Transfer News Transfer Window Summer 21

[bazzer9461]

Hmmm, I’d question your idea of what a right back is about if you think Forde has ever looked good there. Positionally all over the place, aimless balls into the channels and doesn’t link up.

Forde is a good dead ball specialist and god knows what your were watching by some of his in play passes were sublime.

 

[Scotchegg]

Look at our start last season and then tell me your statement is a ringing endorsement of where we are!

The fact that we should hopefully be in a better position means that we should hopefully get better results!

 

[Big Ronaldo]

Let’s all just hope that when it comes to the start of the league season, all the correct personnel are in the building and they are ready.
No bedding in players still not up to speed in November thanks.
We might just be in with a chance of promotion if we get that right.

 

[tatabanya]

Forde isn’t a right back.

Never has been and never will be.

History is repeating itself.

A wider issue, but defining players as inherently having a position is totally flawed

 

[werthersoriginal]

I don’t disagree that it would be great to have another proper right back, but if I was holding the purse strings and had to pay Hanson and Forde I might not be keen to spend on that position. I’d want to sign a young winger who could have quick resale value

 

[Mellowyellow]

The fact that we should hopefully be in a better position means that we should hopefully get better results!

Lots of should, maybe's, if it wasn't for covid. Any chance of changing the modal verb should for will, to be a little more affirmative?

 

[Scotchegg]

Lots of should, maybe's, if it wasn't for covid. Any chance of changing the modal verb should for will, to be a little more affirmative?

Ok, we WILL have a stronger squad by the end of the transfer window, with more depth in key areas, and we WILL have better results after the first 10 games than the last 3 seasons (5, 12 and 9 points respectfully).

 

[werthersoriginal]

Ok, we WILL have a stronger squad by the end of the transfer window, with more depth in key areas, and we WILL have better results after the first 10 games than the last 3 seasons (5, 12 and 9 points respectfully).

I think that we will have a stronger and fitter squad than at the start of last season too. Whether we start well is still anyone’s guess however

 

[Victor1986]

We could have your "dream" squad and lose the first three games - what then? We will be alright. The situation in Jakarta is so awful that the "takeover" thing is all on hold so don't panic. THAILAND, Indonesia and Vietnam are in a dreadful state with Covid. Their "freedom" day is a long way away.

 

[Shaun Rice]

Im usually at the front of the positive bus starting a merry sing song, but I'm starting to get uncomfortable and concerned. A real lack of info and rumours at the moment.
- Takeover happening/happened to ????
- Stratford Brake happening to ?????
- Amazing Thailand to EB. Possible downgrade?????
- ITKers full of info to no news at all?????
- No really ambitious signings IMO with no real rumours of anything significant incoming????
- No interaction with the board recently.
- Uninspiring new kit IMO released with little fanfare which is unusual.
Now KR ranting and unhappy alluding to something happening in last 24 hours and pointing out the sale of >£11M in last few years. Have we agreed to sell someone else?...... Have we missed out on a target as the board refused to pay what others offered?...... Have the board backed away with transfers funds????

Hopefully I'll be starting the singing on the bus again soon, but right now I'm feeling uneasy and anxious.

About time people wake up from the dream and realise Tiger is just another Kassam. Taking us on a journey!

 

[OxfordYankee]

Forde played well at right back the season before last and contributed last season when needed. So not quite never has, never will.

We could do with a direct cover (also at left back), and I thought Ben Watt looked comfortable the other night. But I'm not sure our season will be defined by our 2nd/3rd choice right back and I'd happily sacrifice that for the right players elsewhere.

Never has cover looked so important than during our capitulation to Blackpool in the playoffs. I’d wager that we’d have been a far tougher nut for them to crack with Sam Long or a suitable replacement.

We can all see it, bar Robinson and, it seems, you.

 

[Scotchegg]

Never has cover looked so important than during our capitulation to Blackpool in the playoffs. I’d wager that we’d have been a far tougher nut for them to crack with Sam Long or a suitable replacement.

We can all see it, bar Robinson and, it seems, you.

I'm a huge fan of Sam Long, and yes, he was missed. But games, let alone seasons, are rarely won or lost through the right back alone.

I said that ideally I'd like a specialist replacement, or look to develop Ben Watt to be able to step up long term. But if we have to choose between another right back or someone like Gavin Whyte or Ellis Harrison then I'd be throwing Forde in at right back and hoping that we score far more than we concede!

 

[WRox]

I'm a huge fan of Sam Long, and yes, he was missed. But games, let alone seasons, are rarely won or lost through the right back alone.

I said that ideally I'd like a specialist replacement, or look to develop Ben Watt to be able to step up long term. But if we have to choose between another right back or someone like Gavin Whyte or Ellis Harrison then I'd be throwing Forde in at right back and hoping that we score far more than we concede!

Two minds on this - I like Forde and he never lets anyone down, but not sure we needed 9 centre mids (even with Hanson in that list) and while he is competent enough at right back, the full backs are so important to the way we play and we lose so much when they’re not providing the width and energy that Long does.

If it can be accommodated, I’d still like to see a young kid on loan with similar attributes to Long even if they aren’t the finished article. Suspect the benefits of being able to keep the ideal shape of the team would outweigh having a less developed player stepping in.

 

[Foley]

About time people wake up from the dream and realise Tiger is just another Kassam. Taking us on a journey!

Are you seriously comparing Tiger with Kassam? Really?

