Keep calm and carry on

[Beauseant 0]

So we have 10 days or so to the big kick off and already we are (apparently) beset by crises. We''ve shipped out our two best defenders (who played 6 and 18  league games respectively last year), our strikers (who were prolific last season) aren''t good enough, and we don''t have a substitute left back. Disaster clearly looms.

I know that people who are getting their knickers in a twist are just being passionate fans and don''t deserve some of the wilder abuse that''s been thrown at them, but I think it''s worth pointing out two things. Firstly the club made it clear that Hughton would have a good budget to work with, to which would be added any income from players leaving, and, secondly, Hughton made it clear that he would give everyone a chance before deciding on what was needed.

That latter point, plus the increasingly ridiculous prices being asked for players made it inevitable that we wouldn''t see a repeat of the previous two summers where we brought players in early in the close season. While that makes it harder to get the squad to gel for the start of the campaign, it also suggests that we are targetting players who have experience (Snodgrass, Turner) rather than promise (Eliott Bennett, Pilkington). With this sort of player it''s necessary to play a longer game in order to outflank the competition and get the best deal. What''s more, we are now reaching the point where clubs are trimming to meet the 25 man squad rule and deciding who to sell or send on loan. If, as I suspect, we still have a reasonable amount of money up our sleeve we may well be very active before the  window closes, and while that may be a bit late for the taste of some, it''s worth bearing in mind that we have 38 League games between now and next May.

To criticise Hughton at this point is unjust, and frankly rather pathetic. I may be completely wrong in my analysis above, but I for one will happily wait to see the complete picture of City''s transfer window activity before launching the lifeboats.

[Mr Brownstone 0]

This isn''t the time or place for calm, level headed, rational thinking Robin.

 

PANIC!!!!!!

 

[Leedscanary 389]

Binner!

[BroadstairsR 2,273]

Getting a new manager in the close season will always pose certain problems as inevitably he will need time to assess his players. Whilst friendlies answer some questions, the real season will give him the full picture. This means that Hughton is more likely to be active in the next window than in this. I get the impression that, Whittaker apart, the other three were earmarked already under PL''s reign.

The problem is with this tough league it is not practical to find out/experiment in the first half of the season.

A poorly position by the New Year might mean too big an ask for the remainder.

I personally think that Hughton has got enough about him and the newcomers also to avoid this scenario, but it is not possible to be over-confident.

[PurpleCanary 6,386]

Assuming these figures from the Dail Mail (I paper I always trust) are correct:

Reading and QPR have signed seven players, and West Ham six. Two promoted sides and the Mittal money being used at QPR.

Then Villa, Fulham, Norwich City, Southampton and WBA all with four.

Ther rest ranging from three (Spurs) down to none (Newcastle).

So we have not been idle in the transfer market. But also it is plain several of the big clubs have not fnished their buying yet. When they have then fringe players should be available, especially on loan.

[Stig 0]

I agree with everything you''re saying, we''ve got a handful of weeks to cement more signings. However, I wouldn''t say Snodgrass was an experienced signing. He hasn''t been in the premier league yet, he is 24 as well - so I think he is more "promise" to be fair.

I just really hope our business in the transfer market isn''t over, I do like the little boost to confidence it gives. God knows we need it.

[Cambridgeyellow 0]

I should stress that I am happy with everything Hughton is doing, however I fear there is one thing that will send us down - our supporters. A bad result and the minority will be boo. Unfortunately at FCR the next minority of the sheep follow.

Some posts I have seen are so ridiculous last year we were told by the same people on here we will be relegated this year if we do not tighten up our defence. Of course unless we can sign the likes of Ferdinand this enevitably means less goals, but playing Lamberts gun hoe way this year would surely have seen us struggling.

What do you guys want the Blackpool entertainment with relegation or more boring football and stay in the premier league ? In 2 or 3 seasons we can start to sign the next layer of players until then it is as a team we must survive.

[Rolf Harris 33]

"Cambridgeyellow"]I should stress that I am happy with everything Hughton is doing, however I fear there is one thing that will send us down - our supporters. A bad result and the minority will be boo. Unfortunately at FCR the next minority of the sheep follow.

Some posts I have seen are so ridiculous last year we were told by the same people on here we will be relegated this year if we do not tighten up our defence. Of course unless we can sign the likes of Ferdinand this enevitably means less goals, but playing Lamberts gun hoe way this year would surely have seen us struggling.

What do you guys want the Blackpool entertainment with relegation or more boring football and stay in the premier league ? In 2 or 3 seasons we can start to sign the next layer of players until then it is as a team we must survive.what we had last season would been fine, but getting rid of our better defenders and keeping the crapper ones not much logic in that

[ricardo 8,034]

[quote user="Resident Canary Stig"]I agree with everything you''re saying, we''ve got a handful of weeks to cement more signings. However, I wouldn''t say Snodgrass was an experienced signing. He hasn''t been in the premier league yet, he is 24 as well - so I think he is more "promise" to be fair.

I just really hope our business in the transfer market isn''t over, I do like the little boost to confidence it gives. God knows we need it.[/quote]

I told you weeks ago there was money for four signings. We have signed those four.No more are coming in unless an unexpected loanee turns up.We go with what we''ve got.

[CanaryOne 0]

[quote user="ricardo"][quote user="Resident Canary Stig"]I agree with everything you''re saying, we''ve got a handful of weeks to cement more signings. However, I wouldn''t say Snodgrass was an experienced signing. He hasn''t been in the premier league yet, he is 24 as well - so I think he is more "promise" to be fair.

