Fair do's COH.

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Compared to the end of last season we're probably weaker at RB, CDM and RW (Rak-Sakyi was decent and probably we'd have done better last season if we'd not messed him about as much as we did). However Ings might be an improvement on Moore, and Mee an improvement on Robinson. Also we might stop playing with full backs since that isn't an area we are strong in, so that may negate some of our shortcomings.

 

[ITALIANO BLADE]

finnally realised we blades needed more quality leaders to win better late than never great transfer window thankyou CEO .utb..were back we will win...forza sufc

 

[Keen Blade]

13 players signed. 5 loans 8 permanents.

Thats a good transfer window albeit it was late to spark into life.

I think what this shows is the owners are ambitious & they won’t be putting up with Selles for much longer

Huge task facing the manager now to bring all that recruitment together , making the squad gel , and making proper use of it.
I personally doubt Selles is capable of the job , but I guess he's got almost a fortnight to have a go.

 

[Keen Blade]

I've got to give credit that they've spent some money which seemed less likely a few weeks ago but the latd business has shafted our start although the tactics are a big factor.

If it's true Selles has the Ipswich game to get it right then he's gonna have to get it right gelling in new players pretty quickly!

How many are now immediately away on international duty ?

 

[Weasel]

Can't see how anyone can think that this transfer window has been a roaring success. It simply hasn't been.

We have finally got deals done and provided depth to the squad, and looking at the squad on paper its NOW a very good squad for the Championship. Problem is SOME of these players and positions should have been done much earlier. We've fannied about (even Selles had a pop about the slowness of our recruitment in a pre match press conference) and weve lost ground (12 points on some) already. Some of the deals probably could only be done late. I accept that. But i don't believe that all the deals that we have done last minute had to be done in the last week or two. The balance in recruitment time wise should have been better. A couple or 3 or 4 in earlier and then that might have helped us not having to start a 20 year old (Bindon) and a crocked left wing back as our starting centre halves against Bristol City.

So the board have redeemed themselves to an extent with the late moves, but it could and should have been done better throughout the window. High marks for end work done, low marks for it nearly being handed in late after being chased for the homework. 6 out of 10, for me (after the initial cluster fuck where it was 1 out of 10). Decent, but lessons need to be learnt.

 

[MobileBlade]

We’re sat bottom of the league and have failed to register a shot on target in the last two games. Only scoring 2 goals so far- one of which a moment of brilliance. Too premature to praise the ownership yet. That being said it’s Selles job to get this squad playing well.

Hate to be factual but previous game to Middlesbrough we had 4 shots on target and an xg of 1.62 (against Millwalls 0.52).

Our biggest issue this season has not actually been shots at goal (we are 3rd in the League for this) it's been the conversion rate which is just 2% whereas the top clubs average 12-13% (Coventry are 19% but that includes their fluke result against QPR where they had 8 shots, scores 7 and xg was actually 2.16!)

 

[RecordBreakers]

Have we got rid of Zatterstrom already?

Bloody hell to much to keep up with have we ever been that busy?

 

[MobileBlade]

Average Signings for me and a poor manager but we will wait and see.

By your normal comments, that translates to we've done well.

 

[Blade58]

In terms of numbers, excellent window and hats off to the owners for finally getting their act together.

In terms of quality, Tanganga aside, jury’s out.

One last observation. I think we are a striker light. Two main strikers for me are Campbell and Ings. I’m slightly worried about injuries to those two where that leaves us.

Looks like there’s going to be quite a few disappointed players left on the bench this season with the numbers we’ve got? Looking at the squad now, Cooper aside, we have 22 players to fill 10 positions
Obviously injuries and suspensions will play their part, especially Gus who’s already on 3 bookings from 4 games

 

[ATL Recs]

…a bit like last year when we went on to finish 3rd ?

But last year we weren’t on 0 points and 1 goal there’s a feeling of panic to all this last year seemed more thought out I could be wrong

 

[Blade58]

Cooper
Mee
Godfrey
Tanganga
Bindon
McGuiness
Sariki
Ogbene
Burrows
McCallum
Peck
Hamer
O'Hare
Davies
Blaster
Soumare
Chong
Brookes
Barry
Cannon
Campbell
One
Ings

That is some squad as my young en has just said it's like you've edited FM manager and built a championship god squad!

Zatterstrom?

I know he’s only 20, but we don’t yet know how good he is and he didn’t come cheap if he’s just a development squad player

 

[dexter101]

We now have some time to train together over the international break, time to gel and for the manager to get them playing as a team.

This.

Season starts now, next 2 weeks are our preseason. I am hoping that we see a performance against Ipswich. Even if we don't take any points.

This has been the biggest issue over August is apart from a small bit against Bristol, we just haven't done anything.

Huge game, I have my fingers crossed we get something to click and we start moving forward

 

[Berkshire Blade]

This season starts now line

We are 12 points and 10 points off automatics already

 

[1973Blade]

It's a strange feeling, I'd struggle to recognise about half our squad now!

