All incomings have been ok Karl's wish list. He is calling the shots.
Can't deny that the signings were quite likely his choices, but there's no way he's calling the shots. We're 10 days from the start of the season and we don't have a main goalkeeper, and less than 24 hours ago KR said he was told he can no longer get a right back in.
Goalkeeper should be in this week. Whoever suggested he was told he couldn't have one because we have Dillon is wrong.
He wasn't told he can't have a backup to Solly. Read his quote in full- Anfernee's performance told him he doesn't need another fullback
When asked about Dijksteel’s display at right-back, Robinson said: “I’ve just been told I don't need another one! “Why would I want to go and find another full-back if he’s performing like that? He was exceptional against Norwich."
Mavididi is seen as a wide player who can play up front - but he is unproven at this level. There is a ridiculous level of potential but that doesn't guarantee goals. He could be Thierry Henry-esque or he could be Ali Dia
Dijksteel is unproven at this level too and one performance in a friendly means diddly squat. I saw Paul Bacon have a good game once. All our back up can't be unproven youngsters with potential.
Looks like you weren't there last night.
Norwich are a top club and fielded a full strength team.
He played out of his skin and only just missed with a peach of a shot towards the end.
He's wanted 2 keepers since May. Rudd was preferred but he chose Preston. Rudd said there are times that the fans can piss players off when they are being told they are not fit to wear the shirt or are just shit in general. No idea of that played a part in his decision or if it was more about money.
David Martin clearly had other options to try out as he didn't go on the second trip to Ireland.
The fact he then came back but has not featured in either of the friendlies tells me there is something not right. Robinson knows all about his ability and presumably all about his salary so I would guess he is either out of our budget and a long negotiation is happening or we are looking elsewhere.
Phillips has re-established himself a bit since the ireland trip where he did himself no favours but I'm sure something will happen this week
The morons behind the goal at Northampton away probably didn't help that situation as Rudd was given dogs abuse after letting in a brilliant header from Smith that no keeper was likely to save!
Leaving aside Rudd's financial terms with Preston and the opportunity to play in the Championship, there was the small matter of the transfer fee paid to Norwich after they activated their option to extend his contract. The fee that Preston paid was reported at £1million, a sum that Duchatelet would never contemplate paying.
A bit of barracking behind the goal at Northampton is, in all probability, totally irrelevant.
Leaving aside Rudd's financial terms with Preston and the opportunity to play in the Championship, there was the small matter of the transfer fee paid to Norwich after they activated their option to extend his contract. The fee that Preston paid was reported at £1million, a sum that Duchatelet would never contemplate paying.
A bit of barracking behind the goal at Northampton is, in all probability, totally irrelevant.
I wouldn't pay £1m for Rudd either! Perfectly decent keeper, but didn't really stand out for me as being that good
Leaving aside Rudd's financial terms with Preston and the opportunity to play in the Championship, there was the small matter of the transfer fee paid to Norwich after they activated their option to extend his contract. The fee that Preston paid was reported at £1million, a sum that Duchatelet would never contemplate paying.
A bit of barracking behind the goal at Northampton is, in all probability, totally irrelevant.
I wouldn't pay £1m for Rudd either! Perfectly decent keeper, but didn't really stand out for me as being that good
Agreed. Rudd is a decent keeper but, in terms of paying transfer and/or signing on fees, we have other areas requiring more urgent attention
The issue I have is that although I am fan of bringing the youngsters through (and we have clearly had some talented ones in the last few years), it seems to be the regime's go to strategy.
Last season Konsa and Aribo, this Dijksteel, maybe Hackett Fairchild etc
Some will make it, some will get lost. I can't recall but has Hanlan left. Think about what sideways, faltered path Ahearne Grant and now Regan Cook are on
I appreciate you could argue this is natural of all youngsters brought in, some make it, some not, but we gear ourselves to heavily to youth imo
Of course Rudd chose Preston over us, in the same way he would almost certainly have chosen Preston over Blackburn or Wigan, most players want to play in the highest league and biggest clubs they can manage. This is someone who played several times in the PL in 2015/16
The Martin and Reeves situation is bizarre, both have managed to go all summer without new clubs. I can only assume that they are after more money than clubs have been prepared to offer
Robinson said, during the shirt preview Q & A that he had stopped "chasing" players who didn't want to be here and who had shown some "disrespect" for the club.
