I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money
I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.
I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look.
Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy.
Andy Holt has been very quiet on that front. But he has spent a fortune on upgrading the stadium and is obviously struggling with the current financial constraints and Covid.
If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thoughr Crew should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
Following this thread from the start has set me wondering where we would be with this summer's team rebuild if we had made it into the Championship at the close of last season. Despite injuries and poor form during the middle part of the season, we weren't that far away and it could have happened. I don't think the vast majority on here have any idea of the net budget Thomas has set for this window (net I take to exclude receipts from player sales, etc that could be reinvested). No figure has been stated by the club as far as I'm aware or a list of the positions intended to be filled with new to the club players. Prior to yesterday's signing there was, in my opinion, increasing speculation that the available cash had largely been spent and further expensive signings (those involving a fee) were unlikely. If we had reached the Championship, a much more extensive (and expensive) rebuild would have been required to provide a squad capable of remaining in the division, with more of last year's players leaving and more coming in, both first choice and squad. No way would the academy youth be suitable to cover squad back up for suspensions and injuries, except for one-off emergencies. So where would we be now? Would sufficient funds have been available to purchase possibly 15 + new Championship level players? How would we have coped in what has turned out to be a slow and difficult window? Whilst I think we all agree that CAFC needs to get out of League 1, realistically it can only be done (and is worth doing) if and when we have adequate resources to ensure we remain there for more than one season. Not going up last year was disappointing, but in the longer term it could be argued that it was for the best that we didn't. Hindsight will tell! It remains to be seen whether a year of squad development and consolidation this season would be better in the longer term that a push for the Championship that we may not be quite ready for. If we do go up at the end of this season, will the finance be available for the bigger rebuild required for sustainable Championship football?
my response on the post match Wimbledon thread adds a bit of insight
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thoughr Crew should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
What, all four of them?
You think 11 of the teams that finished above them had more than four outstanding players?
Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money
I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.
I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look.
Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy.
Andy Holt has been very quiet on that front. But he has spent a fortune on upgrading the stadium and is obviously struggling with the current financial constraints and Covid.
If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.
Yeah I wouldn't want to get a reputation as a club that throws around derisory lowball bids for players . I think all clubs are feeling the pinch of the last 18 months or so , but I wouldn't want to take advantage of clubs.
Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money
I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.
I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look.
Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy.
Not sure I’d be wildly excited by Jephcott, but that’s just based on the video.
I wonder to what extent the club already knows what loans they might be getting? That would have an impact on everything on the recruitment front.
Following this thread from the start has set me wondering where we would be with this summer's team rebuild if we had made it into the Championship at the close of last season. Despite injuries and poor form during the middle part of the season, we weren't that far away and it could have happened. I don't think the vast majority on here have any idea of the net budget Thomas has set for this window (net I take to exclude receipts from player sales, etc that could be reinvested). No figure has been stated by the club as far as I'm aware or a list of the positions intended to be filled with new to the club players. Prior to yesterday's signing there was, in my opinion, increasing speculation that the available cash had largely been spent and further expensive signings (those involving a fee) were unlikely. If we had reached the Championship, a much more extensive (and expensive) rebuild would have been required to provide a squad capable of remaining in the division, with more of last year's players leaving and more coming in, both first choice and squad. No way would the academy youth be suitable to cover squad back up for suspensions and injuries, except for one-off emergencies. So where would we be now? Would sufficient funds have been available to purchase possibly 15 + new Championship level players? How would we have coped in what has turned out to be a slow and difficult window? Whilst I think we all agree that CAFC needs to get out of League 1, realistically it can only be done (and is worth doing) if and when we have adequate resources to ensure we remain there for more than one season. Not going up last year was disappointing, but in the longer term it could be argued that it was for the best that we didn't. Hindsight will tell! It remains to be seen whether a year of squad development and consolidation this season would be better in the longer term that a push for the Championship that we may not be quite ready for. If we do go up at the end of this season, will the finance be available for the bigger rebuild required for sustainable Championship football?
Would it be possible that being that bit closer to the promised land of the PL may lead to TS finding outside investors who may be more willing to take a punt on CAFC? Seems more likely to me.
trouble with loans is that often the parent clubs wants there player to start or at least be in the 18.
So another LB or left winger might expect to start ahead of Kirk and Purrington, for example.
Many will say "if he's better than Purrington then not a problem" but if he's not or is better going forward but not as good defensively it gives SG and NA a dilemma.
I still expect 3 or 4 loans to join before the end of the window.
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.
If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.
Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money
I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.
I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look.
Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy.
16 goals last season and 2 years left on his contract, I doubt Plymouth would be looking for anything less than a million for Jephcott.
it all depends what sort of release clause they had to put in his contract to get him to sign it a couple of months ago. He'd have one for sure, we could just trigger it as we did for Kirk.
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.
If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.
Perry Ng and Ryan Wintle also made big money moves to Cardiff last season.
They had a golden generation of youth players all coming through at the same time.
Jephcott and Charles would be excellent signings, alas Jephcott signed a new deal in June and Charles I can't believe won't have Champ interest this late in the window. Blackburn probably with the Armstrong money
I think Jephcott is more ‘gettable’ despite the new deal as he hadn’t scored in 21 competitive games before Tuesday (Camara scored too) and I think Plymouth and the player were just protecting themselves a bit with the new deal. Think Charles will end up in the champ but also a good player who would obviously strengthen us.
