Lots of mentions about the January transfer window.
I dont think they were intended to improve the squad immediately. There are players that will move on in the summer and better to bring in their replacements now, so they can learn, rather than cramming it into a pre-season. We will 6 months ahead of eveyone in that sense. You cannot tell me these players are not good enough if we are prepared to break transfer records.
Westergaard/Simons will replace Scowen(if he goes)
Lowry for Humphreys
Back for Grimmer competition
Berry for McCleary
Hagelsjkaer for Low/Taylor
Iâm hoping its a really smart move with a nod to what they might know that we dont yet know..
It would also be so nice to see if we have any young prospects in the U18s.
Where has this âhead coach has no input into signingsâ come from? Are we really taking the evidence of one window where no manager was in place as the gold standard on how the transfer business will take place?
Are we ignoring the fact that DR and all the leadership would have been involved in the summer transfer window (which, weirdly, seemed to All be credited to MB and his team alone - including Hartridge).
One window wit no manager/HC involved (because we didnât have one) + One window the manager was involved in, somehow = âDan Rice is a meglomanic that doesnât let anyone else have any input in transfers.â
This is a wild take to me.
Sprinkle on top a smattering of âwhy did we only sign players for the future in the transfer window and not ones for the end of the seasonâ seems a certain lack of critical thinking of understanding that the club and DR probably would have loved a HC/manager input at during the window but didnât have one (that probably is a fault he has to wear, 100%) and to fell back onto a strategy of future planning with signings
Itâs been mentioned before but worth adding to this current chat about bringing in players ahead of time.
From next season new EFL rules apply re transfer costs vs club turnover (as opposed to current potential sugar daddy âinvestmentâ). Had we not purchased in the Jan window, as a âsmall clubâ we wouldnât have had the financial ratio available to do the same deals come September, ie the financial window was closing on us so we had to invest ahead of necessity.
As to did we panic buy as a result? Thatâs a moot point.
Looking at the grand scheme of things, in the transfer window, our signings were fairly scatter gun.
We signed an experienced British-based CB who has the experience to help us at this level and he has been proven a great signing.
We signed a Goalkeeper who was proven at this level, had played a handful of games at a higher level but had lost his place. On paper, he should have been an excellent signing but hasnât lived up to those standards (yet).
We signed 2 Danish player, who were about to start their pre-season training having not played since November. Since then, they have had brief sub appearances but have struggled with fitness and illness. Jury is still out on if these players are up to the task.
We signed a Scottish attacking midfielder who hasnât played competitive football in a while and has a reported âchip on his shoulderâ. Again, lacking in match fitness and has been given the odd opportunity here and there. Has potential to come good
Got a promising Right back, looked great on his appearance but still lacking in fitness. Signing for the future? Probably.
Reach - Experienced fullback / winger, lacking in fitness but gives us cover in the LB role we needed.
Signed Berry - Looked to be a good signing but hasnât had the opportunity OR has issues with fitness. Again, another for the future.
Signed Simons - A possible future replacement for Scowen? Maybe? Still very raw but looks to have something about him. Needs to manage his discipline better (however, Red at Birmingham, VERY harsh!) If signed permanent, could be a promising signing for the next few years.
So overall, itâs been a mixed bag. Next season does all very interesting, @perfidious_albion last point above has some evidence and it looks like the squad was over-inflated to secure against the departures thatâll happen in May/June. Whether Dodds will have any input on those conversations, youâd hope so but we know that money wonât be splashed like Jan.
The signs from the HagelskjĂŠr transfer that the club transfer record was smashed for a player who Bloomfield seemingly knew nothing about and the player appeared to be completely indifferent to Bloomfield (who was still in post) would appear to suggest that the big decisions were not being taken by the manager.
The board then proceeding to reportedly spend in excess of the HagelskjĂŠr transfer for two more players when no manager was in post really does point to a board that doesnât particularly care for the manager/head coachâs opinion.
That turn of events would have been inconceivable previously, even if the money had been available.
Magnus Westergaard. I havenât seen any speculation as to what the fee for Lowry was. Itâs not likely to be especially high for an out of favour SPL player.
The use of phrases like âseemingly knew nothing aboutâ, âappeared to be completely indifferentâ, âwould appear to suggestâ, indicates that your post is based almost entirely on rumours and speculation.
So it IS just the one window where we didnât have a head coach/manager or rather the upper edges of the management structure knew Matt was looking elsewhere and we are drawing conclusions from, Got it.
Never minding that Taylor had been recalled, Low was subject to interest, Bradley wasnât in the club yet (start of the window when we would have needed to start looking for a new CB) and Hartridge just isnât/wasnt upto standard and so maybe, just maybe another new Centre back was a bit of a no brainer, whether we had a HC/manager or not.
Thereâs so many rumours, inuendo and downright leaks coming out of the club around that time itâs almost inconceivable that Dan Rice, ML et al and indeed Matt Bloomfield didnât have a good idea that Matt would not see the window out. It almost seems stupid to think they would have bothered to ask âSo Matt, what players do you want us to sign even though both you and We know youâre not going to be here when the next good offer comes in?â
Now, we can argue about the quality of Anders and if he is upto standard or indeed the price tag. But I would say that would be more than harsh considering he has barely played and has, apparently, been suffering a long term illness since his arrival.
The point I was trying to make, but clearly failed to do so, was when you receive a call from someone telling you the club will waive any compensation, it would suggest they want you out sharpish.
Secondly, face to face rather than a text would show a bit more style.
Itâs like any break up best done face to face rather than by text especially while travelling to an away game.
Fun fact at one point more than one person was promised the same managerâs job simultaneously under the previous regime.
Again, on the other hand, what does âoh yeah Matt, you can go. But make sure you tell them itâs going to cost ÂŁxxxxxx to release youâ sound like? Because that would have been the alternative situation.
I agree face to face would have shown more style. But that Face to face should have been done by Rob. It was incumbant on him to ensure a smooth transition. If the first contact with the new regime was truly by text, then that isnât as much a failing of them, than it is Rob.
Because again, the alternative would have been a call/email/EarlyMonday morning emergancy meeting of âSurprise! Weâre your new bossesâ
Unless @thedancingyak is ITKâŠhis conjectures about what went on and signing policies are as insubstantial as the ones @glasshalffull1 says are insubstantial.
Have we moved on yet?
If I received a phone call from someone who Iâd never spoken to telling me club wouldnât stand in my way and happy to waive compensation then I would draw the same conclusion as Matty B. Best jump before pushed.
But then everyone has their opinion on how someone who spent 20 years at one club, dossing on the couch at the training ground or getting up at 4.45, should be treated.
Oh, so youâre saying that conversation was had in May 2024? Before many would have been interested in Matt as a new manager and it was a completely unprompted comment with no context whatsoever?
Iâm not commenting on the clubs transfer policies. I have no idea what they are.
Iâm commenting on people that have made it abundantly clear they have taken the evidence of one window where players have been signed when we have no manager or indeed when it was clear Matt wasnât happy and looking at other jobs and decided âWell, thatâs how it was that one instance. So thatâs how itâs going to be for every window from now onâ.
Itâs a fucking absurd way of looking at the situation.
People donât like Dan Rice. So they are making up reasons to hate him.
I have much more dislike for the people above him. Because everything he has (or hasnât) done will have been either directly instructed to do OR they have been more than content to let him do what he wants.
But sure, letâs just throw the mud at the one bloke that talks to us.