The Athletic reporting that we’ve agreed a deal for Burnley’s goalkeeper Muric. Started last ten games in the Premier League and was their starter in the Championship winning campaign. £8 million, potentially rising to £10 million, feels like a lot. Not sure if he’s that much of an upgrade on Hdalky, but at least we’ve got a goalkeeper through the door.
I read 15 million, that's even crazier. Know nothing about him, so can't really comment either way!! There's currently a meltdown going on over at JWM's house!!
As for our wider business, I’m surprised we’ve spent the amount we have this early. It’s great that the squad is shaping up and gives McKenna a pre-season with most the new signings. Some statement additions have been made too. I think the Johnson, Greaves, and Hutchinson deals are really good business and provide clear upgrades on what we’ve got. In the case of Greaves, we needed a bit more quality in the central defence position. Johnson gives us a starting right back with Premier League experience. We all know Hutchinson’s ability and potential. I do fear we’ve potentially overpaid for Liam Delap and Muric, if indeed we’ve signed him. Not sure if they represent a clear upgrade on previous starters Hirst and Hdlaky. Also, the fees quoted for the two seem too high, but appreciate we’re going to be paying Premier League prices. What positions are left to be strengthened? A back up left back is essential. Someone in central midfield to compete for a starting position would be a clever move. Ideally an attacking left midfielder/winger to replace Sarmiento and compete with Broadhead. Arguably we could do with another centre forward. Question is do we have the financial wriggle room? Appreciate we’ll be amortising the transfer fees over contract length (e.g., Hutchinson for £20m will go down as about £4m for the first year of a five year contract). Either way, I trust in Ashton, McKenna, and the recruitment team to make it work and provides us with a squad that gives us the best chance of staying up.
Right sided cb Ben Sheaf Jack Clarke Callum O'Hare That to me would be a fantastic window if we got them in. Personally think Delap is an excellent signing!! Gk...mehhhhhh
I think Greaves is the left back cover. I doubt we'll sign another left back. Assuming we get Muric and Szmodics we need a left attacker to fill the shirt Philogene won't be taking and we need another two midfielders. Taylor is a different type of player. If Morsy or Luongo got injured we'd be in serious trouble.
Cheer up! Nobody expected Hladky to retain the jersey when Walton came back from fitness, let alone get us to the Prem.
I think it's a question of us coming to terms with the cost of Prem players, we are used to comparatively speaking cheap as chips players, we are now literally in a different league.
I would also say there is a part of it being that I would imagine there will be a few players playing for us next season in the Prem who we bought for peanuts in League 1, who will hopefully do well for us and may do better than some of the multi million pound players we've just bought.....so why can't we keep unearthing similar players for similar transfer fees?
That's a good point and coaching players to compete at a higher level would certainly appear to be one of McKs strengths, it could be that the step up is greater now than the gap between Lg1 and the Championship so can't afford to take chances.
I’m sure we will do that too and in five years from now we will see the academy bear fruit but this summer they are building a bridge to having Premier League quality in a single transfer window. The players that Cook signed have taken three years so get to that level of performance. One of the reasons we stayed in the battle even when teams had figured us out is that we kept improving over the season.
I think this is the crux of the issue. The step up between League One and the Championship isn't that large, in the grand scheme of things. The step up from Championship to the Premier League is massive, certainly in recent years. This is best demonstrated by all three of last season's promoted teams getting relegated (despite some points deductions dished out to Everton and Nottingham Forest). We aren't a 'yo-yo' club that has the benefit of players with recent Premier League experience - in fact, most of our players haven't played at that level before. Only a couple of years ago, they were playing third division football. McKenna's an ambitious manager. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the reasons he stayed here - rather than take the Brighton job - is through an assurance that we'd significantly invest in the squad to maximise our chances of staying up. We'd realistically get eaten alive if we persisted with the same squad as last year with only a few cheap additions. I think we're looking at a more sensible version of the Nottingham Forest model from a few years ago. We haven't been in the Premier League for decades, so don't take the money and run. Instead, invest heavily in the summer window, trust your talented manager to build a team from it quickly, make a go of it, and aim to finish higher than at least three other teams in the division for the first year.
We will comfortably finish higher than 3 other teams, worst case...mid table, I have so much faith these days....need to sell Harness tho!!
Mid-table?! I think some of us are in for a rude awakening on just how distorted and utterly draining Premier League football is for a scrappy upstart club that hasn’t dined at the top table for years.
Local Hull press reporting that Philogene has left the Hull camp to go for a medical at Villa. That one looks dead in the water. I think he will live to regret that.
I think we may have dodged a bullet here, more to do with his agent than him I think. Thank goodness Harness is still here!
Muric confirmed. Now we just need to sign an 8, a 10 and an 11. Szmodics would be a nice bonus buy too.
Looking at his so-called best bits on you tube, not sure if i'm overly enthused. Seems to save a lot with his feet, and likes to rush out. For me, Walton seems a better keeper...but time well tell i s'pose
