CONFIRMED Ehije Ukaki signs from Botev Plovdiv - 3 year contract

[Aston max]

This worries me. Especially that he plays for the same club as one of the others they've already signed. What are the odds a random Bulgarian club has 2 players that are good enough to step up? Really hope these owners know what they're doing.

I like to watch some of the balkans football , there's quite a few who would make the jump easily into the championship, especially Serbian league.
I can see why Italian clubs recruit there .

 

[UddersBlade]

This new recruitment strategy is going to fall flat on it’s arse unless Wilder is prepared to play these players

 

[Large Mendonca]

I suspect Phil's judgment won't be particularly glowing.

Judging by the contents of his "IPA bag", he'll be the one glowing........

 

[Glenluce Blade]

Podcast we just recorded with a recruitment analyst and work permit expert on GBE and ESC rules, if anyone wants a bit of a rundown:

State of Play 2.0 - "Talking GBE, ESC and overseas targets with Andy Watson..."

The Pinch Podcast moves from 1.0 to 2.0 and we dive into how post-Brexit visa rules are changing recruitment, and how the Blades can play it smart.

www.thepinch.uk

 

[Berkshire Blade]

This new recruitment strategy is going to fall flat on it’s arse unless Wilder is prepared to play these players

Even if they aren't good enough?

 

[LondonBlade89]

IMO the Club needs to be a bit more proactive in explaining this AI-driven recruitment. There may be some nervousness over sharing any secrets but the flipside is you’ll have some kind of narrative around an “old school” approach vs this new AI approach which a) doesn’t necessarily need to exist as a battle and b) right now perceptions of the AI driven approach are that someone is just logging into ChatGPT to find player suggestions.

 

[Eric_Brooks]

I love how people think our AI approach is just sticking ‘unknown European gems’ into co-pilot and hoping for the best

This is data driven AI which comes in application form which Brentford and Brighton use.

 

[Whitby-Blade]

We should just employ a scout whose sole purpose is to keep an eye on the Dinamo Zagreb academy. Consistently turned over top class talent for the last 30 years…

Alen Halilović
Luka Modrić
Dejan Lovren
Vedran Ćorluka
Mateo Kovačić
Niko Kranjčar,
Zvonomir Boban
Joško Gvardiol
Robert Prosinečk
Eduardo
Dario Simic
Dani Olmo

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

This new recruitment strategy is going to fall flat on it’s arse unless Wilder is prepared to play these players

These players won't be for this coming season. They're future potential.

Jefferson Caceres (22)
Christian Nwachukwu (19)
Ehije Ukaki (20)

They're all young with time to develop and get up to speed with the Championship. They'll likely spend time with the development team or go out on loan.

One advantage they all have over the current development team is that they have all experienced first team football in league matches. So they're arguably ahead of the current crop.

We may well see Caceres on the bench this season, but the other two we probably won't get a sight of for at least another two or three seasons.

The problem with our fans is often impatience. If we sign a player then want to see them now and can't handle the idea of signing players for future seasons. The funny thing is that we have been doing this for a while now, without AI. David Brooks, Iliman Ndiaye, Ryan One, Jamal Baptiste.

 

[Reus]

These players won't be for this coming season. They're future potential.

Jefferson Caceres (22)
Christian Nwachukwu (19)
Ehije Ukaki (20)

They're all young with time to develop and get up to speed with the Championship. They'll likely spend time with the development team or go out on loan.

One advantage they all have over the current development team is that they have all experienced first team football in league matches. So they're arguably ahead of the current crop.

We may well see Caceres on the bench this season, but the other two we probably won't get a sight of for at least another two or three seasons.

The problem with our fans is often impatience. If we sign a player then want to see them now and can't handle the idea of signing players for future seasons. The funny thing is that we have been doing this for a while now, without AI. David Brooks, Iliman Ndiaye, Ryan One, Jamal Baptiste.

Cannon is in the same age range, but our fans don’t seem to want to give him time and get up to speed.

 

[Danetheblade]

Cannon is in the same age range, but our fans don’t seem to want to give him time and get up to speed.

The above players cost pittance in comparison to Cannon.

 

[Oreyt]

Only 5ft 9.. I’d be quite keen on seeing what the search parameters are on the system. Not a dig, just curious as to how it’s picked two players from the same squad, of the same nationality.

Wait for the third announcement.

''Lads! Lads! You're never going to BELIEVE where we've found another one. GO ON! GUESS!...''

 

[PrestwichBlade]

IMO the Club needs to be a bit more proactive in explaining this AI-driven recruitment. There may be some nervousness over sharing any secrets but the flipside is you’ll have some kind of narrative around an “old school” approach vs this new AI approach which a) doesn’t necessarily need to exist as a battle and b) right now perceptions of the AI driven approach are that someone is just logging into ChatGPT to find player suggestions.

