| A disappointing & frustrating month 08:10 - Aug 9 with 9104 views | Len_Brennan |
It's just a week to the big Premier League kickoff, with us in the early Saturday game. I think it is fair to say that we are far less prepared, in terms of squad size, recruitment in key positions & therefore early integration of some important new players into the McKenna system & culture pre-season, that was seen as vital to us getting off a good start again this season.
It's pretty much a whole month now since Greaves & Delap signed, both of who.are very good additions, but the Philogene saga & ultimate disappointment at that time seemed to start off a recruitment wobble that has seen us miss out on a number of credible targets & get ourselves dragged through some unseemly, & at times almost desperate unrequited attempts at transfer dealing. The debacle when sending out an u21 side to play Borussia, as they actively scrambled to get alternative opposition, was a clear an indication of how far behind where we expected to be at that point as tnere could be - we are now a further week on & no further key signing has been added in the meantime (with respect to Townsend, a reserve LB who had just come in).
We are now getting linked to players that clearly weren't high on our list of targets last May & we have spent 4 weeks publically haggling over a decent Championship player, who would not really be seen a starter if we had the squad we hoped/expected to have.
Topped up with the injuries to Broadhead & Hirst, the post operation status of Clarke & Al Hamadi, and the still returning to fitness situations for Hutchison & Burns, we are surprisingly far from ideally prepared going into a Premier League season.
On the plus side of course, we have a great manager, continuity, a wonderful belief & team spirit, plus a work ethic & resiliance that will be second to none.
We also still have that last week before kickoff & then the rest of the month before the window 'slams shut'; we need to do some serious business in that time I fear, or our team spirit, belief & resiliance could take a hit, for the first time under this ownership & management team.
Discuss. |  | | |  |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:19 - Aug 9 with 5793 views | NedPlimpton |
Who are we being linked to that wasn't high up on our list? |  | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:23 - Aug 9 with 5744 views | Stewart27 |
I think we just need to focus on your last paragraph now. It is what it is.
90% of PL teams are in the same boat as us due to the timing of the transfer window. Thankfully our season won’t be defined by Liverpool or Man City.
Would have loved to have our business tied up by now but that’s just not feasible these days. | | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:25 - Aug 9 with 5701 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
I agree with most of what you say, although "miss out on a number of credible targets & get ourselves dragged through some unseemly, & at times almost desperate unrequited attempts at transfer dealing" is a bit hyperbolic. Other than the well publicised Philogene saga, who are these credible targets we've missed out on/had desperate unrequited attempts at getting? |  |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:34 - Aug 9 with 5594 views | ITFC_Forever |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:25 - Aug 9 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I agree with most of what you say, although "miss out on a number of credible targets & get ourselves dragged through some unseemly, & at times almost desperate unrequited attempts at transfer dealing" is a bit hyperbolic. Other than the well publicised Philogene saga, who are these credible targets we've missed out on/had desperate unrequited attempts at getting? |
Depending on the strength / truth to the rumours, Downes was pretty unrequited - he was always going to go to Southampton. Plus a tiny number of people were mean to him last season, so he doesn't like us anyway. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:36 - Aug 9 with 5550 views | BlueBoots |
We're just over a week away from our first Premier League season in over 20 years having effectively replaced Hladky with Muric, Ball with Johnson, Ndaba with Greaves, Jackson with Delap, Aluko with Hutchinson and Williams with Townsend. I make it we're a CM, LW and No.9 short of where we'd like to be, and have 3 weeks until the transfer window closes to sort that out.
If anyone is disappointed and frustrated at the moment, I would say that is on them rather than the club. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:39 - Aug 9 with 5470 views | victorysquad |
I think you could look at the recruitment through another lens. We have not gone out and panic bought anyone. It would be very easy to sign players but if they do not fit the system or not deemed good enough, we just need to be patient. It is out first season back in a long long time and the reality is there are a lot of other clubs that we are up against from a signature
Perspective. If we had finished tenth last season it would be a different story.
