Simon bristol

16 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

If they are better than our worst players (bare minimum) then the overall squad improves.  If we managed to get two players of say Dickie and Knight’s level (not necessarily position), that improves us, doesn’t it?

Transfer fees arent an exact science these days with contracts coming to an end or actually ending, but generally speaking better players cost more. Dickie and knight have looked very good for us, i like what they bring, but clearly there are better players than them available if you have got the money. 5 million for twine is a lot of money, but manning knows him, its a position we need, and hes about as good as we can reasonably get.

Just now, Numero Uno said:

That's over priced for me.

Hes a step up from what we have, a few more players who are a step up on what weve already got ought to see us make some progression. Would iversen or travers be a step up on max? Yes,, would adam idah be a step up on cornick? Yes, and willock or chair would be a step up on mehmeti too, and they would all cost more. Its whether the owners want to pay that price. 

3 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

What we need to do is to continue along the lines of what we were doing before. Signing players before they become 5 million pound players and then using our best young coach in England to coach them on the grass to and above a level where they are worth over 5 million. 

If we suddenly start chucking around t million for players then we are back to the days of putting ourselves at risk. 

We could sign Twine 2moro for 5 million and then he does his acl the next day. Much better to spend that money on 2-3 players. Less risk then. 

I get it re signing 2/3 players for that money, but they wouldn’t necessarily be any better than we already have. Ideally we would have another 3/4 signings of the quality of twine which then ought to have an impact on improving our league position. Bringing in cornick and mehmeti type signings because we shouldn’t go for anything better seems a false economy to me, and they will still be on decent salaries too.

Not sure how the massengo to burnley fee was structured, perhaps we could waive any sell on fee for him we may have agreed?

1 minute ago, Harry said:

But what’s the point of an “option”. 
Manning knows him. Why would we need to have him on a 4 month trial?? It’s a waste of time and money. If we want him just buy him. 
If it’s too expensive, move on 

Theres others on here who know better than me, but i always considered the tgh loan was done with an option to buy for accounting purposes,,, making payments in the next accounting year may suit us in terms of when the scott money came in, or when certain salaries are likely to be off the books. either that, or they just fancy seeing how they bed in for a period of time before committing the full transfer fee?

9 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

And, surely, that is the crux of the problem.

Firstly, at £5M he would be far too expensive, and even if he was ‘only’ £4M, what would it solve?

I don’t believe one additional player is going to guide us to the playoffs, so why not wait until the summer or, if need be, take him on a ‘loan to buy, but, even then, surely not at more than £3M at most.

One additional player wont get us in the play offs, but we have to start somewhere with good championship players, someone has to be the first of the 3/4 we need, and it’s clearly one of the positions we need to sort as a priority… a starting midfield of twine, knight and tgh bought in with the scott fee is about as good as we could reasonably expect

Really hope this is true!!! I cant think its just a loan though,,, we havent done a loan without a signing option in quite a long time now

22 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

And when the pick the next manager we hold him accountable and when the pick the one after we hold them accountable and when they pick the one after that we hold them accountable. Do you see the problem(s)?

They just cant get it right, perhaps they are annoyed with themselves too? While they are sat sipping cocktails in bermuda obviously 

2 hours ago, Jose said:

Bang average keeper but unfortunately other areas that are more of priority and quite a few too. 

Agreed, one bang average keeper in the squad is a ridiculous position to find ourselves in as well

7 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Agree completely.

I’d also add Coventry are replicating last season, poor start (different reasons) now steaming away. 6th suddenly looks less achievable.

West Brom in fifth already look to me to have too many points for us to close the gap.

Start again in the summer..

I agree, but theres nothing to suggest if we do rebuild in the summer that anything will actually change, just that weve sold the family silver, and no one js worth much until we find another great academy player

Hes not a play maker 10, but he is a very good player

1 minute ago, Glen hump said:

Anyone with half a clue about football can see we’re miles off a playoff side, I wouldn’t mind just scoring a goal for now 

Thats why the hierarchy feel we are a top 6 side!

1 minute ago, Lew-T said:

Will Keane likes us doesn’t he? Christ.

Hes not a bad striker at this level,, unlike some of the shite weve signed over the years!

1 minute ago, Supersonic Robin said:

Our results against teams in the bottom half have been dreadful under Manning so far.

Anyone setting up to close the game out, we dont have the quality to break them down. If someone wants to give us a game we can stretch it out, and give a good account of ourselves 

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

That’s not the point though.

See @steviestevieneville’s post

Hes on ignore for me pal! I used to love steve neville playing for us too

15 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

The problem people have is that it doesn't need clarifying, we are all too painfully aware of your stance because you post it almost every day of a transfer window. 

 

Hes right though re taking news from official club media before believing it, we are currently also following a news story about a leeds player based on someone they know in harrogate hearing something… and there are a load of others on this forum alone

15 hours ago, GrahamC said:

They’re also spoiled by being at this level for so long with no danger of relegation.

One of the smallest clubs at this level but their fans think they’re probable top six contenders.

Like us! Apart from no danger of relegation 

2 minutes ago, PHILINFRANCE said:

Memories play funny tricks, of course, but I also remember fondly such German greats as Uwe Seeler and, our destroyer in 1970, Gerd Müller, der Bomber.

Muller was ridiculous, incredible goal scorer,, reminds me of greaves as an out and out goal scorer?!

Rip to a legend, fantastic player, the german equivalent of charlton for england,, their all time greatest player.

I remember having patricks for a bit that I swapped for some toys, but eventually settled on adidas world cups with the cool red white and black pattern on the sole. There must have been others but cant remember now!

16 hours ago, Harry said:

Puma Dalglish were my first boots  

And I managed to get them signed by Bryan Robson when he visited that sports shop along the back of horsefair - SportsFair or something wasn’t it called?? 

 

Sports fair was great! By the late 80s they starting stocking foreign shirts,,, loved them, i got a glenn hoddle monaco one with loads of shirt sponsors, and the first shirt id seen made by nike!

Why the hell is the football league adding that game in between boxing day and new years day,,  this is what happens!

Welcome to the young man!

If we hadnt sold our best players over the last 5 years we would certainly be better than we are now…. But we have signed so much shite over the years to replace them with that it’s embarrassing… combine that with some shite managers in charge and owners that couldnt get us into the prem if they plowed a billion into it, then really, nothing we could have done would have gotten us up

36 minutes ago, DaveF said:

What's your favourite Westlife hit? Or are you more into Ronan's solo material?

Surely ronan is a boyzone kinda guy