| Recruitment 17:39 - Mar 18 with 3507 views | sjg |
Been a lot of talk about the quality of the players we have recruited, money spent etc - I actually think our biggest mistake was the amount of players we brought in. The one advantage that we had over everyone else was momentum, team spirit and a team that knew the system like the backs of their hand. I think at times this season we have played 7 or 8 players that weren't here last season - in some areas this was necessary (up front, in goal), in other areas it wasn't (centre backs are if anything worse, across the 3 behind the striker we have massively overbought). I expected it to level itself out in January as the new boys got to know the system but we just seem to have lost a lot in terms of the intangibles I mentioned above. |  | | |  |
| Recruitment on 18:15 - Mar 18 with 3129 views | Churchman |
So, stick with what you had and get laughed at for losing every week having trousered the cash Norwich style and shown no desire whatsoever to stay in the Premier League or give it a go? We gave it a go.
Did we get it right? Was the quality and balance of the players recruited as successful relatively as previous seasons? We’re all recruits a success? No, of course not.
There were two ways to go. The attempt was made to buy potential because we were not in the market for £40m (Archie Gray’s fee), £50m+ ready made players and loan in some experience - Phillips, Cajuste and keep the obvious PL player we had. Tuanzebe. One had issues the other two struggled with fitness.
That was the market we were in. Fine for the ham an egg Championship, not for the PL. I hoped we’d might keep Moore for his size and experience. Did he want to stay as a squad player and would he have been good enough? Doubt it.
Whichever way it was played and whatever we did, it was always going to be a long shot. One or two of last seasons team I’d like to have seen play more, one or two we’ve brought in has puzzled me. We all are wise after the event. 100% gift of hindsight with the comfort of being always right from the plastic seat and the armchair.
The club took a risk with an eye on potential, Sammy S aside and he will be more than handy next season. But whichever way one sees it, they gave it a go, even if some of our players have attracted astonishing levels of hatred. |  | | |
| (No subject) (n/t) on 18:48 - Mar 18 with 3055 views | Bellevue_Blue |
I'm not sure it's a recruitment problem.
We had a very settled squad for the best part of 18 months. That's great but it can't carry on forever.
The incomings in the summer were to build a squad and therefore it was a case of O'Shea over Edmundson, Clarke over Harness, Delap over Moore etc etc which was certainly needed.
The problem is that we've not selected a settled side and continued to not pick players who have showed that they can compete (Woolfie/ Burgess/ Broady etc).
That's a McKenna conundrum but we have to trust him given he see's them in training every day and very much knows the level required. [Post edited 18 Mar 18:52]
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| Recruitment on 20:38 - Mar 18 with 2910 views | EdwardStone |
The other issue with recruitment is that the players we wanted might not want us.
I know all on here bleed blue and white, but the reality is that we were nailed on for relegation from the second we won promotion.... and there are many players who didn't fancy joining a club that seemed set to return to Championship after just one season |  | | |
| Recruitment on 20:43 - Mar 18 with 2892 views | JakeITFC |
Going into this season:
GK: Walton, Slicker
RB: Tuanzebe, Clarke
CB: Woolfenden, Burgess
LB: Davis
CM: Morsy, Luongo, Taylor
RW: Burns
CAM: Chaplin
LW: Broadhead
ST: Hirst, Al-Hamadi
What did you want us to do? Keep Ball, Harness and Ladapo? |  | | |
| Recruitment on 20:44 - Mar 18 with 2869 views | sjg |
| Recruitment on 20:43 - Mar 18 by JakeITFC |
Going into this season:
GK: Walton, Slicker
RB: Tuanzebe, Clarke
CB: Woolfenden, Burgess
LB: Davis
CM: Morsy, Luongo, Taylor
RW: Burns
CAM: Chaplin
LW: Broadhead
ST: Hirst, Al-Hamadi
What did you want us to do? Keep Ball, Harness and Ladapo? |
Play Chaplin, Broadhead, Wolfie and Burgess ideally | | | |
| Recruitment on 21:13 - Mar 18 with 2795 views | JakeITFC |
| Recruitment on 20:44 - Mar 18 by sjg |
Play Chaplin, Broadhead, Wolfie and Burgess ideally |
But you’d probably need substitutes presumably? | | | |
| Recruitment on 01:29 - Mar 19 with 2573 views | stiff_talking |
| Recruitment on 21:13 - Mar 18 by JakeITFC |
But you’d probably need substitutes presumably? |
Jake ITFC - you’re repeating the old team. There is no way we can go with that again in championship. Where is Palmer for example ? Why would we not keep him as #1. He just came from WBA | | | |
| Recruitment on 06:53 - Mar 19 with 2412 views | PioneerBlue |
Stadium upgrades - essential to meet PL standards
Players - recruitment was essential to build squad of 25
There was no way we could have had the squad depth to cover the intensity or injuries without recruitment last summer.
