What sort of players do we actually want?

[FMBlade1]

The short answer is of course, whoever the management wants!

It seems to me there's a bit of a divide on here for each 'type' of player we're linked with, the typical responses being as follows:

1. Foreign players (eg. Odegaard) = We don't sign them, they might not fit the harmony or the ethos, international scouting infrastructure isn't good enough anyway

2. Premier League experienced players on free transfers (eg. Carroll, Sturridge, Cahill)= they'll be on too much wages and signing on fees, might not fit the harmony, too old, too injury prone

3. Good championship players (eg. Maupay) = will cost us too much money and might not be good for the PL

4. Loan players = We can only have two from the PL and one 'has' to be Henderson

5. Lower league players (e.g a 'Karlan Grant' style signing) = Might not be good enough for PL, too much of a risk and not better than what we have

6. Former players (eg. Adams, McDonald, Jagielka) = shouldn't look back, not after how they left

---

Now we have been brilliant in finding gems (Fleck, Duffy etc), though I hope I'm wrong I can't think we can rely on that again as this is such a step up to the PL.

We shouldn't be panicking by any means, but looking at the rumour mill I think we have to 'go with the flow' and see how it happens. Who would have thought Madine would have been a success after the meltdown on here?

Back to the question, in an ideal world we want players who are:

Young so can develop but have experience, will fit the club harmony, will be on less than 20k a week and a transfer fee of less than 5 million who really add something to the squad and who are not injury prone.
Any player who is better than what we have (on paper) will cost north of 10 million and will have to be on at 35k a week. The competition for such players is ridiculous. Even then if we got a player like that, it will blow a third of our transfer budget (you can reasonably assume). Also we will need to save some money for January if we are struggling.

The point I'm making is that we shouldn't be too upset if we find the likes of Andy Carroll coming here, we will have to take some gambles and compromise.

UTB

 

[Gavlar]

I'd take Peter Crouch as well!

 

[Shoreham_Bhoys]

Need a tall striker who's good in the air and can physically impose himself on opposition centre half's, like an upgraded Madine. We'll also need another frontmann of any style as long as it results in goals.

We need an athletic right wing back who is capable both defensively & offensively. He must have a good engine.

We need two keepers. At least one must be fairly experienced.

We could do with another CB to compete with and most likely keep Basham out of the side. Will need to be mobile or they'll get run ragged.

And we'll also need a rock solid nasty defensive midfielder who can screen the back five when we're camped on the edge of our own 18 yard box vs the top six.

No pressure Chris

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Any fucker, just sign someone FFS.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

The short answer is of course, whoever the management wants!

It seems to me there's a bit of a divide on here for each 'type' of player we're linked with, the typical responses being as follows:

1. Foreign players (eg. Odegaard) = We don't sign them, they might not fit the harmony or the ethos, international scouting infrastructure isn't good enough anyway

2. Premier League experienced players on free transfers (eg. Carroll, Sturridge, Cahill)= they'll be on too much wages and signing on fees, might not fit the harmony, too old, too injury prone

3. Good championship players (eg. Maupay) = will cost us too much money and might not be good for the PL

4. Loan players = We can only have two from the PL and one 'has' to be Henderson

5. Lower league players (e.g a 'Karlan Grant' style signing) = Might not be good enough for PL, too much of a risk and not better than what we have

6. Former players (eg. Adams, McDonald, Jagielka) = shouldn't look back, not after how they left

---

Now we have been brilliant in finding gems (Fleck, Duffy etc), though I hope I'm wrong I can't think we can rely on that again as this is such a step up to the PL.

We shouldn't be panicking by any means, but looking at the rumour mill I think we have to 'go with the flow' and see how it happens. Who would have thought Madine would have been a success after the meltdown on here?

Back to the question, in an ideal world we want players who are:

Young so can develop but have experience, will fit the club harmony, will be on less than 20k a week and a transfer fee of less than 5 million who really add something to the squad and who are not injury prone.
Any player who is better than what we have (on paper) will cost north of 10 million and will have to be on at 35k a week. The competition for such players is ridiculous. Even then if we got a player like that, it will blow a third of our transfer budget (you can reasonably assume). Also we will need to save some money for January if we are struggling.

The point I'm making is that we shouldn't be too upset if we find the likes of Andy Carroll coming here, we will have to take some gambles and compromise.

