Shambolic again

SeasideKurt said:
A couple of things, there were 2 teams with point deductions and 2 other extremely awful sides in this league.

We won't have that luxury, Sunderland have just spent millions on Jack Clarke, bought Ballard and are going to have a far better chance than Hull etc.

The way the squad performed with 10/15 games to go was pretty concerning at times. The performance against the Nobs was unacceptable. We've lost our manager and it's all be a bit bumpy. And the way you forget that is by freshening the squad up. I'm not saying we will get relegated but I'd suggest we currently have a squad fighting off it.

EDIT - Meant Peteborough not Hull!
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Agree with a lot of that, however I’m not convinced we will be that shite, I think NC and some of the players stopped trying towards the end once we knew we were safe. There will be plenty of shite in there again this season and I’m not convinced we can’t get 50 points.
 
The aim of any FC is to improve year on year. As it stands I think we are, very loosely speaking standing still, if not worse. That may change by the time the season starts but even then we are behind where we should be, so I personally can't see us being better than last season.

There are reasons for that that I've posted many times.
 
fcblackpool said:
The aim of any FC is to improve year on year. As it stands I think we are, very loosely speaking standing still, if not worse. That may change by the time the season starts but even then we are behind where we should be, so I personally can't see us being better than last season.

There are reasons for that that I've posted many times.
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spot on. What's different from this season to the two previous seasons where we've managed to get some players in early? Said it a few times now, but the fans need a lift. Everything seems flat. Actions speak louder than words and we do need to see some action from the club in bringing in their transfer targets. I'm not one who buys into the excuse that we need to ship out players first.
 
Well if we don't hear news of a signing before the team head off to Scotland later today and that seems unlikely, it would suggest another deal has stalled. Cue meltdown on here and social media. Appleton is the boards choice, they need to back him and give him the best chance of success. Players will come in but it is vital we get a couple of decent signings soon, just to calm everyone down and generate a bit more positivity.
 
We have a few skillful players, a lot of 'honest pros' and a few square pegs.

We can perhaps survive with what we have by playing more Critchball but the prospect of playing decent football hangs squarely on the shoulders of a lad who this time last year was a Kings Lynn player. That's unrealistic - Is he going to start 46 games? Is he going to play well in all of them if he does?

I am absolutely 100% behind Carey but
we absolutely need some more ability. We can use a lot of the solid, honest pros and we shouldn't deride players like that as you need them just as much as you need flair and ability.

I'm still of the view that less is more (no point binning ten off to get ten more players of a similar level for sake of it - target quality over quantity) and some of our players will look better with better players but we do need to get a bit of a shift on to ensure players are integrated.
 
Just couple of things.
We won't bring 6 or 7 players in that will be first choice 1st team players.
I'm pretty sure that would be outside the budget.
I'd be surprised if Appy wasn't asked at one of his 3 interviews to bring along a list of "available" players that he would like to sign within a specified budget.
I've no idea of course if those players are being pursued but I do know that the Club is pursuing a number of players.
I'd hazard a guess that these aren't out of contract players or else we might have seen them in the friendlies.
Gabriel being injured is a blow but we did need cover anyway.
We are still short of the next "Charlie Adam".
Lack of goals will again be a problem if we don't resolve that.
Among with others I just fear that this might be one season to many for Uncle Richard but we've needed a a left-sided Eky for a while now anyway.
Rob Apter could be a bonus and with a bit of confidence Brad Holmes might become.as useful addition to a 7 man bench.
So I agree it's probably not quite going to plan but the season is still 3 weeks off and if we are looking at loans unfortunately that are typically last minute.
 
I believe (and I desperately hope I'm right here) that MA plans to bring in 3 or 4 players from EPL or higher ranked Chamionship clubs to fill the positions where we are clearly lacking in quality. When Steve Cooper took over at Forest they were at the bottom of the league and his clever use of loan players got them promoted. We did the same in 2010 under Holloway. It's a proven success formula and I'll be disapointed if we don't use it.
 
tommytwojags said:
I believe (and I desperately hope I'm right here) that MA plans to bring in 3 or 4 players from EPL or higher ranked Chamionship clubs to fill the positions where we are clearly lacking in quality. When Steve Cooper took over at Forest they were at the bottom of the league and his clever use of loan players got them promoted. We did the same in 2010 under Holloway. It's a proven success formula and I'll be disapointed if we don't use it.
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Those loans likely cost Forest something like £5,000,000 in total, the club doesn't have that sort of money to spend.
 
20togo said:
spot on. What's different from this season to the two previous seasons where we've managed to get some players in early? Said it a few times now, but the fans need a lift. Everything seems flat. Actions speak louder than words and we do need to see some action from the club in bringing in their transfer targets. I'm not one who buys into the excuse that we need to ship out players first.
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Would you be happy to see the club in the same position as it did with Nuttall, Sarkic and Howe?

