| Decent transfer window 06:55 - Feb 4 with 2148 views | LegendofthePhoenix |
Personally, I think that was a pretty decent window for us. The position we needed to strengthen more than any other was between the sticks, and seems like we have got a really good keeper at a great price. We kept Delap. We have two excellent centre forwards. Enciso will be a great addition. Godfrey I'm sure will strengthen squad depth. Sure a battling centre mid would have been nice. And whilst I'm not sure we needed Philogene, he does have high potential so will be one to watch. If Morsy can recover his form, and we can get these players to bond (which is hugely dependent on having a keeper they can trust and communicate with), we can get those 4 or 5 wins. |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 with 2039 views | Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 07:33 - Feb 4 with 1972 views | mikeybloo88 |
Sure, a keeper was important, but we’re simply not scoring enough to stay up. Short of signing Ferguson, Watkins or Isak, I’m not sure what we could have done about that...but we need to score goals as clean sheets won’t save us without more attacking potency. A midfielder with a good engine and a more creative eye would also have been more a priority for me than Philogene...I think it was a pretty middling window. |  | | |
| Decent transfer window on 07:39 - Feb 4 with 1906 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Decent transfer window on 07:33 - Feb 4 by mikeybloo88 |
Sure, a keeper was important, but we’re simply not scoring enough to stay up. Short of signing Ferguson, Watkins or Isak, I’m not sure what we could have done about that...but we need to score goals as clean sheets won’t save us without more attacking potency. A midfielder with a good engine and a more creative eye would also have been more a priority for me than Philogene...I think it was a pretty middling window. |
Not sure about the obsession with another striker - the rest of the team aren’t chipping in goals. Some teams are even playing false 9’s and scoring plenty.
J Clarke, Broadhead, Burns, Hutch all of our CM’s have returned very little. No team is going to score enough goals to stay up with only their striker(s) chipping in. I’d like to see us be a bit more direct (drive into the box) we have the least touches in oppo box. Speculative shots and crosses, we’re just spending too much time boxed into the corner. |  | | |
| Decent transfer window on 07:43 - Feb 4 with 1878 views | NedPlimpton |
| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 by Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |
We've had two top class centre forwards at the club for the previous 24 games, yet we've still needed to play Ali Al-Hamadi more often than not
It's pretty obvious why we needed a third |  | | |
| Decent transfer window on 07:55 - Feb 4 with 1813 views | southnorfolkblue |
| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 by Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |
Hirst is made of glass.
Delap also had significant injuries last season.
We are one striking injury away from a major problem.
It's nuts only having 2 strikers in the squad | |
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| Decent transfer window on 07:59 - Feb 4 with 1792 views | IPS_wich |
Two decent transfer windows running in which we have added:
Select signings:
- Greaves: 24 years old. English. 23/24 Championship team of the season
- O'Shea: 25 years old. Current Irish international
- Hutchinson: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Delap: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Ogbene: 27 years old. Current (before injury) Irish international and Irish player of the year
- Szmodics: 29 years old. Current Irish international, 23/24 Championship golden boot
- Clarke: 24 years old. Was in the mid-year 23/24 Championship team of the season
- Philogene: 21 years old. Current England U-21
That's before you add the Swedish, English (x2), Paraguayan internationals we have brought on loan.
Ignoring loans, we have made 1 maybe 2 transfer mistakes (Muric and Johnson) and have sought to rectify the big mistake in the January window.
And yet here we are, with many of us flouncing away that we may reasonably likely be relegated back to the Championship, completely ignoring the fact that this was the most probable outcome at the start of the season.
We may be a yo-yo club for the next couple of years, but the transfer strategy strategy has been executed to near perfection. Leicester will probably go down, still reliant on the goals of a 37 year old Vardy, whilst we can stand back and let 3-4 clubs fight it out for the hottest young striker in English football. | | | |
| Decent transfer window on 08:05 - Feb 4 with 1756 views | Len_Brennan |
| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 by Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |
I really like George Hirst, and in some ways he is a better fit for us, as a centre forward, than Delap is, due to how he can play with his back to goal & link with the other forwards coming on to the ball; but we can't really claim that he is top class. He has barely played in the PL, and last season is his only real period of time operating in the Championship, and even then he missed a considerable amount of games through injury.
If anything happens Delap, even tiredness/loss of form, we are in real trouble to the end of the season. The false 9 hasn't worked for us previously, because of how we play, and we aren't able to win & retain possession in the final third without Delap or Hirst fit & playing. A 3rd centre forward was very much a requirement for us, particularly given Hirst's injury history.
I really thought we'd look to bring someone like Kelechi iheanacho on a loan, like Middlesbrough have, if we couldn't get our primary target(s). It would even having given us the chance to play 2 of them together, maybe with Delap playing wide right, in some instance when we are chasing a goal.