UTB

That is a very good summary of the difficult situation Wilder has got to address. It is incredibly hard to name players who meet our requirements and limitations. It is worth repeating that Wilder has earned the right to expect our full backing if it is a bumpy ride.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Odegaard is your example of foreign players? Are you on heavy crack?

 

[Topplayersleave]

Players that can play at Premier League level, might be impossible for some to contemplate, but that's what we need

 

[FMBlade1]

Odegaard is your example of foreign players? Are you on heavy crack?

Not the best I know, but couldn't bother to research. I compiled a list of foreign players for the last couple of seasons but seeing as we're not going down that route it's not worth doing again. There are some names of the rumour mill so have a look there.

Also forgot to add the likes of Barry and Valencia for the 'experienced players' examples.

Upon viewing the Jagielka thread you realize that around half of us don't want him here, giving legitimate reasons. They in themselves are fine, but no alternatives are ever really offered.

IMHO I don't think we are really in a position to turn down looking at such players.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

I think its really hard to say, I don't think it matters where they are from, but we do need players willing to play in our "unique" style of football.
It is looking doubtful that we will splash the cash this season, so I expect we will see most of the same core.
Players and management have nothing to fear when it comes to this season, they have gone well above expectations, and I know they will give it their best.

 

[Sikkim]

We need players with top quality WAGS. Footballing ability is a bonus.

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

Wilder will have had a list of players wanted/needed some time ago, doubt if there will be any panic buying, just biding his time to bring in the right players who fit the bill.

 

[8lade]

How many different ways can we ask the same question to justify starting a new thread?

 

[knowsnowt]

Ched?

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Ched?

Ched.

 

[knowsnowt]

Ched.

Ched!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Any fucker, just sign someone FFS.

Agree. Let's sign any fucker - then we can argue about that as well. I'll tell you now, he'll come good eventually.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

How many different ways can we ask the same question to justify starting a new thread?

I reckon it's somewhere around 347 - what do you think? About right isn't it?

You made me think actually, I don't very often start new threads. That's because I'm a bit of a message board cuckoo and am happy to jump in on other people's threads and make myself comfy there.

I've also no desire to make up a song about any of the players. No desire at all. I'd even go as far as to say I think it's a bit childish. Neither do I adore the players or have any desire to meet them. I wouldn't go out of my way to say hello to them in public. They're just ordinary folk doing a job. No more important than my postman. I enjoy watching them play football...that's all.

Obviously I'm a bit odd in that respect, amongst my fellow Blades.

The one thing that is really annoying though on here at present, are the number of threads popping up to ask about our prospects for the coming season, when none of us have a clue who's going to be in the squad! I mean, how the hell can anyone guess at that? Again, I think it's a bit like a child who can't wait to see what Santa might bring him on Christmas Day, trying to second guess it.

The new season is still a long way off. Our squad could look very different by then. So might the squads of the other teams around us. Let's just be patient and see who we sign first, then we can make some kind of educated guess as to what our prospects may be. And start some more threads about it.

 

[blade67]

The short answer is of course, whoever the management wants!

It seems to me there's a bit of a divide on here for each 'type' of player we're linked with, the typical responses being as follows:

1. Foreign players (eg. Odegaard) = We don't sign them, they might not fit the harmony or the ethos, international scouting infrastructure isn't good enough anyway

2. Premier League experienced players on free transfers (eg. Carroll, Sturridge, Cahill)= they'll be on too much wages and signing on fees, might not fit the harmony, too old, too injury prone

3. Good championship players (eg. Maupay) = will cost us too much money and might not be good for the PL

4. Loan players = We can only have two from the PL and one 'has' to be Henderson

5. Lower league players (e.g a 'Karlan Grant' style signing) = Might not be good enough for PL, too much of a risk and not better than what we have

6. Former players (eg. Adams, McDonald, Jagielka) = shouldn't look back, not after how they left

---

Now we have been brilliant in finding gems (Fleck, Duffy etc), though I hope I'm wrong I can't think we can rely on that again as this is such a step up to the PL.

We shouldn't be panicking by any means, but looking at the rumour mill I think we have to 'go with the flow' and see how it happens. Who would have thought Madine would have been a success after the meltdown on here?

