Every transfer window is the same - It gets close to the deadline and the 2 positions we are urgently in need of (Striker and Central Defender) has not been addressed. There are no solid links or rumours to anyone and I am starting to get figity that we will panic buy a couple of squad filler like Wague and Zeaglaar We seem to be struggling to shift players like Britos and Okaka, which makes me think we aren't close to landing their replacements. I know we should trust the Pozzo's but seeing the business some of our rivals are doing is making me nervous Am I the only one hovering my hand over the panic button ?
Things have gone quiet everywhere. Maybe it's the Richarlison big story pushing everything else to one side for the moment. But Doucoure, Pereyra, Grey - all were on their way out apparently yet with 2 weeks to go all are still here as far as we know. And what of all the players that were out on loan? What of the myth and legend of Peneranda? It's like we're in the eye of the storm right now. Went crazy at the start, calm behind the scenes stuff going on now, last week will hopefully go mental again!
Like a lot of other clubs with a few years in the division, we're not very flexible. We have the core of a Premiership team, on Premiership wages. Unless players can be shifted, there's not really room to start bringing in a whole new side. Ourselves, Muff, Palace, Burnley, Newcastle have hardly done any business. However,Fulham for example have a relatively small squad, on Championship wages. So its easier for them to go and bring players in. It also helps they have a billionaire backing them. I think all our business will be done right at the end of the window, when prices are lower, and players become more keen to move
Agree. Which make decisions like extending Britos contract and giving Prodl and Holebas longer extensions all the more stupid. They aren’t up to scratch so get rid of them and free up the squad and wage space. It’s as if they can’t bare the thought of a player leaving for no fee no matter how in decline they are.
In my opinion we have significantly regressed against the competition. We’ve currently pinned our offensive hopes on Success and Peneranda somehow suddenly living up to their potential of 2 years ago after doing nothing to this point. I expect a season of struggle.
We had a great few years but it's time to realise this is our level. No matter what is spun pre season the owners won't do what breaks the model
Yes would be a massive gamble if there is no further strengthening. Very disappointing compared to last summer, esp with the extra year of prem funds and sale proceeds.
Half the players we have been linked to are yet to find a club or to move. Spurs have signed no one. Man U don't have the CB they certainly need. The market is very very slow - patience. It's also not true that our offensive hopes rest on Penaranda or Success. They rest on Deeney, Grey, Deleofeu, Pereyra, Hughes, Sema, Chalobah, Cleverley and at the moment Doucoure. We have also strengthened at the back with Navarro and Massina. Almost certainly we will buy a forward, a winger and bring in a CB. And maybe a goalie and a random.
I know. The owners wont though. For every player that does well there will be 5 Oulares. Sherlock warned us 6 years ago and it was spot on. Survival is the aim. On a budget.
The point is that everyone was crying out for offensive improvement last season. I’m discounting Sema as frankly he is a budget punt which results in my conclusion that we are pinning improvement hopes on Success and Peneranda coming good. The midfield quality has never been in question but it is unchanged.
Penaranda and Success are under assessment. They will make it or be shipped out and Penaranda doesn't even have a work permit. Deleofeu is a big player for us as would be a full and fully fit season of Hughes and Pereyra. Sema was cheap, but I have little doubt he is here to be a first teamer. He is a rising star who was a surprise omission from the Swedish WC squad. We also have form for ruthlessly leaving players out. that a few are still here doesn't mean they will make the squad. Fact is though, our squad last season was plenty good enough to start like a train. Consistency (esp from Gray and Deeney) is what we need rather than rely on new faces each year. Those we do get need to be ready to make a difference - not so easy to get that right.
Very happy with that. The budget just has to be sensible so that we can see a net improvement in the squad every year as the general standard improves.
You also need to improve as players decline, age or are, in our case, written off for large parts of each season with injury. My biggest concern is that we are gonna have another season where 2 or 3 of our best players are injured for large parts and our back ups and other areas of the team are weak. Piss weak. Why on earth we don't spend 8-9m on a decent centre half is beyond me.