Fingers crossed on Delap & Hirst staying fit now & we might be demanding a lot from Enciso. [Post edited 4 Feb 8:08]
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| Decent transfer window on 08:45 - Feb 4 with 1525 views | Guthrum |
| Decent transfer window on 07:39 - Feb 4 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
Not sure about the obsession with another striker - the rest of the team aren’t chipping in goals. Some teams are even playing false 9’s and scoring plenty.
J Clarke, Broadhead, Burns, Hutch all of our CM’s have returned very little. No team is going to score enough goals to stay up with only their striker(s) chipping in. I’d like to see us be a bit more direct (drive into the box) we have the least touches in oppo box. Speculative shots and crosses, we’re just spending too much time boxed into the corner. |
For the last two seasons we've relied on goals from everyone, rather than a single, prolific striker*. This time, of non-CFs, only Szmodics has got more than a couple.
The situation is not down to personnel, or even tactics per se, but is situational. In both L1 and the Champ we were able to crowd players in and around the box when attacking. There were loads of options to hit and - most importantly - rebounds and half clearances would fall to one of our men who could then put the ball away. We got a lot of goals in that manner.
In the Prem, everyone is pushed so far back in defence, not at liberty to go up lest they are caught out by fast counterattacks, that we simply can no longer get the numbers into the area. What breaks we have are confined to one or two players. Defenders are so much better drilled and positionally aware for set pieces**, so there aren't the opportunities for clever shenanigans there, either. Hold-up play is less effective when defenders gang up on our man and rob him of the ball, with not enough time for support to arrive.
*2023-24: Chaplin, Broadhead and Hutchinson made double figures. 2022-23: Chaplin's golden year. Both seasons lots of players chipped in with a few.
** To be fair, Town are much better than they used to be in that aspect. Pretty secure against corners nowadays, even facing teams like Arsenal, who are said to excel in that deparment. |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 08:46 - Feb 4 with 1514 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
I agree. It'll take the players who have come in time to get up to speed with McKenna's training and learn out patterns.
A lot seem to forget how long it was before Broadhead and Hirst started games. it was pretty much a month they were coming off the bench. In fact I think the only exception to that with players coming in after the league had started was Davis, and everyone was writing him off after his first few games too. |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 08:54 - Feb 4 with 1459 views | mrshallisfit |
| Decent transfer window on 07:59 - Feb 4 by IPS_wich |
Two decent transfer windows running in which we have added:
Select signings:
- Greaves: 24 years old. English. 23/24 Championship team of the season
- O'Shea: 25 years old. Current Irish international
- Hutchinson: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Delap: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Ogbene: 27 years old. Current (before injury) Irish international and Irish player of the year
- Szmodics: 29 years old. Current Irish international, 23/24 Championship golden boot
- Clarke: 24 years old. Was in the mid-year 23/24 Championship team of the season
- Philogene: 21 years old. Current England U-21
That's before you add the Swedish, English (x2), Paraguayan internationals we have brought on loan.
Ignoring loans, we have made 1 maybe 2 transfer mistakes (Muric and Johnson) and have sought to rectify the big mistake in the January window.
And yet here we are, with many of us flouncing away that we may reasonably likely be relegated back to the Championship, completely ignoring the fact that this was the most probable outcome at the start of the season.
We may be a yo-yo club for the next couple of years, but the transfer strategy strategy has been executed to near perfection. Leicester will probably go down, still reliant on the goals of a 37 year old Vardy, whilst we can stand back and let 3-4 clubs fight it out for the hottest young striker in English football. |
That really is through very blue-tinted glasses. Muric, Johnson and Phillips - all big mistakes in vital areas of the park. J Clarke not stepped up to the mark at any time, bar perhaps the home Villa game and in the Cup against lower league opposition. Greaves has been wanting on several occasions - jury still out on him. And then when we need something in the middle of the park - we get in another talented but still unproven winger - Philogene.
Summer transfer window - 6 out of ten - and that's mainly for Delap, Cajuste and to a slightly lesser extent Sam S and O'Shea.
Jan window - early to judge but 4 or 5 out of 10. | | | |
| Decent transfer window on 08:58 - Feb 4 with 1411 views | ZapatasMoustache |
| Decent transfer window on 07:33 - Feb 4 by mikeybloo88 |
Sure, a keeper was important, but we’re simply not scoring enough to stay up. Short of signing Ferguson, Watkins or Isak, I’m not sure what we could have done about that...but we need to score goals as clean sheets won’t save us without more attacking potency. A midfielder with a good engine and a more creative eye would also have been more a priority for me than Philogene...I think it was a pretty middling window. |
Agreed. I think we’re going to have to play a much more buccaneering style for the remaining games if we have any hope. Tougher and quicker in the transition and on the break. Don’t think personnel available in Jan would have changed a great deal (though resting Morsy and rotating the three behind Delap more often might help - easier once SS and CC are back) |  | | |
| Decent transfer window on 09:34 - Feb 4 with 1252 views | ArnieM |
Agree, by and large a good window. My only regret is our weakness in midfield is still a weakness..
