CONFIRMED Chris Porter and Ben Davies

[Tezza1889]

I love how you're all asuming that porter won't be first choice up front!!

He's one of, if not the worst striker to ever pull a blades shirt on, just check his goals per game ratio and you'll see the issue, if he is played up front from the first game were going nowhere because he will not score enough goals...

0.28 league goals per game (carreer) soccerbase...

No matter how funny it is that he has an ironic cult status, he should have been released, he isn't good enough...

 

[Hartley Hare]

I think if I was Harry Maguire, this would all convince me to leave. People can talk up the signings all they like, however all I see are mediocre youth blockers.

Just my opinion

Sort of agree, but it could be worse....

 

[Balham]

I love how you're all asuming that porter won't be first choice up front!!

He's one of, if not the worst striker to ever pull a blades shirt on, just check his goals per game ratio and you'll see the issue, if he is played up front from the first game were going nowhere because he will not score enough goals...

0.28 league goals per game (carreer) soccerbase...

No matter how funny it is that he has an ironic cult status, he should have been released, he isn't good enough...

If Porter plays all 46 games next season and scores at that rate, he'll end up on 13 goals. In the past 8 seasons only Beattie (22) and Evans (29) have managed more league goals.

One of the most pivotal players in the promotion season of 2005/06 was Neil Shipperley. Porter can play a similar role this season.

 

[Putney Blade]

More lives than a cat! Can't get rid. Nobody want's him, so he's back with us. Only hope he's back warming the sub's bench!

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[sheffielder]

How is Basham considered a squad player?

NC on Basham: "We'll be certainly finding room in our starting 11 for Chris"

What makes you think Butler has been brought in as a squad player?

So basham is to replace Doyle, who clough kept as right back. I can't buy that and would see us replacing both Doyle and coady.

He will play somewhere in the eleven isn't exactly saying he's going to replace my captain in the centre of the park. He had played right back and I think that's more likely his position in this team.

 

[Pierre's PC]

This definitely deserved a separate thread.

9/10 would read again.

 

[Revolution]

If Porter plays all 46 games next season and scores at that rate, he'll end up on 13 goals. In the past 8 seasons only Beattie (22) and Evans (29) have managed more league goals.

One of the most pivotal players in the promotion season of 2005/06 was Neil Shipperley. Porter can play a similar role this season.

But he won't do that. He's been with us 3 seasons and his scoring rate is nowhere near that.

This is a meh signing if it's squad filler, but if he's starting with the frequency of Shipperley we ain't going up. There are simply not enough goals in this squad as it stands.

 

[Derby_Blade]

More lives than a cat! Can't get rid. Nobody want's him, so he's back with us. Only hope he's back warming the sub's bench!

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You name me another striker who will be happy to sit on the bench, get paid next to nothing (for a footballer) and have the same goals per minute ratio as Porter last season...

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

So basham is to replace Doyle, who clough kept as right back. I can't buy that and would see us replacing both Doyle and coady.

He will play somewhere in the eleven isn't exactly saying he's going to replace my captain in the centre of the park. He had played right back and I think that's more likely his position in this team.

I don't understand your post. You said Basham was signed as a squad player, yet NC stated he would be in the eleven - that doesn't constitute as a squad player to me regardless of who he replaces, or where he plays.

Is it just the case that because their not new names, or the flair players that you wanted you're simply just frustrated and trying to find the negatives to have a good complain?

 

[drinksmat]

I must say the signings so far do nothing to inspire any confidence that we will challenge for ta top two spot, certainly as a whole we are not as good as what finished for us last season.

We don't have to have a team better than the one that finished last season however we do need a team that can win some games between the months of August and October. Setting up a squad to last the whole season is essential - youth, squad players and the ones (hopefuly) yet to come.

 

[sheffielder]

I don't understand your post. You said Basham was signed as a squad player, yet NC stated he would be in the eleven - that doesn't constitute as a squad player to me regardless of who he replaces, or where he plays.

