CONFIRMED Craig Alcock

[SouthEssexBlade]

All across the back four?
Fuck me - he's shorter than Cloughie judging by that photo

THE most magnificent defender ever, Franco Baresi was 5'9"

..and a Blades slant, Joe Shaw was a bit shorter than Baresi.

 

[raul]

I think there's a degree of, if NC signed an inanimate carbon rod (over 6ft obv), it would be universally welcomed, because it's NC.

Not got a huge problem with that, but I bet he'd rather have Harry, Connor and Beard than half of Blackpool. I know I would.

 

[Revolution]

THE most magnificent defender ever, Franco Baresi was 5'9"

..and a Blades slant, Joe Shaw was a bit shorter than Baresi.

That's comparing apples and oranges. The average height of a player was much lower in Shaw's day.

And Alcock is hardly Franco Baresi.

 

[sitwell]

Tom Cowan was 3'2 but could beat Peter Crouch in the air.

 

[Ben_1982]

Wallace wasn't a FREE!

 

[Mickey Jupp]

So the bog roll prince is just paying wages and not funding transfers? Because that's not what we were led to believe last year. It remains to be seen but if your Dad says "come home son and stop mucking around at football I've got a proper job here for you" my guess is that the "investment" is not his to make.

Furthermore I seem to recall McCabe saying it would mean we could hang on to Harry and never have to sell our best players again. Where is the statement of intent? When will a striker arrive who will shut me up and get us out of this "shite" league for good?

 

[stringjunior]

or
Agreed. We keep saying let's be patient, and so we should be. We keep saying "trust Clough", and so we should. But the players signed thus far do not at all reflect the hopes raised when The Prince bought in - at least speaking personally. Disappointing, but that's life.

They're reasonable, sensible, arguably better that what we have - BUT, they aren't of the required class to make promotion nearly a certainty, and without a decent striker I still think we could struggle to make the play-off's.

* the above statement is a pre cursor for 39 posts saying "if it's good enough for Clough, it's good enough for me", so save yourself the bother.....

UTB

well, if it's good enough for Clo....... Oh, wait, I get it

 

[stringjunior]

So the bog roll prince is just paying wages and not funding transfers? Because that's not what we were led to believe last year. It remains to be seen but if your Dad says "come home son and stop mucking around at football I've got a proper job here for you" my guess is that the "investment" is not his to make.

Furthermore I seem to recall McCabe saying it would mean we could hang on to Harry and never have to sell our best players again. Where is the statement of intent? When will a striker arrive who will shut me up and get us out of this "shite" league for good?

Chill Mickey, Chill.

Where is the statement of intent, you ask? I'll point you in the direction of your own post above and your recollection of McCabe. Isn't that a statement of intent? What more do you want? A new statement every week? because that ain't going to happen.

And remember, not having to sell out best players is not the same as NC choosing to sell one of his best players. If the Cloughster thinks he could do good business from the sale of a good player and add additional quality elewhere in the squad, then that is his choice.

And maybe, just maybe Clough is saving his budget for a head turning signing rather than frittering it away on nonsense.

 

[bartman]

So the bog roll prince is just paying wages and not funding transfers? Because that's not what we were led to believe last year. It remains to be seen but if your Dad says "come home son and stop mucking around at football I've got a proper job here for you" my guess is that the "investment" is not his to make.

Furthermore I seem to recall McCabe saying it would mean we could hang on to Harry and never have to sell our best players again. Where is the statement of intent? When will a striker arrive who will shut me up and get us out of this "shite" league for good?

'Bog Roll Prince'...that's what the Pigs call him. Revealing your true colours perhaps.?

I seem to recall that McCabe and the Prince said that they wouldn't bank roll the club out of this division. They would provide the resources to be one to the top payers in terms of wages and pay the occasional fee but would not break the bank. It would be a different scenario in the league above.Surely you cannot disagree that they have delivered what was promised ?

There has been several statements statement of intent from the club re HM. Even thou it appears HM wants to leave, we have still said 'pay up or shut up' I don't know what more you want from them with regards to this.The point is we don't have to sell HM and we won't unless it is on our terms. The is different to how previous boards have handled thinks.

I get the feeling that,whatever striker NC brings in, you still won't be happy.

