09 Aug 2024 12:59:30
I said it before, and I'll say it again. For all the fanfare around the new ownership, I have seen little to fill me with joy or optimism.
Transfer business has been meh, and if we do sign the Burnley chap, then that would an admission that things are no better. We've signed a couple with potential, seem to be struggling to get others done, and are also struggling to move players on. Yes, yes it's not easy, but I was hoping for more of an impact. Right now, it's not been impressive.
Talk of a new stadium, but we want public funds, alternatively we are going ro redevelop OT, or we aren't, take your pick.
I realise we have a new backroom team, not all of whom have got their feet under the table but even so, same old same old. If the rumour about Berge is true then God help us.
All this whilst we are cutting 250 jobs to save £10M a year. Not saying there aren't savings to be made but getting shut of some of the highest paid would have far more of an impact, I'm guessing Sancho is earning a lot more than £10M a year, likely Cas too.
The window remains open so we may see movement but right now, meh.
09 Aug 2024 13:36:00
To be fair most big clubs across Europe haven't been overly active this summer as new rules set in. I know a few like West Ham and Villa have but City/ Liverpool/ Arsenal haven't done any more than us.
09 Aug 2024 13:39:39
I think people are being critical AJH without knowing the constraints and rules that we need to adhere to.
We can't just fjord money at it even if the money is available.
Selling casimero for example will cost us a fortune same for others.
That will lead to a points deduction.
Thats not the fault of the new part owners.
Before you or others are critical it's probably ly best to understand what can and can't be done. To try and understand the constraints.
A little bit of educating ourselves to a reasonable level of understanding before handing out criticism is probably the order of the day.
Cost cutting was needed and will be ongoing g but you can't cost cut on legally binding contracts so again it's not fair to critique for that.
Understand the parameters then make informed posts.
If you broadly understand the parameters your post makes no sense.
09 Aug 2024 13:47:32
Wonder how many people would have been saying god help us when we signed our last defensive midfielder from a relegated side in 1993? Just wondering.
It’s really not easy, the players we’ve been left with are overpaid and we can’t get rid of them, that will take time to sort out, they have released players at the end of their contract and won’t be afraid to let others run down and get rid of them as well, it’s going to take 2-3 years to clear out the mess, not 2-3 weeks we’ve had so far, so I’m willing to sit back and see how it goes, don’t think anyone is expecting a great season, a few more signings before the end of the window could see us challenging for 4th but that’s about it, in 2-3 years I’d like to see us challenging for the title, things are that bad there is no quick fix as much as some fans want it.
09 Aug 2024 14:31:28
I don't disagree with any of that, but I'm still underehelmed.
And let's not suggest Berge is a Keane, he really isn't.
09 Aug 2024 15:34:54
I'm underwhelmed too ajh.
I thought they would have done better on the outs.
The fact they stuck with the manager killed this season before it started imo so I too feel like you but they stick with him so despite wanting to puke every time I see his face connected with the club they have made their choice so I need to support it.
09 Aug 2024 15:55:55
If we had such constraints financially why go and agree terms with Ugarte’s agent, if we then can’t complete it. Why talk the talk and not walk the walk. Turning up with Berge who they say Burnley want £30m for and refusing £51m for a top class player is no better than the previous management. They should know the positions and should not start talking if they can’t carry it through. Players will not take us seriously if they do that.
I am underwhelmed as well as AJH, but hope to see that change in the coming days.
09 Aug 2024 16:51:22
Forget Ineos trying to sign players. They should be going to Chelsea and getting whoever is negotiating their player sales and purchases.
They seem to be able to move players on and get very good figures. And then agree deals on new players almost straight away.
Could be argued they just pay whatever the asking price is. And surely PSR rules are going to come back and bit them at some point. Unless they do some more clever accounting like selling their hotels to themselves.
On the flip side, I’m not sure how they are going to manage their new squad of 78 players! LOL.
09 Aug 2024 17:11:22
Fall guy,
Chelsea are a mess, signed another player today in a position they’ve already signed about 3 players in, sure if they throw enough rubbish at the wall some will stick eventually though.
Wasn’t suggesting Berge is as good as Keane Tony but I doubt Keane was as good as the Keane we got when he got relegated with Forest and I’m sure people were complaining about us signing a relegation player because we are better than that.
We’ve all wanted the club to stop throwing money around and paying over the odds but now people are complaining we aren’t being held to ransom on signings, we need some windows showing clubs we won’t be bullied and just pay what they want. Also people have complained we’ve only signed players to sell shirts and big names rather than players that fit the system, but when we find a player that might be good value and fits the profile we need people don’t want him. I think we have to trust the new regime to get these things right, we don’t have much choice.
09 Aug 2024 17:13:28
We need to be patient and see what happens come the end of the window, we also need to be realistic that the new management team are having to deal with past decisions that is hampering what they would like to do.
Zirkzee and Yoro is a good start, I also think that the players that have left whether for a sale or end of contract were okay to leave.
We are now left with players either on big salary and will struggle to move unless we give a pay off, or players that we would like to get a good fee for that in reality other teams do not see as good value. We need to see what happens in clearing these out this year or next year when contracts are run down.
I believe that we will bring in another CB, 1-2 CM and a full back to cover both.
Also, this is not a one transfer window fix. It will take us this one, winter and next summer to sort this mess out and we need to be patient.
Sorry for being an optimist. and yes I might be blind optimist.
09 Aug 2024 18:08:12
Nothing wrong with being optimistic Brad all any of us have as fans is hope.
Now that eth is staying I hope I've been wrong about him.
I hope that we can gain a little momentum early this season we only play 2 teams that finished above us last year in our 1st 10 games so a fast start is possible.
Funnily zirkzee is the player I'm most excited about. I think he offers something competitive different.
I hope we are able to shift some players on and that we can get a few more in.
I. Hoping our new coaches and tech director make a big difference.
I hope eth can have a great season i hope garnacho and mainoo continue to improve and that rashford can have a better season.
I hope that when the window closes we get our squad playing in a way that makes the most of their abilities and not ask them to play in a way that they can't play.
09 Aug 2024 18:19:38
Berge is better than amrabat. It's an upgrade in that position.
09 Aug 2024 22:56:05
Spenno, to be fair, those three teams you mentioned didn't really need to do more than us.
10 Aug 2024 08:53:52
Has anyone looked at signing berg or someone else because the plan to move cas has not been successful.
We can't just get rid of players at whatever number as the financial losses would make other transfers even more unlikely. Maybe berg is good enough to be a squad player with cas this year and next summer we can afford to get rid of cas even at a loss and buy whoever is our main target for that role and still have someone like berg in the squad.
I think what would do many people a lot of good is to go print the financial results of the club for 2022/ 2023 and 2024 and then maybe people will understand why thing are being done a certain way. We are where we are and its a club issue that needs to untangle itself from its current financial restrictions. To completely disassociate things from the financial restraints and moan about lack of activity is living in a bubble.
We bought by many accounts the best young defender there is and another striker. Before the window everyone acknowledges we needed to do that. I agree we also need to buy more but things have obviously not gone to plan for other signing and exits to waht was expected and taking longer.
Unfortunately for us yoro gets injured and hoiland pulls a hamstring and it tends to sour things but we have done the right things if you ignore short term set backs.