Recruitment
Hasn’t been poor imo. We’ve decided to recruit young talent that is coachable, with growth potential and future resale value. We used the loan system sparingly. In the main the player arrivals were all better than what we had in terms of experience for future upside.
Whilst not every decision will have been perfect we have to go with the understanding that MA LW are fully vested in getting the best they can within budget and time constraints.
Muric - PL experience
Greaves, Townsend - top champ talent/senior players
DOS, Ogbene - PL experience
SS, JC, JP, Delap - top champ player/talent Eng U21
Star boy - spreads for itself
These were incredible acquisitions
We’ve then added
Godfrey - PL/Serie A experience
Cajuste/ Phillips / Enciso - PL/Serie A AND full internals
Sure we might have expected more from certain players or the loans but recruitment is imperfect, and everyone was having to step up in a new team and new level.
The season was always going to be against us.
Let’s not look for answers to questions we don’t need to answer.
The informative growth and improvement question is could we have done anything differently that would have had different outcomes?
If we are looking anywhere it should be training preparation methods and rotation policies given the injuries and lack of team consistency. Could we have trained differently, prepared differently, rotated selections differently and had materially different outcomes? | |
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| Recruitment on 08:02 - Mar 19 with 2302 views | bournemouthblue |
We essentially signed a new squad, very rarely does an overhaul of that size go smoothly let alone stepping up to a league like the PL
We may get more benefits from it next season as McKenna did, inheriting Cook's squad
There must be a plan to keep together a fair portion of this youngish squad to try and grow together and improve
What we didn't really trade up in, at least in terms of PL level was power and athleticism
Only really O'Shea and Delap were a step up in that regard
I've no doubts the likes of Clarke, Philogene and Johnson will look far better in the Championship |  |
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| Recruitment on 08:05 - Mar 19 with 2293 views | bournemouthblue |
| Recruitment on 06:53 - Mar 19 by PioneerBlue |
Stadium upgrades - essential to meet PL standards
Players - recruitment was essential to build squad of 25
There was no way we could have had the squad depth to cover the intensity or injuries without recruitment last summer.
Recruitment
Hasn’t been poor imo. We’ve decided to recruit young talent that is coachable, with growth potential and future resale value. We used the loan system sparingly. In the main the player arrivals were all better than what we had in terms of experience for future upside.
Whilst not every decision will have been perfect we have to go with the understanding that MA LW are fully vested in getting the best they can within budget and time constraints.
Muric - PL experience
Greaves, Townsend - top champ talent/senior players
DOS, Ogbene - PL experience
SS, JC, JP, Delap - top champ player/talent Eng U21
Star boy - spreads for itself
These were incredible acquisitions
We’ve then added
Godfrey - PL/Serie A experience
Cajuste/ Phillips / Enciso - PL/Serie A AND full internals
Sure we might have expected more from certain players or the loans but recruitment is imperfect, and everyone was having to step up in a new team and new level.
The season was always going to be against us.
Let’s not look for answers to questions we don’t need to answer.
The informative growth and improvement question is could we have done anything differently that would have had different outcomes?