We aren't going to spend multi millions to get out of this division. If anyone seriously thought we would they are deluded

 

[Mickey Jupp]

I suspect the reality is different. Try this scenario: McCabe couldnt believe his luck when Prince Abdullah bought into the club - halving the McCabe family's liability and kick starting KM's exit strategy at a stroke. While the fans are getting excited about Marc McNulty (Lyle Taylor II) McCabe was laughing all the way to his "home" in Belgium. See you later Kev put the keys through the letterbox on your way out.

 

[Foxy]

So the bog roll prince is just paying wages and not funding transfers? Because that's not what we were led to believe last year. It remains to be seen but if your Dad says "come home son and stop mucking around at football I've got a proper job here for you" my guess is that the "investment" is not his to make.

Is there really any need to label him the "bog roll prince" all of the time?

Cloughy has been given a budget that he's happy with and will spend that as he chooses, until Cloughy has a budget that he isn't happy with, what is the problem with the level of investment? (which many people seem to genuinely think is a quid ).

Furthermore I seem to recall McCabe saying it would mean we could hang on to Harry and never have to sell our best players again. Where is the statement of intent? When will a striker arrive who will shut me up and get us out of this "shite" league for good?

We've turned down a couple of offers below our valuation and said in the press (and obviously to interested parties) that we are in a position not to sell and would rather keep him. What else should they do? What is wrong about his statement?

We've got a new striker, we're looking for at least another striker... we could still begin the season with a different strike force to the one we have today.

Oh, and McCabe spends less time in Belgium than he used to.

 

[Mickey Jupp]

I did say it remains to be seen.

However, I am not hopeful; when he arrived we were told that the investment had to be kept quiet in case it led to inflated prices. But now, having gone large with a PR campaign and professed how we're aiming for the premier league those claims need to be followed up on otherwise they just look stupid. It would be good to know that the plan is on track before the trumpeting of another right back from Walsall.

 

[Mickey Jupp]

Finally. Harry is under contract. If we are supposed to be keeping our best players lets make him see out his contract. That'll learn him.

 

[Foxy]

Finally. Harry is under contract. If we are supposed to be keeping our best players lets make him see out his contract. That'll learn him.

What has happened contrary to this? They've said (both our team manager and MD) that he stays unless it's in our interests to sell.

If he goes for 200k before the season starts, fair enough. But that absolutely isn't going to happen.

 

[Revolution]

It cannot be in our interests to sell unless the money will go on better players. Debt is no longer an issue.

 

[SandyMcBlade]

I smell pork...

I suspect the reality is different. Try this scenario: McCabe couldnt believe his luck when Prince Abdullah bought into the club - halving the McCabe family's liability and kick starting KM's exit strategy at a stroke. While the fans are getting excited about Marc McNulty (Lyle Taylor II) McCabe was laughing all the way to his "home" in Belgium. See you later Kev put the keys through the letterbox on your way out.

 

[Kenilworth]

THE most magnificent defender ever, Franco Baresi was 5'9"

..and a Blades slant, Joe Shaw was a bit shorter than Baresi.

Quite SEB - but if Alcock was that good would we be picking him up on a free now, would we?

He's 26 years old - hardly going to be the fulcrum of the England defence in France in two years time and in Russia in 4 is he?
That's if we qualify for either tourno.

Commendable that you are standing up for the vertically challenged (I can't shout too much as I am only just about 5'10" myself) but it's like saying Doyle is 5'9" but he could be equally as good as Messi who stands a towering 5'6" - which he aint, clearly

 

[OllyBlade]

What will it take for people to stop prattling on about how the prince hasn't spent any money? We spent money last summer on Baxter and Cuvelier, to mention just 2 examples. In January we spent on Scougall. Signing an unattached player isn't technically 'free' either - there are signing on fees and agent fees.

We might sell Maguire - get over it. It doesn't mean that the prince is unwilling to invest. In fact, I'd be worried about having a mega-rich owner who ignores good business sense. If we get a good price for Maguire, who has 1 year left on his deal and may well want to leave, then why scream bloody murder when the management may deserve credit for a) being prudent and b) holding out for the best price?

Throwing megabucks around willy-nilly is neither the way to get out of this division, nor the division above.

If you want things to get in a huff/complain about may I suggest: Gaza/Israel, having to work when there's lovely weather outside, bad drivers, people who use the phrase 'bog-roll prince', the Germans, etc etc.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Quite SEB - but if Alcock was that good would we be picking him up on a free now, would we?

He's 26 years old - hardly going to be the fulcrum of the England defence in France in two years time and in Russia in 4 is he?
That's if we qualify for either tourno.