So, on the front foot now until end of season thrn. Let's do this. |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 10:35 - Feb 4 with 1085 views | BlueOura |
| Decent transfer window on 07:59 - Feb 4 by IPS_wich |
Two decent transfer windows running in which we have added:
Select signings:
- Greaves: 24 years old. English. 23/24 Championship team of the season
- O'Shea: 25 years old. Current Irish international
- Hutchinson: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Delap: 21 years old. Current England U-21
- Ogbene: 27 years old. Current (before injury) Irish international and Irish player of the year
- Szmodics: 29 years old. Current Irish international, 23/24 Championship golden boot
- Clarke: 24 years old. Was in the mid-year 23/24 Championship team of the season
- Philogene: 21 years old. Current England U-21
That's before you add the Swedish, English (x2), Paraguayan internationals we have brought on loan.
Ignoring loans, we have made 1 maybe 2 transfer mistakes (Muric and Johnson) and have sought to rectify the big mistake in the January window.
And yet here we are, with many of us flouncing away that we may reasonably likely be relegated back to the Championship, completely ignoring the fact that this was the most probable outcome at the start of the season.
We may be a yo-yo club for the next couple of years, but the transfer strategy strategy has been executed to near perfection. Leicester will probably go down, still reliant on the goals of a 37 year old Vardy, whilst we can stand back and let 3-4 clubs fight it out for the hottest young striker in English football. |
Good post and thank you, that has helped me to re-frame things in a more positive light.. I think we are all a little down after Southampton but if we zoom out and look at the bigger picture we have made some good signings that should put us in a pretty good place for the next few seasons.
Yes we could have done with 1 more no. 9 and a centre mid, but not always easy to get what you want especially when you are in the bottom 3 and have just lost 4 on the bounce. Not all of our signings have been a roaring success but it was always going to be the case with where we have come from and what we needed to do.
It's important that as a fan base we hold our nerve, its easy to forget that the likes of Omari and KP are only 21, and they are still learning at prem level. The last thing they need is the crowd getting on their backs, we need to show support and patience. [Post edited 4 Feb 10:40]
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| Decent transfer window on 10:40 - Feb 4 with 1066 views | SaffronWaldenBlues |
| Decent transfer window on 07:55 - Feb 4 by southnorfolkblue |
Hirst is made of glass.
Delap also had significant injuries last season.
We are one striking injury away from a major problem.
It's nuts only having 2 strikers in the squad |
The narrative has changed from finishing 17th to being promoted next season, we're now making this (and the previous window) out to be good business based on the new narrative when plainly it hasn't been. It's self-soothing. |  |
| An East Anglian Town overtaken by Londoners |
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| Decent transfer window on 10:58 - Feb 4 with 1017 views | RealArnieMFanAccount |
Wholeheartedly agree! Added quality where needed and give the squad a few extra qualities we didn't have. A striker would have been nice but so would a million pounds in my bank account lol! I said at the start of the season Hirst will get to 10 goals and still fully believe that! | | | |
| Decent transfer window on 10:58 - Feb 4 with 1017 views | BlueOura |
| Decent transfer window on 10:40 - Feb 4 by SaffronWaldenBlues |
The narrative has changed from finishing 17th to being promoted next season, we're now making this (and the previous window) out to be good business based on the new narrative when plainly it hasn't been. It's self-soothing. |
Not really. Anybody with any sense new that 17th was the aim for this season and that is still a possibility, albeit we are making it harder for ourselves by the week.
I remember people on here in the summer talking about top 10 and Europe I distinctly remember saying I would take 17th. Thats why some people are getting unreasonably upset with everything as they had unrealistic expectations to beging with.
The transfer business has not been perfect by any means but looking at the bigger picture I think we have set ourselves up with a decent young squad for whatever division we are in next season. | | | |
| Decent transfer window on 11:00 - Feb 4 with 1009 views | textbackup |
| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 by Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |
Is this a woosh? |  |
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| Decent transfer window on 11:03 - Feb 4 with 976 views | NeedhamChris |
| Decent transfer window on 07:12 - Feb 4 by Wallingford_Boy |
Completely agree.
We have two top class centre forwards, not sure why a lot on here were desperate for a third! |
I'm a fan of Hirst - but we're a PL side - not sure you can say 'top class' in that context. | |
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