I just really hope our business in the transfer market isn''t over, I do like the little boost to confidence it gives. God knows we need it.[/quote]

I told you weeks ago there was money for four signings. We have signed those four.No more are coming in unless an unexpected loanee turns up.We go with what we''ve got.[/quote]Well if  the four signings we have made so far amounts to our biggest transfer kitty ever you can understand why Lambert ran off as quick as his legs could carry him . In terms of Premiership spending thats not even peanuts .

[Lord Horn 0]

[quote user="Ncfc"][quote user="ricardo"][quote user="Resident Canary Stig"]I agree with everything you''re saying, we''ve got a handful of weeks to cement more signings. However, I wouldn''t say Snodgrass was an experienced signing. He hasn''t been in the premier league yet, he is 24 as well - so I think he is more "promise" to be fair. I just really hope our business in the transfer market isn''t over, I do like the little boost to confidence it gives. God knows we need it.[/quote]


I told you weeks ago there was money for four signings. We have signed those four.

No more are coming in unless an unexpected loanee turns up.

We go with what we''ve got.
[/quote]

Well if  the four signings we have made so far amounts to our biggest transfer kitty ever you can understand why Lambert ran off as quick as his legs could carry him . In terms of Premiership spending thats not even peanuts .
[/quote]

Overspend - prima donnas - high wages - players who don''t give a toss - relegation - financial collapse - the Portsmouth solution...... no thanks!

[Stig 0]

You may well have said four signings, but when one of them was a free I''d say there is room for more. "The largest transfer budget-" doesn''t really translate well into the signings we''ve made.

There is budget for more, it''s just a question of whether Hughton wants/needs to spend more of it.

[ricardo 8,034]

[quote user="Resident Canary Stig"]You may well have said four signings, but when one of them was a free I''d say there is room for more. "The largest transfer budget-" doesn''t really translate well into the signings we''ve made.

There is budget for more, it''s just a question of whether Hughton wants/needs to spend more of it.[/quote]That may indeed be right and I know nothing about the money side of things. I was simply told there would be 4 new players coming in. If a freebie counts as one of them I couldn''t say.

[GenerationA47 864]

An aside, but I believe the phrase Mr Bowkett used in his famous comment (as reported) was something like ''biggest budget for spending on footballing'', which to be fair is carefully not the same as transfer budget. He may have allowed for wages to be upped, for example.

Be that as it may, I don''t think anyone is convinced that we''ve completed our work in the transfer market thus summer. And that uncertainty is part of the fun of supporting anyway!

[ROBFLECK 134]

" Keep calm and carry on" Well every passionate City fan is a little nervous and wants the season to get going. I''m anxious ''bout the lack of goals, but ... it might not mean a thing!!! I don''t think we can expect another signing...so I don''t really count on that... But it''s hard to read Danny Graham has scored a hattrick and our strikers (except Vaughan) are not really prolific...but then there comes a big word..YET

I wouldn''t rule a loannee at the end of the window out yet, but that''s the only way we''re gonna get another player in it seems

[Nuff Said 5,963]

[quote user="Cambridgeyellow"]I should stress that I am happy with everything Hughton is doing, however I fear there is one thing that will send us down - our supporters. A bad result and the minority will be boo. Unfortunately at FCR the next minority of the sheep follow.

Some posts I have seen are so ridiculous last year we were told by the same people on here we will be relegated this year if we do not tighten up our defence. Of course unless we can sign the likes of Ferdinand this enevitably means less goals, but playing Lamberts gun hoe way this year would surely have seen us struggling.

What do you guys want the Blackpool entertainment with relegation or more boring football and stay in the premier league ? In 2 or 3 seasons we can start to sign the next layer of players until then it is as a team we must survive.[/quote]Is this some sort of gangsta style of football? Sounds entertaining!

[Thumbelina 0]

Strange sentiments, coming from an individual who clearly does not rate some of the players Hughton has decided to keep, but thinks those who have left Carrow Road this summer are better.You then go on to say that you hope that Hughton addresses the situation over the season. Again showing that your trust in our new managers judgement, plus the players we have at the club right now is not there.I think that Hughton is doing a good job so far and agree with most of the decisions he has made.  We have not even seen much of the players he has signed yet, or the tactics or formations that he will use.Too many on here who think they know better than our manager because they played a few games for Wisbech Town unfortunately.

[Bill 1,788]

"I know that people who are getting their knickers in a twist are just being passionate fans"

 

err no, most are the usual whinger and whiners who lurk round the forum desperately waiting for the next scrap to feed on - many of who are no more than closet binners

 

you don''t need to read too many threads to spot them (try this one for instance)

 

as to signings then the loaning out of Ayala shows a very positive approach by the club - it things were as the whingers and whiners would have then Hughton would have kept Ayala here, rather than state that. basically, he is not up to it at the moment, that decision can only have been taken if Hughton knew that he could further strengthen the squad

 

so best thing is to accept that a successful club will always attract these kind of folk, more so when their own club is going down the pan at an alarming rate - and also take some satisfication from the knowledge that the more successful we become the more hurt they are suffering

 

 

[lappinitup 629]

[quote user="Thumbelina"]Too many on here who think they know better than our manager because they played a few games for Wisbech Town unfortunately.[/quote]Very witty if I may say so...

[TIL 1010 5,246]

[quote user="lappinitup"][quote user="Thumbelina"]Too many on here who think they know better than our manager because they played a few games for Wisbech Town unfortunately.[/quote]

Very witty if I may say so...
[/quote]

Well,well,well not only is Thumbelina ginger she is a Sailor Princess so do you reckon her boyfriend is Trawlerboy Lapp ? What a coincidence that would be.[:D]

[IMG]http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu29/SailorTitanKnight/Sailors/Thumbelina.jpg[/IMG]