If we are looking anywhere it should be training preparation methods and rotation policies given the injuries and lack of team consistency. Could we have trained differently, prepared differently, rotated selections differently and had materially different outcomes? |
Muric has been a disaster, we got that one wrong
I can see him moving abroad and rock up for a random Europa/Conference League side and look good
The situation with Hladky wasn't ideal but I don't think he was PL standard, his passing out was PL standard but I'm not convinced his all round goalkeeping was
Had we have signed Palmer, we have more points now, I don't think anyone would disagree with that | |
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| Recruitment on 08:16 - Mar 19 with 2250 views | portmanking |
| Recruitment on 08:05 - Mar 19 by bournemouthblue |
Muric has been a disaster, we got that one wrong
I can see him moving abroad and rock up for a random Europa/Conference League side and look good
The situation with Hladky wasn't ideal but I don't think he was PL standard, his passing out was PL standard but I'm not convinced his all round goalkeeping was
Had we have signed Palmer, we have more points now, I don't think anyone would disagree with that |
I'm not actually sure the Palmer comment holds much weight.
Has he actually been *that* much better than Muric bar the Villa game?
His save percentage as an Ipswich player has been woeful (54%-55%), compared with 74% for WBA. Even Muric's save percentage this season is 67%.
I'm still not sure Palmer is the lightning rod that some purport him to be.
Muric's passing accuracy at short and long distances is also better. He has 39 high claims in the box compared with Palmer's five - and we wonder why we're looking vulnerable at set plays all of a sudden!
Looking at the data of each player, it really is those 5x errors leading to goals which blots Muric's copybook. [Post edited 19 Mar 8:19]
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| Recruitment on 08:17 - Mar 19 with 2241 views | OldFart71 |
A dozen players were required due to loan players going back to their clubs, one retirement and several simply not good enough as they proved in the Championship. The club was also restricted by the amount they could spend. Then we had a few long term injuries. So yes we did need the amount brought in. Of course there will be a debate about whether the recruitment was right as we are most likely to get relegated and on that basis I believe there will be even more changes. Maybe up to half a dozen due to the likes of Phillips back to Man City, the probable sale of Delap and the likes of Loungo and Taylor going. | | | |
| Recruitment on 10:38 - Mar 19 with 2081 views | bournemouthblue |
| Recruitment on 08:16 - Mar 19 by portmanking |
I'm not actually sure the Palmer comment holds much weight.
Has he actually been *that* much better than Muric bar the Villa game?
His save percentage as an Ipswich player has been woeful (54%-55%), compared with 74% for WBA. Even Muric's save percentage this season is 67%.
I'm still not sure Palmer is the lightning rod that some purport him to be.
Muric's passing accuracy at short and long distances is also better. He has 39 high claims in the box compared with Palmer's five - and we wonder why we're looking vulnerable at set plays all of a sudden!
Looking at the data of each player, it really is those 5x errors leading to goals which blots Muric's copybook. [Post edited 19 Mar 8:19]
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We did actually go 4 unbeaten with Muric in goal and he is a decent shop stopper
His decision making and passing out are poor though, they probably would be less exposed in the Championship
Like any player, I'm sure it is a confidence thing and the PL has exposed his weaknesses
In a settled team with a solid defence where there is some understanding he might look like a different keeper
I think ultimately Palmer is a safer pairer hands in the same way Walton was really
He had a very good record at West Brom, that won't be a fluke
Palmer is suffering a bit from us seemingly being a poorer side in the second half of this season, that won't be helping his stats | |
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| Recruitment on 10:42 - Mar 19 with 2046 views | MK1 |
Experience over future profit was our biggest mistake. A Kieffer Moore, Jordan Henderson and Johnny Evans types would have helped us massively. Totally understand why we did it, but a few experienced heads would have been a wise move. |  |
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| Badabing on 10:45 - Mar 19 with 2031 views | Dyland |
| Recruitment on 18:15 - Mar 18 by Churchman |
So, stick with what you had and get laughed at for losing every week having trousered the cash Norwich style and shown no desire whatsoever to stay in the Premier League or give it a go? We gave it a go.
Did we get it right? Was the quality and balance of the players recruited as successful relatively as previous seasons? We’re all recruits a success? No, of course not.
There were two ways to go. The attempt was made to buy potential because we were not in the market for £40m (Archie Gray’s fee), £50m+ ready made players and loan in some experience - Phillips, Cajuste and keep the obvious PL player we had. Tuanzebe. One had issues the other two struggled with fitness.
That was the market we were in. Fine for the ham an egg Championship, not for the PL. I hoped we’d might keep Moore for his size and experience. Did he want to stay as a squad player and would he have been good enough? Doubt it.
