Uniteds scouting network...

[Stafford Blade]

do we actually have one? Jamie Ward apart, when was the last time we made a good young signing that looked like he could go places? And in fairness, Jamie Ward was hardly an unknown when we signed him. Even Barnsley had spotted him ( someone must have been on the internet on the municipal computer in the library )

i'll help the scouts out. Go and watch Carl Baker at Stockport. 10 Goals already and is a clever footballer. But not sure how high he can kick it which might mean blackwell isn't keen

Anyone got any others we should look at?

 

[Fiery Blade]

Scouts ? Our scouts are still dong their fire and animal badges!!!

 

[Liaminho9]

we've supposedly got scouts over at sao paulo, as part of that deal we have with them, also in hungary with fradi, in belgium with WS woluwe, and in china with chengdu...

lots of return on all of them!

before the summer i would have said about a good youngster at fradi, laszlo fritos, but he's a winger, and we've signed like 5 of them over the summer!

 

[Revolution]

Jamie Ward apart, when was the last time we made a good young signing that looked like he could go places?

Colin Krosses-Rubbish, I suppose.

 

[Foxy]

Theres a difference between scouting and purchasing.

Just as there is a difference as to the way a scout watches a player and what conditions they are concentrating on, than a fan just thinking "he's a good player!".

Interestingly enough, most players people mention signing, we've generally been scouting.

A few recent examples we were quite interested in, ended up signing for Premier League clubs instead of ourselves.

 

[Micalijo]

If that is the case Foxy, we are scouting the wrong player. No point scouting a player if there is no chance of signing them. It's all a part of the muddled thinking - I think that was a Lenners phrase so apologies but I like it - that is everywhere at BDTBL at the moment.

Clearly we had a good chance of signing Ward, it has paid off. I also think Treacy looks good but if he does well over the season or 6 months he won't actually sign for us I'm sure.

Can you or anyone talk me through the processes that lead us to signing Kyel Reid and Ryan France? I suppose I should be grateful - we scouted them and for now very obvious reasons we had a great chance of signing them - perfect operation really.

 

[beightonblade]

Don't talk bo11ox..... we have one of the best scouting teamsin the UK !

Its just that they are looking for land banks,property deals and foreign football clubs.

and any way who in there reight mind wud want to cum to BDTBL if they were any good?

 

[bartman]

If that is the case Foxy, we are scouting the wrong player. No point scouting a player if there is no chance of signing them. It's all a part of the muddled thinking - I think that was a Lenners phrase so apologies but I like it - that is everywhere at BDTBL at the moment.

Clearly we had a good chance of signing Ward, it has paid off. I also think Treacy looks good but if he does well over the season or 6 months he won't actually sign for us I'm sure.

Can you or anyone talk me through the processes that lead us to signing Kyel Reid and Ryan France? I suppose I should be grateful - we scouted them and for now very obvious reasons we had a great chance of signing them - perfect operation really.

go on then,I'll bite...what 'muddled thinking' is everywhere at BDTBL at the moment ?

The business plan which promotes a long term stability for the club ? The fact that we are 6th place after 11 games despite numerous injuries. The way we aren't bowing down to agent pressure re fees or that we haven't offered a contract to Killa as cant afford what he is asking?

With regards to scouting,it's not just us looking for players. The better players will go the the bigger clubs . In terms of Ward,there wont be many players from the lower leagues who will step up two divisions and be a success. Isn't this good scouting ? All because Barnsley wanted him doesn't necessarily mean that he is a good player.

 

[TonyAgana]

Don't mean to bite so hard but those asking what the scouting network are doing (if anything) haven't got a fucking clue.

Let's play a little game...

Between the time of Killa's injury and signing Davies on loan, how many centre-halves' did the scouting network look at and provide detailed reports for, for Kevin Blackwell?

a) 3
b) 6
c) 9

 

[Bladesman]

Jamie Ward apart, when was the last time we made a good young signing that looked like he could go places?

Colin Krosses-Rubbish, I suppose.

Yep who went on to far better things.

Although every winger we have at the club everyone usually says they are crap at crossing. Ifill, Cotterill etc.

Kazim Richards id say is one of the best wingers we have had in recent years and had the strength to take on defenders. Unlike some wingers like Cotterill where a strong gust of wind sometimes knocks him off the ball.

 

[Micalijo]

We've all been over this many times Bart, but it can be summarised along the lines of McCabe saying (words to the effect) that we have everything in place to be a Prem Club yet events on (and off) the pitch this season demonstrating we are as far away as ever from being a stable Premiership club.

Not that I'm too bothered about mid-table Premiership football I must add.

It always makes me smile when people talk about business plans and long-term stability. Football is still about good players, acquired within a specific budget, and good management - we have very little of either. Our big money signings flop and the best youngsters are sold. Do you really think an office block on John Street and £500k per annum from Copthorne will make us a better team? You support a football cluib not a balance sheet. Yes books have to balance, I totally understand all that, but let's be told this openly and let's construct a young, hungry sqaud under a different manager.

 

[bartman]

We've all been over this many times Bart, but it can be summarised along the lines of McCabe saying (words to the effect) that we have everything in place to be a Prem Club yet events on (and off) the pitch this season demonstrating we are as far away as ever from being a stable Premiership club.

Not that I'm too bothered about mid-table Premiership football I must add.

It always makes me smile when people talk about business plans and long-term stability. Football is still about good players, acquired within a specific budget, and good management - we have very little of either. Our big money signings flop and the best youngsters are sold. Do you really think an office block on John Street and £500k per annum from Copthorne will make us a better team? You support a football cluib not a balance sheet. Yes books have to balance, I totally understand all that, but let's be told this openly and let's construct a young, hungry sqaud under a different manager.

Very few Championship clubs can afford big money for players.Our neighbours in S6 have just made a £mill loss in the last 12months because they haven't sold any players and increased their wage bill.They are £30million in debt will not finish above mid table. Ambition or folly ?

I think the club have been open re balancing the books.The business centre brings income to the club as do the other ventures. The academy 'sales' (approx 11.5mill now if you include Mellis) means that we can sustain one of the highestwage bills in the division. Whether the manager is using this money to bring the best possible players available is another issue but,if all our players were fully fit/available,aren't we a promotion chasing team ? (Naysmith,Ward,Williamson,Harper,Kenny etc).

 

[Micalijo]

Fair comments Bart - yes, if all players are fit we have a very decent looking squad.

Have to agree, it is pretty obvious what McCabe is doing re income matching expenditure and in fairness he is trying his best to provide Blackwell with funds - as you say, it is then a matter of whether or not they are being used correctly.

The disappointment is we have been one of very few CCC clubs in recent years to regularly spend £1.5m on players and it has got us nowhere apart from hastening the need to balance the books