Is it just the case that because their not new names, or the flair players that you wanted you're simply just frustrated and trying to find the negatives to have a good complain?

It's got nothing to do with names. It's in regards to improving the first 11 and no signings so far have done that in my opinion. Considering Nigel only wants a squad of 18/19 he is running out of slots and I am just not inspired. Given, one good player could change that but this isn't a team to be feared next year at present.

I also call things both ways and praise the club when they do things will. I am it being honest with my opinion so far if that's ok? That's the point of this place isn't it?

 

[sheffielder]

The worst fear for me is that we have gone from a team that could compete in the division above if promoted to one that will need to be rebuilt again. I was hoping we were going to build like Norwich and Southampton yet have gone a different way.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Porter and Davies both contributed to the only good aspects of last season and NC has been lauded for his achievements.

NC then re-signs said players and, because their not the names that the club are 'rumoured' to be after, they are met with negativity due to the self inflicted feeling of deflation.

Its about opinions, but opinions can be challenged with reasoned debate surely.

 

[Kev Gee]

It hasn't taken the knockers long has it? Let's see were we are on the 31st Aug.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Southampton had players like Dean Hammond, Richard Chaplow, Kelvin Davies, Danny Butterfield, Rahdi Jaidi in their team when they got promoted, all late 20s early 30s.

Norwich from memory had Lappin, Doherty, McVeigh. Drury and Russell.

 

[sheffielder]

It's not about just porter and davies. It's porter and davies on top of players we have already brought in. For davies we already brought in JCR. I will give you the squad will be stronger however clough very rarely used It last season anyway.

I am looking forward to Wallace who I have have championed for a few years or so and more towards last season but really to bring I some better players for the 1st eleven. This squad is getting full of average players which I think will get us within a chance of promotion but nothing more than that.

 

[OllyBlade]

Clough probably likes his character. He's been thrown on in the last ten minutes and scored vital late goals. In the first round of FA cup vs Colchester he made a terrible miss but then got over it and slotted home the winning goal from the spot. We still need 2 more strikers I think but Porter can have a place in a promotion squad, if not as a regular starter.

 

[sheffielder]

It hasn't taken the knockers long has it? Let's see were we are on the 31st Aug.

I don't think to knocking. Personally just disappointed there is nothing game changing and squad is nearly full.

 

[alcoblade]

Quality strikers are like rocking horse shit and while Porter may not be greeted by the masses as a head turning signing I for one would take him over a disinterested, lazy premiership loanee that has everyone fapping at the announcement but then who's stock plummets quickly.

In a "why eat shit when you can drink piss" kind of way?



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[DronnieBlade]

Davies is a good signing for us

I am less impressed with the resigning of Porter, especially as he will have had at least 2 months to get himself another club and hasn't done so. Why Nigel found need to offer another contract surprises me as the guy tries his best but his best is, bluntly, poor.

While he finished the season well, just isn't the type we need anymore and I would have said thanks Chris and good luck for the future at the end of the season.

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[alcoblade]

Only three more signings now - Striker, Centre Midfielder, and Right Back. Glad we have kept Davies another back up for Flynn/ Murphy and a good one at that.

2 more strikers for me. Needless to say, really dissapointed that we've given Porter a shirt, but old news.

There's some unknowns in the squad and reason to be hopeful, but we look nothing like promotion certs for me at this point.

We need at least one proven striker at this level. I can't see us getting away with a similar style to last season for all next season, and there's too much hope on McNulty right now. Evans, if he's considered an option, won't be fit and ready until Christmas.

Overall, I remain excited about next season, hopeful about our prospects, but to be honest a bit disappointed in our first real measure of the new owners intentions. Unless, that is, the squad is going to be bigger than expected.

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[HeCanDoMagic]

"...but we look nothing like promotion certs for me at this point"

We didn't look like a team that could get to an FA Cup semi final and finish 7th in the league when NC took over.

