Now, im not here to be doom mongering or slate the manager/board or whatever but i am slightly a tad peeved about how are transfer business is at the moment compared to other sides. We are getting left behind abit now, and the difference is with us compared to others were not improving on our starting XI. Take swansea, they might be losing joe allen which will be a big loss but they're getting an absalute bargain in michu and have also approached bolton for mark davies. Soton have signed Clyne, Jay Rod, Steven Davis to name a few, Reading have signed Gunter, Mariappa, McGleary, Guthrie +others. There are some real decent signings there which are costing the clubs peanuts and i do not understand why we hadnt/havent tried to sign or have signed any of these. Gunter £2mil Mariappa £2mil Clyne £1.5-2mil Davis Free Guthrie Free Yet were p***yfooting around making p**stake bids for arguebly one of the best wingers outside the premiership. If we have the cash, and we want him then go and get him cause it doesnt look like others are messing around. I know that we want to try and get him for as little as possible but if we miss out on him cause we were trying to be too clever then i wont be happy. Another week down and closer too the season and so far no improvement to our best starting XI and a slight squad improvement overall! I will proberbly get a grilling but hey-ho... Rant over!
relax! We're on the case. Don't compare yourselves to what our "rivals" have done, they could have bought a load of Lemons. I'm not going to grill you, but this does happen every year, some people get all worried about transfers in or out. Just don't worry about it. Whatever business happens, happens.
...chill winston...ch only arrived, what, 2 weeks ago? 3?...in that time we've got a nice squadie in whittaker, and a proper gem in butterfield - think he could have a big year if he takes to it half as well as he took to early life at barnsley...the only reason more people aren't raving about him is because he was out for the back end of last season and our attentions were turned to the prem - and there will be more in - that we aren't apparently even in for names i thought we might be, has me hopeful we are going to pull something a bit special out the bag...disappointed about clyne (didnt know he went for so little, even if his contact was running out) but not really too fussed about any of the others mentioned...gunter is decent enough, but i'm hopeful we could and will do better... lets not forget he got holt to sign on when that looked completely lost - doing nothing is a bit harsh...
Clyne is the one that concerns me, too. A year ago this is exactly the kind of deal we were pulling out of a hat from nowhere. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not at all excited about Whittaker and, while time may prove that Butterfield is very good, it's not exactly a position where we're short of options.
Although not panicking I too am a little frustrated which is unlike me! I know there is 6 weeks left and I know that is plenty of time but clubs are snapping up the top prospects at low fees in positions we need to address (mainly talking about clyne here which has really disappointed me!). The longer we leave it the more clubs want and we can't afford to be paying over the odds. Under PL all our business was done very early and I've got to be honest..I much prefer it that way.
Guys, we have not lost one single key player since the end of the season and we have improved on the squad that finished 12th last season. We will have some more players in soon enough, so don't worry. We haven't even played one friendly yet! Also, the teams that have come up need to catch up with us, so its no surprise they're buying plenty.
also we cant just keep buying players, 25 man squad rules the people that came up need to do surgery to their squads to compete, we dont
I agree with comments above that CH needs to take time to get to know the squad. E.g. its been pretty much agreed on here that we need a Defensive Midfielder. Perhaps under a new manager Korey Smith could step up to the plate! Obviously we need to strike the ballance, and not wait till all our targets have moved on but there is plenty of time.
Actually there are four weeks left. It is one of lifes ironies when you see another club, particularly rivals in the same boat, making transfer after transfer, and we appear to just be topping up. Much like us last season with us. I guess Reading and Saints would probably have to make more additions simply because they are Championship sides moving into the Prem. Bigger and better squads in reality. I think we all have our wish lists and would like to see new players come in. Until we ship some out of course, we can't bring any more in.
If you want to covet another squad make it QPR and Swansea, they're in the same boat QPR have made lots of signings. All.....questionable.... in my eyes Swansea have made just 1 or 2 That says it all for me, no worries from me and i expect we'll see one or two more in before the start of the season. Don't confuse inactivity on the EDP's website for genuine inactivity, McNally doesn't do holidays and he's Del-Boying his way up and down the country as we speak.
I agree with the points that have been raised but would just like to add that watching the videos from the Austrian training camp, all the players are working hard and getting fiter ready for the chllenges of the new season. Obviously, CH needs thsi time to assess the squad which he's inherited (and achieved a very creditable 12th in the PL last season), plus he's got the 3 long-term injured back and ready to play for the cause. ICBH - I can understand your frustration, but I don't think we need to worry unduly. I only see another 2 players at the most joining us.
This is the problem I have, were improving the squad yes, but not the potential of a starting XI ie Whittaker is not in Kyle Naughton's league and we all noticed how rusty struggled at RB. We are looking for cover at LB so not expecting much, but we needed to keep the standard of our wingbacks from last season and so far we haven't. As for the centre of defence, were we to get Davies which i don't think we shall that would be an improvennt from last year but were we to sign either Alex Baptiste or Andy webster then they are not an improvement. Being in the job for a couple of weeks gasnt effected lambert at villa, he's getting players in left right and centre. I know we still have 4 weeks, but if nothing starts to kick in by the end of next week thats when I will be really concerned. It just feels as if were being left behind.
I wont be concerned about being left behind until we actually start playing, and then only if we are getting murdered on the pitch by the other team. I feel we still have a team good enough to survive and that is all we are actually looking to achieve again this season. Anything better than 17th is a bonus.
Those who spend spend spend will go bust bust bust we are in a divison of 12 of whom 3 will go down cause the top 8 will always be able to buy themeselves out and the gap is already to big, one does not bet the farm on odds like that and having a well defined crew who work together is the way to battle out this mini league in my very humble opinion. We already have that crew and Im sure Mr Hewtun will motivate and guide them to give it our very best shot and yes I will be glad with 17th but thing he will achieve better than that! OTBC!
hughton clearly stated that he wanted to assess what he had first - it takes time to figure out exactly what is required. out of all the players signed by other clubs who realistically we could have brought in, i think clyne is the only one who we would feel disappointed by, but we might have bid for him, we don't know. i think some people seem to have forgotten that we have a good squad already here. it only needs tinkering with - not wholesale changes, so your wish for numerous new signings being unveiled will never be satisfied. there'll be two or three more and that'll be it. this notion we are being 'left behind' makes me want to punch a wall... its total bollocks
just to add to that, there are strong rumours that city have upped the bid for snodgrass late last night and they feel it will match the asking price demanded by leeds - we shall see
Supers - What I've left in from your post is really what others need to take on board. The last thing thsi club needs is 'panic buying' - as PL would have said, "We need some players to 'give the lads a hand'", as he's doing at Villa - their squad needed 'major surgery'!!!!!
I'm with jarrold, Superman and JRFan on this. When swift action was really required, i.e. when Lambert resigned, it happened. "Frustrated", "peeved", "worried"? More suitable adjectives for Glasgow Rangers fans I'd say.