Commendable that you are standing up for the vertically challenged (I can't shout too much as I am only just about 5'10" myself) but it's like saying Doyle is 5'9" but he could be equally as good as Messi who stands a towering 5'6" - which he aint, clearly

Good points. I was just debunking the myth that all defenders had to be 6'4" which I think was the height of Steve Faulkner!

 

[metalblade]

Alcock eh ? all we need now is Brown and we will be flying

 

[alcoblade]

I suspect the reality is different. Try this scenario: McCabe couldnt believe his luck when Prince Abdullah bought into the club - halving the McCabe family's liability and kick starting KM's exit strategy at a stroke. While the fans are getting excited about Marc McNulty (Lyle Taylor .

Putting aside the fact that I smell pork, it's not possible for McCabe to half his liabilities and the prince to not be investing anything. I think your disappointment (or WUM) is clouding your judgment .

UTB

 

[Pinchy]

THE most magnificent defender ever, Franco Baresi was 5'9"

..and a Blades slant, Joe Shaw was a bit shorter than Baresi.

?????

You never saw Franz Beckenbauer then, SEB? He was twice the player. Not only that, he was a world-class midfielder as well. Truly one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Joe Shaw would not have coped with the giant centre-forwards of today. Neither would Alcock, or Terry Kennedy for that matter.

 

[Maidenhead]

Finally. Harry is under contract. If we are supposed to be keeping our best players lets make him see out his contract. That'll learn him.

That'll teach him.

Put your dummy back in, grow up and learn some English if you wish to have a sensible reasoned debate

 

[Esablade]

I think some people need to wake up a bit here...this lad's a decent player with Championship experience. He captained Yeovil and can play right across the back.

Fergie/Fry messed up and tried to re-sign the lad but it seems Nigel nipped in and got him for nowt!

Can't see the problem with this mesen, good bit of business IMO!!!

UTB!

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

?????

You never saw Franz Beckenbauer then, SEB? He was twice the player. Not only that, he was a world-class midfielder as well. Truly one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Joe Shaw would not have coped with the giant centre-forwards of today. Neither would Alcock, or Terry Kennedy for that matter.

I did see the Kaiser. Fantastic with the ball, not close to Baresi without it. As an all-round player he's in the top 5 ever. Purely as a defender, he's behind Baresi, Moore, Maldini and Scirea for me.

 

[sheffielder]

That'll teach him.

Put your dummy back in, grow up and learn some English if you wish to have a sensible reasoned debate

Now that you own Mickey now, any thoughts where you're going to keep him?

 

[blader]

Whilst I reserve opinion on this lad (don't know anything of him or remember seeing him play) I would like to dismiss the myth that you 'don't need to spend big' to get out of league 1. Look at the promoted sides last season, they all spent much more than we have so far. Now I don't care to debate the prince's influence, but we can objectively see that our wage bill / summer spending doesn't come close to matching the promoted sides of last season, which is a very useful yardstick to measure against. Our current squad doesn't match the quality of rovrum/wolves/Brentford last season, and that's my biggest fear currently.

 

[sheffielder]

Whilst I reserve opinion on this lad (don't know anything of him or remember seeing him play) I would like to dismiss the myth that you 'don't need to spend big' to get out of league 1. Look at the promoted sides last season, they all spent much more than we have so far. Now I don't care to debate the prince's influence, but we can objectively see that our wage bill / summer spending doesn't come close to matching the promoted sides of last season, which is a very useful yardstick to measure against. Our current squad doesn't match the quality of rovrum/wolves/Brentford last season, and that's my biggest fear currently.

get your tin hat on

 

[itsinyerblood]

I'll stick my neck out when it comes to class defenders....one who should have played for England but the powers that be were too dense to recognise his worth, Mark Lawrenson. Forget the TV pundit we've become underwhelmed by, as a footballing C/H he was a thoroughbred and recognised as such by his peers at the time he played before injury finished his career.

And can anyone tell me why Frank Rijkaard hasn't been mentioned so far? As good as anyone on his day and difficult to find a superior centre-back.

 

[alcoblade]

I'll stick my neck out when it comes to class defenders....one who should have played for England but the powers that be were too dense to recognise his worth, Mark Lawrenson. Forget the TV pundit we've become underwhelmed by, as a footballing C/H he was a thoroughbred and recognised as such by his peers at the time he played before injury finished his career.

And there was me thinking it was because he wash Irish!



UTB