Thats when he had players he inherited to work with, let him get on with it now he can bring in who he actually wants, might just work out for us...

 

[alcoblade]

"...but we look nothing like promotion certs for me at this point"

We didn't look like a team that could get to an FA Cup semi final and finish 7th in the league when NC took over.

Thats when he had players he inherited to work with, let him get on with it now he can bring in who he actually wants, might just work out for us...

Well of course, but if we use the "let's trust the manager" at every point in place of our god given opinion, it renders a discussion board a bit redundant.

Having an opinion about how you feel we shape up right now isn't a choice you make. How much weight you placeon any fans opinion over the manager's is another thing.

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[Woodwardfan]

Signing Porter really disappoints me on a number of levels, the main point being made above that it blocks a squad position. Presumably it's for a low wage and it is only for one year, but the lad will be 36 by the time he leaves and he has not impressed at any stage of his time with us in the past. My only sense is disappointment when he waits to come on as sub.

Ben Davies, fair enough, a good sub with good dead ball skills for late in the game and a versatile player for cover.

All the new signings look like building blocks and the penthouse suites and topstones yet to be installed. If Clough has a certain budget and he has saved 60% of it for a couple of key signings, then fair enough; we shall see.

 

[sheffielder]

I think if you had to name your 1st eleven now to start the season, probably only Basham would be in it from the players signed/resigned so far, and that's in a position where people don't think he will play.

...............Howard
Basham Maguire(?) Collins Harris
Flynn McGinn Doyle Murphy
...............Scougs
...............Baxter

Hopefully Wallace will come in for McGinn. It looks unlikely (but who knows) that Coady or Brayford come back and we are still missing the elusive striker. At the moment I am just hoping McNuts has a Scougs like start to his career.

I am wondering whether a combination of Basham/Davies will play right back. I wouldn't replace Doyle with Basham and that's saying something. JCR comes in for Flynn or Murphy so where does that leave Davies.

I know it comes across as moaning and knocking the club, however it is legal to be able to question the judgement of some of these signings.

 

[sheffielder]

Signing Porter really disappoints me on a number of levels, the main point being made above that it blocks a squad position. Presumably it's for a low wage and it is only for one year, but the lad will be 36 by the time he leaves and he has not impressed at any stage of his time with us in the past. My only sense is disappointment when he waits to come on as sub.

Ben Davies, fair enough, a good sub with good dead ball skills for late in the game and a versatile player for cover.

All the new signings look like building blocks and the penthouse suites and topstones yet to be installed. If Clough has a certain budget and he has saved 60% of it for a couple of key signings, then fair enough; we shall see.

Porter is 31 in December. The rest is how I feel.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

I know it comes across as moaning and knocking the club, however it is legal to be able to question the judgement of some of these signings.

It's also legal to disagree with your sentiments, opinions and views, so I'm not sure what point you think you're making.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

..............Howard
Freeman Butler NewCB Harris
---------Basham Wallace----------
Flynn........Scougs------Murphy
-----------------NewST-----------------

Thats how I see it going.

 

[alcoblade]

It's also legal to disagree with your sentiments, opinions and views, so I'm not sure what point you think you're making.

Well I'm sure Sheffielder will answer for himself, but comments like "it didn't take the knockers long" sort of invite this response.



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[sheffielder]

It's also legal to disagree with your sentiments, opinions and views, so I'm not sure what point you think you're making.

The point I am making Bob is that it's ok to question the decisions of Nigel and his men. It seems a very popular answer to 'trust Nige' on everything.

Do we need two back up wingers in their 30's?
Do we need a striker who needs a penalty to score a goal or 2.
Is Basham what is needed to replace or even play alongside Doyle?

It feels more like Warnock, chucking 20 odd players together in pre-season and seeing what comes out when I don't think that's what was needed. It all feels very unlike Nigel like.