I think any sane person realises it won't just be a case of doing a quick ChatGPT query

 

[St Annington]

The above players cost pittance in comparison to Cannon.

We signed Cannon on a 5 year contract - that’s £2M a year. He only needs to have at least one good season in the next five and it will be a good investment.

 

[Danetheblade]

We signed Cannon on a 5 year contract - that’s £2M a year. He only needs to have at least one good season in the next five and it will be a good investment.

We signed the others on three year deals (I think) for maximum 2M.. no matter how you spin it, the criticism he’s received it warranted.

 

[Balham]

The above players cost pittance in comparison to Cannon.

I suspect they're being paid a pittance in comparison to Cannon too.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

The statement "AI is just shit" reflects a critical perspective on current AI technology, suggesting that it is lacking in quality, usefulness, or effectiveness. While AI has made significant strides, it's also seen as having limitations, sometimes generating inaccurate or unrealistic outputs, or being overly generic. There's a feeling that some AI-generated content can appear lifeless or repetitive, lacking the creativity and nuance of human-produced work. Furthermore, some argue that the hype surrounding AI may be overshadowing its actual capabilities, and that it is not yet truly "intelligent" in the way some envision.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Chances of any of these signings being in our first eleven whilst Wilder’s in charge?!

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Chances of any of these signings being in our first eleven whilst Wilder’s in charge?!

The amount of youngsters he's given a go in this spell suggests if they are any good they will. The only one who has played hasn't shone in the u23s according to people who actually have watched him in the flesh

 

[TJ blade]

Cannon is in the same age range, but our fans don’t seem to want to give him time and get up to speed.

Give him time ffs! He cost us best part of £10 mill!

 

[dc_blade]

 

[Aston max]

These players won't be for this coming season. They're future potential.

Jefferson Caceres (22)
Christian Nwachukwu (19)
Ehije Ukaki (20)

They're all young with time to develop and get up to speed with the Championship. They'll likely spend time with the development team or go out on loan.

One advantage they all have over the current development team is that they have all experienced first team football in league matches. So they're arguably ahead of the current crop.

We may well see Caceres on the bench this season, but the other two we probably won't get a sight of for at least another two or three seasons.

The problem with our fans is often impatience. If we sign a player then want to see them now and can't handle the idea of signing players for future seasons. The funny thing is that we have been doing this for a while now, without AI. David Brooks, Iliman Ndiaye, Ryan One, Jamal Baptiste.

Totally agree mate though I thought wilder might have given jeff a run out in the last couple of games ?? Just to see how he handles English football ?
But as we all have seen he won't because they're not "his" signings .

 

[FTPE]

"Current UK level recommendation
L1 - Mid range of League One"

Before we think he's the new Sabella

 

[dc_blade]

"Current UK level recommendation
L1 - Mid range of League One"

Before we think he's the new Sabella

And they only have his potential as mid-Championship.

 

[Steve Mackan]

Chances of any of these signings being in our first eleven whilst Wilder’s in charge?!

I think people are stressing about something and nothing.

If Caceres was good enough to start games, Wilder would start him. He's not anti-young/overseas. The reality is that Caceres is not good enough. But he was relatively cheap. If he goes out on loan and does well, we get a saleable asset.

Same with this new guy. Won't cost much. If he's any good, we'll be developing our own asset, not somebody else's. If he's not, he won't trouble any manager, Wilder or not. The sums involved are relatively small. We're looking to find an edge. It might not work. But, in a way, I'm glad the new owners are trying something because, (whilst ever Wilder's the manager) we have a mixed approach. There's no recruitment revolution of the kind in other clubs when endless players are being foisted on a manager who doesn't want them.

 

[Steve Mackan]

Totally agree mate though I thought wilder might have given jeff a run out in the last couple of games ?? Just to see how he handles English football ?
But as we all have seen he won't because they're not "his" signings .

He can't handle youth football.

 

[AdamSufc1997]

This new recruitment strategy is going to fall flat on it’s arse unless Wilder is prepared to play these players

Looks like it's for development team and not first team for now. Never use it on first team until wilder goes

 

[robbiez666]

They're second in the Bulgarian league so I guess looking at young players there isn't entirely mad, but....

wtf would you tell the Star, a newspaper which can't get the facts right about the city it claims to cover, about your secret transfer raid?

 

[Carlton Blade]

This worries me. Especially that he plays for the same club as one of the others they've already signed. What are the odds a random Bulgarian club has 2 players that are good enough to step up? Really hope these owners know what they're doing.

Makes a change from signing ex Forest and Derby players

 

[Carlton Blade]

They're second in the Bulgarian league so I guess looking at young players there isn't entirely mad, but....

wtf would you tell the Star, a newspaper which can't get the facts right about the city it claims to cover, about your secret transfer raid?

I think the tone of the tweets and the almost 'piss taking' language in a lot of them leans more towards a different source for the info....