On a personal level I was chuffed to bits to find out we were getting new owners. Then the takeover dragged on because the original buyers pulled out due to Bates, which left GFH to try and sort it out and go it alone. This took months to complete, and even then I was chuffed. Gradually we were hearing stories of GFH having no cash, and then this slipped into "Bates is still in charge, and these are just the same as we had" So what's peoples views after yesterday. 1) No change 2) Better than Bates 3) Looks promising
It is going to be a long process because previous management and board have left a lot of **** to sort out. Deadwood going is a big plus Signing youths on decent contracts is good. Not being able to keep Norwich away is bad a and poor use of twitter has riled a lot
There is no "worse than Bates" option ?? Where's the editorial balance? If thats a suggestion nothing could be, expect to hear from his lawyers shortly. I happen to believe he reads this site regularly. Its the option I would have chosen, of course, Ken. Honest.
Good to see the club talking about the transfer targets this time. Forest & Leeds offering a substantial fee for Chris Burke but Brum wanted more. Thomas was was also spoken to but chose to go to Blackburn who are paying him prem wages. Warnock recognises we need a wide man, so looking to bring in a loan soon, which could be Burke or even George Boyd who has been **** on and is out of contract in the summer.
Interesting though what they call a substantial fee. Brum reportedly looking for 750k. Warnock scoffed at fee as only six months left on contract but we still offered a substantial fee. Probably the 200k we got in the Becchio deal. I've news for you all people, these are not substantial fees and certainly not from new owners, they are ****ing peanuts and I presume you all know what you get when you pay peanuts. I'm more than willing to give the new players a fair crack of the whip and pray they work out. Would any of you rate gfh at all if Bates hadn't been at the helm for the past 8 years. No, I didn't think so. GFH are marginally better than the worst, evil chairman our club has ever had, even worse than Risdale, so that isn't saying a whole lot. If the summer is a repeat, I hope they sell up and ship out. Let them buy someone in the Scottish leagues that would be more suitable to their financial clout
Bottom line - board set budget & Warnock worked with it. Not convinced by any means that the budget was big enough. We lost our top striker & got another in his place that may be as good (don't give me that Premier League experience rubbish - we're not in it, and he couldn't stay in it! Same for W.Junior). Other incomings - a left back who has seem better days. No-one in PL wants him. Didn't exactly set the heather alight at Bolton, did he? Next, a hopeful loan of a French striker who's had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus. Jury is out. Add to that a winger who can't get a game (even when there are no other wingers to give him competition!), and a midfielder who also couldn't hack it in the PL. So, in summary, we've signed 3 guys who couldn't hack it in the PL, one guy who can't get into the team, and a hopeful loanee that hasn't really found a home (or reputation) yet. Nothing to write home about, really, is it? We'd abuse other teams for doing the same.
I voted same as Bates, I do think they are slightly better but the sooner they make their profit and sell us to someone who cares the batter.
Get what you're saying about Burke, but to be fair, 750k for a player out of contract in 6 months and playing for a club who transfer listed their entire first team? They would've done well to get half that. When we had our firesale, everyone wanted something for nothing, think that's just the nature of the situation, all clubs are vultures and we wanted the lowest possible deal. Did we go what would be deemed a high enough offer? Guess we'll never know. Brum might realise what a mistake they've made and list him for loan in the next few weeks anyway, and I'd take him on loan till the end of season and then sign him on a free quite happily.
But with us being only a handful of points off play offs, a couple of 100k over the odds shouldn't matter. After all, they didn't spend anything during January. The whole Burke thing reeks of lack of finances and ambition by GFH. As others have already said, the sooner they sell up and clear off the better. Hopefully it doesn't take fans another eight years to cop on to this lot
Don't disagree with a lot of the potential negatives. However, I don't FEEL negative...... I don't expect the earth from owners, what I expect it there is a feeling about that we have tried to improve things. I have that feeling, today. I assume these players are ones NW had on his list (whether at the very top I do not know, but on it) so its down to him to make this work now. We are still not far off the playoff places with the previous squad, its time to see him do something with this "improved" squad. For the first time in NW's time here, I will see it as his fault if he can't get this lot to perform.
Nobody hated Bates as much as me, and I've been on a crusade ever since since he stole the club out of administration. I get the bit about not much change happening, and I'm as frustrated as anyone. However if Bates was still in charge, we would have lost Becchio for cash, saved money on the deadwood, but still had Nunez and Rodgers on the books. We wouldn't have brought anyone of note in if at all until the loan window opened. So I'm more of a half full glass person today, as there does seem to be a change. We need a lot more though if GFH are going to show us we mean business next season.
I think 2020 and doc have summed things up pretty well. I'm at least hopeful again for the remainder of the season. I'm sure theres more deadwood to go in the summer. Hopefully a couple more gems appear from the youth system soon again too
Very likely they are just being shrewd, not throwing money at it and making smart additions to a squad that is, if you think about it, almost there. I expect to see a more bullish approach in the summer, if major changes are needed.
I'd give it until he's got a winger in. If he doesn't get one in sharpish in the loan window, then start asking questions. It was Birmingham's fault we got ****ed on a winger for being so greedy, not his.
We might be able to negotiate a darning bonus young man. Suzanne's eyesight isn't what it was, but you wouldn't believe some of the things she can do with a darning mushroom. Makes my eyes water sometimes.
To tell you the truth, given all the changes throughout Jnauary as listed on the site, I'm surprised there isn't a bit more optimism. We just played Tottenham and won because we were worth it. And that was with Brown and Varney, with White playing in his rightful position. Many have slated the way we play football with Becchio in the team and it wasn't working. He's gone and we have a striker in Morison who apparently can control the ball as well as provide the same skills Becchio did, and he may just link with McCormack brilliantly. We will see. We've got a huge guy in Habibou up front, who may be an option when we do play hoof. Or maybe he is actually pretty good - no-one thought much of Beckford, Hasselbaink or Yeboah before we got them, because we hadn't any knowledge on them. There was little internet in the case of the latter two, and though they were well known in their countries of playing, none of us knew owt. S Warnock may bring something. Remember Crainey, Harding, Bravo, Richardson and Harte and the others who have failed here, looked like their careers were over, and have since plyed their trade in the Prem or their top league? It's about time we picked someone up who turns themselves around. And we know the club tried to get certain other players, and is looking hard for a good wide man in the loan market. But Barkley might fit that bill as he settles in. GIve them a little slack guys, things are looking pretty ok considering where we are in the league, how many games are left, and the changes we have made. And we have got rid of a lot of deadwood players, if only on loan, and some kids are out getting experience