I think if Jephcott is available at a similar fee to Kirk and Stockley then we'd be daft not to give it a look.
Charles and Colby Bishop would both be good options , surprised neither have left Accy.
Andy Holt has been very quiet on that front. But he has spent a fortune on upgrading the stadium and is obviously struggling with the current financial constraints and Covid.
If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.
Yeah I wouldn't want to get a reputation as a club that throws around derisory lowball bids for players . I think all clubs are feeling the pinch of the last 18 months or so , but I wouldn't want to take advantage of clubs.
I’m afraid to say those are the rules of the game. Football is a competition and a business. If an opportunity arises because of another clubs misfortune then you need to take advantage. I’m not suggesting anything that hasn’t happened every season since money become more important than the football. We’ve been taken advantage of and no doubt will be again. That’s a fact of life.
That's the game, it's unsavoury, but we've been the victims of low ball bids in recent years, and if we can get a good player for less than you would normally have to pay, then its just business
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.
If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.
Perry Ng and Ryan Wintle also made big money moves to Cardiff last season.
They had a golden generation of youth players all coming through at the same time.
Wintle only moved to Cardiff on a free transfer this summer
Was Ng (Cardiff) and Pickering (Blackburn) that moved in January - Wouldn't call it a golden generation either, Crewe are consistent bringing through youngsters that have moved on, e.g. Nick Powell to Man Utd, Luke Varney and Luke Murphy
Only thing was I felt last season we had too many central midfielders, and left us lacking in depth in other positions, so I hope that isn't the case this Yr. I think attacking midfielder is 5th on my priority.
yes and the worst thing about it is none of them were particularly good
None of them, even the scapegoats, were particularly bad either. The balance and combinations were awful. Certainly worse than the sum of the parts.
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.
If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.
Yes there is that mate but honestly, I don't think we had one real out and out stand out 'Championship player' last year (probably Stockley aside and I don't think Chucks or JFC are cast iron championship quality) and an awful lot of barely league one quality in that mix and we still finished a point outside the play offs. If 50% of their side should be playing in championship or attracting championship interest I'd just have expected them to have done better.
Not meaning start an argument just a counter debate
I'd be very impressed if we got Jephcott simply because i can't believe he'd have no Championship interest.
Why, I thought there was Championship interest in Kirk and we got him.
A good piece by a Crewe analyst pointed out that while Kirk is proving to be consistent, he has a lower ceilling than Lowery/Dale so those are the two more likely to get Championship interest now. Kirk on the other hand could probably hold his own (or so they said) but isn't a standout star like the other two.
You'd have thought Crewe should have pissed this league last year the way their players are touted
True but realistically their success was down to 4-5 players, Dale, Lowery, Pickering, Kirk and Mandron. Doesn't mean the rest of the team held their weight and only finished 8 points below us.
If those players weren't young talents they probably wouldn't be getting scouted - it's more their age and potential getting them this interest.
Yes there is that mate but honestly, I don't think we had one real out and out stand out 'Championship player' last year (probably Stockley aside and I don't think Chucks or JFC are cast iron championship quality) and an awful lot of barely league one quality in that mix and we still finished a point outside the play offs. If 50% of their side should be playing in championship or attracting championship interest I'd just have expected them to have done better.
Not meaning start an argument just a counter debate
Yeah no argument here mate, love a good debate. Definately many factors to success, and it shows how missing one or two key players can really undo a team (Innis last year for us). Our points-per-game with Innis vs without is crazy. It could very well be Crewe have/had a fantastically promising team that were missing one or two key ingredients from kicking them onto the next stage. I feel Doncaster were in a similar position the year we beat them in the semi's.
I do ultimately think this is what stops many 'medium' clubs from becoming big clubs. It happens in scale like when our talent is poached to the Championship but the fact that teams such as Crewe can't stop their talent joining league rivals halts their progress as a club.
Only thing was I felt last season we had too many central midfielders, and left us lacking in depth in other positions, so I hope that isn't the case this Yr. I think attacking midfielder is 5th on my priority.
yes and the worst thing about it is none of them were particularly good
None of them, even the scapegoats, were particularly bad either. The balance and combinations were awful. Certainly worse than the sum of the parts.
i disagree - central midfield had 2 past it players, an inconsistent young player in morgan, an out of favour / form williams, gilbey who tbh i'm yet to be convinced about and jfc who became our best midfielder but was nowhere near the level of our midfield when we went up - biggest area for an overhaul this summer for me - still need that midfield general / playmaker
Comments
If he does have to sell by the end of the window and interest is limited outside League 1, then if we make an approach I hope we don't screw him over. He seems like a good guy.
Would it be possible that being that bit closer to the promised land of the PL may lead to TS finding outside investors who may be more willing to take a punt on CAFC? Seems more likely to me.
So another LB or left winger might expect to start ahead of Kirk and Purrington, for example.
Many will say "if he's better than Purrington then not a problem" but if he's not or is better going forward but not as good defensively it gives SG and NA a dilemma.
I still expect 3 or 4 loans to join before the end of the window.
Was Ng (Cardiff) and Pickering (Blackburn) that moved in January - Wouldn't call it a golden generation either, Crewe are consistent bringing through youngsters that have moved on, e.g. Nick Powell to Man Utd, Luke Varney and Luke Murphy
If 50% of their side should be playing in championship or attracting championship interest I'd just have expected them to have done better.
Not meaning start an argument just a counter debate