| Transfer Strategy v Reality 11:21 - Jan 25 with 1905 views | LA_Tractor_Boy |
I'm pretty sure Ashton said in the summer the club wanted to sign players with pace, power, athleticism etc. who could make the step up to the PL.
Looking at our current squad, of our 8 permanent signings IMO only Matusiwa and Egeli fall into this category.
It appears to me that strategy has now shifted to 'we'll worry about the PL if/when we get there'. I wonder if Hackney rejecting us in the summer caused that shift. |  | | |  |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:23 - Jan 25 with 1887 views | redrickstuhaart |
I think it is just very hard indeed to get people with the quality and the physical attributes.
The difference between leagues (and champ to prem is a prime is example) is so often that the next league up has players of fairly similar ability, but 2 inches taller, and 10% quicker. | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:31 - Jan 25 with 1820 views | Herbivore |
Signing Prem ready players when in the Championship is always the aspiration, it's just very, very, very difficult to actually do. |  |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:40 - Jan 25 with 1757 views | ITFCSG |
Yes, but if (and it’s a big IF) we get to the Prem the narrative will change to “no one with proven PL pedigree and quality will want to join a newly promoted club”
We’ve all heard it before
Unless Gamechanger is content for us to be the new Burnley or Norwich yo-yo-ing every year then MA & Co better start learning quick from Sunderland and Leeds. It’s going to be 5 years since the takeover took place and I honestly don’t see much improvement in our recruitment - SWE aside we’re still dependent on Championship all-stars from seasons ago and other EFL players. Even Cajuste wasn’t scouted by us, he was offered to us by his agent when it was clear Brentford or Saudi didn’t want him. | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:42 - Jan 25 with 1746 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Egeli ?
What category does he fall in to out of Pace and power ? |  |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:50 - Jan 25 with 1658 views | LA_Tractor_Boy |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:42 - Jan 25 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
Egeli ?
What category does he fall in to out of Pace and power ? |
I think he's got the potential to become a PL player. Not saying he will though. | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 15:58 - Jan 25 with 1424 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:31 - Jan 25 by Herbivore |
Signing Prem ready players when in the Championship is always the aspiration, it's just very, very, very difficult to actually do. |
Might have also been an issue with some of the strategy. |  |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 16:06 - Jan 25 with 1382 views | WestSussexBlue |
Indeed. The real concern I’ve got is that if we do secure promotion again whether that be automatic or play offs, we’ll need a fair amount of upgrades to the squad to be anywhere near competitive.
Just out of interest how many of yesterday’s starting Eleven would be comfortable in the Premier League? | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:19 - Jan 25 with 1311 views | LA_Tractor_Boy |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 16:06 - Jan 25 by WestSussexBlue |
Indeed. The real concern I’ve got is that if we do secure promotion again whether that be automatic or play offs, we’ll need a fair amount of upgrades to the squad to be anywhere near competitive.
Just out of interest how many of yesterday’s starting Eleven would be comfortable in the Premier League? |
IMO only Matusiwa could currently make the step up.
Maybe I was naive, but I was confident the class of 23/24 would thrive in the PL. The current squad is miles off what's needed. | | | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:23 - Jan 25 with 1288 views | itfcsuth |
Only really Matusiwa fits that category currently - Egeli still looks a little bit away but is 19, has loads of room for development over the years.
Our recruitment has largely been bizarre, been a scrabble bag of signings, no real clear identity or strategy, no balance to it - and the reality is if we were to be promoted, we’d have to replace about 90% of the squad again. |  | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:23 - Jan 25 with 1283 views | itfcsuth |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 11:31 - Jan 25 by Herbivore |
Signing Prem ready players when in the Championship is always the aspiration, it's just very, very, very difficult to actually do. |
Almost as if that’s their job isn’t it. | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:29 - Jan 25 with 1229 views | BouncebackIpswich |
Recruitment has been consistently awful for a good 2 seasons now. The one part of the clubs set up that is lagging behind the progress of the rest of the club and continuing to display legacy issues. It's so poor that it is risking holding Ipswich back and needs updating / replacing urgently. |  | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 18:00 - Jan 25 with 1156 views | ITFCSG |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:23 - Jan 25 by itfcsuth |
Almost as if that’s their job isn’t it. |
We aren't even crying out for Prem ready players NOW in Jan. We just need players that can get us over the line.
"Scary" transfer list? Why try to run when you can't even crawl? | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 18:05 - Jan 25 with 1120 views | blueoutlook |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 18:00 - Jan 25 by ITFCSG |
We aren't even crying out for Prem ready players NOW in Jan. We just need players that can get us over the line.