Whichever way it was played and whatever we did, it was always going to be a long shot. One or two of last seasons team I’d like to have seen play more, one or two we’ve brought in has puzzled me. We all are wise after the event. 100% gift of hindsight with the comfort of being always right from the plastic seat and the armchair.
The club took a risk with an eye on potential, Sammy S aside and he will be more than handy next season. But whichever way one sees it, they gave it a go, even if some of our players have attracted astonishing levels of hatred. |
Last point spot on too, and quite depressing. The www at its very worst.
Muric was a disastrous signing let's be honest, and one of the few things I called correctly at the outset. Interesting that a few clearly knowledgable posters have defended him and I respect their opinions, but whilst he's clearly a talented keeper ball "out of hand" he's really bad in posession. And that was key to last season. Baffling how the club fooked this one up. You don't need to be a data analyst, you just needed to watch him tail end of last season. Data obssession and "AI" hyperbolic bullsh1t at its worst.
Phillips hasn't worked has it. A real gamble that has backfired and cost us dear, as you say re midfield not working effectively. Definitely one of the more disappointing signings in recent memory, for me. |  |
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| Recruitment on 11:00 - Mar 19 with 1978 views | bournemouthblue |
| Recruitment on 08:16 - Mar 19 by portmanking |
I'm not actually sure the Palmer comment holds much weight.
Has he actually been *that* much better than Muric bar the Villa game?
His save percentage as an Ipswich player has been woeful (54%-55%), compared with 74% for WBA. Even Muric's save percentage this season is 67%.
I'm still not sure Palmer is the lightning rod that some purport him to be.
Muric's passing accuracy at short and long distances is also better. He has 39 high claims in the box compared with Palmer's five - and we wonder why we're looking vulnerable at set plays all of a sudden!
Looking at the data of each player, it really is those 5x errors leading to goals which blots Muric's copybook. [Post edited 19 Mar 8:19]
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duplicate post n/t [Post edited 19 Mar 11:01]
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| Badabing on 11:01 - Mar 19 with 1971 views | portmanking |
| Badabing on 10:45 - Mar 19 by Dyland |
Last point spot on too, and quite depressing. The www at its very worst.
Muric was a disastrous signing let's be honest, and one of the few things I called correctly at the outset. Interesting that a few clearly knowledgable posters have defended him and I respect their opinions, but whilst he's clearly a talented keeper ball "out of hand" he's really bad in posession. And that was key to last season. Baffling how the club fooked this one up. You don't need to be a data analyst, you just needed to watch him tail end of last season. Data obssession and "AI" hyperbolic bullsh1t at its worst.
Phillips hasn't worked has it. A real gamble that has backfired and cost us dear, as you say re midfield not working effectively. Definitely one of the more disappointing signings in recent memory, for me. |
I think with Muric, it's more that the raw tools are there for him to become a truly world-class keeper. His imposing frame, great shot-stopping, confidence with claiming high balls etc.
I do think if he was given licence to go longer from goal kicks - as Palmer and Walton have clearly been allowed - the number of errors leading to goals from Muric would've halved overnight.
A big issue with Muric is his lack of personality/warmth, making it hard for fans to 'connect' too. | | | |
| Recruitment on 11:03 - Mar 19 with 1948 views | JakeITFC |
| Recruitment on 10:42 - Mar 19 by MK1 |
Experience over future profit was our biggest mistake. A Kieffer Moore, Jordan Henderson and Johnny Evans types would have helped us massively. Totally understand why we did it, but a few experienced heads would have been a wise move. |
We did buy experienced players too, they just haven't really come off - Ben Johnson, Kalvin Phillips, Aro Muric, Dara O'Shea and Chiedozie Ogbene (and latterly Godfrey and Enciso) all had various levels of recent and relevant PL football. | | | |
| Recruitment on 11:12 - Mar 19 with 1907 views | gsoly |
| Recruitment on 08:16 - Mar 19 by portmanking |
I'm not actually sure the Palmer comment holds much weight.
Has he actually been *that* much better than Muric bar the Villa game?
His save percentage as an Ipswich player has been woeful (54%-55%), compared with 74% for WBA. Even Muric's save percentage this season is 67%.