The first issue here is the internet (ok grandad). Checking the internet for instant news is so easy, I’m as guilty as the next man. I’ll probably check the official site, observer and this site 7 or 8 times today for news. 3 days of that and I’ve not had the news I was hoping for 20 plus times. Those who remember pre internet, you’d wait for the local paper once a week. A week in football is a long time. Those claiming we have fallen behind the other teams around us in the league, have we? We’re up near the top for new signings so far this window. Yep lots of unknowns to the average football fan but I was looking through other clubs dealings and we are no different to most of them. Next thing, why are people so worried about players we haven’t moved on yet? This is an area the pozzos excel in in my opinion. Yes there have been occasional exceptions to the rule, but for every Djedje / Paredes there are 10-15 others loaned out, with loan fees to reduce the costs. If this model didn’t work financially they wouldn’t do it. I also don’t get the panick around relegation. I’m not saying it can’t happen, of course it could, but how many times has a pozzo run club been relegated? They seem to know what they’re doing and I’m happy to put my annual bets on, 1) we won’t be relegated and 2) a top 10 finish (I know I’ve lost this one each time but I still think we have that in us).
Really? Here's a treat for you then: http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Premier+League/Watford Saves checking individual sites.
Luckily for you, you didn't say Reddit, or that would have been a straight red card and automatic ban.
The fact that out back-ups have no suitors at all, or have been taken by the likes of Aberdeen and Sunderland says everything about our strength in depth. It’s a squad game these days, even more so with our injury record, and strength in depth is awful.
And another little treat...... (you need to sign up for free or you have views throughout the day limited) http://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/transfers Good for seeing what other transfers are happening.
Unfortunately I don't think many of our signings improve the situation. Our approach is one where 1 in 5 turns out to be decent, whilst the other 4 are utter turd, stretched at least 2 leagues above their level. Oulare for example. Big money spent for a League 1 player at best. I accept that some teams make mistakes, but how many are buying such utter **** as us? Buy cheap, buy 5 times is our motto. I'm quite ready for the Pozzos to sell us now and revert to being a Championship side punching above its weight. Bored to death of these ****** transfer decisions.
Moog, I’d say you’re one of the more popular members of this site, mix up some quick gags with some meaningful comment. But surely that last paragraph is part of your 1% just being negative posts? We get to see much better football nowadays in a better league in better viewing conditions. I’m not really fussed if we sign 2 or 22 new players each transfer window. The team we put out was pretty decent last season until we got hit with a ridiculous amount of injuries (which we all know is factually true not just excuses) and looks like being pretty decent again this year. And still time for another first team starter or two to sign.
I have to agree it's becoming concerning. I don't understand why the obvious problem areas are so frequently either not addressed at all or only addressed late in the day once we've quickly delved through the bargain bin in desperation, signing a player or players that clearly aren't good enough. You can't help but start to feel there is a bit of a lack of ambition. It's incredibly frustrating watching literally everyone around us make impressive signings, whilst we once again seem to be sat on our hands.
No need to panic. If people think we are going down they need there heads examined. Cardiff look dreadful and have signed players ready for the championship next season. They are going down at this rate. Bournemouth haven’t done much business and if it stays that way, they will struggle and go down. Southampton look rubbish and I wouldn’t be surprised if Hughes is sacked before Christmas. They will be in a relegation battle. Brighton have signed players but whether they adapt to life in the Prem is a different matter entirely. Their brand new striker won the golden boot in the Dutch league, scored 2/3 more goals than Berghuis. So he could come good or he will be back in the Dutch league next season on loan. Newcastle have Rafa but haven’t really strengthened yet. Rafa keeps making noise about lack of activity and is obviously frustrated. Burnley haven’t signed anyone and with the potential of European football, their squad will struggle. Everton have signed a £50mil bench warmer, they still have one of the worst defences in the league, if it stays that way, add in Silva’s headless chicken approach to defending, zonal marking, and they will struggle this season. Palace are clinging on to the hope that Zaha stays, however this has a Daniel Levy special written all over it. Deadline day deal for £70mil. They haven’t really improved yet. Huddersfield haven’t really improved and will struggle with second season syndrome. As for us, while we know we need a CB and a ST, I would say there are at least 3 teams in a worse position than us at the moment. We will be down there at the bottom but not in the bottom 3. If the transfer window was already shut I wouldn’t have us in the bottom 3. I would have; 18th Bournemouth/Southampton 19th Huddersfield 20th Cardiff