Even if the club can find loans for the players, it's not likely to cover their full wages, that's still perhaps £50,000 - £100,000 per player the club is losing out on.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Explain to me how we survived in 2021/22 then.
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It's not a case of that though is it? Along with players we had on loan (Sterling & Wintle) do you you expect the squad to progress whilst remaining stagnant? Does any football team progress whilst remaining the same? We ended the season abysmally. IMO we are very much lacking with the squad we currently have.
 
Macseasider said:
It's not a case of that though is it? Along with players we had on loan (Sterling & Wintle) do you you expect the squad to progress whilst remaining stagnant? Does any football team progress whilst remaining the same? We ended the season abysmally. IMO we are very much lacking with the squad we currently have.
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I'd say that depends upon the age of the players, only Keogh, Maxwell and Madine are over 30, the players now have a full season of championship experience.

Not that I'm saying we don't need to sign anyone, but I just don't get the mad panic that some seem to be in because Preston have signed the likes of Ben Woodburn.
 
I'd hope that given we heard there were players close recently and he was hopeful of a few or at least someone in before this trip, that we'd get an announcement today.

When do they set off?
 
Lost Seasider said:
I'd say that depends upon the age of the players, only Keogh, Maxwell and Madine are over 30, the players now have a full season of championship experience.

Not that I'm saying we don't need to sign anyone, but I just don't get the mad panic that some seem to be in because Preston have signed the likes of Ben Woodburn.
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Like it or not, it's still a fact that in Sadlers previous two summer close season, we've gone out and done a fair bit of business early doors. Were we wrong to do that? And like it or not, that policy seems to have changed this summer. Why is that? The fans need something to feel positive about and that needs to happen sooner rather than later. The lack of communication out of the club on all fronts is alarming. Where's all the positivity gone?
 
We're less than three weeks away from the season starting and haven't signed a single player, or sold anyone. No movement whatsoever which is highly unusual.

Just had a look and there has been quite a bit of activity at other clubs so if we're not careful we will get left behind. However, it's encouraging to see that Birmingham, Wigan and Rotherham haven't really strengthened either. If we can sign 2 or 3 good quality players next week then I'd still be confident of finishing above all three and staying up - though that shouldn't really be the limit of our ambition.
 
fcblackpool said:
The aim of any FC is to improve year on year. As it stands I think we are, very loosely speaking standing still, if not worse. That may change by the time the season starts but even then we are behind where we should be, so I personally can't see us being better than last season.

There are reasons for that that I've posted many times.
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We are obviously worse at this moment, no Sterling or Wintle for example, but I’m sure we’ll be getting some decent loans in.
 
If we persist with the 4 4 2 of last season then we will know that the season is all about survival and Appleton hasn't got what he wanted.
We all know what the squad needs, quality additions.
We have numbers and will be able to comfortably put a team out every week, right back being the only glaringly obvious problem.
So get a minimum 4 players in better than we currently have, a right back, somebody that scores and assists from central midfield, somebody that can play a wide role in a front 3 and a mobile centre forward with height and goal threat.
Maybe 3 or 4 of the current squad won't make the cut, we can deal with them later, we found a home for Nuttall last season so everyone can be moved on eventually.
 
Thatseasider said:
It's fairly simple, we appointed a new manager 21 days ago, this is still early doors when you consider that.
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Yep thats set us back a few weeks, as the new manager isn't going to command respect without fairly assessing the squad we have before replacing some. But clearly from whats been said we've been in the running, but it hasn't come off yet.

I'm really hoping for some news today or certainly early next week.

I do wonder though how competitive we are now, we're not a new championship side now, does that work for us or against us?

Should work for us but of course more established championship sides, which we're not quite yet, have to pay a lot more for players salaries.

But depends on the type of player we're going for. I've no doubt that of we continue to chase lower league players of the same calibre we have done that we'll sign them, just like we have done.

The fact we 'may' be finding it more difficult might mean we've stepped up a level who we are after and therefore it's harder to get them...

Given the statements of being close and hopeful for something soon, the next few day will tell us a lot.
 
20togo said:
Like it or not, it's still a fact that in Sadlers previous two summer close season, we've gone out and done a fair bit of business early doors. Were we wrong to do that? And like it or not, that policy seems to have changed this summer. Why is that? The fans need something to feel positive about and that needs to happen sooner rather than later. The lack of communication out of the club on all fronts is alarming. Where's all the positivity gone?
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Maybe the players we are looking at are a bit more difficult to sign? It was quite late in the day when we signed Gabriel for example (2 Sep).
Like I said up the thread I suspect we might be looking at some players who are still under contract in which case it's like being in a chain buying a house.
There's also the situation with Bowler which will significantly affect the transfer budget.
And last but not least there's the PL loan players who might still be in the thoughts of their Manager whilst the club goes on tour.
All this is frustrating but possibly brought about by wanting to sign better quality than we have as opposed to the "take a chance" category.
 