Back to the question, in an ideal world we want players who are:

Young so can develop but have experience, will fit the club harmony, will be on less than 20k a week and a transfer fee of less than 5 million who really add something to the squad and who are not injury prone.
Any player who is better than what we have (on paper) will cost north of 10 million and will have to be on at 35k a week. The competition for such players is ridiculous. Even then if we got a player like that, it will blow a third of our transfer budget (you can reasonably assume). Also we will need to save some money for January if we are struggling.

The point I'm making is that we shouldn't be too upset if we find the likes of Andy Carroll coming here, we will have to take some gambles and compromise.

UTB

Good post. It is going to be challenge and I suspect that we will see a mix of all of the above. Wilder's job is to make us better by adding to his core 10-12 from last season.

Looking at how he progressed last year, he signed a first choice GK, CH and CM and then added some squad players including McGoldrick, who went on to become a great signing.


I'd guess he will try to sign another 1st choice GK (Hendo), CB, AM and CF and 3 or 4 more PL squad players. That should just about fit in the budget and may well include numerous signing that derided on here.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Not the best I know, but couldn't bother to research. I compiled a list of foreign players for the last couple of seasons but seeing as we're not going down that route it's not worth doing again. There are some names of the rumour mill so have a look there.

Also forgot to add the likes of Barry and Valencia for the 'experienced players' examples.

Upon viewing the Jagielka thread you realize that around half of us don't want him here, giving legitimate reasons. They in themselves are fine, but no alternatives are ever really offered.

IMHO I don't think we are really in a position to turn down looking at such players.

Good response but you dont answer the question regarding being on heavy crack

 

[Rollerball]

Seems to me as always with talk of transfers we will get the usual "we need a striker/midfielder/defender" wilder signs all 3, very next post "why the f*ck did he sign {insert name of striker/midfielder/defender here } then insert reason for not signing said player e.g. Too old/too young/never played at this level/has a dog called spot.
Then give absolutely no alternative leading me to believe there are some that just post to cause or continue an argument *shock*.
We all know tufty and knill have never managed in the top flight and almost none of the players have played there, but saying that, the championship was uncharted by mr wilder too, the players had on the whole mostly had a little experience in the championship but most deemed not good enough or too old.
So after they all have proved so many wrong and so often, I'm happy to leave it to the manager and his team to decide who's right for the squad and if it goes wrong, back those same people to try like f*ck to put it right.
Always remember how many said billy and Leon, Duffy and fleck were not going to cope in the championship for one reason or another.personally I'm strapped in for a hell of a ride and come what may enjoy it all the way.

UTB.

 

[derfblade.3]

We need players with a lot more legs than the opposition. Legs, that's what we want!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I don't know why there's an obsession with having a tall striker, the Prem is filled with big strong centre halves and whilst you could argue that you need to fight fire with fire, I don't think that suits the way we play or will necessarily be the way to go. OK, we need a bit of variety up front but 'tall' doesn't need to be the major factor.

 

[FMBlade1]

Good response but you dont answer the question regarding being on heavy crack

I've been on Ched before, but never crack

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Players that our Chrissie likes.

 

[BarcaBlade]

Here's my suggestion for a foreign player. It's based solely on the fact that he was the one player I saw last season in the Czech league who ripped 'us' (sorry, I have two teams and support Bohemians in Prague) apart. He was playing on loan for a shit team that nearly got relegated, but stood out bagging 10 goals in 20 games. He's 21, got pace, created two goals and scored one in that game I saw.

Despite years of watching football, I admit I struggle to 'follow' the game. I enjoy the atmosphere, and normally spend as much time drinking, smoking and coordinating singing as watching the game, but that's actually why I thought I'd mention it here. I actually noticed this guy in the first 5 minutes (before he'd scored/set goals up) when I can barely pick out players on my own team!

A ringing endorsement, I'm sure you'll agree.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Big lads wi' a bitta pace.

 

[super_pig]

The short answer is of course, whoever the management wants!

