But by no means unexpected ocf, they see us for exactly what we are at the moment, an average Championship side, but still far better than limiting our recruitment to Leagues 1 and 2, where we could (and certainly would) be accused of showing no ambition. Bit of a rock and a hard place.
See your point, but to me it's a bit like walking into a Ferrari showroom - knowing you've only got enough cash / credit for a Datsun. With minimal funding, the club needs to 'cut it's cloth' accordingly. Delia and co are still (happily) living the dream...but a million miles away from attaining it, as things stand financially at present
To be fair Cromer, I think we could have afforded to buy either of the targets mentioned earlier in the week without 'breaking the bank'/putting it on a credit card.
Well pardon me for saying so, but not very long ago, you, and quite a few others were complaining that we weren´t going out splashing the money around ( Gayle I remember was mentioned on numerous occasions). Now it´s all about cutting our cloth accordingly. You certainly can´t have it both ways. I think cutting their cloth, is what Delia and the board have been concentrating on the whole time, and are still doing so, I don´t think, due to our finances, that they have any other option. I see that as part of the reason why Brady hasn´t moved on yet, they´re hanging on to get every last drop of blood out of the deal (if there is a deal).
True, my analogy was not the best. Fact remains that a mid-table, stuttering, fairly directionless second tier football club with no clear hope of pulling itself up by the boot-straps any time soon is not an attractive proposition for any ambitious footballer. Plus, I've heard (more than once) that the outdated facilities at Colney helped both Dutch players decide this was not the move they wanted / needed. http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=477852
I posted yesterday about what the issues might be in getting transfers over the line. It doesnt sound like money or our current leagues position as it sounds like personal terms were agreed with these players?! They will have known what league position we were in prior to agreeing personal terms. So what is it that's putting them off? I saw it mentioned that Colney is less than impressive and maybe that's a contributing factor. Maybe its first impressions with staff/manager/CEO? I know we wont know but it doesn't sound like money or league position if personal terms have been agreed. It does make you wonder how much better a position we would be in if we were currently sat in a strong playoff position.......
I have to agree with you there Cromer and that's quite worrying re Colney facilities with us having been in the PL for 3 out of the past 5 years!!!
Not that I was one who wanted to break the bank, but to be fair circumstances have changed, when Gayle was available we were being touted as one of the favorites for promotion with one of the best squads in the league. Now we are seen as a mid-championship team with an under performing squad and a board that lacks ambition. Our fans who nearly always turn up, unlike most of our players, have generally lost confidence in the club for failing to deal with an incompetent manager who clearly has favourite players and a growing reputation for this inability to get the best out of his players. Even when we can get decent players to visit Norwich we can't convince them to join or get the deal over the line. Why would anyone want to join us ? We are clearly a club in decline.
Can't disagree with a single word of this, Canario - and to me, it's truthful, not negative And if we hadn't done our usual dithering around act, we could have landed Gayle much cheaper than Mr Neil was happy to bid for Ross McCormack last window. I know which one I'd prefer
Very possibly, in some people´s eyes, but even then, STILL without the necessary funds to afford/ appease the wages of Gayle ( and his like). That is the neverending problem that we will always have, when compared to some other clubs. You don´t need to try and convince me of that, I´ve been fully aware of that all season, that´s why I´m not in the slightest bit surprised at our predicament, or why we´re having so much difficulty in attracting new players.
If we are being realistic, there's no way Gayle was going to come to us once Newcastle came in for him (and his agent would have known about that interest long before it happened). I also don't think that money was an issue in the refusals, as we had agreed terms with both clubs. It could have been to do with wages, but I'd guess we were offering a considerable increase on what both players are getting now.
Your post is spot on carrow and whilst I would have loved Gayle to come here, as others have said, once Newcastle showed interest, we'd no chance. The other posts above are spot on as well.
Today's Press Conference: AN confirms that Dijks & Zeegelaar negotiations over, but it was only going to be one or the other. Dijks came to England, but Zeegelaar did not. They liked the project here, but had other offers to consider. AN has long list of LBs to go through and as in all positions he only wants players who will improve the squad. RB rumours are false, as he wants him to fight for his place and the club have an option, so he won't be leaving for nothing in the summer. Brady trained today and is in the squad for tomorrow but that could change if an offer comes in and is accepted. Neither Josh or Godfrey will go on loan, as both are needed for cover. Maddison wants to stay at CR and fight for a place. Thompson out for the season with achilles injury.
Thanks Rick. Gutted for Thompson, though it's good news that Godfrey and Josh not going out on loan. Pleased to see JM wants to stay and not go back to Aberdeen and I'd love to see him perhaps come on as sub occasionally.
Don't blame the messenger! Yes, Jozefzoon's 6 month contract shows a deep commitment from both sides. We have signed Klose, Pinto and Oliveira recently, FML and the window is still open.
The reasons AN gave for the no show of either Dutch LB'a was, in my view, squit. He won't admit that we are now a mid table side with owners of little ambition. He rarely, if ever, admits to his shortcomings and it is those shortcomings that have got us to where we are. Four days to go and counting.
