Just saying that there was a rumour Mbemba would leave, he almost has. It’s rumoured merino is about to depart, that’s now looking likely. There’s strong rumours around the price on Mitros head. We’ve brought in nobody - Dubravka just doesn’t count - and aren’t rumoured near anyone. WC has started and we are back in training two weeks on Monday. Last year our purchases were hardly secret, there was no pleasant surprise anywhere. History often repeats as the saying goes - am I the only one who thinks it’s going to be a ****ing dismal window, we’ll have another season of Rafa doing his best to keep his ragtag bunch of triers up before he leaves for free - assuming the Spanish FA don’t write Mike a cheque this summer?
Im not saying panic, but we have previous for being slow and obvious with transfers. The fact there’s absolutely nothing even mentioned is a bit of a concern surely?
Agreed and thus far any of the links we have been linked to aren't good enough bar Kenedy (although I expect him to go elsewhere tbh) I'd rather we did no business this year than sign Skrtel and Rondon - the only two real links so far. If these are the types of "players" Rafa is after I'd not give him a ****ing penny to buy players with either and wait for him to leave instead of sacking him for incompetence in the transfer market and having to pay out the contract...
We are not renowned for being obvious! Only a few players have been obvious such as Lejeune but players like Dubravska, who the **** knew about that loan before it happened?
I'm not worried. Rafa will pull a few quality signings out of his top pocket. Assuming he's still our manager of course.
Erm, everybody? Dubravka was mentioned on the 2nd Jan! Kenedy was mentioned in August. We’re anything but stealthy mate.
Murphy, Lejeune, Joselu, Manquillo, etc. Still actually can't believe we signed the last two! There's not a huge correlation between who we sign and who we are linked to. As fans we complain when it's Skrtl and refuse to believe it, when it's Rashford/ Gotze we say it's rubbish but get excited. Still almost certainly all ****e.
Pretty much in your your boat. Feint whiff of failed summers passed, no rumour of any bids made, season tickets going up. History says the first time we had two consecutively positive summer windows under Mike was this season and the last, at best. On top of that, a season of success under ****e circumstances has previously caused the purse strings to shut near entirely. Then we're back to the argument of; does Mike want to keep us roughly midtable or is he stopping us doing a Leeds (That team that spent 18 million on Rio in 2001) Not saying all is lost, nor that this window is guaranteed ****e, but surely nobody is actually EXPECTING a positive window right now. I'm on the side of Rafa leaving come season's end. Not due to the situation right now, but this snail's pace on purchases coupled with the slightly looser approach to outgoings offers no incentive for him to sign up on a modest contract (in comparison to what he could make elsewhere) and I doubt the current regime is going to be changing that this window. Then you have January, where we don't spend unless in the clart. If things go tits up with Pellegrino you could see the West Ham switch. They might be an embarrassing club but at least they pay competitively in terms of prem wages, plus their owners will actually spend money (rightly or wrongly). They will give up far more for Rafa, than this club is prepared to, and they fit the 'not won a trophy in a while' criteria that Benitez excels with. Past having a moan about Mike to be honest, it's just the reality of what we're facing.
Lejuene and Murphy had been in the media a while though? Whilst Joselu appeared to be after the Abraham disaster and a few failed bid for others. This was documented in the media. They had Kenedy/Slimani nailed on since summer as well. Same with that average Eredevise striker in Jan. I don't think Skirts, Rashford or Gotze are legit, but it's worrying the most believable transfer rumour at this stage is Abel Hernandez, with no indication we're actually interested in him this time around. I hope they're way off, but I've found myself surprised by how accurate the popular media rumours have been over recent seasons, I probably just don't remember the inaccuracies. It's not that their isn't still a massive degree of bullshit out there, but I live in hope we have loads of obscure gems we're getting like Dubravka.
Not worried we have a terrific record of delivering in the market over the last 3 years. I think we will be fine. Rafa being unsigned may be holding things up. Pretty sure Rashford, Gotze and Kenedy will be lining up for come the start of the season. Exciting times.
First two I'll give you. How long ago, though? Ritchie, not so much, and Diame's played well for a whole 3 months since he's been here. It wasn't a bolt from the blue, either. Lejeune took around 8 weeks from the first rumour. The expectation for me is very low. The longer it's left, the longer you're fighting for scraps and we'll just see repeats of Abraham/Joselu. Too many clubs willing to spend ahead of us. 19 to be precise.
We don't have the resources to go out and spunk a massive wedge on players. Therefore we are trying to buy smarter which either a) takes longer or b) ends up dragging on and we never get a deal done. The World Cup isn't helping us I would suspect. Just got to hope someone is working hard behind the scenes. I think we are going to struggle to get faces in which is obviously a big problem but I do also realise it must be a very difficult task to sign your targeted players. Hopefully they are working to a list Rafa has handed them and let's see where we get to.
I resent this wumming angle. I am allowed an opinion. Pack it in or meet me at KFC and we'll sort it out mano e mano. Over a three year period we have outspent a large portion of the PL. The two clubs we were promoted with are lagging behind us in spend.We stayed up, we have a good manager, a great deal maker in Lee "Trump" Charnley and a owner who just wants to do his very best for the club. Yes we are not Man U or Man C rich to be able to compete at the top, but I am confident we have the right ingredients to be inside the top 10.
