Maybe the club is learning...

Personally I'm over the moon with Cathro, Simpson, shoemaker and black, that is a huge step forward in back room staff if you ask me. I'm particularly excited by Cathro. If these guys get our current squad of players playing anywhere their potential and they can keep them fit we have a really good base I feel and should do really well with a few good shrewd additions.

 

Heard it all before. Been loads of positive noises from the club. No bad thing. The fact remains though, actions speak louder than words. We are behind where we should at this stage, so that doesn't look good. However there is still time. Still a couple of weeks before I'd think "this is still a ****ing shambles"

 

It'll be a concern if nobody is brought in within the next fortnight. Ideally we'd want any new signings made before we go to America but I'm not going to sh*t myself just because Chelsea have signed Falcao on loan.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Palace have signed anyone either? Not that it matters, because I'm only concerned with what we're doing.

For example, we could have already sounded out Austin and he's agreed to come to us. OPR have just knocked back 12m for him, however that price could come down if he throws a sulk towards the end of the window etc so we're biding our time to save a few million, something I have no problem with. He might not even be a target but it's still so early that we have to allow time. This time last year we only had Colback & Perez, then Cabella & De Jong joined out of nowhere and we were wetting ourselves with excitement. We could sign two players tomorrow for all we know and they'd have missed a total of 5 days of pre season, it's no big deal. Krul & Sissoko haven't even joined up with the squad yet.

Not to mention out of all the players that we've been linked to (and there are a lot) the only player that's moved that I thought we should have gone after is Micah Richards.

 

Sound reasoning, US trip would be extremely alarming, nothing by 1st August would be a disaster.

 

To be fair, the new coaches looks brilliant.

So far I'm pretty positive, McClaren seems to have fit right in, the players reportedly loved their first training session, the new staff additions have been nothing short of fantastic (Pardew's where to say the least embarrassing.) and we're suddenly as a club far more professional.

Just need the players to get in & signed up. Austin would be a good start.

 

I think I fit into the patient camp and I'd agree with GCB that the next 2 weeks is where I see a need to start seeing progress. If nothing has happened by then I'll start sweating that the club will end up shafting McLaren like they did Pardew for the sake of saving a couple of million quid.

I really hope we don't hear the words used by the club, but in reality SM coming in (plus a decent fitness coach) really could see Tiote and SDJ being like new signings if he can get the best out of them again - maybe others too if he clicks with them. That doesn't take away he need for some serious recruitment as we all know the squad is weak even if he can get more out of the first 11.

 

Ye tough one this. I get the impression most are just happy not to be starting the season with pardew, stone and carver running riot (probably literally in the latter's case) and id say i fit that. Saw a thing on skysports about liverpool going for southampton players/ Chelsea for Atletico because they fit their styles of play, well nothing was more annoying than watching us buy perez (an amazing support striker) and play him like he was our shearer-esque target man, or williamson being the 'legs' to support Colo. Atleast now im getting excited of the thought that players like vuckic, marveaux, even bigi might come out of nowhere to be big players in our new system.
I'll worry if we dont sign somebody in about a week or so but right now im still on the high of change. Christ i recently had a thought we myt do fine without any new buys which is nigh on insanity!

 

I am prepared to give the club time as well. Manager needs time to assess what he has and identify who can fill the gaps. I would hope that we have the key signings in place prior to the start of the season and a bit of padding added by the end of transfer window. I don't care whether we hear too much about signings in the meantime as the most likely ones are the ones you don't hear much about until they are actually almost complete.
Key signings are: a top quality centre back and left back, a creative deep-lying midfielder and probably 15-goal a season striker
Padding: another centre-back, a right-back, a good hold-up striker.

 

We do bring in players but they are all ****e that's the problem if weet one that's good we sell them simple as that.

This isn't negative it just the reality.

 

How though? You still have to work regardless of system or style. Those two were just lazy bastards. Maybe their time away has helped them realise its not a gravy train, but I don't accept the coaches excuses route. Bigi had a different problem in that he seemed to struggle with actual game management and understanding. That role he plays is tough on a young kid though.

 

Well id point to ben arfa who was a lazy bastard, seemed to do fukin well in that 433 though. It was later on under pardews tactics (when every player was expected to be running 24/7) that i think he started to look truly lazy. In my mind you can have lazy players in a team with the right system. It might be a nice little bit of PR but apparently wer focusing on the ball more than running. If we play that way it suit players like marv

 

Apparently we're in advanced talks to sign Wijnaldum. Yes please.

 

Firstly it won't come to anything and even if it did he'd flop in the premiership just like most that looked good playing in a weak league.

 

The club is learning to move ever slower in transfer windows on current evidence.

 

Key part of the article:

"No deal struck yet"

 

True, but you can't strike a deal until you've held advanced talks.

 

The talks usually end fast

 

Really hope we can get a deal done for Wijnaldum. He looks good from what I have seen. I think we just need to get a decent signing in the door to help us with the rest of our negotiations.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble, however you must be living in la la land!!! He's not that good firstly, secondly he's not going to be signed and thirdly Im right.

 

Different marionettes, same puppeteer.