You don't have to look far to see the difference just 1 or 2 good players could make to us (or any) team. Look at Chelsea's decline without Terry and Lampard - they come back and make a huge difference. Hitzlberger at West Ham has revitalised them and Suarez in at Liverpool. Its incredible what the addition of 1 or 2 good players can make. Its not just their individual talent - but the overall effect it has to lift the entire team. If ever our board needed to 'push the boat out' and get in someone just a bit special then it is now. It could make or break what's left of our season. Yes there's next season and the summer to re-build but I think there is still a good chance of play-offs, but probably not automatic, so can't the board spend Abbott's and Sodje's saved money on just one exceptional midfielder to fire us up?
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Sadly it's probably not that easy though. Can you suggest the goal scoring, creative, tackling midfield maestro that we need? I can't think of anyone.
We've been fundamentally lacking in key positions for a long long time. The transfer window came and went and we did not address any of those positions. We found time/money to pursue BWP and at the time I said I'd only be truly happy if it was a part of the process and not an "all in". You can't fault what the lad has done but from a team perspective it looks like it was the latter and that is not what we needed.
I think the time to bring in loanees was to have them lined up and ready to go when the window opened and the 93-day rule ceased to be a problem... I believe that was the weekend of the Notts County game. Now ok, we had lost 3 games on the spin before that, but since then we have only taken one point from a possible six. If we had have got two bodies in to key positions that Monday morning, I have no doubt we could have taken four or even six and be sitting in a hell of a lot prettier position than we are now.
When the board arrived and intimated promotion was a 'bonus' this season, I thought they would have at least put the stake money down to play the gamble. They might argue they did so with BWP's fee and Eccleston's wages but for me that was almost negated by the money they spent removing the old management team and the crucial 2 weeks of a month long window that everyone moans is too short anyway that we totally wasted by having to look for a new manager.
Sorry, I digress... I agree, we are in dire need of 2 or even 3 loans but I think we might only get one to tide us over if the injuries keep up, if that. Just look at our squad from Saturday - who hand on heart would have said at the beginning of the season that in a league game, Jenkinson, Solly, Stavrinou and Harriott would all be part of the 18? Not many I don't think.
I suspect the quality Prem players are still holding out for the Championship Andros Townsend being a good example of this , one of the other Spanner loanees a competent experienced player like Martin Rowlands could also have done a good job for us .
Is Bostock holding out for a higher level loan and might change his mind near the window closure ?
Ecclestone is one, keep one of Bessone or Fry and then we'll have 3 loans to possibly get in.
Ecclestone is one, keep one of Bessone or Fry and then we'll have 3 loans to possibly get in.[/quote]
I suspect Fry will go back on the 19th
Would be interesting to here from Powell whether options have run dry or whether we still have one or two we are actively pursuing.
Robbie/Ross
Jenks Dailly Llera/Fry Bessone
Waggy/NE Semedo Racon Jackson
Joe BWP
Perhaps three in midfield and Waggy in the hole and passing football.
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RichCawleySLP Richard Cawley
A blow for Chris Powell as the #cafc boss has had to shift his transfer priorities.
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RichCawleySLP Richard Cawley
Been told that #cafc working hard to bring a keeper in on loan.
Think BWP was seen as being available at a price that was too good to turn down - no chance you'd get Mackail-Smith for <£200k for example, you might even be lucky to get him for less than a million even in the close season, let alone January. I think BWP was therefore signed as much with next season in mind as much anything else and anything he does for the side this year will be treated as a bonus.
Tbh, I think this approach is sensible. I genuinely believe we're more than just a couple of good players away from being good enough to win even the play-offs - assuming Brighton are gone, I think Hudds, Bournemouth and Saints would all beat us if both teams turned up on any given afternoon with their A-Game in tow and all 3 of those sides have shown themselves far more likely to turn up and play well than we have.
If the right player comes available then go get them, but no point just signing players for the sake of it - better to just continue trying to get the current lot to adapt to the new style and keep our powder dry until the summer when more players will be available at more sensible prices, that way we'll also know exactly which players will adapt to the new ystem and which one's will need to be shipped out. It was the 'just sign someone, damn the cost' attitude that Pardew adopted 3 seasons ago that was largely responsible for the financial mess we were in until Tone & Slats came along - lets not repeat that same mistake, especially so soon after the first mistake.
The same strategy that summarily sacked the manager who had us in 5th spot without the help of BWP and Eccleston? ;-)
Good and fair point Smokey. I think for long term success Parky probably needed to go at somepoint - I think you could argue though that keeping him in charge of his players, playing his way, may well have given us the best chance of maintaing a top six finish.
I think it would have been success built on sand though - and I that as someone who admired how Parky went about his business and one who thinks he got the best out of what was at his disposal.
Imagine we get in a great loan player who ends up scoring the winner at Old Trafford. The following season due to the way he set league 1 on fire the guy warms the bench for his parent team and starts a few games. We've then got to find a replacement for him in a higher league which makes staying up a very tough task. If we get relegated we're back to square one.
A patient and correct way of buying in players who will form the nucleus in The Championship is the best way of going about it IMO. With the new board not getting promoted isn't a disaster.
yea bring in a couple players who are not even wanted by their parent club... great idea!
Looked very assured and strong when i've seen him play. Very good signing and would have been perfect for us, H'sfield have invested in the team this season and it's paying off, I reckon a straight battle between them and Soton for 2nd.
http://www.htafc.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10312~2322465,00.html
He played against us for Swindon earlier in the season. (Parky's last stand). Built like a bog wall and only 19!
brought one new centre midfield player in who can actually play and we produce probably the most cohesive team performance we've put in at the valley all season - particularly in the second half.