20togo said:
Like it or not, it's still a fact that in Sadlers previous two summer close season, we've gone out and done a fair bit of business early doors. Were we wrong to do that? And like it or not, that policy seems to have changed this summer. Why is that? The fans need something to feel positive about and that needs to happen sooner rather than later. The lack of communication out of the club on all fronts is alarming. Where's all the positivity gone?
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Last summer the club had about 15 players on the books (plus the unusable ones) and was moving up a division, there was a lot of scope and an obvious need for signings, this summer there's 25 or so signed already, like it or not the club obviously wants to move players on before they bring their replacements in.
 
Lost Seasider said:
Last summer the club had about 15 players on the books (plus the unusable ones) and was moving up a division, there was a lot of scope and an obvious need for signings, this summer there's 25 or so signed already, like it or not the club obviously wants to move players on before they bring their replacements in.
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And those replacements they want to bring in may well have gone to other clubs before we move on players we don't want. Sorry, but that's a nonsense strategy and shows a lack of ambition. And Appleton isn't coming in to the job blind. It would be remiss of him making him totally unsuitable for the job if he didn't already have a fair bit of knowledge about a lot of our players having previously come up against them as a manager. And seeing as it's been said about his attention to detail I would imagine he already had his opinions on many of our players.
 
20togo said:
And those replacements they want to bring in may well have gone to other clubs before we move on players we don't want. Sorry, but that's a nonsense strategy and shows a lack of ambition. And Appleton isn't coming in to the job blind. It would be remiss of him making him totally unsuitable for the job if he didn't already have a fair bit of knowledge about a lot of our players having previously come up against them as a manager. And seeing as it's been said about his attention to detail I would imagine he already had his opinions on many of our players.
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It depends on who the targets are, my guess is that the club's mainly looking at PL loans for this season, they often happen later.
 
Lost Seasider said:
It depends on who the targets are, my guess is that the club's mainly looking at PL loans for this season, they often happen later.
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yep, i agree, PL teams assess their own squads before deciding who they are prepared to let out on loan and that can often happen later in the window. But Sadler has said the budget is bigger than last season and for me that makes it not all about loans but getting actual signings in. Sure, i get that players under contract with other clubs present more of a problem but that was the same as last season too and we've not yet got one over the line. Why?
 
20togo said:
yep, i agree, PL teams assess their own squads before deciding who they are prepared to let out on loan and that can often happen later in the window. But Sadler has said the budget is bigger than last season and for me that makes it not all about loans but getting actual signings in. Sure, i get that players under contract with other clubs present more of a problem but that was the same as last season too and we've not yet got one over the line. Why?
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Maybe just maybe we have a strick wage budget that Appleton wasn't completely aware of when he accepted the job and we are missing out due to wage demands

We are a Championship club after all

Maybe we need to start acting like one
 
td53 said:
but the prospect of playing decent football hangs squarely on the shoulders of a lad who this time last year was a Kings Lynn player. That's unrealistic - Is he going to start 46 games? Is he going to play well in all of them if he does?
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We’ve needed a creative midfielder for 2 seasons now and spent two windows pissing about trying to get the same one.

Carey has real potential but needs to be injury free and we can’t just be relying on him because he’s going to miss games and we are woefully short on creative players.
 
Philbfctrois said:
Maybe just maybe we have a strick wage budget that Appleton wasn't completely aware of when he accepted the job and we are missing out due to wage demands

We are a Championship club after all

Maybe we need to start acting like one
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Maybe you’re just making up hypothetical situations which are baseless and purely speculation because it suits the agenda you seemingly have that everything is shit and you know best.
 
It's kind of obvious why really.

If you are a PL club with a talented younger player there will be no shortage of clubs willing to take the player on loan.

Sorting that part of business will be below everything else on the transfer list. Last in fact.

Therefore, it'll happen late.

As a club we need a budget and it needs to be rigidly adhered to. SS has already said it's more than last season. I'm happy with that.
 
20togo said:
yep, i agree, PL teams assess their own squads before deciding who they are prepared to let out on loan and that can often happen later in the window. But Sadler has said the budget is bigger than last season and for me that makes it not all about loans but getting actual signings in. Sure, i get that players under contract with other clubs present more of a problem but that was the same as last season too and we've not yet got one over the line. Why?
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Most of the early signings last year were free agents, Gabriel was the only big fee the club paid, and that didn't happen until the end of August.

