Excellent transfer policy

[GT49er]

Why - because we were right and you are embarrassed ?

No. Keep up!

 

[Horses Arse]

Good signings, with Holla and Tex being stand out compared to expectations. There are none now that I think were a mistake.

Whilst I appreciate that Tex would have been determined by Liverpool in terms of timing I wonder whether the timings of the rest were an error; too long chasing other targets and changing horse too late perhaps? The importance of an earlier signing needs to be balanced against cost and the quality of the individual I guess when differences in quality are small. For example, chasing Clayton for so long when it was going to cost us £1m plus, and we knew Boro were in for him too when we could have gone for Holla earlier.

Have to say I know sod all and the above is an observation only. There may be hundreds of reasons why each of the players we've ended up with couldn't come earlier. All in all I'm pleased but have been extremely worried at the pressure late signings would have on an inexperienced manager having to deal with impatient fans. Guess we are lucky that we had such an easy start. At least the quality is now there to compete against better sides even though we threw away 6 reasonably easy points as a result of transfer delays.

Have to say I'm now optimistic and enjoyed Saturday no end.

 

[Medwayseagull]

No. Keep up!

Not a question of keeping up - more about the bed wetters getting a reality check !

 

[Dolph Ins]

Sorry to bring up FFP but if we have a surplus this year can we carry it over to next season?

 

[GT49er]

Not a question of keeping up - more about the bed wetters getting a reality check !

Ah, a gentleman of the smug variety. See this previous post (not one of mine) -

"To me, the ridiculous optimists are the same side of the coin as the ridiculous pessimists, they both share a complete dislike for making a judgment based on watching some of our football and our new signings develop. The blind optimists I find slightly more irritating because they coat their guesswork in a kind of better than you smugness"

Yep, I think that cap just about fits. Good day to you sir.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

Ah, a gentleman of the smug variety. See this previous post (not one of mine) -

"To me, the ridiculous optimists are the same side of the coin as the ridiculous pessimists, they both share a complete dislike for making a judgment based on watching some of our football and our new signings develop. The blind optimists I find slightly more irritating because they coat their guesswork in a kind of better than you smugness"

Yep, I think that cap just about fits. Good day to you sir.

Sorry, that's a ridiculous argument. I think the two sides have been people who've massively over reacted and those who've said wait and see. That's not being ridiculously optimistic. Just common sense.

Same as the people who write off players when we sign them and then call people lickers for saying watch them play before making a judgement. You can tell we're doing better now as the massive pessimists are spending their time criticising people for being positive rather than moaning about the club.

 

[B.W.]

Good signings, with Holla and Tex being stand out compared to expectations. There are none now that I think were a mistake.

Whilst I appreciate that Tex would have been determined by Liverpool in terms of timing I wonder whether the timings of the rest were an error; too long chasing other targets and changing horse too late perhaps? The importance of an earlier signing needs to be balanced against cost and the quality of the individual I guess when differences in quality are small. For example, chasing Clayton for so long when it was going to cost us £1m plus, and we knew Boro were in for him too when we could have gone for Holla earlier.

Have to say I know sod all and the above is an observation only. There may be hundreds of reasons why each of the players we've ended up with couldn't come earlier. All in all I'm pleased but have been extremely worried at the pressure late signings would have on an inexperienced manager having to deal with impatient fans. Guess we are lucky that we had such an easy start. At least the quality is now there to compete against better sides even though we threw away 6 reasonably easy points as a result of transfer delays.

Have to say I'm now optimistic and enjoyed Saturday no end.

Have to say I agree with most of this. However, despite what the lickers say, it is very clear we, in your words, stuck with the wrong horses far too long, resulting in our spunking 6 relatively easy points up the wall. 6 points that could be vital in determining whether we successfully make the playoffs or auto places or sit comfortably in mid-table: look how close things were for us last two seasons. 6 points would have given us auto 2 seasons ago, and we only made the playoffs on the last day last season. Given promotion is worth £100M plus, I would say we are frequently not decisive enough in acquiring (not selling) players.

I'll say (not for the first time) that our recruitment strategy needs a thorough review. Looks like changes in personnel are already happening.

 

[Albumen]

Have to say I agree with most of this. However, despite what the lickers say, it is very clear we, in your words, stuck with the wrong horses far too long, resulting in our spunking 6 relatively easy points up the wall. 6 points that could be vital in determining whether we successfully make the playoffs or auto places or sit comfortably in mid-table: look how close things were for us last two seasons. 6 points would have given us auto 2 seasons ago, and we only made the playoffs on the last day last season. Given promotion is worth £100M plus, I would say we are frequently not decisive enough in acquiring (not selling) players.

I'll say (not for the first time) that our recruitment strategy needs a thorough review. Looks like changes in personnel are already happening.

Right . . . .

You don't know Holla and Teixeira were available early on.
You don't know how much we were chasing these 'wrong horses', and if we were successful, whether they'd be as good as Tex and Holla.
You don't know how often players are available and for how long.
Currently we're 3 points off promotion with 4 games played. That could change in a week.
Best things come to those who wait, and those who have plans A to Z which we seem to have.