"Scary" transfer list? Why try to run when you can't even crawl? |
Trouble is, if these players all know they won’t be wanted if they get promoted,what’s in it for them to try ? |  | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 19:45 - Jan 25 with 992 views | ITFCSG |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 18:05 - Jan 25 by blueoutlook |
Trouble is, if these players all know they won’t be wanted if they get promoted,what’s in it for them to try ? |
Thats why we need to identify "parachute" quality players who can fire us into the PL now and yet play a bit part when we get promoted as fringe players. Pretty much like what Ampadu, Rodon, Struijk, Gnoto etc. for Leeds and Mundle, Hume, Ballard, O'Nien etc. for Sunderland | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 19:53 - Jan 25 with 934 views | Nutkins_Return |
I think Matusiwa, Kipre, Jens definitely tick those boxes. I think Mcateer is also very athletic. It's more ability in question.
You can see Egeli has some of the attributes for too level football required and I think he will get more powerful and his pace isn't maxed yet.
Furlong does tick some of the boxes as well but I'm not convinced for prem but he's been a good signing.
So some of the strategy has been attempted but not come off completely. The squad is definitely stronger then last time so if we go up I think we have a much stronger core. But we will need quite a few upgrades. | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:17 - Jan 25 with 864 views | Pilgrimblue |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 19:53 - Jan 25 by Nutkins_Return |
I think Matusiwa, Kipre, Jens definitely tick those boxes. I think Mcateer is also very athletic. It's more ability in question.
You can see Egeli has some of the attributes for too level football required and I think he will get more powerful and his pace isn't maxed yet.
Furlong does tick some of the boxes as well but I'm not convinced for prem but he's been a good signing.
So some of the strategy has been attempted but not come off completely. The squad is definitely stronger then last time so if we go up I think we have a much stronger core. But we will need quite a few upgrades. |
I don’t think it is stronger. If it is then McK is loosing it! We’re supposed to be wealthy now but for me we paid over the top for average players. I get it that wholesale changes need time but some just aren’t good enough. |  | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:28 - Jan 25 with 817 views | pointofblue |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 17:23 - Jan 25 by itfcsuth |
Only really Matusiwa fits that category currently - Egeli still looks a little bit away but is 19, has loads of room for development over the years.
Our recruitment has largely been bizarre, been a scrabble bag of signings, no real clear identity or strategy, no balance to it - and the reality is if we were to be promoted, we’d have to replace about 90% of the squad again. |
Our recruitment has been a mess since last summer. I can excuse the 2024 because we were thrown into an unexpected situation, but not the most recent one.
After the summer window closed, we were left with:
- No cover for Matusiwa
- Promoting Taylor, who barely played in 23/24, to an important component in the centre of midfield
- Three right backs and three centre backs, but no proper cover at left back
- Spending a decent amount of money on McAteer when we already had Ogbene
There was a lack of logic to many of the moves, and we're left where we are. Hardly disastrous, but not in a position to take full advantage of a weak division. | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:57 - Jan 25 with 751 views | Facefacts |
If we can't get a top striker with pace/power/athleticism on loan from the Premier League this week, remembering that all strikers move at the very end of the window, and then we don't go on to HMS 'walk' the league, I agree there is a big discrepancy between who we want (and can now afford) and, as you put it, "Reality". We need to do something about it.
Top players won't join us, due to Ipswich who?, Kieran who?, this has been the case for a couple of years now, so we need a change of manager every few years with the necessary contacts in world football to make stuff happen (whilst the legacy nature of our recruitment is brought up to speed - this will only happen if we get established in the Premier League). We really needed to change the manager before January.
The well of Kieran McKenna contacts has dried up and his 'luck' with transfers or with those who were here when he arrived, has run out. We need a hard man who is prepared to drop his favourites when they are not good enough. We don't look like cutting the playing squad ruthlessly to bring in better players.
If Mark Ashton is saying to the owners, let us carry on as we are, then they should be pushing back to him, if they are really ambitious to become/stay a Premier League club - "find us a manager/coach who can bring this - or you can go too". But it all looks very safe, and scared to act. Also I think Ashton/McKenna would both need to go at the same time. Not going to happen - so we will carry on exactly as we are. |  | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 23:12 - Jan 25 with 563 views | Herbivore |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:57 - Jan 25 by Facefacts |
If we can't get a top striker with pace/power/athleticism on loan from the Premier League this week, remembering that all strikers move at the very end of the window, and then we don't go on to HMS 'walk' the league, I agree there is a big discrepancy between who we want (and can now afford) and, as you put it, "Reality". We need to do something about it.
Top players won't join us, due to Ipswich who?, Kieran who?, this has been the case for a couple of years now, so we need a change of manager every few years with the necessary contacts in world football to make stuff happen (whilst the legacy nature of our recruitment is brought up to speed - this will only happen if we get established in the Premier League). We really needed to change the manager before January.
The well of Kieran McKenna contacts has dried up and his 'luck' with transfers or with those who were here when he arrived, has run out. We need a hard man who is prepared to drop his favourites when they are not good enough. We don't look like cutting the playing squad ruthlessly to bring in better players.
