Incoming Transfers: Improving the 11

[cmbillm]

Hendo has to really really want to make the move, and give up his dream of 1st choice keeper for MUFC. A big ask. There are other fish in the sea.... Ben Foster has been keeper of the season so far....

 

[ChemEngBlade]

Besic - agreed

Hendo - well, THAT is the kind of investment we need, isn't it? He is, without a doubt, a top goalkeeper, and has kept us where we are. With Verrips nowhere near his level and Moore unlikely to play in the first team again, we need to be seriously putting the investment where it counts. We are unlikely to sign anyone this JTW in the outfield (bar Besic, fingers crossed) and let's face it, even in the summer I struggle to see a 'big signing' holding next season's shirt up - Henderson is a statement of intent from the board now McCabe has been booted into the canal.

pommpey

I agree that maybe it is the level we need to be hitting, I'm just not sure whether we will, unless we see outgoings such as JOC. Wonder whether Sergio Romero would be available from Man U if they plan to have Hendo as number 2 next season

 

[robbiez666]

I don't reckon Besic will cost all that much, maybe £5mil at most? Surely seems surplus to requirements at Everton having been out on loan for what has been almost 2 seasons now.
Henderson sadly would be out of our reach, he'd be £25mil-£30mil already given his age & potential

There's been some talk of him being on £30k pa. I can't see him swapping for a spot on our bench and a large pay cut.

 

[robbiez666]

I would also like us to look at the younger end and a longer term view. We were in League 1 when we lost Maguire and Calvert-Lewin. Brooks also later on. I think while we are not in a relegation fight, these young players can bed in with a view to coming through over the next couple of years.

We desperately need to do this. Invest in the future. Loan them out (like Man U are doing with Henderson) and they'll either progress or we sell them on. There's a huge gap between the first team and the youngsters we have at the moment.

If we do go down then we'll have players to potentially slot in,

 

[robbiez666]

With January upon us, the desperation for the club to get the cheque-book out is only natural. What's more exciting than a fresh signing looking awkwardly at the camera while he pinches the USG logo on his new shirt?

But wait: the game has changed, being a new face is no-longer enough. Being Jack Rodwell or Jack Robinson isn't enough to satiate our demands: we need players who can walk straight into the team and strengthen the starting 11, apparently.

Allow me to explain why that isn't going to happen:

Money

Let's start with the obvious one. If the table is to be believed, we're a top 7 club. Look around at the company we now keep, and ask "how much does it cost to sign a player who can make a difference at this level?"
Let's be honest, we're a long way from matching the spending of the traditional big 6, but even fellow gate-crashers like Wolves and Leicester operate on a different plane to ourselves. Do we have the required £30m+ to sign a Jiménez or a Tielemans? Are we wealthy enough to absorb the loss if it doesn't work out? After all, for every Tielemans there's a Fred or Ndombele.

Scarcity & Competition

While we're on the subject of high-caliber players; are there enough to go around? Once the big boys have had their fill, is there any meat left on the bones? These players are few and far between. Contrary to popular belief, there is not an endless supply of players talented enough to make a difference at this level.

Status

Do these players want to be here for that matter: A player good enough to challenge for a top 6 PL club won't be short of suitors. Surely they have a better option than newly promoted "Sheffield"? Are we a flash in the pan? Will we suffer from the dreaded (and perhaps mythical) second-season syndrome? These are questions that a potential new recruit might ask and while we might be proud our reputation as a David in a world of Goliaths, is that enough to persuade [insert name here] to join us over Arsenal, Man Utd or the like?

Role

Let's assume we get the jump on our competitors: We identify a player who's good enough for a top 6 push, we can afford him, he wants to join us - the stars align. Does he walk straight into the team?
Even if the player was up to speed in terms of fitness and didn't need the typical bedding in period that so many players would to acclimatise to our system, do any of our players deserve to be dropped in order to accommodate this Johnny-come-lately?


If you accept some/all of the above, then like me, you understand that signing players good enough to walk into the team probabaly isn't an option. We're going to have to gamble:

Championship Players

We can keep fishing in the championship, signing the cream of the crop, like Robinson, McBurnie and Freeman, though this isn't a bottomless pit of talent either, and it remains to be seen whether or not the aforementioned players have what it takes to play and stay at this level. Players like James Maddison and Dan James are examples of this strategy working though, and I feel we will continue to trawl the 2nd tier, in the hope of unearthing the odd gem.

Castaways

Another potential market is premier league rejects: players in PL squads who fail to get a look in at their current clubs. Lys Mousset is the perfect example of this working, even if this method is far from an exact science

Freebies

And finally, the bargain bucket; players in the last chance saloon who will almost certainly be overlooked by our rivals, such as Ravel Morrison or Jack Rodwell. The risk is likely low enough for us to continue handing out second chances, in the hope that some of our damaged goods eventually make the grade.


In short, signing players is hard, and it's only getting harder as we get our feet under the top table. I know it's easy to be seduced by the excitement of the black and yellow banner on sky sports news but let's put more faith into the current 11, that have got us to where we are, rather than in the hope of glamorous new signings.

The role is the key for me. That also requires a certain level of fitness. New players are going to struggle to fir into the first team. You can see how Besic has been improving week on week the longer he;s been here. It's familiarity, not ability.

