http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/co...coventry-city-s-richard-keogh-92746-30945789/ Another player we have been linked with and another I would like to see join, not sure when Warnock goes on Holiday, end of may could mean he departs around the 23rd? - 10 days left for three more targets to join giving him his 4 players before he departs?
Never seen him play to be honest. One more solid CB and a ST like Jordan Rhodes (If Huddersfield stay down) and we'll be sorted for next season. Maybe a couple of full backs and a midfielder aswell.
And how is it we only need one more midfielder? Warnock's already said Thompson's going out on loan, and Clayton's going permanently. If Brown doesn't sign his reduced contract that will leave Pugh as our one remaining CM.
we need about 9 Very good players! Soon as kisnorbo is back, get him released and free up some wages!
I am warming to the thought of Diouf with the talent he could bring to the pitch, his antics would worry me to hell though. Get Clayton and Snoddy to sign new contracts and things start to shape up. After Pearce signed I was delighted, another week on, Clayton looking more likely to leave and nobody else through the door, I can't see Snoddy signing at the moment, a bit or worry is now sneaking in.
Come on Ristac join the dark side, you know you want to.... On a side note, remember how we were vehemently opposed on the opposite sides this time last season? How times change. Don't see the point in signing Keogh if we get Ward, both similar kinds of players but Ward is better and more versatile. Still see room in the squad for another CB or RB, depending on where Colin wants to play Ward (IF he signs, which you would think he will), at least one more CM depending on what happens to Clayton and Brown, a LB if White leaves or maybe even if he doesn't, again depends on where NW would play him, a Winger and an AM. A forward isn't a priority with Becchio and McCormack AND Somma now back in training, but an extra option would be useful.
I know he's a tosser but I'd take Diouf. I also reckon we'll see Clint Hill coming in, and also Derry joining him before Colin goes on his hols. Just a shame Clayton has to be sacrificed. As for Keogh, he'd be an improvement on Bruce, Bromby and AOB.
Diouf would be a disaster. Our entire team hates him and we already know he has no respect for NW, no matter what he may be saying now he's desperate to leave Donny. A sewer rat leaving a sinking ship.
I remember Two reasons... 1) Last season I reserved judgement until the pre-season started, I was on a downer about the club as I felt we had a weaker team, a farcical keeper situation and it soon became obvious we were not going to be spending any money, the little we did have was wasted by Grayson, I remember pulling my hair out over the likes of Forssell thinking why??? I was a Grayson supporter but now the season has finished I have to say I think replacing him with Warnock was a right move and at this very moment I am still fairly positive although the lack of activity worries me ONLY because NW claimed to want 4 in place and ONLY because Snoddy is waiting to see developments. 2) It is always tricky getting to know someone when you are sat behind a computer, the lack of face to face communication and I admit to probably jumping in too fierce and too soon with you sometimes, I apologise for that. I still don't agree with everything the same but then if I did it would be a boring world and I guess one year on I respect others opinions more than I used to I think it would depend on where NW see's Ward and Pearce as slotting in, maybe NW see's Ward as his RB option?
Thing is, Forssell and Vayrynen both arrived in September, hence the transfer window being closed so apart from the loans and there wasn't much available that had been left out of the 25 man squads there was nothing else we could do. Yes, you could argue we should have waited till January and brought in one class signing with the wages we would have saved, but it is hardly the way a promotion chasing side (according to Bates) should be operating, i.e just 4 signings in the summer and a couple of short term loans. Two ways to look at it: 1) Grayson gambled on Vayrynen and Forssell being a success as it was clear at the end of the transfer window we weren't good enough 2) Grayson actually played safe and added depth to the squad. In CM, Brown was unfit at various stages through the season, Howson remained fit until December, Clayton was injury free, Pugh often took up other roles (LM), similar with Nunez and Thompson was very inexperienced. Similar at striker we had Keogh only on loan until end of December, Somma out for the season, leaving only Paynter (sent out on loan to Brighton), Becchio and McCormack.
Grayson's come out again talking about not being backed in the summer. He was talking about 4 players he thought could push us over the line to promotion but we didn't get them and "only the people behind the scenes know what happened". I think he would have got us promoted if given a fair crack of the whip.
Oh I don't doubt Grayson operated within very tight constraints causing him to have to make difficult decisions and take gambles, ones that eventually failed. However we ended up with a team of below average players and a manager who looked like he hadn't a clue. Grayson kept things quiet, he was afraid to stand up to Bates and say we need more money, yes he would have lost his job but that was the course that followed anyway so he might as well had do it sooner and gain more resepct from fans who some see as a manager who wasted too much. Agreed I just wish he had spoke out sooner, in a way, making the Mika type signings, he was giving Bates ammunition to claim funds were being wasted. Grayson would have been far better off not signing anyone and saying our targets were not met rather than making poor quality ones. Last season fans were divided as to the root of the problem, 80% blaming Bates and 20% claiming Grayson was clueless with his signings and loans. If it were not for those 20% or so that Bates clung on to I wonder if things would have been different now?
Ristac, fair point about Grayson not making any signings, although then Bates would have spun it that Grayson had funds but refuses to spend them.
This is exactly what I have been saying for a long time - Grayson was prevented time and again in getting his first choices by Bates and Harvey, meaning we had little time to scout other prospects and we panic-bought to fill gaps with players who were massive gambles at minimum. No wonder Grayson could not deliover, and no wonder Warnock didn;t with the same squad either. And no wonder we just had tp keeep going for new loan players time after time. Anyone that thinks this was not Bates's doing and continues to blame Grayson is refusing to see the facts. Anyone that thinks that Bates has changesd his ways because we have brought in Warnock and jumped the gun on other clubs by grabbing Pearce is being premature (and I might guess is prob premature in various other aspects too)
Elmo I always said that Grayson just had no pull for players. I just think players didnt want to play for him. As much as I hate warnock he does have pull for players
Put simply, Grayson didn't appear to understand the concept of a budget. He appears to have gone to Bates like a little kid on an 'I want, I want' rant. He could have made things happen if he'd cleared out the deadwood. He never did, and that was his major failing.