It seems to me there's a bit of a divide on here for each 'type' of player we're linked with, the typical responses being as follows:

1. Foreign players (eg. Odegaard) = We don't sign them, they might not fit the harmony or the ethos, international scouting infrastructure isn't good enough anyway

2. Premier League experienced players on free transfers (eg. Carroll, Sturridge, Cahill)= they'll be on too much wages and signing on fees, might not fit the harmony, too old, too injury prone

3. Good championship players (eg. Maupay) = will cost us too much money and might not be good for the PL

4. Loan players = We can only have two from the PL and one 'has' to be Henderson

5. Lower league players (e.g a 'Karlan Grant' style signing) = Might not be good enough for PL, too much of a risk and not better than what we have

6. Former players (eg. Adams, McDonald, Jagielka) = shouldn't look back, not after how they left

---

Now we have been brilliant in finding gems (Fleck, Duffy etc), though I hope I'm wrong I can't think we can rely on that again as this is such a step up to the PL.

We shouldn't be panicking by any means, but looking at the rumour mill I think we have to 'go with the flow' and see how it happens. Who would have thought Madine would have been a success after the meltdown on here?

Back to the question, in an ideal world we want players who are:

Young so can develop but have experience, will fit the club harmony, will be on less than 20k a week and a transfer fee of less than 5 million who really add something to the squad and who are not injury prone.
Any player who is better than what we have (on paper) will cost north of 10 million and will have to be on at 35k a week. The competition for such players is ridiculous. Even then if we got a player like that, it will blow a third of our transfer budget (you can reasonably assume). Also we will need to save some money for January if we are struggling.

The point I'm making is that we shouldn't be too upset if we find the likes of Andy Carroll coming here, we will have to take some gambles and compromise.

UTB

as long as we don’t buy any 2’s ir 6’s i won’t complain
and andy carrol can do one .. if he can walk that is

 

[super_pig]

Here's my suggestion for a foreign player. It's based solely on the fact that he was the one player I saw last season in the Czech league who ripped 'us' (sorry, I have two teams and support Bohemians in Prague) apart. He was playing on loan for a shit team that nearly got relegated, but stood out bagging 10 goals in 20 games. He's 21, got pace, created two goals and scored one in that game I saw.

Despite years of watching football, I admit I struggle to 'follow' the game. I enjoy the atmosphere, and normally spend as much time drinking, smoking and coordinating singing as watching the game, but that's actually why I thought I'd mention it here. I actually noticed this guy in the first 5 minutes (before he'd scored/set goals up) when I can barely pick out players on my own team!

A ringing endorsement, I'm sure you'll agree.

stranger things have happened.. liverpool once signed a champs league winning centre back on a fan recommendation
so in that spirit i nominate Deni Alar currently of Rapid Vienna formerly of Sturm Graz.. my other team.. that lad knows where the net is

 

[FMBlade1]

Thought it would be a good time to re-visit this post to put our signings 'against' the criteria I had set out.

Overall, it seems to be a sensible strategy. Robinson and Freeman are not overtly expensive signings in terms of transfer fee and wages, and if they don't work out they surely be effective players in the championship if we get relegated. They have capacity to improve, and we shall see how they fare in the PL.

All signings are a risk, I hope they turn out similar to the likes of Karl Grant as mentioned in the OP.

As for Jags, as predicted his re-signing divided opinion (although not in a toxic way). Again there is little relative cost and we can get rid/move into coaching down the line depending on how things go, his experience is valuable etc. Different positions I know but I hope he can have a similar effect that Cambiasso had at Leicester.

Overall, on paper I still don't see us strong enough to stay up, but I've been infamously and spectacularly wrong in my predictions before, long may it continue.

There has to be patience, the club we appear to be emulating is.... Burnley. I'd be happy to undertake their trajectory.

UTB!

 

[Bartleby]

Pretty much all of our core team are unproven in the PL, but then so were a lot of our L1 team when we went up last time - didn't stop us from pissing on our neighbours and then, after a brief pause to wipe our feet, getting promoted again. I think we have something that is unique and unusual at the moment and it's not "momentum" it's summat else and one of those things that is maybe a once in a lifetime.

I think the addition of top proven championship players like Freeman and Robinson (and hopefully Maupay but starting to wonder about his suitability for our set up with these financial shenaningans we're hearing about) makes perfect sense, as does getting Jags back in. I personally think we will stay up next season, but if we don't we are building a great platform to yoyo back so relegation might actually not be the end of the world - if we keep that core squad together and, more importantly, keep Wilder and Knill, and don't fuck up like we did in 2007.