If the three don't come in.....

[Small Mendonca]

It's not just about budget though is it? It's about who wants to play at this level and it's probably a reasonable suggestion that either current League One players or Championship players way down the pecking order are the likely candidates.

Now from those, how many could actually guarantee an improvement to a team already full of seasoned second and third tier players?

How about Cody McDonald? He's scoring quite regularly, seems a decent player. You're not telling me with our 'supposed financial backing' and Clough's reputation that we couldn't just put a 500K offer in for him? Regardless if he is in the Gillingham first team or not, I'm sure if we offered enough, he would come - like most others.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

"It's not just about budget though is it? It's about who wants to play at this level and it's probably a reasonable suggestion that either current League One players or Championship players way down the pecking order are the likely candidates."

Wolves managed to pull in decent players last season at third division level, even Weir did on the last day of the transfer window last year. If the board were serious about getting proper players in, those players would be signing.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Believe it or not, I'm not actually a scout so don't have a database full of players who would make a difference.

But, let's look at two of our nearest rivals. Bristol City have gone out and signed one of the league's top scorers from last season in Agard. Meanwhile, Peterborough have signed one of the brightest prospects outside of the top two leagues.

Both goalscorers, both in our market, both the type of player we needed.

How do we know they're in our market? Do you know the transfer budget? If you do I would love to know what it is.

Bristol City paid almost £1m for Agard apparently. Who knows what they are paying him in wages but I imagine a good wedge to make him step down a division when he was playing. Who says we have that sort of budget available?

Not sure who Peterborough have signed.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

"It's not just about budget though is it? It's about who wants to play at this level and it's probably a reasonable suggestion that either current League One players or Championship players way down the pecking order are the likely candidates."

Wolves managed to pull in decent players last season at third division level, even Weir did on the last day of the transfer window last year. If the board were serious about getting proper players in, those players would be signing.

Parachute payments

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

How about Cody McDonald? He's scoring quite regularly, seems a decent player. You're not telling me with our 'supposed financial backing' and Clough's reputation that we couldn't just put a 500K offer in for him? Regardless if he is in the Gillingham first team or not, I'm sure if we offered enough, he would come - like most others.

Has Nigel confirmed he wants him?

 

[sheffielder]

Parachute payments

Do a good cup run, Saudi Prince cash and the sale of Maguire mean nothing?

 

[Houso]

How do we know they're in our market? Do you know the transfer budget? If you do I would love to know what it is.

Bristol City paid almost £1m for Agard apparently. Who knows what they are paying him in wages but I imagine a good wedge to make him step down a division when he was playing. Who says we have that sort of budget available?

Not sure who Peterborough have signed.

I don't know what our budget is, but we were fairly vocal about not having to sell Maguire so it could be logically implied that we have a couple of million available to spend. Regardless, I just plucked two names out there which you asked me to do.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I'm not that bothered. We signed a load of players in the summer that are only just starting to gel and I would sooner see the club try and fail to sign players that can improve the team, than players that are signed for the sake of it.

I'm not into token signings that keep the fans happy. If the right ones aren't available then I don't want any old player. Happy to wait for the loan window if that's the case. Some supporters just want to see a signing.

Messi is stuck on super tram, might not make it

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Do a good cup run, Saudi Prince cash and the sale of Maguire mean nothing?

Quantify all of that in monetary value and then we have a debate.

 

[Small Mendonca]

Has Nigel confirmed he wants him?

Nope, just thinking of a player at this level who would enhance our attacking threat and offer some goals.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I don't know what our budget is, but we were fairly vocal about not having to sell Maguire so it could be logically implied that we have a couple of million available to spend. Regardless, I just plucked two names out there which you asked me to do.

Do you know how much we spent in the summer on fees, signing on fees, salary commitments etc.? Genuine question with no hidden agenda, as I have no idea.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Nope, just thinking of a player at this level who would enhance our attacking threat and offer some goals.

He may well do but if Nigel doesn't want him they won't bid.

 

[sheffielder]

Quantify all of that in monetary value and then we have a debate.

£2m cup run
£2.5m Maguire
£1 Pound, Prince

 

[Houso]

Do you know how much we spent in the summer on fees, signing on fees, salary commitments etc.? Genuine question with no hidden agenda, as I have no idea.

I don't.

But should we have been working at a deficit; does that mean that we were always desperate to sell Harry to balance the books?

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I don't.

But should we have been working at a deficit; does that mean that we were always desperate to sell Harry to balance the books?

Maybe we were, the thought crossed my mind.

 

[metalblade]

It's not just about budget though is it? It's about who wants to play at this level and it's probably a reasonable suggestion that either current League One players or Championship players way down the pecking order are the likely candidates.

Now from those, how many could actually guarantee an improvement to a team already full of seasoned second and third tier players?

So Nigel saying we need 2-3 players to have a chance at the top two is bullshit then, when all along there is no one out there that could improve our squad.
Sorry but that is utter bullshit and you know it once again the board are trying to do things on the cheap, I wonder how long Cloughy will put up with it. There will be plenty of Championship clubs with ambition looking for a new manager soon, just a thought.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Two seasons ago Bournemouth splashed the cash at this level, Orient the same now. If there's money at the Lane to spend, being in the third tier isn't an excuse not to pull in decent players. They've took over £4m extra money in the last few months, that's not budgeted income, so there should be plenty at the Lane to bring in decent players.