This season, the club is trying to improve on the existing players, that's a tougher task, complicated by the uncertainty surrounding Bowler, it's taking time, that can't be helped.

I know it's frustrating, but I don't see it as a sign of anything wrong, and how many of the signings that have gone through at other clubs so far would be a genuine upgrade on what the club already has?
 
To be fair, we only know of one player this window who we actually missed out on because our wages weren't high enough (Ebou Adams).

I think a majority of the others signings that have been made by Championship sides we either were never in for or were never going to get because of wages. Maybe we've missed out on some others that weren't mentioned like Charlie Cresswell.

I think a lot of people have seen no signings and made the assumption that there haven't been any because we're skint, but fail to consider that there are other restraints at play besides what our club are willing to spend (i.e. Other clubs not being willing to make deals, Premier League clubs not willing to loan players now.)

Yes, Appleton has said he's frustrated, but I don't think it's entirely because the club have told him they aren't willing to spend money.

He agreed to take the job a month ago and was delighted to do so and he wouldn't have done so if he wasn't satisfied with the amount of money he'd have to spend.

The only real "big spenders" this window have been Watford and Burnley, clubs we were never going to compete with anyway. Yes, there have been smart deals made by clubs like Millwall, Luton, and Sunderland, but I really don't see *that* many signings from other Championship clubs that have made believe that we're missing out on players left and right.

The reality is that the players who we all know we are in for are still there to be signed (Hartigan, Scully, Rogers), I won't panic unless any of those players start signing for other clubs...
 
LA1 Seasider said:
Maybe you’re just making up hypothetical situations which are baseless and purely speculation because it suits the agenda you seemingly have that everything is shit and you know best.
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I've said maybe

No fcuker knows anything

However its strange that Critchley left and even stranger that it appears the new manager isn't get backed by the board

3 weeks to go before the season starts, people are quite entitled to question the board and their ambitions

I've invested in the club again by renewing my 4 season tickets and I'm hoping Appleton gets the full support of the board so he can land his transfer targets

The only agenda i have is wanted the club to be the best it can be and i make no apologies for that
 
Lost Seasider said:
Most of the early signings last year were free agents, Gabriel was the only big fee the club paid, and that didn't happen until the end of August.

This season, the club is trying to improve on the existing players, that's a tougher task, complicated by the uncertainty surrounding Bowler, it's taking time, that can't be helped.

I know it's frustrating, but I don't see it as a sign of anything wrong, and how many of the signings that have gone through at other clubs so far would be a genuine upgrade on what the club already has?
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yeah, can agree with parts of that although I really don't get why Bowler staying or going makes it that much more complicated. Unless of course, the club are trying to force him out in order to get the fee for him. Which for me, unless it's a substantial amount, then I'd rather keep him as I doubt any replacement for him can bring to the team what he did. That makes the team substantially weaker as an attacking threat too.
 
Rock and Roll Star said:
Phil, almost every one of your posts prove you just don’t have a clue and you also delight in negativity. Sad but seemingly true…
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So you keep telling me but i have yet to see any conclusive proof in what you say

So i will ask again what don't i have a clue about, give me examples
 
Philbfctrois said:
I've said maybe

No fcuker knows anything

However its strange that Critchley left and even stranger that it appears the new manager isn't get backed by the board

3 weeks to go before the season starts, people are quite entitled to question the board and their ambitions

I've invested in the club again by renewing my 4 season tickets and I'm hoping Appleton gets the full support of the board so he can land his transfer targets

The only agenda i have is wanted the club to be the best it can be and i make no apologies for that
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You're right nobody knows anything which includes not knowing if the Manager is being backed by the Board or why Quitch left.
We all want the best for the Club and getting the best might mean waiting for the right man rather than signing Tom Barkhuizen like Rosenior did.
I was talking with an acquaintance of yours the other night who was singing your praises and telling me what a lovely man you are.
Anyway I waited with him until the ambulance came and they put him in a nice jacket which wasn't just to keep him warm. (Clue: he had a pint in his hand and his carer was the Stockport One) 😁
 
Insider said:
You're right nobody knows anything which includes not knowing if the Manager is being backed by the Board or why Quitch left.
We all want the best for the Club and getting the best might mean waiting for the right man rather than signing Tom Barkhuizen like Rosenior did.
I was talking with an acquaintance of yours the other night who was singing your praises and telling me what a lovely man you are.
Anyway I waited with him until the ambulance came and they put him in a nice jacket which wasn't just to keep him warm. (Clue: he had a pint in his hand and his carer was the Stockport One) 😁
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Who's to say Tom Barkhuizen couldn't have done a job for us

He's probably still a better bet than Bez, Dale, Apter or CJ
 
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