Depressing. I would like to ask: does “full” include Murray? Since he never plays, why not replace him with someone who can?
I agree with this, neither of them scream top-level talents to me in the way that Toney did when in League One.
I think Murray means ‘oversubscribed’ given he’s not even made a 9 man bench in months. If/when he goes back, I don’t think anyone should take that as meaning a replacement will be coming in. We have too many strikers as it is and all while trying to cut our cloth accordingly. It’s also undoubtedly the area of the team that swallows most of the wage bill for obvious reasons. The stars just don’t align to us signing another striker in our current situation. I totally agree that we need a striker that’s better than what we have got - but this owner has manoeuvred us into such a position that we need one most at a time when it’s most difficult to get one. It’ll be a complete departure from their recruitment history if they went and got one - which is why I think it just will not happen.
Totally agree with this. I've still got this feeling that Deeney will end up with Fat Sam though, but I can see this as the big panic signing nearing the end of the window giving us little time to add one, that's even if they wanted to. Murray as you say is a strange one. I thought he was off but that's gone quiet. If he can't as you say even got on 9 man bench what is the effin point of having him here... saying this it wouldn't surprise me at all if he starts Saturday they have to try something new.
I’d be surprised if WBA lumbered themselves with Deeney’s wages to be honest, given it’s likely they will be back in the Championship soon. Don’t think he’s going anywhere personally this month but I guess we’ll see!
Our only chance is to send him to Udine as a food taster. No one would be crazy enough to take him. He's 32,his knees are gone and he only scores penalties.
QPR went for Austin over Murray and I don’t blame them. Worked already . I thought Success and Perica were injured “long term “ (according to the club last week ) so we need some cover ?
The problem with the whole 'this just isn't the Pozzos MO' 'they've never done this before' argument is that this is an exceptional circumstance. Now I'm not for a second suggesting that anyone isn't already aware of this, nor that the argument isn't generally true, but we are in a position where we appear by all indications to be on the verge of being ****ed financially, having failed to plan at all for the effects of several years of piss-poor decision making, with promotion the only hope of the team not being essentially broken up at the end of the season at great risk of us being marooned down here for years at the most financially perilous time possible in the wider footballing world. What I am suggesting, therefore, is that we can and should expect striking reinforcement regardless of whether we already have strikers on our books, given the context of who those strikers are. It's abundantly clear to literally everyone on here, including mad player fan-fiction writers, that our striking options are absolutely shot and will not score the goals to get us promoted, nor bring other players into play to do so for them - this is essentially beyond debate. They are literally not fit for purpose. We will not get promoted if we are stuck with the same pathetic lame duck gaggle as we currently boast. It is gaslighting to suggest we are targeting that or really that we even have a chance based on their goalscoring attempts - I would refer people back to 538's non-shot XG ranking for the league I posted in the Season 2020-21 thread the other day. If we are genuinely 'hoping for one of the players to play themselves into form', then we are hoping for them either to play themselves into being ten years younger, or a different player with an entirely different (and existent) technical skillset. That is madness - a slap in the face to everyone who is paying to watch them week in, week out, and being rewarded with piss-poor, barely-bothered and fundamentally technically abysmal performances every single time. If the ownership are basing their promotion strategy on it supported by no evidence whatsoever that it's likely or even capable of happening, and, in fact, quite a lot of recent evidence to the contrary, then they really have abdicated all responsibility.
Barely-bothered is precisely what it looks like. As I've said before and plenty of others, you can have a lack of talent but if you show some heart, passion and desire, show that you care, I for one can overlook the ineptness of said players. No doubt I will anger some when I say Mooney had limited talent but not once did I not see 100% effort and desire on the pitch from him and this resulted in him being thought of so highly. Everyone can have an off day but nobody can have an off day giving a wholehearted display.
This, for me, is where the frustration lies. We do have players already on our books, who would instantly improve our situation. Cucho and Gerri are still Watford players, but for various reasons are not plying their trade in our first team. The biggest issue is Gray. He's the type of profile we need, but he's not good enough and there is no one else who could play that role from within the current squad. This is why we keep playing him. Deeney has lost his goal scoring ability. I think when we were promoted back in 2015, he changed his game to suit Ighalo's strength. He realised he wasn't going to score goals in the top league so he remodelled his game to become a strong support striker/target man. He's so used to it now, he cannot switch back into the role he used to play in the Championship. Age and injury has played a part also, and he just doesn't have the speed or striker instinct to get into good scoring positions. I still think Deeney has a role to play, but he's not going to get 20 goals a season anymore in the Championship. The other guys are Perica, he looks ok, but nothing special. Of his 7 big chances he's had, he's only taken 2 and fluffed 5. He's at the same level as the other two, although slightly more mobile than Deeney and much better technically than Gray. I still wouldn't expect double figures from him though as he's not clinical enough. Success, is so weak. A gust of wind puts him on the floor. He should be very strong, but his game is just the opposite. I liked the look of him when he first signed. He was strong and direct, but he's lost his way since those early days, and he can't finish either. Murray, is a very decent finisher, but clearly he can't get himself fit enough to play. Potter, Ivic and now Munoz are not playing him, so that tells you where he is as a player. So how is it going to come good from that lot? It's not. The only hope (if we don't sign anyone) is to try and get something working with Sarr, Pedro and Zinckernagel. Sarr and Pedro has been tried but largely failed, but maybe putting Zinc in place of Gray would work out far better. Feeing off Deeney or Perica, with Sarr and/or Pedro up there in some capacity.