 

[Large Mendonca]

....and because it's still pissing me off - out of this close-season signings, which one of the (11??) could only we have made, that most of the teams in this division couldn't have ? Magahey at a push ??

Ambition my arse.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

So Nigel saying we need 2-3 players to have a chance at the top two is bullshit then, when all along there is no one out there that could improve our squad.
Sorry but that is utter bullshit and you know it once again the board are trying to do things on the cheap, I wonder how long Cloughy will put up with it. There will be plenty of Championship clubs with ambition looking for a new manager soon, just a thought.

It's incredible how you can take one statement and believe it, yet be so skeptical about another. Agenda perhaps?

 

[SwindonBladeJnr]

'If the three don't come in'.......the world won't end, we'll still have one of the divisions better squads and manager, biggest home crowds and most vociferous away followings. We'll still have the loan window which offers us the opportunity to grab Championship/lower Prem (at a push) players - think Matty Phillips, John Brayford and Conor Coady.

We'll still be a force in this division and, in my opinion, still get promoted.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

"It's incredible how you can take one statement and believe it, yet be so skeptical about another. Agenda perhaps?"

It's the board with the agenda "we're not spending any money" from the club that never gives.

 

[Rodley]

Two seasons ago Bournemouth splashed the cash at this level, Orient the same now. If there's money at the Lane to spend, being in the third tier isn't an excuse not to pull in decent players. They've took over £4m extra money in the last few months, that's not budgeted income, so there should be plenty at the Lane to bring in decent players.

Orient have signed 5 free transfers.

 

[pdincubus]

Two seasons ago Bournemouth splashed the cash at this level, Orient the same now. If there's money at the Lane to spend, being in the third tier isn't an excuse not to pull in decent players. They've took over £4m extra money in the last few months, that's not budgeted income, so there should be plenty at the Lane to bring in decent players.

Probably worth noting that the Maguire deal was to be paid in at least two chunks (confirmed by Jim, here:



Assuming he went for £2.5m (I'd assume it's probably closer to £2m plus add ons, there's only really going to be around £1m available to the club from the sale. And that's assuming they've even paid it yet, because it seems Hull aren't great at paying on time. ("It was a misunderstanding!": http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28889519 )

Edit: Formatting

 

[ghandi]

Probably worth noting that the Maguire deal was to be paid in at least two chunks (confirmed by Jim, here:



Assuming he went for £2.5m (I'd assume it's probably closer to £2m plus add ons, there's only really going to be around £1m available to the club from the sale. And that's assuming they've even paid it yet, because it seems Hull aren't great at paying on time. ("It was a misunderstanding!": http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28889519 )

Edit: Formatting

Almost all transfers between clubs are staged payments, so if we ever sign anyone it will be via staged payments so not having all the money can't be an excuse for not being able to sign someone.

 

[wizadry]

Probably worth noting that the Maguire deal was to be paid in at least two chunks (confirmed by Jim, here:



Assuming he went for £2.5m (I'd assume it's probably closer to £2m plus add ons, there's only really going to be around £1m available to the club from the sale. And that's assuming they've even paid it yet, because it seems Hull aren't great at paying on time. ("It was a misunderstanding!": http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28889519 )

Edit: Formatting

I wouldn't take that as gospel to do with hull,look at the money they have spent and there not even in europe,they've got it,no two ways about it.We just like to look for as many excuses as possible to get out of spending any significant money.I don't know why they beat around the bush.Fans would be a lot happier if they were honest with them.

 

[MiserableBlader]

Is the possibility of their clubs saying "no, we don't want to sell" really that hard to believe?

We were after one of these three for two months.
If they were saying no for this period of time why would anyone seriously believe they would change their mind?
If they were never going to be accepted to quote
- they were 'turned down flat'
are these REALLY serious attempts to sign players?
Ronaldo, Messi, Bale anyone - worth a try surely?

 

[Sirius]

I'd like to think not Foxy. However, that doesn't excuse the fact we haven't even come close to meeting Nigel's requirements. Earlier in the day they have said we were making three bids for players, and we have signed none of them. What heightens my suspicion is that they have not named the players, and not one of the three clubs have said they received a bid from Sheffield United. This is common place nowadays that a club admits rejecting a bid and I find it hard to believe that there has been 3 genuine bids and no reports from either side. Whatever has happened, and whatever the reason behind it, we have again failed to deliver. That is serial incompetence which lends itself to the suggestion nothing has changed with the introduction of our new owners.

It's all a bit cloak and dagger in the exchange and mart which goes under the title Transfer Window. IMO it would have been foolish to name our transfer targets. It could have started a bidding war. Whilst under no obligation to do so, the club has kept supporters informed. A pity that the efforts made have yet to come to fruition, but, for the first time in years, I feel confident with the work that is going on behind the scenes. Please remind me come January if I am proved wrong.