The Transfer Market & The Blades

[LouTheBlade]

I have never known it to be so quiet. Certainly United have brought in a few so far but its been over a two month period and has felt like the equivalolent of pulling teeth!

We are all scanning the web and tv to see if we have signed anyone else, as clearly we need 2 or 3 more before the start of the season. But absolutely nothing is happening..........its like the market is asleep. We've been supposedly on the verge of signing another player for about a week now and it took us about 3 or 4 weeks to sort Nosworthy out!!!!

The only redeeming fact of this slow moving market is that other clubs are way of completing their shopping as well. We're going to have a lot of unfinished squads going into the new season including ours! I cant think of anyone off the top of my head, who has said they're happy with that they've got and are settling. I'm sure someone can tell me but I haven't heard.

We're a week and a half away from the start of the new season and our squad is still a few short. Our preparations have been severely hampered by everything that has gone on this summer. I wont expect a flying start from United as we're nowhere near what we need at the moment. It must be frustrating for the management because its torture for supporters!

Between clubs tightening their belts, players having unrealistic demands and selling clubs being scared shitless of letting anyone go..........we could be enduring this until the end of august yet!

 

[Bath Blade]

Am I alone in not wanting many more new signings. I've been pleased with the academy players being given a chance in the friendlies and would rather they were given chance to develop in the first team even if a journeyman could do a better job in the short term in the same position.

 

[Oreyt]

Two things. World Cup and that new 25 player thing for the Prem. Neither affect the Championship directly, but they've both held up the big boys, and unfortunately that does impinge on us and the teams around us.

 

[Balham]

Between clubs tightening their belts, players having unrealistic demands and selling clubs being scared shitless of letting anyone go..........we could be enduring this until the end of august yet!

It's also probably something to do with the new Premier League squad rules - until the top teams have their squads finalised their spares won't filter down. This could be one of the busiest last days of the window in some time.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Am I alone in not wanting many more new signings. I've been pleased with the academy players being given a chance in the friendlies and would rather they were given chance to develop in the first team even if a journeyman could do a better job in the short term in the same position.

I think you would be one of a few. It is nice that the academy lads have been given a chance in friendlies but surely you know as well as I do, that KB wont use them when the season starts.

With that in mind we are horribly short of senior players. Particularly at the back and down the left side of midfield. We just seem to be floundering around because we're not prepared to pay decent money for anyone. Bargain bucket signings and we've arrived late at the sale!

 

[LouTheBlade]

It's also probably something to do with the new Premier League squad rules - until the top teams have their squads finalised their spares won't filter down. This could be one of the busiest last days of the window in some time.

This could be a mitigating factor yes. The problem with that is they start a week after us so they may only be finalising things by the time we kick off. We have just enough to get by for the time being, so long as we keep everyone fit throughout august and have no suspensions. After all this bollocks about making sure we dont end up with last season's problems, we find ourselves short of players once again!

 

[Oreyt]

..... not prepared to pay decent money for anyone....

Or not prepared to get fleeced, waste precious resources and mortgage the future of the club. Depends how you put it.

Anyway, how do we know the players we've signed aren't on 'decent money'.

 

[Grecian2000]

When is DDay for the Premiership teams cutting their squads to 25?

That is the key as there must be plenty of players who will be basically on gardening leave until January unless they can find another club. The loan market will be extremely busy with experienced players looking for clubs. However, are clubs prepared to pay for them to sit on their arse and train or will they be happier paying a good proportion of their wages to play for someone else? That could be the key question.

 

[Willie Carlin]

I have never known it to be so quiet. Certainly United have brought in a few so far but its been over a two month period and has felt like the equivalolent of pulling teeth!

We are all scanning the web and tv to see if we have signed anyone else, as clearly we need 2 or 3 more before the start of the season. But absolutely nothing is happening..........its like the market is asleep. We've been supposedly on the verge of signing another player for about a week now and it took us about 3 or 4 weeks to sort Nosworthy out!!!!

The only redeeming fact of this slow moving market is that other clubs are way of completing their shopping as well. We're going to have a lot of unfinished squads going into the new season including ours! I cant think of anyone off the top of my head, who has said they're happy with that they've got and are settling. I'm sure someone can tell me but I haven't heard.






