T soprano
New member
Our forwards fire more blanks than the Territorial Army
Still 6 weeks to go. That said we need to bring a least one more in before Forest. The real starting gun for recruitment is likely to be when PL teams have to name their squads for the coming season. Once those squads are named there will be a group of good championship level players available for sale or loan and the club will want to have funds available for them.
It's frustrating but I think we have a few weeks to wait yet...
I have a lot more faith in Hughton, whom I consider a safe pair of hands, than I did with Sami. With Sami, I remember very little transfer activity followed by the ominous "I only wants to sign players who will improve his squad." Now, other than the loan signing of Tex, and the additions of Stockdale and Baldock (both decent) the majority were bench warmers. Danny Holla, Paddy McCourt, Adrian Colunga, Chris O'Grady, Nzuzi Toko. Did they improve the squad or swallow up valuable wages? How many top Championship players could we have had with the combined wages of Holla/McCourt/Colunga? Of course you never know, we could have signed a massive flop and hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, I think it's true to say that towards the end there was just a definite sense of desperation transfer wise. I honestly don't think we could identify the right players and if we could I don't think we were able to find the fee they'd command. The fee will be an issue for the foreseeable for clubs like us, but I'm confident Hughton knows what a good Championship player looks like.
I'm much more comfortable with Hughton's methods. I'm a little sad to be seeing the end of a tippy-tappy 433 but if Hughton thinks his strengths as a manager lies with a 442 then that's his decision to make. He knows what players work in that system and he's working hard to fill the gaps. We're in for a transitional period - Poyet's team have either moved on or got old - Sami's team? Well the less said about them the better. I don't think this will be a season for "We're f***ing brilliant" or "Hughton out!" chants. It'll see us guide to a steady midtable position and build. That kind of talk doesn't sell season tickets of course but I'd be surprised if that wasn't Blooms expectation for the coming campaign. Give Hughton a couple of seasons to get the squad he wants together. He's got teams out of this league before and I think he'll see us promoted - just not this season.
What is the deadline for the 25 man squad announcement? I'd really hope that we would be in line to get Tex back if he doesn't make Liverpool's squad.Still 6 weeks to go. That said we need to bring a least one more in before Forest. The real starting gun for recruitment is likely to be when PL teams have to name their squads for the coming season. Once those squads are named there will be a group of good championship level players available for sale or loan and the club will want to have funds available for them.
It's frustrating but I think we have a few weeks to wait yet...
I have a lot more faith in Hughton, whom I consider a safe pair of hands, than I did with Sami. With Sami, I remember very little transfer activity followed by the ominous "I only wants to sign players who will improve his squad." Now, other than the loan signing of Tex, and the additions of Stockdale and Baldock (both decent) the majority were bench warmers. Danny Holla, Paddy McCourt, Adrian Colunga, Chris O'Grady, Nzuzi Toko. Did they improve the squad or swallow up valuable wages? How many top Championship players could we have had with the combined wages of Holla/McCourt/Colunga? Of course you never know, we could have signed a massive flop and hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, I think it's true to say that towards the end there was just a definite sense of desperation transfer wise. I honestly don't think we could identify the right players and if we could I don't think we were able to find the fee they'd command. The fee will be an issue for the foreseeable for clubs like us, but I'm confident Hughton knows what a good Championship player looks like.
I'm much more comfortable with Hughton's methods. I'm a little sad to be seeing the end of a tippy-tappy 433 but if Hughton thinks his strengths as a manager lies with a 442 then that's his decision to make. He knows what players work in that system and he's working hard to fill the gaps. We're in for a transitional period - Poyet's team have either moved on or got old - Sami's team? Well the less said about them the better. I don't think this will be a season for "We're f***ing brilliant" or "Hughton out!" chants. It'll see us guide to a steady midtable position and build. That kind of talk doesn't sell season tickets of course but I'd be surprised if that wasn't Blooms expectation for the coming campaign. Give Hughton a couple of seasons to get the squad he wants together. He's got teams out of this league before and I think he'll see us promoted - just not this season.
Who cares what anyone says in pre-season? Who cares about results in pre-season? The answer should be no-body.
"we’re not shying away from the fact that we still need to bring bodies in to improve the squad.” - Hughton last week.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/13489285.Albion_rebuilding_may_spill_over_into_season/
Its hardly a secret that Hughton is targeting and will make 4 signings, expected to be a striker, winger, CB, attacking midfielder just like everyone else on here who says we need a striker, winger, CB...
So he is stating the same as Hyppia did last season, but phrased in a different way,
Hyppia a straight forward we are not ready
Hughton we will be ready, but are not ready YET
Too many failures to deliver. Sorry if that contradicts your rosy 'club are perfect' view.You do realise he was being INTERVIEWED right?
It's not like we were about to close a deal and Chris stood up from the player negotiation and said "sorry chaps. I just need to go and tell everyone we will be ready for the season"
Not sure we going to get very far predicting how the season is going to turn out based on several throwaway interviews with the Argus in July but yes they are saying similar things.
Good post - not sure i agree with Stockdale & Baldock being both decent though? - very much jury out on both im afraid. The other signings you highlighted are bang on though - simply panic buys to make up the numbers and not good enough, i would rather have less signings but real quality than just getting players in who are no better or worse than we currently have.
Not sure we going to get very far predicting how the season is going to turn out based on several throwaway interviews with the Argus in July but yes they are saying similar things.
I agree and was not picking on you, but another manager still hoping to get his side together before the first game, is a little bit of same old, same old to me.
I do.
The pre-season 'Friendlies' are THE chance for the squad to give 110% effort and showcase their abilities, in order to show Hughton that they deserve a place in his first 11.
The effort, performance and ability that we've seen (bar the first 45 minutes at Crawley), has been pretty dire.