There's a fair chance that if we had Osborn, L Freeman, Robinson etc in the Championship then they'd probably look a lot better this season. Without a run in the team it's hard to look good.

We're first and foremost a unit. Breaking into that unit is difficult. You can see confusion when Osborn is on. Not automatically knowing where he should be at all times.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Just to add to this post, but another option to introduce new players to the team is to promote academy graduates.

People who actually watch these players play, and have been doing so for some time, may doubt whether or not this is a realistic option though. (I'm looking at you Ball_Sup (Phil) )

Hi mate
I've seen this. Sorry I can't respond for a couple of weeks. I've gone into CBF Test Match Mode.

 

[ChemEngBlade]

There's been some talk of him being on £30k pa. I can't see him swapping for a spot on our bench and a large pay cut.

That Henderson or Besic? And I assume you mean £30k pw

 

[robbiez666]

That Henderson or Besic? And I assume you mean £30k pw

That's my wage! Besic.

 

[guancheblade]

With January upon us, the desperation for the club to get the cheque-book out is only natural. What's more exciting than a fresh signing looking awkwardly at the camera while he pinches the USG logo on his new shirt?

But wait: the game has changed, being a new face is no-longer enough. Being Jack Rodwell or Jack Robinson isn't enough to satiate our demands: we need players who can walk straight into the team and strengthen the starting 11, apparently.

Allow me to explain why that isn't going to happen:

Money

Let's start with the obvious one. If the table is to be believed, we're a top 7 club. Look around at the company we now keep, and ask "how much does it cost to sign a player who can make a difference at this level?"
Let's be honest, we're a long way from matching the spending of the traditional big 6, but even fellow gate-crashers like Wolves and Leicester operate on a different plane to ourselves. Do we have the required £30m+ to sign a Jiménez or a Tielemans? Are we wealthy enough to absorb the loss if it doesn't work out? After all, for every Tielemans there's a Fred or Ndombele.

Scarcity & Competition

While we're on the subject of high-caliber players; are there enough to go around? Once the big boys have had their fill, is there any meat left on the bones? These players are few and far between. Contrary to popular belief, there is not an endless supply of players talented enough to make a difference at this level.

Status

Do these players want to be here for that matter: A player good enough to challenge for a top 6 PL club won't be short of suitors. Surely they have a better option than newly promoted "Sheffield"? Are we a flash in the pan? Will we suffer from the dreaded (and perhaps mythical) second-season syndrome? These are questions that a potential new recruit might ask and while we might be proud our reputation as a David in a world of Goliaths, is that enough to persuade [insert name here] to join us over Arsenal, Man Utd or the like?

Role

Let's assume we get the jump on our competitors: We identify a player who's good enough for a top 6 push, we can afford him, he wants to join us - the stars align. Does he walk straight into the team?
Even if the player was up to speed in terms of fitness and didn't need the typical bedding in period that so many players would to acclimatise to our system, do any of our players deserve to be dropped in order to accommodate this Johnny-come-lately?


If you accept some/all of the above, then like me, you understand that signing players good enough to walk into the team probabaly isn't an option. We're going to have to gamble:

Championship Players

We can keep fishing in the championship, signing the cream of the crop, like Robinson, McBurnie and Freeman, though this isn't a bottomless pit of talent either, and it remains to be seen whether or not the aforementioned players have what it takes to play and stay at this level. Players like James Maddison and Dan James are examples of this strategy working though, and I feel we will continue to trawl the 2nd tier, in the hope of unearthing the odd gem.

Castaways

Another potential market is premier league rejects: players in PL squads who fail to get a look in at their current clubs. Lys Mousset is the perfect example of this working, even if this method is far from an exact science

Freebies

And finally, the bargain bucket; players in the last chance saloon who will almost certainly be overlooked by our rivals, such as Ravel Morrison or Jack Rodwell. The risk is likely low enough for us to continue handing out second chances, in the hope that some of our damaged goods eventually make the grade.


In short, signing players is hard, and it's only getting harder as we get our feet under the top table. I know it's easy to be seduced by the excitement of the black and yellow banner on sky sports news but let's put more faith into the current 11, that have got us to where we are, rather than in the hope of glamorous new signings.

10/10 for formatting and layout

I'd much rather forgo any new incomings and any budget we have being used to solidify the current team by signing Henderson and Besic on permanent contracts. That to me is good business. Sure, they'l costa fucking fortune, but Henderson's form at the moment is better than any keeper we've had at BDTBL for donkey's years and Besic has that capability, with games, to be the new Michael Brown.

pommpey

We have Besic for remainder of the season. I'd rather see if we can improve on him in summer with a permanent signing

 

[Kanye]

Hi mate
I've seen this. Sorry I can't respond for a couple of weeks. I've gone into CBF Test Match Mode.

Enjoy! All the best.

 

[I should coco]

No chance over Hendo sadly IMHO. With current injuries, he is definitely in England's top 3 keepers and Manyoo will want to keep him. I'd suggest a minimum £45m to buy and his wages demand would be well in excess of £100 k per week.

Last refuge of a scoundrel and all that, quoting my own post.

After tonight Hendo has gone up in value by another £20m and we stand no chance. If this carries on, even Manyoo won't be able to afford him back.

He'll be marooned half way between Sheffield and Manchester, in some sort of Glossop time warp.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Now the Prince is home and dry show us the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And if you ain't got none go and visit ur grandpa and be nice.