I'm not saying I want Pop Robson My worry is De Fanti is that this summer it seems he just bought players for the sake of buying- not building a team. Which has been our problem all along. Our best player ability wise is probably Giacc, but where does he fit in? Clearly not a lot of research was done into Cabral who can't get a game to save his life. He couldn't get a single lb all summer and then got Dossena as a last resort. That's why I'm not confident De Fanti will bring in the right players. I really hope lessons have been learnt. And I really hope Gus puts his foot down and tells De Fanti the players he wants to fit his style. Otherwise nothing will change.
Aye mate, tends to work that way on a forum You sound like Cest. Do I have to put 'imo' in every single one of my posts when you're around like I have to with him? Weak retort fella, disappointed in you. please log in to view this image I'll just talk to this gentleman if that's ok with you? \/ We needed players though fella, In July We had one fullback at the club and two fit center backs, That's 3 fit natural senior defenders at the club. Our forwards boasted the depth of Danny Graham, Connor Wickham and Ji Dong Won, all would have be have been vying for a starting place and place on the bench, luxury now has it that two of the flops are out on loan and the other is nowhere near the starting line up. The young uns were always going to be in the development squad so counting them plays into the media's hands of excess signings when in reality it was a duel project where the Development Squad was to receive heavy investment (Short's decision not Di Fanti's). We'd be ****ed without Ki. We have depth in defence the only issue I've got is Cabral but it seems so did/have 3 managers for one reason or another. this was our fit squad at the first of july Westwood Mig (always going to lose him) Bardo JoS Cuellar Colback Gards Larsson Alfie AJ McClean Sess Wickham Graham Ji I think it needed a lot of attention. Clearly Di Fanti had a 1st team budget to stick to, this is evident in the way we've frantically cut the wage bill. As for the left back situation I think you're being harsh, pinning a decade of LB problems on Di Fanti. At least when there was nobody suitable long term he actually brought someone in. Apart from MoN with Rose nobody has ever bothered. I think our squad is better now than how it looked when the transfer window opened and smaller wage bill. Giacc is clearly struggling with the pace, he'll get his head round it. Like I said, can't expect so many players to hit the ground running but players is what we desperately needed IMO (for the benefit of Com)
Don't cry about it Bri. You shouldn't let it worry you that sometimes some off us think the opposite way to you. You can bang on about Di Fanti, and expectations as much as you want, we'll never agree, as i think he's been a disaster.
I do too, never been a fan of DOF's, it HAS to be up to the manager who we sign not some ex agent who is pals with Short.
It's fast becoming pet peev of mine. Of course it's abouts ****ing opinions. Of course people have other views don't ****ing patronize me, angage in correspondence or don't ****ing talk to me, just ignore my ****ing comments. Not hard is it?
We did desperately need players but we'll get nowhere if we don't start buying players with a bigger picture in mind. Every manager we've had for a while now has failed to build a team. (Keane signed anyone with a heartbeat, Bruce clearly had no idea what he wanted, MON buying Fletcher and Graham and trying to play counter-attacking football). I reckon PDC made it clear what he wanted but I don't reckon De Fanti got him what he wanted. Giacc is the perfect example of where we've gone wrong all these years, we only signed him because he was available. Tbh I don't think it is unfair to expect someone who's job is to buy players to solve an issue we've had for years. Anyway 1 summer window is not a long period. We'll see how he does in Jan and next summer, whatever happens we must start buying players who will fit the managers style. Not just signing good players because they're available.
I agree that Paolo was done on the transfer front but I think he was done by a combo of Di Fanti and Short and that they had their reasons, valid reasons, regardless of feelings of fans like myself who would have liked them to have taken a risk and spend a little bit more. Makes you wonder how strict the wage structure is. Di Fant will have his orders. There must be reason we didn't sign Huddlestone, I don't buy it was just Di Fanti being stubborn. Hudds is injury prone, he did represent a risky signing. If his wages demands were at our top end perhaps Ellis and Di Fanti saw it a risk especially after Brown and Catts injury records. I think Di Fanti was caught between a rock and a hard place this summer. We had a squad like cheap bog roll (thin and of poor quality) and strict budget which had to be channeled into keeping wages down. To think he got a current Italian international for less than 30k a week tells me he does have the skills to bring in quality on a budget. I'm still on the fence with Di Fanti. I empathise with him cause that was a tough first window for anyone. Now the bulk signings are out the way and we have the numbers, now I can judge upcoming windows on the quality he and Angeloni bring in. But I bet a lot still depends on moving the wage inflated dross who I suspect will dig their heels till the end of the season then move for free to the club who offers them most money. Unless of course somebody is crazy enough to match their current wages in Jan. Hopefully that club whose reported to value Seb at 5m
Next summer will be massive. If we stay up or not. A lot of high earners will be gone as their contracts expire but they we really need to replace them with players who will suit Poyet's style.
helped to keep us up ,sold for a massive profit could do with more of these through the books every time ,also very small wages, this could well happen again with some of the players who came into the club this summer
With the new academy set up we should produce plenty at Macleans level who'll never see the first team but will help bring an extra income.