Anyone able to quickly breakdown what Leventhal has said in his transfer update thing on The Athletic? I can’t be bothered to make another email just to get another free trial! I know it’ll be 99% b0llocks but it’ll at least be something to debate over!
While I agree with the broader point entirely, I just can’t get my head around that we ‘can and should’ expect striker reinforcements - because that whole viewpoint is based upon the owner finally cutting Deeney loose and admitting that’s those he writes big cheques out for every week aren’t good enough. And I really don’t think that’s his or the clubs viewpoint. There’s far too much evidence for them not addressing glaring errors in the squad to think any different. I would not at all be surprised if whoever the head coach is, is under pressure to pick Deeney/Gray because of how much they are costing the club - it’s a false economy because they are awful but it wouldn’t shock me one bit given the decision making at the club. Don’t get me wrong - I want our strikers replaced as much as anyone. I long for the days again where we go into a game expecting our starting striker to score. But I’m just trying to put myself into the situation as it is at the club and how it appears...rather than a situation I want it to be in as a fan. Whether they are scoring, playing well or not...I don’t see us signing a striker until one or both of Deeney and Gray are gone. And there just doesn’t seem to be a market at all for that.
Sarr won't go for less than £50m Cleverley took a wage cut when relegated We won't spend £5m on a chair Junker won't get a work permit Cucho will never return Stuparevic is useless Toure doesn't have a work permit yet We should all get behind the lads. Clap clap clap. We will be replacing Capoue. Sure. Won't be signing Watters as we have all the strikers we want, they just ain't doing the scoring thing.
Just to clarify on the Capoue thing. We wanted Whiteman but he wanted to stay in the North. Pearson is an option as is Wallace. Always 'options'. No mention of Mowatt.
I had half-hoped we might hold an interest in Junker and we’d somehow be able to get him by appealing the work permit - but I admit that is massive hope rather than inevitable expectation. So Leventhal is saying Cucho is as good as gone? It just gets better...
Yes. He wont be coming back this season and probably definitely won't unless we go up. And even then, let's hope he doesn't marry a Spanish girl.
He omitted Persephone is in Hades. It's dark. It's raining and there's more chance of a dog reciting Homer than Gray or Deeney scoring from open play.
I still think based on my understanding of the regulations that we could actually get Junker, but he'd first just have to go to Udinese and appear in one matchday squad, then he could come to us on loan or on a permanent. Leventhal states that him joining via Udinese would be possible, but doesn't give a timeframe. However, given the Norwegian season is finished, I reckon this January via Udinese should be doable.
It's GoingDown reporting - what do you expect? There could be the rare event of baby pandas being born in a zoo and GD's headline would be "bad news for world's bamboo supply".
Charlie Austin would've been our best striker had we gone in for him on loan. Bet he outscores all of our strikers in the second half of the season if he stays fit.
Charlie Austin is barely a step up on Deeney/Murray at this point. Would just be another short term attempt at a fix
At least Leventhal recognizes our best current 11 and formation (4-2-3-1) Foster Kiko, he doesn’t care about the CB’s because they are all “good.” Masina Hughes Cleverley Sarr Zinckernagel Sema Pedro/Perica Goes on to state that’s Deeney and Gray should only be coming off the bench. I’m sure Deeney will find a way to subtly* bring that up in his media career. * Deeney doesn’t do subtle. It will be an obnoxious attack.
Annoyingly I think that’s just Leventhal looking at the regulations and saying how it could possibly done - much the same as us on here...rather than him saying he’s on our radar?
But wouldn't he then have appeared competitively for two sides in one season, and you can't appear for three in one season I believe?
I'm not disagreeing with any of that, but what I'm saying is basically that as fans in this situation, regardless of Deeney and Gray we are entitled for them to do something to recognise and fix the problem, as they claim they are committed to doing. As such, even given that other context, it would be a shocking failure and new level of profligacy for them not to do so, and should really see their reputation rightfully damaged beyond repair. As I've said in here before, nowhere have I said I expect it to happen - I'm talking about what should theoretically happen to match up all their stated aims, claims from hierarchy and what we've seen on the pitch/the state of the team. In my original 'faith in Gino' post I said it was waning hugely and this would be the window that makes or breaks it (in a far more longwinded and pompous way). I was not the only one to express that kind of sentiment. If we don't bring in a striker (and on loan is fine) this window, that's it done for me.
The Norwegian season is over so would just be Udinese and Watford in this season surely as LR has said?
It could be. But I would have thought that the rule is administered over a period that tracks the 2020-2021 season instead. I'll look into it.
It looks like there is a special exception that would apply here. This is the EFL's guidance on the applicable Fifa Transfer Rules Provision: Registration of Players - FIFA Article 5.3 - Three & Two Rule In accordance with FIFA Regulations a Player may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play in official matches for two clubs. As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to different associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season, provided he has fully complied with his contractual obligations towards his previous clubs. So @lowerrous' suggestion would appear to work on that level.
He says that we would be aware of him, and mentions what his price is believed to be. That seems believable given our signing of Zinckernagel and so I reckon that would count as Junker being "on our radar". Us being aware of his ability and knowing how much he'd cost is of course a different thing to us eventually deciding to purchase him based on that information though.
Sorry. I wasn't entirely sure what you meant by that. My understanding of the regulations is that something like that could easily work over the summer too. I know he would get 12 points by joining us from Udinese but would he get 3 more to get to the requisite 15 based on his time at Bodo/Glimt given that its no longer his most recent club?
