New user so be gentle.
Ok the intial optimism was great and yes we made some solid, welcome squad additions. Guediora and Collins are sensible. Halford and Harding could be considered interesting (time will tell).
However I am hoping this will be a big week. I know we are not going to be "doing a Leciester" And the last thing we want is to lose that team togertherness that O'Driscoll seems to bring.
So far every siging has mentioned the "gaffa's plans" and how they are pleased to be part of it. But to be honest I think it is unlikely that the people bought so far have cost much more than the money received for Gunter.
As a result I am hoping for some real quality signings. The alleged £20m war chest is still in tact and we don't have that "marquee" signing.
I do find myself questioning the real investment that new owners are going to make. So far its not very much if you consider both outgoings and incomings.
My personal wish list would include:
Maynard,
Burke
possibly Routledge,
Whittingham.
A top quality £3m Centre back and another young up and coming centre back.
If we really do have £20m then this is not unreasonable, and would make us very competitive at the cutting edge of the division. If the cash is not really there then it will be other people's cast offs and mid table mediocrity.
By the 14th August we will know!!!
Thoughts?
New Money?
posted on 30/7/12
I get a bit fed up with all this "big name" stuff.
We want good players, if his name is big or not is irrelevant. I also don't like this idea that if a player earns more than the others it will cause bother. Why should it? It happens all the time in football. You have a star player or a group of main men and they make more money. I don't know why it's an issue for us but other teams manage fine.
"big names" have normally made that name because they're good footballers. We want good footballers, or at least I do. It's the managers job to mould the best players we can get in to a team.
I'm happy enough with the signing so far. But I feel a bit like I did when we appointed SoD. Happy, thinking it could have been much worse, but also thinking it could quite easily have been a bit better.
Of course there's players to come in and more importantly football to be played. At that will obviously be the maker of how well we have or haven't done in the transfer market.
posted on 30/7/12
I agree with Sutton I think. I don't think signing Whittingham would disrupt our squad or be a negative. Signing good players is always going to be a good move. However what we have done so far is good enough for now. It's a little underwhelming maybe because we had higher expectations. I would be happier if we were signing big names because usually that means they are better players, which is always good. But if we continue the way we are there will be no complaints from me.
posted on 30/7/12
I dont necessarily want 'big' name signings but I'd like to see us hoover up some talent and if that means outbidding some rivals for players then so be it. We're supposed to have money so would like to see us spend some. Friend from Donny is the type i'd like to see signed, at 24 he's the right age yet we look to have missed him. I'd ideally like to see some players in the 22 - 25 year bracket whose best years are ahead of them that can be deevloped under SOD, likes of Ryan Hall, George Friend would be ideal
posted on 30/7/12
"we're supposed to have money"
Where was this stated by the owners or the club? we have clearly spent money but can't remember anyone saying either how much we had to spend or that we would be spending a lot? It was just an assumption or an expectation!
I agree though it would be good to get some younger players with promise in, but I feel the policy of getting players with experience of championship Promotion is a good one too. Maybe a mix of both would be better?
posted on 30/7/12
Should wait to see what happens this week really, judge the sumemr business when its complete. Think i'm reasonably satisfied with what we've done so far however like some have already commented think we'd like to see a bit more ambition before we crack out the champagne.
posted on 30/7/12
You couldn't really ask for more. These guys have come in and had to rebuild the side because others have left leaving us short of players.
The appointment of SOD has got the fans all on one side as far as I can see. The addition of Pep was a master stroke. He wants to play for us and with our other new midfielder (Cohen) and those that have stayed we have loads of options in midfield. We do not need Whittingham.
If we are to bring in anymore players I believe cover for the back four (players like Higginbotham) are the key. Possibly a winger, or 2, and a 15-20 goal striker.
We must understand. At the moment we are not going to storm the league. However, I see no reason why we should finish top 10 or even top 6
posted on 30/7/12
if it's true that the new owners have installed a maximum wage policy of 10 grand a week, we won't be signing any 'big names'.
i think this is a good policy as 10 grand a week represents around 1/30th of the clubs annual turnover and there aren't many players who are worth that at this level.
i like what we've done so far, we've signed some low key but experienced defenders and added a bit of class in guedioura. we need to be solid enough not to get drawn into another relegation scrap this season and add a bit more quality next summer, or maybe even january if promotion is a realistic aim at that time
posted on 30/7/12
Transfer fees in may equal those going out for Gunter but 3 of them were from ex-Prem teams so would've been on hefty wages. I think it's good business but don't think we've just used Gunter's money and not spent much yet.
posted on 30/7/12
You don't need a big name or endless money,
If it goes wrong you end up like us starting again.
Plus i think your owners won't be going crazy anyway looking at the amount they are spending.
Just keep faith with your manager for a couple of seasons and I'm sure u will go up
posted on 30/7/12
I like the the way it's going at the moment. We are making a fresh start and o D is building the nucleus of the squad.
I think the late start and the way we have had to get players in, a great deal of thought has to be put in to how we are going to go forward.
We have to have a hard working and committed group before we sign any big name players otherwise it's too much of a gamble.
We don't know how the new signings are are going to fit in and gel even though they come with decent reputations. We have had four so far and one or two successful triallists will leave plenty of room for big name signings in January should we do well.