Where is the Spanish Armada?

[BensGrandad]

Did we not have a scout based in Spain who left to become a manager but didntlast long andthe last I heard he was back scouti gfor us, is he dyill employed by us. Think his name was Zigor Arrandes or something similar.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

We've still got Zigor Aranalde scouting in Spain for us.

Excellent. I like that chap. Saw him play for Walsall a handful of times. He added a great deal of flair to the Saddlers, so I trust him to do the same to us.

 

[Justice]

What is the obsession with all the Spanish bollocks anyway, last season the Championship top three all had British managers, this season will be the same. At least under Poyet we managed to score a few goals even if we did pass the ball round the back for half the game. I hear people saying we should aim to be the next Swansea, I hope not they look like relegation fodder.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Excellent. I like that chap. Saw him play for Walsall a handful of times. He added a great deal of flair to the Saddlers, so I trust him to do the same to us.

I watched him play in the Les Rogers memorial match & was very impressed by him.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Every flair outfit should strive to have an employee named Zigor.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Or again was this a Gus requirement.

Quite possibly. Hypothetically if Gus was 'running' the club in terms of transfers etc., maybe it's been a bit of a culture shock for Burke going from a 'bit part' player to the 'main man'.

Perhaps Oscar is not as forceful as Gus (could add temperamental to that) who knows?

I think we need a midfielder, winger and forward fairly desperately. The CB we may get by with Dunk as cover, with Maksimenko and Even Calderon filling in if necessary.

 

[Pavilionaire]

What is the obsession with all the Spanish bollocks anyway, last season the Championship top three all had British managers, this season will be the same. At least under Poyet we managed to score a few goals even if we did pass the ball round the back for half the game. I hear people saying we should aim to be the next Swansea, I hope not they look like relegation fodder.

It's not about being the next Swansea, it's about sourcing value for money players, which is from Spain. We're finding it hard to compete for decent British players - the likes of QPR, Leicester, Forest and Reading will spend more than us - but we have a Spanish management team who are well-respected and have good contacts, so let's use them more.

 

[Justice]

It's not about being the next Swansea, it's about sourcing value for money players, which is from Spain. We're finding it hard to compete for decent British players - the likes of QPR, Leicester, Forest and Reading will spend more than us - but we have a Spanish management team who are well-respected and have good contacts, so let's use them more.

How many teams have got promoted from the championship with half a squad of Spanish players? that would be none. I hope I'm proved wrong but we seem to be going backwards at the moment.

 

[fosters headband]

Quite possibly. Hypothetically if Gus was 'running' the club in terms of transfers etc., maybe it's been a bit of a culture shock for Burke going from a 'bit part' player to the 'main man'.

Perhaps Oscar is not as forceful as Gus (could add temperamental to that) who knows?

I think we need a midfielder, winger and forward fairly desperately. The CB we may get by with Dunk as cover, with Maksimenko and Even Calderon filling in if necessary.

I think you summed it up perfectly. If you compare the signings Burke has been involved in whilst Gus was here, to those he has brought in under Oscar, my view is, those brought in under Oscar just do not compare

 

[Machiavelli]

For me his best signing's have been Kuszczak, Orlandi and Ward the rest for me have been nothing special.

Really? You think Upson is nothing special. He's probably just pipping Crofts as a player of the season so far, has contributed to one of the meanest defences for the first half of this season, and the second half of the last season, chipped in with some headed goals from corners as well as hitting the woodwork and pulling off some great saves, and is the last English player to score at a World Cup. I trust this is an oversight on your behalf.

 

[Machiavelli]

Most of our Armada will be off at the end of the season anyway, can only see Orlandi still being here

Disagree with this. The only chance I can see Calderon not here next season is if we get promoted, and he accepts that he won't get any/much game time. Bruno is worth re-signing. And if Ulloa is included -- some like to call him Spanish Len -- in this list, he'll be around, unless we get a substantial offer for him. As much as I like him, Lopez has got it all to do at the moment to warrant a contract extension.

 

[Machiavelli]

What is the obsession with all the Spanish bollocks anyway, last season the Championship top three all had British managers, this season will be the same. At least under Poyet we managed to score a few goals even if we did pass the ball round the back for half the game. I hear people saying we should aim to be the next Swansea, I hope not they look like relegation fodder.