 

[Symp59]

I think the journey has been pretty good the last few years . Kassam took us on the downward journey. Iam sure there's load going on behind the scenes. There are a lot of clubs in this league with massive revenue streams but we can compete because of the manager and staff at the club. Even Man Utd don't get all the players they want. Keep doing a great job Karl and Tiger most fans appreciate your hard work

 

[Shaun Rice]

I think the journey has been pretty good the last few years . Kassam took us on the downward journey. Iam sure there's load going on behind the scenes. There are a lot of clubs in this league with massive revenue streams but we can compete because of the manager and staff at the club. Even Man Utd don't get all the players they want. Keep doing a great job Karl and Tiger most fans appreciate your hard work

You’re right there KR is doing a great job with what he’s got. I have concerns over how long he will continue to be with us doing so well to be honest. He seems frustrated at each and every window and most of that seems directed towards the board. Our transfers are such a long and protracted affairs.
My comment re Kassam isn’t related to how well they’ve done obviously Kassam was far worse than Tiger in that respect but deep down they’re really only here for the property. All done with minimal losses.

 

[Swaby39]

Never has cover looked so important than during our capitulation to Blackpool in the playoffs. I’d wager that we’d have been a far tougher nut for them to crack with Sam Long or a suitable replacement.

We can all see it, bar Robinson and, it seems, you.

Not really a fair comment when KR made comments to that same effect immediately after we were knocked out. He diagnosed the problem just as well as we did on the forum where the reaction was pretty unanimous and I’m sure he wants to address that.

What we missed was not the qualified replacement, we quite simply just missed Sam Long! He’s a really key player for us and it doesn’t matter who you put in there, it’s not him. But that’s football, It’s just bad luck. Defensively it wasn’t even his side that got exploited, it was our left side with a fully fledged, experience left back due a move to the championship!!

Everybody would love to have 2 excellent choices specialised in every position so you can seamlessly chop and change the side. That’s fantasy land and you have to compromise somewhere with utility players to get more bodies in where it matters. Not an easy job to build a squad because there’s no crystal ball to tell you who’s getting injured/suspended and when/how long for.

 

[WRox]

Not really a fair comment when KR made comments to that same effect immediately after we were knocked out. He diagnosed the problem just as well as we did on the forum where the reaction was pretty unanimous and I’m sure he wants to address that.

What we missed was not the qualified replacement, we quite simply just missed Sam Long! He’s a really key player for us and it doesn’t matter who you put in there, it’s not him. But that’s football, It’s just bad luck. Defensively it wasn’t even his side that got exploited, it was our left side with a fully fledged, experience left back due a move to the championship!!

Everybody would love to have 2 excellent choices specialised in every position so you can seamlessly chop and change the side. That’s fantasy land and you have to compromise somewhere with utility players to get more bodies in where it matters. Not an easy job to build a squad because there’s no crystal ball to tell you who’s getting injured/suspended and when/how long for.

The system we played last year relied on Long to get forward. It’s part of the reason he looked so good as we were built to attack down our right hand side. Ruffels was positive but I doubt his average position on the pitch would have been as high as Long’s game for game.

Part of the reason we really struggled to impose our game on Blackpool and why we had a dip when Long was out of the team earlier in the season, was that we lost the shape of the team in his absence.

Not having like for like cover (not necessarily someone as experienced but the same type of player) could become an issue for us. Either we need that, a more progressive left back than Ruffels or a proper Plan B alternative structure that allows both full backs to be more cautious than Long is. Plenty of options but we didn’t have any of those last year which is why we missed Long so badly.

 

[Swaby39]

The system we played last year relied on Long to get forward. It’s part of the reason he looked so good as we were built to attack down our right hand side. Ruffels was positive but I doubt his average position on the pitch would have been as high as Long’s game for game.

Part of the reason we really struggled to impose our game on Blackpool and why we had a dip when Long was out of the team earlier in the season, was that we lost the shape of the team in his absence.

Not having like for like cover (not necessarily someone as experienced but the same type of player) could become an issue for us. Either we need that, a more progressive left back than Ruffels or a proper Plan B alternative structure that allows both full backs to be more cautious than Long is. Plenty of options but we didn’t have any of those last year which is why we missed Long so badly.

Understand the point. I just think there is an argument so say when you’re missing your best players, you’re not the same side anyway so it’s a difficult issue to remedy. Backup is not as good as first choice and plan B is not Plan A for a reason. So there has to be an understanding that you’re not as good when the likes of Long do not play - whatever/whoever he picks.

I just take slight issue with the constant bashing of KR . I think he is one of those who gets excessive stick for such minor imperfections but then when he’s gone - which may be nearer than we think - we question whether we appreciated him enough.

 

[n1]

The system we played last year relied on Long to get forward. It’s part of the reason he looked so good as we were built to attack down our right hand side. Ruffels was positive but I doubt his average position on the pitch would have been as high as Long’s game for game.

Part of the reason we really struggled to impose our game on Blackpool and why we had a dip when Long was out of the team earlier in the season, was that we lost the shape of the team in his absence.

Not having like for like cover (not necessarily someone as experienced but the same type of player) could become an issue for us. Either we need that, a more progressive left back than Ruffels or a proper Plan B alternative structure that allows both full backs to be more cautious than Long is. Plenty of options but we didn’t have any of those last year which is why we missed Long so badly.

Absolutely spot on.

If Ruffels could do what Long (or Cadden previously) do, but on the left, we wouldn’t have struggled so much for shape and balance without SL.

We can’t afford another year in which our whole approach relies on on player being fit. If we can bring in a proper left back then we’ll be so much more competitive.