always does. Does the man not know how to spend money? I remember him really taking the biscuit with Birmingham where he had Forssell on loan for like three seasons running I think it was.
Moot points but the problem is we would be extremely lucky to survive 3 or 4 seasons in the EPL in fact I would say it was a nigh on impossibility for us. Signing players to 2-3 year contract would require relegation clauses. We have a very poor scouting record and good scouts bring in good players (Michu is a shining example of what is out there for a very reasonable fee) but would the likes come to Hull City? Very doubtful. Steve Bruce is about the best Manager we have had and considering the fact that we lost our 'star-larker' and highest scorer in Sone Aluko early in the season he has done remarkably well to get the Club where it is with what he has at his disposal. Strikers (and I use the word jokingly) like Jay Simpson (12 goals from 76 games over two seasons) and the 3 million quid "Quick Nick" Proschwitz (aka "Der Esel auf Deutchland" - the "Donkey of Germany") 2 goals from 30 odd appearances has left us firing blanks up front. Neither of these would even warm the bench next season. We have won 24 games and 18 of these have been by 1 goal to nil. But, to get back to the original post, Stockdale is nowhere near Mannone and Arsenal only wanted 1 million for him at the beginning of the season (and we baulked - faux-pas of the year). I wish Stockdale luck but at that price he will not be playing anywhere next season. Good luck to you.
All the best to you, TigerRoo. I just hope Hull have more sense than to sack Bruce in October if they don't win their first 10 games. He has massively overachieved (like McDermott did at Reading and Warnock did at QPR) and Hull would be well placed to stick with him. Bruce gets grouped into the "what have they achieved?" bunch with people like Keane, Megson & Cotterill but I think (as with Mick McCarthy) this season has shown he is a good manager. Not going to be taking over at a Champions League team or anything, but still a good choice for many teams.
Looks, as expected, Chris Baird is off - please log in to view this image " The Express newspaper are reporting that Chris Baird could sign for West Bromwich Albion in the summer. The 31-year-old midfielder is out of contract and the Baggies are known admirers of the Northern Ireland international. They made a move for him on January deadline day but the move collapsed " Source: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/rumour-mill-chris-baird-leave-3000205
I think we would be aswell to keep him as back up, his wages can't be very high, although I'm sure he is probably wanting first team action and maybe that is more likely at WBA. Terrible in possession but a great worker, will be missed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbWzhPh6tcs
I'll be sorry to see Bairdinho go, not least because it's great fun winding my sons up by suggesting him whenever they are discussing who is the best player in the world. He deserves to go somewhere where he will get first team football, and I don't think that's going to be at the Cottage any time soon. Apart from anything else, he deserves respect for coming back from being universally derided in the Sanchez days, rebuilding his standing with the fans and becoming something of a favourite. I seem to recall he made the shortlist for player of the year in the Europa League season.
Well said Cappy. Like Gera, he will always remain a cult favourite here, but to see him rotting in the reserves/on the bench is somewhat saddening. There have been plenty of times this season where I would have preferred him playing over Sidwell but if he wants first team football and cannot be guaranteed it here then it will be best for all parties if he left.
