[Albion] Dan Ashworth’s thoughts on our transfer window

[Justice]

Zzzzzzzz. Wake me up when you have something sensible and constructive to say.

Just because Spence isn’t a happy clapper, his opinion is valid I’m guessing you must of thought the same we are getting players off the books to see some new first team players arrive If you didn’t then you must of had a crystal ball as Albion fans I know where all looking forward to seeing some new faces arrive in the window.

 

[um bongo molongo]

You can play different formations you know. If burn plays left back march can play to left or right of a front three.

So one injury or suspension and we lose our preferred formation? Not ideal is it?

 

[Tokyohands]

I might buy a lucky heather myself.

You could find that down Ham Road, not sure if it's still the case though.

 

[um bongo molongo]

It is not the 1970s anymore. Teams do not have "preferred" formations

We’ve started with 3-5-2 in every league game so far. In case you hadn’t noticed.

 

[Steve Foster]

Is history repeating itself?

First time round we spent 4 seasons in the top flight.

Second time around ... this is our 4th season. We have been a constant bottom 6 side. Sooner or later you either progress a la Palace, Southampton, Leicester .... or you fall through the trap door.

Can’t help thinking we are playing high risk stakes currently ..

 

[neilbard]

Dan Ashworth’s thoughts on our transfer window

 

[Justice]

I can not work out what you are saying. Myself, and most, if not all of the fans I know we're not expecting much given the financial constraints this year

Considering we only needed one or two in mainly a frontman, Mooy, Stephens, Monty, Murray all off the wage bill most fans I talked thought this was a plan to get a couple in and not break the bank doing so

 

[darkwolf666]

It's not one or the other, is it? I think we've clearly done both. Money spent on the first team:

- Lallana
- Veltman
- New contracts for Dunk, Alzate, Connolly
- Zeqiri

It's a long term project!

**** the long term project, let’s go all in now!!! Appears to be the cry from some.

I wonder what Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, etc., fans think of this policy?

 

[Uh_huh_him]

It may not be long in time, but it is in games. There are 12 league games between now and the New Year, with the first game in 2021 being on January 2nd, and I'm not sure it would be possible for a club to get a player in, registered and eligible to play then.

So, it could well be game 18 of the season, just about half way, that we are able to add to our striking options if we don't hit the Championship up over the next 10 days.

We may well be fine - I'm not suggesting otherwise - but there's a fair way to travel before we can change things (Championship caveat aside).

Izquierdo is back playing for the U23s and I'm guessing he may be available from November onwards.
That will add an extra dynamic to the forward options. So it isn't as if there are just 4 players covering 3 forward roles until January.

The real issue is options from the bench. Currently there is just Ali J, possibly Ali Mac and an unknown in Zeqiri.
Gross and Lallana can come on, but not as direct cover for the 3 forwards.

Fortunately we have a manager who is able to adapt tactics to suit the options available.
He has also been busy coaching the players to be more adaptable and cover multiple positions.
This gives me some confidence that we will cope with whatever happens throughout the season.

 

[Justice]

**** the long term project, let’s go all in now!!! Appears to be the cry from some.

I wonder what Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, etc., fans think of this policy?

I haven’t seen one poster say let’s go all in as you put it. I’ve seen fans concerned with the striker numbers currently for the first team. How ever you want to paint it one or two injuries/suspensions/ dip in form for the two strikers we currently have and we will run out of options.

The hysteria is mainly coming from posters shouting down at others who dare suggest a football club needs players

 

[darkwolf666]

I haven’t seen one poster say let’s go all in as you put it. I’ve seen fans concerned with the striker numbers currently for the first team. How ever you want to paint it one or two injuries/suspensions/ dip in form for the two strikers we currently have and we will run out of options.

The hysteria is mainly coming from posters shouting down at others who dare suggest a football club needs players

We have players, players the senior management clearly believe in. Granted we are light, it appears, in a couple of positions, but is this £30m 15 goals a season striker that some clearly crave going to sit on the bench, until Maupay gets an injury or suspended?

I am sure, when the right players come along at the right price, to fit in with our game style, then we will be there...

 

[Icy Gull]

If didn’t read NSC I would probably have found that interesting, as it is I heard nothing I don’t already know

I tell a lie, I didn’t realise we were sorted up front with five strikers.

 

[Justice]

Is history repeating itself?

First time round we spent 4 seasons in the top flight.

Second time around ... this is our 4th season. We have been a constant bottom 6 side. Sooner or later you either progress a la Palace, Southampton, Leicester .... or you fall through the trap door.

Can’t help thinking we are playing high risk stakes currently ..

Adam Virgo made a good point, the club seem to go for quantity over quality year after year. He used Ings as an example is there any difference between the Albion and Southampton and why did we not even attempt to get him in or at least give the player something to think about.