I honestly believe we will bring in the quality we need but it will take us 2 or 3 windows. We just need to do our utmost to get behind the club during what will be a challenging period whilst we re-establish ourselves as a top club in Europe. | |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:41 - Aug 9 with 5433 views | Len_Brennan |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:25 - Aug 9 by The_Flashing_Smile |
I agree with most of what you say, although "miss out on a number of credible targets & get ourselves dragged through some unseemly, & at times almost desperate unrequited attempts at transfer dealing" is a bit hyperbolic. Other than the well publicised Philogene saga, who are these credible targets we've missed out on/had desperate unrequited attempts at getting? |
Credible in terms of the sources they came from. I suppose I'm thinking of Fotis, who seemed to say he didn't want to come here, despite us increasing our offer a few times & rival clubs not matching it. Also the reports of Dara O'Shea, who rejected us to try & get a move to Brentford, and then we look to go back in for him again. There were other links too, to midfielders in particular, but maybe those reports not seeming as definitive.
You are absolutely right that I was being somewhat hyperbolic in tone, deliberately so as I was trying to start a discussion on the central point as to the effectiveness of our dealings, particularly over the last few weeks & where we stand with just a week to kickoff. | | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:45 - Aug 9 with 5354 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:34 - Aug 9 by ITFC_Forever |
Depending on the strength / truth to the rumours, Downes was pretty unrequited - he was always going to go to Southampton. Plus a tiny number of people were mean to him last season, so he doesn't like us anyway. |
Unrequited by some supporters perhaps, but by the club? | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:46 - Aug 9 with 5347 views | ITFC_Forever |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:45 - Aug 9 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Unrequited by some supporters perhaps, but by the club? |
No, sorry, I meant unrequited by the player. | |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:47 - Aug 9 with 5324 views | homer_123 |
We haven't panic bought of waivered from our approach.
Add to that - we haven't spent stupidly.
Whilst it would have been great to get another few in - it hasn't happened.
It is what it is - no point worrying about it. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:50 - Aug 9 with 5233 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:46 - Aug 9 by ITFC_Forever |
No, sorry, I meant unrequited by the player. |
Yeah but what I'm saying is some supporters wanted him back (myself included, although I always assumed he would go to Saints) but were the club (Ipswich) ever actually in for him, in terms of proper discussions/a bid? | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:51 - Aug 9 with 5206 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:47 - Aug 9 by homer_123 |
We haven't panic bought of waivered from our approach.
Add to that - we haven't spent stupidly.
Whilst it would have been great to get another few in - it hasn't happened.
It is what it is - no point worrying about it. |
It was always going to be like this, we're never going to land every target. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:53 - Aug 9 with 5173 views | gordon |
We've also got to work within the financial fair play rules while bringing in (I would guess) another 2 CMs, a LW and a CF - if eg we have £30million more to spend while staying within the rules, it isn't going to be a simple process. |  | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:58 - Aug 9 with 5092 views | davblue |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:50 - Aug 9 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Yeah but what I'm saying is some supporters wanted him back (myself included, although I always assumed he would go to Saints) but were the club (Ipswich) ever actually in for him, in terms of proper discussions/a bid? |
Yeah Phil said as much, so a credible source that i thought you would have been aware of. |  | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:00 - Aug 9 with 5018 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:58 - Aug 9 by davblue |
Yeah Phil said as much, so a credible source that i thought you would have been aware of. |
Must've been when I was on holiday, I heard some rumours but didn't see an actual bid. | |
| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:01 - Aug 9 with 5022 views | Guthrum |
We got a lot of our targets covered early and are now just chasing the final one or two pieces. We don't need a constant stream of signings all summer.
We have replaced the departing goalie (Muric) and added strength/depth at the back (Greaves, Johnson, Townsend). We have secured our best loan player from last season (Hutchinson). We have got a bit of reinforcement in attack (Delap), which was already our strongest suit. They are all there, have been involved in training camps and preseason games.
The club are just taking time to secure the people they want for those last couple of places, rather than just getting bodies in for the sake of it.
There may be a lot of internet rumours flying about, but many have little credibility ("I'm told there is nothing in this" - Phil). |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:11 - Aug 9 with 4848 views | _clive_baker_ |
I don't think its unfair to say the transfer window probably hasn't quite gone to plan as yet. There's still time though, lots of work to do still. |  | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:16 - Aug 9 with 4804 views | Vic |
What I like about our recruitment is that it seems that KM & MA would rather not sign anyone than sign the wrong player out of desperation. What we seem to be seeing this summer is a repeat of the last two summers where it appears we couldn't sign the players we wanted so signed a couple of low cost players to cover us until we were able to get what we wanted/needed in January.