We're a week and a half away from the start of the new season and our squad is still a few short. Our preparations have been severely hampered by everything that has gone on this summer. I wont expect a flying start from United as we're nowhere near what we need at the moment. It must be frustrating for the management because its torture for supporters!

Between clubs tightening their belts, players having unrealistic demands and selling clubs being scared shitless of letting anyone go..........we could be enduring this until the end of august yet!

Just shows how fans feel differently. I personally think during the close season United have built a what looks like a decent squad. Just need one more full back. The main reason for lack of activity is lack of money. Most clubs won't or can't afford to pay the fees and wages that players and their agents are asking. The gravy train is coming to an halt and about time too.

 

[broomhillblade]

I think you would be one of a few. It is nice that the academy lads have been given a chance in friendlies but surely you know as well as I do, that KB wont use them when the season starts.

I think you are making a big assumption there. Some of the academy lads have featured prominently in the pre-season games (especially Lowton who seems almost to have become the first name on the team sheet).

I agree with Bath Blade. A chill wind is blowing through the game from Premiership level down to grass roots. Clubs are struggling financially, squads are being reduced, over 700 players were released this summer. Maybe we'll pick up a couple of experienced bargain buys but I think most fans enjoy seeing youngsters coming through the ranks.

 

[Balham]

When is DDay for the Premiership teams cutting their squads to 25?

Annoyingly, it's 5pm on September 1st.

If the choice is between paying a player to sit in the stands looking smart in his official suit and paying him to get some competitive football then I'd have thought every Premier League team would go for the latter. However, why loan them out when you might be able to sell them before the window closes?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I heard Nigel Clough yesterday saying that he was leaving some of his recruitment until the PL clubs had finalised their 25 man squads and he knew what would be available for longer term loan. He also said that most NPC clubs are doing the same thing. I think that we have been more active than most in the division up to now, but I expect a flurry of activity at the end of August from our division.

 

[beightonblade]

whats the point with cheap as chips still in charge?

 

[LouTheBlade]

Or not prepared to get fleeced, waste precious resources and mortgage the future of the club. Depends how you put it.

Anyway, how do we know the players we've signed aren't on 'decent money'.

Are you McCabe?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

As others have said, and as usual, the market is being driven by the Premiership. For clubs like us who are looking at the likes of Nyron and Simmo, this was always going to slow things down. Having said that, I haven't seen any of the clubs in and around us making any significant moves although arguably, they didn't need to re-build half their squad like us ! All in all, if we can bring in say Gilbert and a n other for a wide midfield slot, I think we've done OK this Summer.

You think we've got it bad, even with millions to spend, Blackpool haven't signed a single player yet and currently have a squad of 15 !!

 

[LouTheBlade]

Just shows how fans feel differently. I personally think during the close season United have built a what looks like a decent squad. Just need one more full back. The main reason for lack of activity is lack of money. Most clubs won't or can't afford to pay the fees and wages that players and their agents are asking. The gravy train is coming to an halt and about time too.

I do like your optimism, genuinely. But I dont know how you can look at our squad and say we only need one player. We need only a couple of injuries and we're in trouble!

 

[LouTheBlade]

I think you are making a big assumption there. Some of the academy lads have featured prominently in the pre-season games (especially Lowton who seems almost to have become the first name on the team sheet).

The assumption is a safe one and is based on recent historical fact. KB only picks academy players if they are exceptional (i.e. Naughton and Walker). He will not give any young player experience to develop and if they're not ready here and now he will not even glance at them. Rightly or wrongly thats his way.

Lowton is the only youngster with a remote chance of playing regular football at the moment. The others are filling the void whilst we recruit. Thats quite obvious to me. Why do you think he's had about 7 trialists in???? If he was happy with the youngsters he wouldnt need trialists.

Academy players always feature prominently in pre-season, for us and a lot of other clubs. They then also disappear as soon as the serious business starts and almost all of them (if not all) will again.

 

[LouTheBlade]

You think we've got it bad, even with millions to spend, Blackpool haven't signed a single player yet and currently have a squad of 15 !!

That's nothing to do with us and they're in a different division anyway. Besides, their supporters and manager will know they havent a hope of staying up unless a miracle occurs. Blackpool are there for the ride and they know it isnt going to last long so why spend a fortune trying to achieve the improbable????