 

[Justice]

We have players, players the senior management clearly believe in. Granted we are light, it appears, in a couple of positions, but is this £30m 15 goals a season striker that some clearly crave going to sit on the bench, until Maupay gets an injury or suspended?

I am sure, when the right players come along at the right price, to fit in with our game style, then we will be there...

Personally If we had spent £30m on a striker I would of thought he would play and Connolly would go to the bench. Competition for places is also a healthy thing not a bad thing.

 

[Medwayseagull]

If Ashworth wants a bit of light relief from his day to day work he couldn't do any better than read this thread. All the football gurus arguing about whether we need or can afford an additional striker - priceless.

 

[darkwolf666]

Also the lack of competition to Maupay and Connolly is not great motivation for them to put in a shift week in week out. I just hope the Swiss signing is good enough to put them under pressure to keep their places

So are you only motivated to do a good job at work as you know there is someone waiting to take your job, or do you do a good job because that is what you are paid to do?

Quite frankly I find this kind of statement, that gets trotted out all too frequently, insulting to the majority of players who do try their hardest, but sometimes come up short...

 

[NooBHA]

In every sensible world it would be 100% incorrect, that is correct. And no one is going to admit to themselves and even less so to others that they are not happy with how TB is running the club. Its taboo.

But the posters who continue to moan about the lack of investment, about the "we havent signed a good striker in 30 years!!!!!", "you said you want us to turn into a top 10 club - DO SOMETHING THEN" and all the other nonsense - they are indirectly saying: sorry, Tony Bloom is just not rich and clever enough and the club would be better off with Abdullah-Chen Rockefellerovich.

Saying "I believe in Tony Bloom and appreciate him" while in the next sentence indirectly bashing him and his work, day out and day in becomes a silly. Cant have the cake and eat it too.

Your post is not untrue if you were to treat every poster on NSC as one "Global Poster"

That's not the case though. They are all very different people with different views on the subject but you seem to be referring to all the contrasting posts as if they come from one individual poster.

Like any forum there will be some who want to have unlimited Wealth in terms of spending power but for the most part on here . Most are appreciative of what TB has done. And it is that way because the rise was gradual over a 20 year period. And in anyone's lifetime.20 years is a long time.

So I sort of see why you might reach the conclusion you have. But if you were to look at your conclusion as a fully completed jig saw puzzle.

If you were to break it down into its individual pieces again. I think you might reach a different conclusion.

 

[Silverhatch]

Your post is not untrue if you were to treat every poster on NSC as one "Global Poster"

That's not the case though. They are all very different people with different views on the subject but you seem to be referring to all the contrasting posts as if they come from one individual poster.

Like any forum there will be some who want to have unlimited Wealth in terms of spending power but for the most part on here . Most are appreciative of what TB has done. And it is that way because the rise was gradual over a 20 year period. And in anyone's lifetime.20 years is a long time.

So I sort of see why you might reach the conclusion you have. But if you were to look at your conclusion as a fully completed jig saw puzzle.

If you were to break it down into its individual pieces again. I think you might reach a different conclusion.

Most are completely head-over-****ing-heels-doolally at what Tony Bloom has done for this club. One of the best stadiums in the world for the size of club; World Class category one training facility that enables us to go after some of the best young talent on the planet. Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment that It's a journey and many of us have been on it since before Archer, Stanley & Belotti and the Premier League's invention of football in 1992.

It's a revelation to many of us to be dicking about endlessly getting vexed about the merits of spunking another £40m of Tony's money on the mythical 15 goal-a-season PL striker - when, 20-years ago we were embarking on getting out of Division 4 at the Theatre of Trees

 

[Bozza]

I wouldn't want to quantify it, but I have no doubt that if some ultra-rich overseas investor with no Albion history came forward, expressing the desire to buy the club, spend £2bn on players and get the Albion into the Champions League within three years then there would be some amongst the Albion fanbase who would fancy some of that action.

"Thanks for all you've done Tony, but it's time to kick on to the next level..."

Is that my view? No.
Would be the view of most of those who have been on the Goldstone->Priestfield->Withdean->Amex journey? No.

But there would be some.

 

[Weststander]

Most are completely head-over-****ing-heels-doolally at what Tony Bloom has done for this club. One of the best stadiums in the world for the size of club; World Class category one training facility that enables us to go after some of the best young talent on the planet. Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment that It's a journey and many of us have been on it since before Archer, Stanley & Belotti and the Premier League's invention of football in 1992.

It's a revelation to many of us to be dicking about endlessly getting vexed about the merits of spunking another £40m of Tony's money on the mythical 15 goal-a-season PL striker - when, 20-years ago we were embarking on getting out of Division 4 at the Theatre of Trees

I think some people don’t understand or want to think about the cash flows involved in signing say a £30m striker. Agents fees paid by clubs now can be colossal, and the wages demanded by that proven top flight quality finisher higher than we’ve paid up to now.

The £40m that TB is already having to pump in for this accounting year, would require a further tranche.