 

[Champagneblade]

This is why we need to play 3-5-2 now we've got some strong defenders in, a couple of good wingers either side of a holding MF allowing the other 2 MFs to push forward to support the 2 forwards.

Truth is that the last 3 promotions have been achieved with three at the back.

Maybe that just simply is our identity?

It’s almost as if the recruitment team said stop fucking about with 4-3-3 and go to 3 at the back. We’ve now got arguably 4 first choice centre backs and 2 very promising young 20 year olds as the options. Pretty sure Zatterstrom and Bindon didn’t come to be 5th and 6th choice on a two.

It will be very interesting though as some decent players are going to be missing out.

Tanganga plays. You’d think Godfrey and McGuinness too. Mee as insurance on the bench? Unless Godfrey plays RWB and if he does then Seriki is on the bench, which I’m fine with but it’s also one less spot for Ogbene. Or does that happen and you play Ogbene and Hamer as support for a striker?

Perhaps it’s this?

—————Cooper—————
Tanganga-McGuinness-Mee
Godfrey-Peck-Matos-Burrows
—-Ogbene————Hamer—-
———Ings/Campbell———

Or are we going to end up with some weird Bielsa type 3-3-3-1?

—————-Cooper—————
Tanganga—McGuinness—Mee
Godfrey—— Matos ——Burrows
Ogbene——Chong——-Hamer
———Ings/Campbell———

At least we have options. Hope we choose a tactic that doesn’t stifle them now.

Some players I know less than others but it’s a very decent squad now. If we continue to stumble it’s very much down to the manager and his inadequate tactics.

 

[Whiston Blade]

Giving the rest of the league a possible 12 point head start again doesn’t sound like a very good transfer window.

But what a story when we finish 1st..

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

Cooper
Mee
Godfrey
Tanganga
Bindon
McGuiness
Sariki
Ogbene
Burrows
McCallum
Peck
Hamer
O'Hare
Davies
Blaster
Soumare
Chong
Brookes
Barry
Cannon
Campbell
One
Ings

That is some squad as my young en has just said it's like you've edited FM manager and built a championship god squad!

Shackleton and the new Swedish lad are missing off the list.

 

[Rodley]

Can't see how anyone can think that this transfer window has been a roaring success. It simply hasn't been.

We have finally got deals done and provided depth to the squad, and looking at the squad on paper its NOW a very good squad for the Championship. Problem is SOME of these players and positions should have been done much earlier. We've fannied about (even Selles had a pop about the slowness of our recruitment in a pre match press conference) and weve lost ground (12 points on some) already. Some of the deals probably could only be done late. I accept that. But i don't believe that all the deals that we have done last minute had to be done in the last week or two. The balance in recruitment time wise should have been better. A couple or 3 or 4 in earlier and then that might have helped us not having to start a 20 year old (Bindon) and a crocked left wing back as our starting centre halves against Bristol City.

So the board have redeemed themselves to an extent with the late moves, but it could and should have been done better throughout the window. High marks for end work done, low marks for it nearly being handed in late after being chased for the homework. 6 out of 10, for me (after the initial cluster fuck where it was 1 out of 10). Decent, but lessons need to be learnt.

Bright shiny new things.

 

[I should coco]

Hate to be factual but previous game to Middlesbrough we had 4 shots on target and an xg of 1.62 (against Millwalls 0.52).

Hate to be factual, but your 'facts' are plain wrong.

NO shots on taget and an XG of just 0.44.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield United: Four wins from four for Boro; fourth loss for Blades

A Tommy Conway goal makes it four wins out of four for Middlesbrough as Sheffield United lose their fourth game out of four.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MobileBlade]

Hate to be factual, but your 'facts' are plain wrong.

NO shots on taget and an XG of just 0.44.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield United: Four wins from four for Boro; fourth loss for Blades

A Tommy Conway goal makes it four wins out of four for Middlesbrough as Sheffield United lose their fourth game out of four.

www.bbc.co.uk

Hate to be factual but I said the PREVIOUS game to Middlesbrough. The original post stated we had not had a shot on target in the last two games.

 

[Champagneblade]

Letting this manager build a squad with so many players is going to hurt us for years

On the face of it, seems like we’ve recruited some decent ones. Any manager should be able to fashion something from this.

At least 2 of the squad have played for England!

 

[Kona]

Can't see how anyone can think that this transfer window has been a roaring success. It simply hasn't been.

We have finally got deals done and provided depth to the squad, and looking at the squad on paper its NOW a very good squad for the Championship. Problem is SOME of these players and positions should have been done much earlier. We've fannied about (even Selles had a pop about the slowness of our recruitment in a pre match press conference) and weve lost ground (12 points on some) already. Some of the deals probably could only be done late. I accept that. But i don't believe that all the deals that we have done last minute had to be done in the last week or two. The balance in recruitment time wise should have been better. A couple or 3 or 4 in earlier and then that might have helped us not having to start a 20 year old (Bindon) and a crocked left wing back as our starting centre halves against Bristol City.