I'm still not sure Palmer is the lightning rod that some purport him to be.
Muric's passing accuracy at short and long distances is also better. He has 39 high claims in the box compared with Palmer's five - and we wonder why we're looking vulnerable at set plays all of a sudden!
Looking at the data of each player, it really is those 5x errors leading to goals which blots Muric's copybook. [Post edited 19 Mar 8:19]
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This really hits the nail on the head for me. A couple of Muric's howlers were *so* bad that a change had to be made, but Palmer's MoM performance against Villa has seemingly left him immune to criticism. He's subsequently looked like what he is - a solid Championship GK. There won't be Prem teams after him in the summer. But sadly Muric had seemed to lose confidence, and the players around him had lost confidence in him too. Fair play to the club for acting quickly on it. |  | | |
| Recruitment on 11:15 - Mar 19 with 1892 views | Steve_M |
| Recruitment on 08:16 - Mar 19 by portmanking |
I'm not actually sure the Palmer comment holds much weight.
Has he actually been *that* much better than Muric bar the Villa game?
His save percentage as an Ipswich player has been woeful (54%-55%), compared with 74% for WBA. Even Muric's save percentage this season is 67%.
I'm still not sure Palmer is the lightning rod that some purport him to be.
Muric's passing accuracy at short and long distances is also better. He has 39 high claims in the box compared with Palmer's five - and we wonder why we're looking vulnerable at set plays all of a sudden!
Looking at the data of each player, it really is those 5x errors leading to goals which blots Muric's copybook. [Post edited 19 Mar 8:19]
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I think there's probably an intangible factor of defenders feeling comfortable with a keeper.
I don't think palmer comes out of last Saturday very well though, poor kick for the first goal and three and four felt like they were past him too easily (albeit the advantage was with the attacker both times). |  |
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| Recruitment on 11:22 - Mar 19 with 1838 views | portmanking |
| Recruitment on 11:15 - Mar 19 by Steve_M |
I think there's probably an intangible factor of defenders feeling comfortable with a keeper.
I don't think palmer comes out of last Saturday very well though, poor kick for the first goal and three and four felt like they were past him too easily (albeit the advantage was with the attacker both times). |
Cajuste was furious at Palmer for kicking it straight at him last weekend. I lip read him muttering "f00king stupid" before the corner was taken.
I couldn't fault Palmer at Villa and he made some important saves at Palace, but I don't think he's as 'safe' as some make out. Baggies fans I know warned me that his kicking was erratic and he was liable for the odd brain fart.
I think GK is one of our biggest areas of concern this summer, since there's very little to choose between Palmer and Walton, while Slicker is being held back despite having some useful raw materials of his own. | | | |
| Recruitment on 12:44 - Mar 19 with 1689 views | SaffronWaldenBlues |
| Recruitment on 06:53 - Mar 19 by PioneerBlue |
Stadium upgrades - essential to meet PL standards
Players - recruitment was essential to build squad of 25
There was no way we could have had the squad depth to cover the intensity or injuries without recruitment last summer.
Recruitment
Hasn’t been poor imo. We’ve decided to recruit young talent that is coachable, with growth potential and future resale value. We used the loan system sparingly. In the main the player arrivals were all better than what we had in terms of experience for future upside.
Whilst not every decision will have been perfect we have to go with the understanding that MA LW are fully vested in getting the best they can within budget and time constraints.
Muric - PL experience
Greaves, Townsend - top champ talent/senior players
DOS, Ogbene - PL experience
SS, JC, JP, Delap - top champ player/talent Eng U21
Star boy - spreads for itself
These were incredible acquisitions
We’ve then added
Godfrey - PL/Serie A experience
Cajuste/ Phillips / Enciso - PL/Serie A AND full internals
Sure we might have expected more from certain players or the loans but recruitment is imperfect, and everyone was having to step up in a new team and new level.
The season was always going to be against us.
Let’s not look for answers to questions we don’t need to answer.
The informative growth and improvement question is could we have done anything differently that would have had different outcomes?