One has to respect that so far this policy worked. Would I have liked others in? Too right I would - I'm sure they would too, but that's the way it goes. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:21 - Aug 9 with 4749 views | dirtyboy |
I know the game has moved on, but just hear me out two secs.
8 of the team that started the final game of the 2000 season (Barnsley) started the first game of the following Premier season.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 8/9 of the team from Huddersfield play next week.
Muric and Delap the obvious additions, Greaves likely.
Taylor, Axel and Woolfy all possible changes, but ultimately, it won't be a huge departure from last year.
Obviously the 'strength in depth' issue is perhaps more concerning, we're looking a little light in terms of swapping out the front group at the time McKenna usually likes and I think that'll be where we fall short.
Plus, the window isn't shut. |  | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:37 - Aug 9 with 4556 views | OldFart71 |
Whilst the Szmodics saga hasn't helped and Philogene probably quite rightly for him going to an established side in Villa also putting us on the back foot one thing makes me feel that football authorities do little when it comes to being able to adjust. In that the transfer window is no different to any other season yet thousands of players are tied up with the European Championship. Just as in World cup years where the players get no break from the rigours of League football and then we expect them to perform at their best. Flexibility isn't a word football authorities seem to have in their vocabulary. | | | |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:41 - Aug 9 with 4502 views | davblue |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:00 - Aug 9 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Must've been when I was on holiday, I heard some rumours but didn't see an actual bid. |
 Downes Opts to Rejoin Saints 16th Jul 2024 20:15Former Blues midfielder Flynn Downes has joined his former loan club Southampton from West Ham United on a permanent basis, despite Town targeting a reunion with the 25-year-old.  38
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:52 - Aug 9 with 4383 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 08:41 - Aug 9 by Len_Brennan |
Credible in terms of the sources they came from. I suppose I'm thinking of Fotis, who seemed to say he didn't want to come here, despite us increasing our offer a few times & rival clubs not matching it. Also the reports of Dara O'Shea, who rejected us to try & get a move to Brentford, and then we look to go back in for him again. There were other links too, to midfielders in particular, but maybe those reports not seeming as definitive.
You are absolutely right that I was being somewhat hyperbolic in tone, deliberately so as I was trying to start a discussion on the central point as to the effectiveness of our dealings, particularly over the last few weeks & where we stand with just a week to kickoff. |
On todays news,
New Premier League Club in 'They Don't Get Every Player They Are After' Shocker!! |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:53 - Aug 9 with 4371 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
Still a week to go. So I'm hoping that we can have a CM and left sided player in by Liverpool if only to beef up the squad.
As things stand we are sending McKenna to a gunfight with a knife. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 10:26 - Aug 9 with 4108 views | Scuzzer |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:21 - Aug 9 by dirtyboy |
I know the game has moved on, but just hear me out two secs.
8 of the team that started the final game of the 2000 season (Barnsley) started the first game of the following Premier season.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see 8/9 of the team from Huddersfield play next week.
Muric and Delap the obvious additions, Greaves likely.
Taylor, Axel and Woolfy all possible changes, but ultimately, it won't be a huge departure from last year.
Obviously the 'strength in depth' issue is perhaps more concerning, we're looking a little light in terms of swapping out the front group at the time McKenna usually likes and I think that'll be where we fall short.
Plus, the window isn't shut. |
I agree. Just need those additions to make the squad a bit deeper in quality. |  |
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| A disappointing & frustrating month on 10:35 - Aug 9 with 4001 views | BlueOura |
| A disappointing & frustrating month on 09:01 - Aug 9 by Guthrum |
We got a lot of our targets covered early and are now just chasing the final one or two pieces. We don't need a constant stream of signings all summer.
We have replaced the departing goalie (Muric) and added strength/depth at the back (Greaves, Johnson, Townsend). We have secured our best loan player from last season (Hutchinson). We have got a bit of reinforcement in attack (Delap), which was already our strongest suit. They are all there, have been involved in training camps and preseason games.
The club are just taking time to secure the people they want for those last couple of places, rather than just getting bodies in for the sake of it.
There may be a lot of internet rumours flying about, but many have little credibility ("I'm told there is nothing in this" - Phil). |
1 or 2? We need many more than that and even KM has acknowledged this. At least 5 more needed by my estimation. |  | | |
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