So the board have redeemed themselves to an extent with the late moves, but it could and should have been done better throughout the window. High marks for end work done, low marks for it nearly being handed in late after being chased for the homework. 6 out of 10, for me (after the initial cluster fuck where it was 1 out of 10). Decent, but lessons need to be learnt.

To an extent, I agree with this.

We had a strong finish to the window, and credit to the board for that, but I wouldn’t class it as a roaring success either. The delayed start was not just frustrating but is probably one of the main reasons we are sat at the bottom of the league table. I’d be interested to know why we didn’t start earlier.

On a positive note, we’ve added some much needed experience, pace, leadership and depth, whilst retaining our best players.

Whoever the manager is, they now have a decent squad to work with. There’s no excuses.

The season starts here. UTB!

 

[Barney Rubble]

Truth is that the last 3 promotions have been achieved with three at the back.

Maybe that just simply is our identity?

It’s almost as if the recruitment team said stop fucking about with 4-3-3 and go to 3 at the back. We’ve now got arguably 4 first choice centre backs and 2 very promising young 20 year olds as the options. Pretty sure Zatterstrom and Bindon didn’t come to be 5th and 6th choice on a two.

It will be very interesting though as some decent players are going to be missing out.

Tanganga plays. You’d think Godfrey and McGuinness too. Mee as insurance on the bench? Unless Godfrey plays RWB and if he does then Seriki is on the bench, which I’m fine with but it’s also one less spot for Ogbene. Or does that happen and you play Ogbene and Hamer as support for a striker?

Perhaps it’s this?

—————Cooper—————
Tanganga-McGuinness-Mee
Godfrey-Peck-Matos-Burrows
—-Ogbene————Hamer—-
———Ings/Campbell———

Or are we going to end up with some weird Bielsa type 3-3-3-1?

—————-Cooper—————
Tanganga—McGuinness—Mee
Godfrey—— Matos ——Burrows
Ogbene——Chong——-Hamer
———Ings/Campbell———

At least we have options. Hope we choose a tactic that doesn’t stifle them now.

Some players I know less than others but it’s a very decent squad now. If we continue to stumble it’s very much down to the manager and his inadequate tactics.

When I look at the squad we have now, we have at least two players for every position, and are capable of playing any formation that I can think of.

I might have a few worries about possible weaknesses - lack of pace in defence, creativity from midfield and whether there are enough goals in the side.
However, I think a good manager should be able to use the players available to play in the way he wants to maximise results.

If that can be Selles remains to be seen, and if he keeps on playing his 4-1-2-3 I don't think it will be.
The balance of the squad though is one that either he or a replacement should be able to adapt and play a range of tactics that gets the best out of the players and be able to switch to a Plan B and C if required.

 

[Kona]

In terms of numbers, excellent window and hats off to the owners for finally getting their act together.

In terms of quality, Tanganga aside, jury’s out.

One last observation. I think we are a striker light. Two main strikers for me are Campbell and Ings. I’m slightly worried about injuries to those two where that leaves us.

Looks like there’s going to be quite a few disappointed players left on the bench this season with the numbers we’ve got? Looking at the squad now, Cooper aside, we have 22 players to fill 10 positions
Obviously injuries and suspensions will play their part, especially Gus who’s already on 3 bookings from 4 games

I’d add Ings and Mee to the quality list Blade58. They might not play every game but their experience and character is exactly what we needed. For me they the raise the standard of the squad and, most importantly, of the dressing room.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Shackleton and the new Swedish lad are missing off the list.

Ye noticed that mate... Who is this Shackleton we speak of anyway?

 

[Working Class Hero]

I'm generally optimistic about United, but I don't see how anyone can call that a decent transfer window.

We've panicked at the very end of the window and signed players that are either unproven, ageing or overpriced (although even at the price I think Tanganga will go down as a good one). Taking that approach has also cost us the first 5 games, which has put us massively on the back foot for the season.

The first 11 is probably worse and if you count the manager change, it's a pretty awful summer.

It's definitely left us with a squad capable of top 6 though, so we still have to have hope that this can be turned around, either by Selles or someone else.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

I’m entirely confused by what the recruitment strategy was other than buy shit loads of players in positions we need them.

Fair play for recognising the squad was thread bare and we needed bodies.

But I find highly unlikely these are our first choice targets (Taganga aside)

As another poster said a few weeks back (possibly an ITK) the board shit themselves and Decided to chuck enough mud and hope something sticks

Exactly this. I don’t know why I’m writing in italics.

 

[Jan Age]

Good to see players come maybe too many but they wanted to gut the squad..Left to the last day and bringing in so many smacks of desperation.I hope it not to much quantity not enough quality.Should be enough to finish higher than the pigs but not enough for playoffs

Agreed - mid table fodder

 

[The Vicar]

Mee first name on the sheet for me.

Experience, stability and leadership to a back line

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Is this one of our best transfer windows yet??
Brought in some really decent players, especially in defence!!
And although the manager was a mistake, it looks as though they've realised they needed to invest.
Well done.

Effectively a brand new squad. How long they need to gel?