He didn't name Martin and Reeves but I'm not sure who else it could be.
But while they are still free agents they coould still be signed and the closer the KO and the closing of the window comes the more likely those players are to take any offer there is. Doesn't mean it will be from us though.
You only have to look at Cameron Stewart, without a club or wages for a year, to see the risk they are taken albeit free agents can sign outside the window.
IF KM is saying to KR, "they are too expensive" then i think that is part of her role as CEO and fine. What isn't her role is to say "player x would be a better deal that player y"
Whether we or Meire agrees with him or not, you have to back the manager and bring in the players he wants subject to finances - When you decide you know better, you have the wrong manager or you are wrong. One of the problems - one - there are many I know - is that they think they know more than the managers they appoint.
It's the knowledge squirrel face has gained from Driesen.
Akinola wears #14 in these match highlights. Looks to have something about him but I'd worry that he's only had six months of league football since Barnet signed him in January.
I'm one of the few fans that rates Lennon. Think it'd be a shame to lose him as part of a deal for Josh Wright, honestly.
I understand where you are coming from, but if I was the manager I would be looking at his injury, the fact that Sarr is left footed, playing - and playing well and looking at what Wright would bring to the team.
On balance and providing the deal was fair I would certainly consider it.
I think Lennon has potential to be a very good defender, being left footed always makes him more valuable, but he is also quite quick for a centre half as well.
If he was part of the deal for Josh Wright, for me it would have to be a loan to Gillingham but with him signing an extension as he is out of contract next summer.
I doubt that would ever happen, signing Wright and knowing he also have Lennon after a loan spell, but that's my ideal for this situation.
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I also really hope that we sign Mavididi, as well as another striker and goalkeeper. Those 3, plus someone like Wright would be just what we need.
Wright is better than Crofts and Jackson is semi-retired, we then have Kashi who hasn't played for ages, Forster-Caskey who could be very good for us but needs to stay fit and then Aribo who has only played 6 months of senior football.
We need a striker. What happens if Magennis get an injury? We have Novak who has yet to show any reason to play, and Watt who isn't a number 9 and is a big season for him.
Mavididi would be great cover for all 4 positions along the attack, I think he'd be great for us for a full season. So I hope Arsenal release him to us as soon as they're back from their tour.
Comments
Norwich are a top club and fielded a full strength team.
He played out of his skin and only just missed with a peach of a shot towards the end.
A bit of barracking behind the goal at Northampton is, in all probability, totally irrelevant.
Last season Konsa and Aribo, this Dijksteel, maybe Hackett Fairchild etc
Some will make it, some will get lost. I can't recall but has Hanlan left. Think about what sideways, faltered path Ahearne Grant and now Regan Cook are on
I appreciate you could argue this is natural of all youngsters brought in, some make it, some not, but we gear ourselves to heavily to youth imo
He didn't name Martin and Reeves but I'm not sure who else it could be.
But while they are still free agents they coould still be signed and the closer the KO and the closing of the window comes the more likely those players are to take any offer there is. Doesn't mean it will be from us though.
You only have to look at Cameron Stewart, without a club or wages for a year, to see the risk they are taken albeit free agents can sign outside the window.
IF KM is saying to KR, "they are too expensive" then i think that is part of her role as CEO and fine. What isn't her role is to say "player x would be a better deal that player y"
On balance and providing the deal was fair I would certainly consider it.
If he was part of the deal for Josh Wright, for me it would have to be a loan to Gillingham but with him signing an extension as he is out of contract next summer.
I doubt that would ever happen, signing Wright and knowing he also have Lennon after a loan spell, but that's my ideal for this situation.
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I also really hope that we sign Mavididi, as well as another striker and goalkeeper. Those 3, plus someone like Wright would be just what we need.
Wright is better than Crofts and Jackson is semi-retired, we then have Kashi who hasn't played for ages, Forster-Caskey who could be very good for us but needs to stay fit and then Aribo who has only played 6 months of senior football.
We need a striker. What happens if Magennis get an injury? We have Novak who has yet to show any reason to play, and Watt who isn't a number 9 and is a big season for him.
Mavididi would be great cover for all 4 positions along the attack, I think he'd be great for us for a full season. So I hope Arsenal release him to us as soon as they're back from their tour.
A goalkeeper is essential, goes without saying.