If we are looking anywhere it should be training preparation methods and rotation policies given the injuries and lack of team consistency. Could we have trained differently, prepared differently, rotated selections differently and had materially different outcomes? |
"These were incredible acquisitions"
On what basis? Muric, O'Shea and Ogebene played for two of the poorest Premier League sides last season, and did not remotely look at the level to play in that league, and have not faired any better here under our system. Ben Johnson I thought would be better, and he's had a few good games but broadly looks like a Championship player.
Greaves, Phillogene, and Delap were all part of the Hull side that massively underachieved, and finished yards from us, last season. Delap has proven to be a good signing, although not the finished article, the other two there is room for improvement also so long term they might not be bad signings, but both were massively overpriced for what they were, and were never going to be that useful in a relegation dogfight anyway. So that's two more Championship players added, along with Delap who has stepped up this season.
Szmodics, Clarke, Townsend, and Palmer are all from teams we finished yards above last season in the Championship, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Bro and while Szmodics had some moments early on, couldn't keep up with the fitness levels this league requires and has missed a crucial phase of the season, Clarke is a lightyear off this level and too lightweight, and we paid outrageous fees for those two when you think about what we got for it. Palmer has done alright but hasn't done any better than Muric or Walton, and Townsend has looked the better of those and he only plays when Davis is injured...
Godfrey, unfit and unable to play at this level, was sent back home, Enciso a non-team player with absolutely no end product was pretty crud bar a wonder goal at Brighton. Phillips has done okay as the season has gone on, but we had to play Morsy for the first (and more successful half) because he wasn't fit enough, and again, for the money, was that worth it given we're miles off staying up?
Cajuste and Delap have been the two best signings.
Both windows have been a costly, disaster, and we brought in players for a lot of money no better than what we had.
Incredibly bad I would say. |  |
| An East Anglian Town overtaken by Londoners |
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| Recruitment on 13:28 - Mar 19 with 1592 views | Steve_M |
| Recruitment on 12:44 - Mar 19 by SaffronWaldenBlues |
"These were incredible acquisitions"
On what basis? Muric, O'Shea and Ogebene played for two of the poorest Premier League sides last season, and did not remotely look at the level to play in that league, and have not faired any better here under our system. Ben Johnson I thought would be better, and he's had a few good games but broadly looks like a Championship player.
Greaves, Phillogene, and Delap were all part of the Hull side that massively underachieved, and finished yards from us, last season. Delap has proven to be a good signing, although not the finished article, the other two there is room for improvement also so long term they might not be bad signings, but both were massively overpriced for what they were, and were never going to be that useful in a relegation dogfight anyway. So that's two more Championship players added, along with Delap who has stepped up this season.
Szmodics, Clarke, Townsend, and Palmer are all from teams we finished yards above last season in the Championship, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Bro and while Szmodics had some moments early on, couldn't keep up with the fitness levels this league requires and has missed a crucial phase of the season, Clarke is a lightyear off this level and too lightweight, and we paid outrageous fees for those two when you think about what we got for it. Palmer has done alright but hasn't done any better than Muric or Walton, and Townsend has looked the better of those and he only plays when Davis is injured...
Godfrey, unfit and unable to play at this level, was sent back home, Enciso a non-team player with absolutely no end product was pretty crud bar a wonder goal at Brighton. Phillips has done okay as the season has gone on, but we had to play Morsy for the first (and more successful half) because he wasn't fit enough, and again, for the money, was that worth it given we're miles off staying up?
Cajuste and Delap have been the two best signings.
Both windows have been a costly, disaster, and we brought in players for a lot of money no better than what we had.
Incredibly bad I would say. |
Hull underachieved last season? Have you seen how this season has gone. Greaves was in the team of the year voted on by fellow professionals.
I can't be arsed critiquing the rest of it. | |
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| Recruitment on 15:19 - Mar 19 with 1424 views | Bellevue_Blue |
| Recruitment on 12:44 - Mar 19 by SaffronWaldenBlues |
"These were incredible acquisitions"
On what basis? Muric, O'Shea and Ogebene played for two of the poorest Premier League sides last season, and did not remotely look at the level to play in that league, and have not faired any better here under our system. Ben Johnson I thought would be better, and he's had a few good games but broadly looks like a Championship player.
