As with all these things it's a bit of a gamble, most managers don't want to commit too early in case they find that they could have brought a better player in had they waited a bit longer. On the flip side they run the risk of either ending up with a lesser player than they could have had earlier or not getting anyone at all. Hindsight is that most wonderful of things!
I really wonder where the naivety is really placed here. Bruce had his targets identified very early in the window, as all good managers do. He most likely had buy-in from the Allams at the same time. He went for those targets and was either turned down by the clubs involved (differences in valuation of the players in question), by the players themselves (prefer to go elsewhere) or by sensible judgement as a result of medical exams. I suspect Shane Long would have been already on their want list should other preferences not materialize. WBA's desired chain of events only came to light fairly late on the final day. Bruce could not have moved any earlier or faster. It was not for want of trying that he missed out. Hull City appear to have a very astute & sensible set of participants in the recent recruiting campaign. Given the circumstances encountered during this window their achievements were outstanding. The handling of the Gedo situation was an excellent bit of negotiation and strategy after recognizing other desired targets were unlikely to be obtained. I think the naivety may well lie with your lack of awareness of the complexities involved in the process.
Surely the club's name should be protected from use as a posters name; especially one is is such a knob.
People are not getting the fact that clubs are not willing to let players leave unless they get a replacement in. When this involves a chain reaction of 4 or 5 players. That takes time. Its to simplistic to think that all our signings should be done by August 1st. The reason the big clubs can do deals early is because they can offer big fees and gamble on offloading players later on in the window.
Just seen that west brom have Vydra as well! Clarke has definitely done us over. They now have Anelka, Vydra, Anichebe, Sessegnon, Berahimo and Long. Shame there manager has seen fit to use one of his own players to upset a relegation rival. Long must be gutted.
Now that would not surprise me at all. Meyler has tweeted today he feels for Shane Long and i bet something will be left in the pot to simmer until January.
This is what baffles me... if they Allams were willing to fund a potential £6.5 million deal for a striker... why the hell didnt we go for other targets earlier on in the window? I know the whole domino effect comes into play and thats why we were led to believe that Long was available... but before that... what stopped us targeting other strikers? the money was there... It's not like Long is world class where the Allams thought they'd push the boat out to get him... there's loads of players available for £6m that are probably better than Long..
It could be our performance over the last 3 games. Maybe they had a budget for bruce, but we played so well that they thought it was less of a financial risk to go over budget.
It was hoped that Prossy and Fryatt would supply the striker back-up, after the Orient match that idea was scrapped. After the Man City match it was realized that we would have done better with another striker, even to put on the subs bench. So then it was decided to find the money, even though Bruce said large funds were not available.
One very big factor, IMO, is the importance Brucie places on the team spirit (like a gang). So - while many on here have been hanging out for a 'marquee signing', I feel they have overlooked that factor. E.G. Peter Odemwingie = disruptive. Charlie Austin would have been the main striker, but for his failed medical.
I don't think it's a question of hindsight. I think most people know we needed strikers and that it was better to get them in early. I don't think you should wait because you might get somebody better. You always might get somebody better. It's better to identify players who are what we want and go for them rather than delaying in the hope we can get somebody better but with the risk that we will get nobody good enough.
I would have been happy with Bendtner or Bent. It doesn't look like Rhodes was for not sale unless for silly money. Most other strikers were a gamble. I agree that we got most of our targets in early but I think it's a risk to leave it so late for a striker who would cost £5m.
I don't think Shane Long was Bruce's preferred striker. He was one of the few available in the last five hours.