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I'm not too worried. The quality of players available on the loan market from the Premier league will probably be better this year. For example it's likely that Craig Bellamy or Stephen Ireland will be available as it's far from certain that they will make Man city's squad. of course they won't be coming to us or any championship team, but it's an indicator of what quality is likely to be available.

 

[Latters]

I'm not too worried. The quality of players available on the loan market from the Premier league will probably be better this year. For example it's likely that Craig Bellamy or Stephen Ireland will be available as it's far from certain that they will make Man city's squad. of course they won't be coming to us or any championship team, but it's an indicator of what quality is likely to be available.

Wasn't Bellamy hinting at a move to Cardiff not long back?

 

[Wards]

Other than a right back and a left back, I'm happy with the squad

 

[Balham]

Wasn't Bellamy hinting at a move to Cardiff not long back?

Yes, but that was when they appeared to have money!

 

[Bramley]

I think we've done pretty well. We need at least a couple more players though.

 

[broomhillblade]

The assumption is a safe one and is based on recent historical fact. KB only picks academy players if they are exceptional (i.e. Naughton and Walker). He will not give any young player experience to develop and if they're not ready here and now he will not even glance at them. Rightly or wrongly thats his way.

Lowton is the only youngster with a remote chance of playing regular football at the moment. The others are filling the void whilst we recruit. Thats quite obvious to me. Why do you think he's had about 7 trialists in???? If he was happy with the youngsters he wouldnt need trialists.

Academy players always feature prominently in pre-season, for us and a lot of other clubs. They then also disappear as soon as the serious business starts and almost all of them (if not all) will again.

KB quoted on the O/s:

"all the youngsters did well. Some of them will have to be involved this season because of our smaller squad and they showed some encouraging signs."

Time to modify your assumptions I think.

 

[LouTheBlade]

KB quoted on the O/s:

"all the youngsters did well. Some of them will have to be involved this season because of our smaller squad and they showed some encouraging signs."

Time to modify your assumptions I think.

No broomhill. I think its time to stop believing everything you read and try to take the manager's comments with a pinch of salt. Note the key word (highlighted) in the quoted sentence. Stating that they will be involved doesnt mean they will be in the match day 11 or even the match day squad for that matter. They will be when injuries and suspensions hit but that's the same for any club.

If we have two or three young players getting even infrequent appearances this season, I will be both delighted and happy to admit my assumptions were wrong. I do however have severe doubts about anyone other than Lowton playing much first team football..........

But of course the manager hinted at "involvement" so they must be on the verge of the first team.....how silly of me

 

[broomhillblade]

No broomhill. I think its time to stop believing everything you read and try to take the manager's comments with a pinch of salt. Note the key word (highlighted) in the quoted sentence. Stating that they will be involved doesnt mean they will be in the match day 11 or even the match day squad for that matter. They will be when injuries and suspensions hit but that's the same for any club.

If we have two or three young players getting even infrequent appearances this season, I will be both delighted and happy to admit my assumptions were wrong. I do however have severe doubts about anyone other than Lowton playing much first team football..........

But of course the manager hinted at "involvement" so they must be on the verge of the first team.....how silly of me

Please yourself.

 

[davidpinder]

Lets be honest we needed players thats why we have been active. Lets also remember that as many have left the club as have come in 3 of which hardly played last season. The biggest difference this pre-season though is we haven't got any players to get big money for like the 2 kyles so we have no money and need freebies or loans. The biggest shock signing for me was Britton as he apparently turned down a number of other clubs which means he must of liked something that we had to offer. We are still miles away from having a squad to challenge for promotion thats just my opinion a number of players just aren't good enough and as others have said the full back positions are a concern. The first 11 look ok fair enough but we have no depth yet again we will get injuries and suspensions thats for sure so what happens when we have the bare minimum again? More excuse like last season? We have had a full summer to recruit players McCabe said last season was difficult due to the playoffs so why are we 10 days to go and still 3 or 4 short??

 

[Come from away]

When Nigel clough says he is waiting for the Prem league tomake their cuts, folks say now there's a smart manager - he'll get good talent cheap. Here we just moan.

 

[Grecian2000]

Perhaps Cloughie Jnr didn't spout off about having his squad in place before the pre-season tour?

Just a thought.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Perhaps Cloughie Jnr didn't spout off about having his squad in place before the pre-season tour?

Just a thought.

Valid point.