Ewan Chester

[Willmeister 35]

After leaving us on 1st August this is our first transfer window without him. Lambert usually does his buisness, but we are now nearly half way through the month and still nothing. I don''t take this as cause to panic as I think we have enough in the tank to see us to safety and can certainly appreciate Lambert and the board not wanting to pay over the odds in this ludicrous window. However my point being, is that have we maybe under estimated just how much of a vacuum Chester leaving has caused. He was our chief scout and Lambert and McNally were both very keen to get him in when they joined the club. Whilst the credit has gone to Lambert for his success in the transfer window and rightly so, perhaps equal amount should have gone to Chester and are we missing him now?

[Willmeister 35]

Should read 31st August.

[BW 0]

Well i hope he''s enjoying living in Birmingham

[Nuff Said 5,973]

I think he joined some time after Lambert et al, and transfer windows before he joined were fairly slick, so the theory doesn''t hold up?

[Jacko 0]

I wouldn''t exactly say we went bonkers last January. We signed Barnett permanently, but he was on loan and playing well so that was pretty much a done deal. Wilbraham also came in on 1st January and then Tierney was bought on 13th January. So I think you are being pretty harsh

I don''t think this is a case of the Brian Clough and Peter Taylor scenario. Where Clough struggled without Taylor''s knowledge in the transfer market. Lambert made some excellent signings such as Whitbread, Martin and Forster before Chester joined the club. So he definitely has an eye for a player.

I think the problem is more obvious and straightforward. The higher you go up the pyramid. The harder it becomes to find players of sufficient quality to play at that level. As an example when Darrell Russell left. He is a solid and workman like midfielder. So there was a fairly sizeable pool of players who were of a similar or better quality to replace him with. Crofts and Fox were just two examples of this.

If for instance now you were trying to sign another player of Anthony Pilkington''s ability. How many wingers out there in the lower leagues do we honestly think could potentially possess the same quality he does.

[Mervmeister 18]

The thng is, all those clubs around us aren;t strenghtening so if they aren''t getting any stronger then why would we need to.

Transfer window so far like £2m has been spent by clubs in total. compared to like £124m or something last year.

I wouldn''t expect to see anyone arrive now, i other clubs were doing some good business then i think we would bring in a new face. But as they are not, Lambert won''t eel the need to dip into the kitty IMO.

[Bill 1,788]

"The harder it becomes to find players of sufficient quality to play at that level"I don''t think it is simply that. I''m sure there are enough that could make the step up and have the right attitude to remain competitive and focussed.It is more the matter of wages. Players often have a very low release clause whereby if another club offers such and such they can move, Unfortunately fans become fixated by these fees, irrespective of how accurate they are and then presume another club can sign the player for that amount.Agents will let it be known to who they think is ''appropriate'' how much their player''s release clause is. However that is where the hard work begins because the agents job will be to get the best deal possible for the player (and so for him). Why sign for Norwich when a ''bigger'' club might come in and offer more in the way of wages, bonuses etc. Even if we can afford the wages - a three year commitment it has to be remembered, there is the worry of having an unbalanced dressing room with ''lowly Fred'' from League 1 on x and Bertie Big bollox on yNot any easy job I suspect.

ps can anyone remember where Ewan went and how well that club are doing and what stunning transfers they have made ?

[Syteanric 1]

[quote user="City1st"]"The harder it becomes to find players of sufficient quality to play at that level"I don''t think it is simply that. I''m sure there are enough that could make the step up and have the right attitude to remain competitive and focussed.It is more the matter of wages. Players often have a very low release clause whereby if another club offers such and such they can move, Unfortunately fans become fixated by these fees, irrespective of how accurate they are and then presume another club can sign the player for that amount.Agents will let it be known to who they think is ''appropriate'' how much their player''s release clause is. However that is where the hard work begins because the agents job will be to get the best deal possible for the player (and so for him). Why sign for Norwich when a ''bigger'' club might come in and offer more in the way of wages, bonuses etc. Even if we can afford the wages - a three year commitment it has to be remembered, there is the worry of having an unbalanced dressing room with ''lowly Fred'' from League 1 on x and Bertie Big bollox on yNot any easy job I suspect.

ps can anyone remember where Ewan went and how well that club are doing and what stunning transfers they have made ?[/quote]he went to chelsea for about a few months then left. AVB might just be regretting that decision....

[Bill 1,788]

just checked at it appears he is now at Birminghamsomething seems oddcertainly Chelsea would seem to be a ''step up'' and it appeared a very positive move when we took him on as his remit here suggested we were looking way ahead of the next injury or loss of form yet here he is at Rangers, City, Chelsea, Brum all within 16 months

[BW 0]

He never went to Chelsea. Chelsea was the reason he was leaving but he never in fact signed a contract and then suddenly arrived at birmingham

[Bill 1,788]

I would imagine their change of management rather scuppered his appointment at ChelseaMakes you wonder if he regrets ''jumping ship'' at Norwich, presuming it was his decision that is