I'm obsessed with 'Spanish bollocks' when it involves quality. Your comparison is a dreadful one. Most Championship managers last season were British, ergo, the top three were also British. I can't be bothered to look but I'd venture to add that the bottom three were also British. Try thinking before spouting.

 

[Machiavelli]

Quite possibly. Hypothetically if Gus was 'running' the club in terms of transfers etc., maybe it's been a bit of a culture shock for Burke going from a 'bit part' player to the 'main man'.

Perhaps Oscar is not as forceful as Gus (could add temperamental to that) who knows?

I think we need a midfielder, winger and forward fairly desperately. The CB we may get by with Dunk as cover, with Maksimenko and Even Calderon filling in if necessary.

I think you're right on this. I'd be minded to risk our centre back situation, and look to buy a replacement in the summer. It's a gamble, but one worth taking. The three you mention are dependent on whether we keep Bridcutt and Buckley. There's also the CMS situation. I don't think we should gamble on this, and need another forward, as he might suffer a relapse, and might be a very different -- read, slower -- player on his return.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

I'm obsessed with 'Spanish bollocks' when it involves quality. Your comparison is a dreadful one. Most Championship managers last season were British, ergo, the top three were also British. I can't be bothered to look but I'd venture to add that the bottom three were also British. Try thinking before spouting.

Nearly half of the Premier League managers are foreign. I think the ratio is 9:11

 

[Justice]

I'm obsessed with 'Spanish bollocks' when it involves quality. Your comparison is a dreadful one. Most Championship managers last season were British, ergo, the top three were also British. I can't be bothered to look but I'd venture to add that the bottom three were also British. Try thinking before spouting.

Stop dreaming, we hardly score any goals cant see much quality in that.

 

[Machiavelli]

Stop dreaming, we hardly score any goals cant see much quality in that.

You've just indulged in a classic tactic, when you know you've been proved wrong, which is to change the subject. Deal with my point, and then I'll engage with you again.

 

[seagullmouse]

I am not wanting Spanish players for the sake of it. Pretty obvious that there is more value in foreign players at the moment (see Joe Mason: £2.5m) so I am surprised that we haven't used Oscar's Spanish credentials/contacts more.

I don't care where our manager comes from but given the fact that he is Spanish I think we are all surprised we aren't buying from Spain.

 

[Machiavelli]

I am not wanting Spanish players for the sake of it. Pretty obvious that there is more value in foreign players at the moment (see Joe Mason: £2.5m) so I am surprised that we haven't used Oscar's Spanish credentials/contacts more.

I don't care where our manager comes from but given the fact that he is Spanish I think we are all surprised we aren't buying from Spain.

Agree with this. Your last point needs qualification. As yet, we haven't bought from Spain (aside from Lopez, who was re-signed, so doesn't really count). I suspect that this will change. It hasn't happened so far as Oscar arrived late, is not one to bring in lots of favourite players (a la Poyet), and needed time to assess the squad. He's now had time to assess the squad, but the question remains is now the right time to bring Spanish players in, who might need to acclimatise to English -- and Championship -- conditions whilst it's in full swing. We'll find out the answer to this question over the next 10 days, but I do think that we'll see a player, or players, from Spain and/or Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer.

 

[B.W.]

Agree with this. Your last point needs qualification. As yet, we haven't bought from Spain (aside from Lopez, who was re-signed, so doesn't really count). I suspect that this will change. It hasn't happened so far as Oscar arrived late, is not one to bring in lots of favourite players (a la Poyet), and needed time to assess the squad. He's now had time to assess the squad, but the question remains is now the right time to bring Spanish players in, who might need to acclimatise to English -- and Championship -- conditions whilst it's in full swing. We'll find out the answer to this question over the next 10 days, but I do think that we'll see a player, or players, from Spain and/or Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer.

Leo came from Spain in Jan, and that one worked well. Other than that, I agree with what you say.

 

[Justice]

You've just indulged in a classic tactic, when you know you've been proved wrong, which is to change the subject. Deal with my point, and then I'll engage with you again.

Where have I been proved wrong? Its a fact last years promoted teams all had British managers.