If Mark Ashton is saying to the owners, let us carry on as we are, then they should be pushing back to him, if they are really ambitious to become/stay a Premier League club - "find us a manager/coach who can bring this - or you can go too". But it all looks very safe, and scared to act. Also I think Ashton/McKenna would both need to go at the same time. Not going to happen - so we will carry on exactly as we are. |
Madness. | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 23:50 - Jan 25 with 501 views | Garv |
Egeli?
Matusiwa, Kipre and Cajuste fit that bill. Maybe Furlong. |  |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 00:49 - Jan 26 with 465 views | BouncebackIpswich |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:57 - Jan 25 by Facefacts |
If we can't get a top striker with pace/power/athleticism on loan from the Premier League this week, remembering that all strikers move at the very end of the window, and then we don't go on to HMS 'walk' the league, I agree there is a big discrepancy between who we want (and can now afford) and, as you put it, "Reality". We need to do something about it.
Top players won't join us, due to Ipswich who?, Kieran who?, this has been the case for a couple of years now, so we need a change of manager every few years with the necessary contacts in world football to make stuff happen (whilst the legacy nature of our recruitment is brought up to speed - this will only happen if we get established in the Premier League). We really needed to change the manager before January.
The well of Kieran McKenna contacts has dried up and his 'luck' with transfers or with those who were here when he arrived, has run out. We need a hard man who is prepared to drop his favourites when they are not good enough. We don't look like cutting the playing squad ruthlessly to bring in better players.
If Mark Ashton is saying to the owners, let us carry on as we are, then they should be pushing back to him, if they are really ambitious to become/stay a Premier League club - "find us a manager/coach who can bring this - or you can go too". But it all looks very safe, and scared to act. Also I think Ashton/McKenna would both need to go at the same time. Not going to happen - so we will carry on exactly as we are. |
I mean, I agree with you that the recruitment has been shyte but this is stark raving mad | | | |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 07:49 - Jan 26 with 185 views | Metal_Hacker |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 20:57 - Jan 25 by Facefacts |
If we can't get a top striker with pace/power/athleticism on loan from the Premier League this week, remembering that all strikers move at the very end of the window, and then we don't go on to HMS 'walk' the league, I agree there is a big discrepancy between who we want (and can now afford) and, as you put it, "Reality". We need to do something about it.
Top players won't join us, due to Ipswich who?, Kieran who?, this has been the case for a couple of years now, so we need a change of manager every few years with the necessary contacts in world football to make stuff happen (whilst the legacy nature of our recruitment is brought up to speed - this will only happen if we get established in the Premier League). We really needed to change the manager before January.
The well of Kieran McKenna contacts has dried up and his 'luck' with transfers or with those who were here when he arrived, has run out. We need a hard man who is prepared to drop his favourites when they are not good enough. We don't look like cutting the playing squad ruthlessly to bring in better players.
If Mark Ashton is saying to the owners, let us carry on as we are, then they should be pushing back to him, if they are really ambitious to become/stay a Premier League club - "find us a manager/coach who can bring this - or you can go too". But it all looks very safe, and scared to act. Also I think Ashton/McKenna would both need to go at the same time. Not going to happen - so we will carry on exactly as we are. |
Nurse !!! |  |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 08:16 - Jan 26 with 134 views | PioneerBlue |
The ever so slightly annoying thing is that we targeted and brought to the club the type of player as a striker with previous experience of the champ that was available to us in the summer. The problem is he’s contributed basically nothing in terms of the output expected of a striker or a 10 in our system.
Sad, but it raises a question over our recruitment, not the first nor last time because some of it has been off the mark for the time place money we have spent, there are obviously successes alongside that. We’ve got to be better in who we target and who we sign up, let’s hope AM is the start of recruiting players that make the difference this window and beyond. | |
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| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 08:25 - Jan 26 with 110 views | Herbivore |
| Transfer Strategy v Reality on 08:16 - Jan 26 by PioneerBlue |
The ever so slightly annoying thing is that we targeted and brought to the club the type of player as a striker with previous experience of the champ that was available to us in the summer. The problem is he’s contributed basically nothing in terms of the output expected of a striker or a 10 in our system.
Sad, but it raises a question over our recruitment, not the first nor last time because some of it has been off the mark for the time place money we have spent, there are obviously successes alongside that. We’ve got to be better in who we target and who we sign up, let’s hope AM is the start of recruiting players that make the difference this window and beyond. |
No side has anything close to a 100% strike rate when it comes to transfers. We were spoiled by the fact we weren't too far off that in McKenna's first couple of years here but that's certainly not the norm, and we were aided by being able to sign decent Championship level players in League 1 which increased the likelihood of success. It gets much tougher when you're fishing in a smaller pond and you're not a big fish. On paper, someone like Akpom made a lot of sense at the time but it really hasn't worked out for him at all. But then as a counter to that, Kipre was bought in mainly as solid cover and he's ended up being very good and has become a mainstay. | |
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