Pre-Season Begins

See the problem here was the typo in the scouting report when Graham hit the e key instead of the s. We may have missed out on Tyrone but Charnley has had the best two weeks of his life.

 

In an ideal world we get our business done early. But it really doesn't matter, if we got Matip, Austin, Berahino, Thauvin, Will Hughes and Cabaye all on the last day nobody on here would give two f*cks that they were signed on the last day of the window.

As you've said though, if it get's to the 13th July and there is still zero action regarding bringing players in then I'd understand that some would begin to worry. I know we keep hearing about 6 coming in but if we sold nobody (other than Willo) and got Matip & Austin I'd be happy with that. We need quality over quantity.

 

Sunderland sign Coates from Liverpool. We are now stone fcking last to sign a player. If we ever do.

 

Just remember the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, and you'll be fine.

 

Almost forgot...
We haven't sold anyone yet that we want to keep, so the squad is more or less intact.
That MUST be a good thing by any clubs standards.

Nor, have we brought in any Tom, Dick or Harry, just to satisfy the insatiable needs of Fans, wanting someone new just for the sake of it.

Positivity is the Way Forward - Mike says so, and he's never wrong....

 

i believe in mike's Masterplan.

 

The key bit is who says he or anyone else was a target.

The scouts should be watching hundreds of players but that in itself does not make them a target.

The biggest problem which at the same time is a plus is that no-one, and I mean no-one but the Club actually know who our targets really are. The rest is simple speculation. Also no-one knows the priority of our targets.

 

Hundreds of players being scouted, and we still can't get players in.

There I am, trying to help Roly make sense of the situation and then you put him back into the depths of despair.
Instead of counting sheep before going to sleep, it may be a good idea to start counting players NUFC didn't get, or perhaps not.

 

It must be said if stoke sign shaqiri, we really are miles behind them. Such a shame.

 

Apart from being good technically, passing, doesn't look any better than Dummett, is shorter than Dummett, and isn't every bit the modern defender because he is not very good at actually defending.

Otherwise yeah he is quick and better on the overlap.

 

our issue is simple.
it's in Mike's DNA to buy a bargain and then sell on.
This is public knowledge.
Add to that the fact that people know (via companies house) that we are cash rich so negotiations are invariably tougher.
In addition to the above apparently clubs aren't interested as much in cash up front deals and want more structured, drip fed deals now so our main advantage over others is now somewhat eroded.

 

I would! What about the rest of our shoddy defence? In defence we need quantity and quality. Colo, Lacelles, Dummett are decent back up. Janmaat is good first choice. After that we have nothing. So before we blowing any money on Thauvin, we need to get two centre backs, a left back and maybe some cover on the right. We need to start shifting the likes of Willo, Haidara, Saylor out to make room. From what I can see, we are maybe going to sign one defender on all known reports. If we do it won't matter what else we have.

I'm not saying last day of window is the end of the world but even you would have to admit it would hardly indicate a club which has openly said they want to change, get the fans onside and spend money. Perception pubically/commercially and to your squad/manager/supporters is very very important. When other clubs have gone to make a step change they've done it with intent. Some have got it wrong (QPR). We look like (hopefully I'm wrong), its going a long slow dribble than a tash like splurge.

 

This is the problem at the moment, no communication. If they had come out and said/let McClaren say "we are committed to improving the squad but give us some time" people would be a lot more patient.

 

While I agree that the media partners lockdown is stupid, I can't see people being any more patient should such a statement have been made. Pretty sure that we'd have had the same level of angst but one more soundbite target to aim it at.

On top of that, I don't see any other owners out in the press telling the fans their plans, yet we seem to think that a weekly update of proceedings is in order. It just doesn't work that way. If anything the only time owners are rumoured to have spoken is when they are denying a player is leaving. As no one, understandably, wants any of our players there's nothing to say so all is quiet.

Just the way I see it of course and I'm fairly laid back about the whole affair and am willing to see what developments occur over the entire window before getting annoyed at everything. Think it just comes down to a sense of resignation after the previous few windows