 

[B.W.]

Right . . . .

You don't know Holla and Teixeira were available early on.
You don't know how much we were chasing these 'wrong horses', and if we were successful, whether they'd be as good as Tex and Holla.
You don't know how often players are available and for how long.
Currently we're 3 points off promotion with 4 games played. That could change in a week.
Best things come to those who wait, and those who have plans A to Z which we seem to have.

We missed out on at least 3 players which were our 1st choices - Ward, Clayton, O's winger. The Ward one was especially embarrassing. These are just the ones we know about. However, feel free to continue deluding yourself. At least the club are now addressing the issue.

 

[GT49er]

Sorry, that's a ridiculous argument.

No. it's just one that you don't agree with.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

I think most of us did. Best wait another week before "outing" the wetters (You know who you are).

In the MEANTIME lets get the AMEX ROCKING to "LET'S all LAUGH at ERNEST"

I actually got two thumbs down for a 5 word comment. Not bad going.

 

[Stat Brother]

We missed out on at least 3 players which were our 1st choices - Ward, Clayton, O's winger. The Ward one was especially embarrassing. These are just the ones we know about. However, feel free to continue deluding yourself. At least the club are now addressing the issue.

I wonder how many clubs in world football get ALL their first choice signings?

Once again all things Albion seem to be held to a higher standard, whether that be:-

Strikers daring to miss a chance.
Quality v cost of food/drink.
Ability to leave the ground with 25,000 people.

and so on, and on, and on.

 

[imissworthing2]

Re Holla, I imagine of all the parts of the squad that needed improving, a DM was quite low down on our list. Most probably imho he got brought to our attention quite late on and was too good to turn down.

 

[e77]

I suppose we don't know how far down the list the signings we got were.

 

[B.W.]

I wonder how many clubs in world football get ALL their first choice signings?

Once again all things Albion seem to be held to a higher standard, whether that be:-

Strikers daring to miss a chance.
Quality v cost of food/drink.
Ability to leave the ground with 25,000 people.

and so on, and on, and on.

My main point is we should not underestimate the lack of timeliness in our signings. We need to know when to move on to the next target, Ward being the prime example. We have spunked 6 relatively easy points up the wall. 6 points in this division is a lot. See my earlier post for a more complete explanation of why we should NOT be praising the Albion's player acquisition strategy - it has its faults.

And, yes, I'm sure most (if not all) clubs don't get all of their first choice targets, but that's not the point I'm making.

 

[Stat Brother]

My main point is we should not underestimate the lack of timeliness in our signings. We need to know when to move on to the next target, Ward being the prime example. We have spunked 6 relatively easy points up the wall. 6 points in this division is a lot. See my earlier post for a more complete explanation of why we should NOT be praising the Albion's player acquisition strategy - it has its faults.

And, yes, I'm sure most (if not all) clubs don't get all of their first choice targets, but that's not the point I'm making.

I found it almost unbelievable that people lost their pooh over 15 points.
It's even more incredulous to do it about 6 points, when a maximum of 138 are available.

A full strength Albion squad will drop more than 6 'easy' points this season.
In an ideal world it'll also pick up more than 6 unexpected points.

 

[Miami Seagull]

Let's see at the end of the season just how important those 6 points are that we gave away at the beginning of the season. More strengthening should have be done before the season started - as virtually all of our rivals did. Very happy though with the majority of those brought in in the last 10 days or so.

 

[symyjym]

Re Holla, I imagine of all the parts of the squad that needed improving, a DM was quite low down on our list. Most probably imho he got brought to our attention quite late on and was too good to turn down.

Clayton was the DM target, if we had got him we wouldn't have Holla.

 

[Horses Arse]

Re Holla, I imagine of all the parts of the squad that needed improving, a DM was quite low down on our list. Most probably imho he got brought to our attention quite late on and was too good to turn down.

A player turning down a contract last season and failing to find another club, therefore training still with his old club. If we didn't know about this already and had to have him brought to our attention recently then our scouting system needs review.

We have (rightly) invested heavily in the behind the scenes staff to scour Europe and wider afield to identify and secure talent before others. This is partly the reason for our losses I believe. I would have hoped we were aware of Holla as one of the list of targets from the off. If so then why stick with Clayton for so long (who blows hot and cold according to fans of Leeds and Udds) and would cost a seven figure sum when Holla seems to be the real deal. Unless we are playing a game of encouraging others to spunk the cash in a game of FFP poker?... Absolute gem of a plan if this is the case!

Easy to simplify after the event I know but timing is very important and we seem to have taken a lot of time. Indecision or forces outside of our control? I don't know but it's still a valid query to raise.

 

[Horses Arse]

I found it almost unbelievable that people lost their pooh over 15 points.
It's even more incredulous to do it about 6 points, when a maximum of 138 are available.

A full strength Albion squad will drop more than 6 'easy' points this season.
In an ideal world it'll also pick up more than 6 unexpected points.

Totally lost with that post. I'm going to have a lie down as it's given me a headache