Greaves, Phillogene, and Delap were all part of the Hull side that massively underachieved, and finished yards from us, last season. Delap has proven to be a good signing, although not the finished article, the other two there is room for improvement also so long term they might not be bad signings, but both were massively overpriced for what they were, and were never going to be that useful in a relegation dogfight anyway. So that's two more Championship players added, along with Delap who has stepped up this season.
Szmodics, Clarke, Townsend, and Palmer are all from teams we finished yards above last season in the Championship, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Bro and while Szmodics had some moments early on, couldn't keep up with the fitness levels this league requires and has missed a crucial phase of the season, Clarke is a lightyear off this level and too lightweight, and we paid outrageous fees for those two when you think about what we got for it. Palmer has done alright but hasn't done any better than Muric or Walton, and Townsend has looked the better of those and he only plays when Davis is injured...
Godfrey, unfit and unable to play at this level, was sent back home, Enciso a non-team player with absolutely no end product was pretty crud bar a wonder goal at Brighton. Phillips has done okay as the season has gone on, but we had to play Morsy for the first (and more successful half) because he wasn't fit enough, and again, for the money, was that worth it given we're miles off staying up?
Cajuste and Delap have been the two best signings.
Both windows have been a costly, disaster, and we brought in players for a lot of money no better than what we had.
Incredibly bad I would say. |
What a stupid post...
Ogbene had 4 goals and an assist while starting 20 games. O'Shea started 32 games, had the second-most goal involvements of any Burnley player, and played for a team with the best defensive record among the bottom three. Muric had the best save percentage (80.8%) of any Premier League goalkeeper who started at least 10 games. They all proved they could compete.
Greaves was in the Team of the Year, Philogene had 18 goal contributions in his first full season, and you gloss over the Delap signing despite it being the exact same type of gamble on potential—except he's excelled.
Szmodics scored 27 goals over the year. I could go on. There were solid reasons for signing every player we brought in.
Just because we finished above them doesn't mean they didn't have individuals who could improve our team. By that logic, should Forest avoid signing any Spurs or United players this summer because of their likely finishing positions? Of course not!
The thinking behind these signings was sound: long-term sustainability with the hope that they could transition into Premier League players immediately. It’s not looking like enough, but if we go down, we’ll have the best team in the Championship.
The club is never going to get every window perfect, but honestly, posts like this—criticising every player—are pathetic. [Post edited 19 Mar 15:22]
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| Recruitment on 16:47 - Mar 19 with 1328 views | gsoly |
| Recruitment on 12:44 - Mar 19 by SaffronWaldenBlues |
"These were incredible acquisitions"
On what basis? Muric, O'Shea and Ogebene played for two of the poorest Premier League sides last season, and did not remotely look at the level to play in that league, and have not faired any better here under our system. Ben Johnson I thought would be better, and he's had a few good games but broadly looks like a Championship player.
Greaves, Phillogene, and Delap were all part of the Hull side that massively underachieved, and finished yards from us, last season. Delap has proven to be a good signing, although not the finished article, the other two there is room for improvement also so long term they might not be bad signings, but both were massively overpriced for what they were, and were never going to be that useful in a relegation dogfight anyway. So that's two more Championship players added, along with Delap who has stepped up this season.
Szmodics, Clarke, Townsend, and Palmer are all from teams we finished yards above last season in the Championship, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Bro and while Szmodics had some moments early on, couldn't keep up with the fitness levels this league requires and has missed a crucial phase of the season, Clarke is a lightyear off this level and too lightweight, and we paid outrageous fees for those two when you think about what we got for it. Palmer has done alright but hasn't done any better than Muric or Walton, and Townsend has looked the better of those and he only plays when Davis is injured...
Godfrey, unfit and unable to play at this level, was sent back home, Enciso a non-team player with absolutely no end product was pretty crud bar a wonder goal at Brighton. Phillips has done okay as the season has gone on, but we had to play Morsy for the first (and more successful half) because he wasn't fit enough, and again, for the money, was that worth it given we're miles off staying up?
Cajuste and Delap have been the two best signings.
Both windows have been a costly, disaster, and we brought in players for a lot of money no better than what we had.
Incredibly bad I would say. |
Why is everything so binary with you? Such a destructive way to look at it all. | | | |
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