[Albion] Do you think Uncle Tony is happy?

[Merlin57]

Having spent millions on a centre back that can’t even get a game even when we are down to the bare bones should cheer him up.

 

[Bold Seagull]

5 non pen goals this season. which is not terrible (and of course the pens do count)but not great for a £30m striker imo.
So far I would say the return on our £30m investment has been so-so. I doubt he himself would say otherwise.

He’s 23, now a proven PL performer, if someone came in for him, I’d be thinking at least £45m.

So 22 goals, 10+ assists, £15m (probably more) added to his value is a so-so investment?

 

[DJ NOBO]

He’s 23, now a proven PL performer, if someone came in for him, I’d be thinking at least £45m.

So 22 goals, 10+ assists, £15m (probably more) added to his value is a so-so investment?

In the context of some of the deals we’ve done in the past few years…..yes.
He is not a Caicedo, for example. At least not yet.
As it happens I think Pedro will have a big breakthrough at some point and leave for bumper money. The kind Bloom would have had in mind when he signed.
For now he is coming on nicely. Just not an example of one of our best recent signings (yet), which is the point I initially took up.

 

[Mancgull]

The line in the sand could be Europe.
Given the world and his wife are qualifying this season, Bloom will surely expect us to at least make the conference league.
If we don’t qualify I don’t think Fab’s age and the rookie manager thing will buy him time. He is not on an apprentice wage. Bloom recruited him to win.
In that scenario Fab would not survive a poor start to next season .

Agree to some extent but Tony doesn’t seem to want to change managers mid season.
If he thinks FH has dropped short of expectations then I expect he’d pull the trigger at the end of this season to allow a new coach the pre season period to ingrain his plans.
I can’t see him doing it though as he has invested a lot into FH with the recruitment of Daniel Niedzkowski and players like Gruda and Stefano Tzimas who FH seemed to have pushed for.
He’ll get next season and looking on the bright side I’d like to think we can’t be this unlucky again with injuries.
On a less optimistic note, falling short of European football will mean we are less likely to be able to retain JP, Mitoma, Baleba and JPVH.
I’ve said it before and so apologies for repeating myself, but we do have a ready made replacement in Liam Rosenior.

 

[Bold Seagull]

In the context of some of the deals we’ve done in the past few years…..yes.
He is not a Caicedo, for example. At least not yet.
As it happens I think Pedro will have a big breakthrough at some point and leave for bumper money. The kind Bloom would have had in mind when he signed.

That was an exceptional deal, you must have a scale beyond exceptional and so-so. Pedro’s not an exceptional deal at present, but he’s a couple of notches above so-so, or in Bargain Hunt jargon, wiping his face.

 

[DJ NOBO]

That was an exceptional deal, you must have a scale beyond exceptional and so-so. Pedro’s not an exceptional deal at present, but he’s a couple of notches above so-so, or in Bargain Hunt jargon, wiping his face.

For a £30m investment, and taking his talent into account, imo he has done so-so. I doubt he himself would argue otherwise. If I’m honest - after speaking to some Watford fans - I was hoping for something more spectacular. Maybe that was unrealistic. He is fine though. If he stays clear of injuries he will achieve things that mean the last two year are largely forgotten.

 

[One Love]

In the past few years?

Olise 9m, Guehi 23m, Mateta 11m, Lacroix 18m, Munoz 8m, Wharton 21m, Eze 18m, Sarr 15m

Can we have that lot up the road's recruitment team please?

 

[Han Solo]

Feels harsh to suggest Ferdi "hasn't worked out"

Yes, ridiculous. The guy has had a long term injury.
He’s just the type of player we need and will fit into FH’s style of play.
I saw a glimpse of it at Newcastle away ( league game) where he played left wing back.

Buy a player for £35m and he participates in 8 games = the signing has not worked out.
It might in the future, but so far its not the case. Just like with several other players we've recently bought who spend half the seasons injured. If the manager doesn't like them, their mums are angry with them or they had some unfortunate accident matters less. A player who doesn't get on the pitch isn't contributing and thus has not worked out (yet).

 

[HangletonGull]

Buy a player for £35m and he participates in 8 games = the signing has not worked out.
It might in the future, but so far its not the case. Just like with several other players we've recently bought who spend half the seasons injured. If the manager doesn't like them, their mums are angry with them or they had some unfortunate accident matters less. A player who doesn't get on the pitch isn't contributing and thus has not worked out (yet).

Even tho he’s injured and can’t play Jeez

 

[Han Solo]

Even tho he’s injured and can’t play Jeez

Yes, the injury is actually probably the main reason it hasn't worked out so far.
A signing that isn't available for 9/10 games in a season is a signing that has not worked out (yet).

 

[Don Tmatter]

Watch his interview at Cheltenham.

Do I bollocks.

How long ago was that?

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

He’s thankfully, more level headed than me, but must surely see that the league position and inconsistent teams around us, are masking some below par displays.

“Some” is generous. The home performances have, by and large, been dreadful.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Yup.
People are looking in the wrong place.
Weir is definitely a worry.

Paid his son a wage for at least 2 seasons too long so why not his dad

 

[Mustafa II]

I'm sure he's delighted - everything is going to plan.

Squad full of young, valuable talents who are getting better all the time. The squad is becoming stronger all the time.

No risk of relegation, an outside chance of Europe, every season now - despite still having one of the lowest wage expenditures in the PL.

The club just needs to continue what it's doing, eventually we'll have a season where everything clicks and we'll do something really great.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

I've only just seen this and can't agree more. I was saying yesterday to another lifelong fan this very point although injuries are a key part in oriley and ferdi, whilst Igor looked good this season. Fati and dahoud were allegedly RDZ targets

RDZ seems to have had a lot of alleged signings in the same way Evan Ferguson seems to have had a lot of alleged illnesses leading to his decline.

 

[Don Tmatter]

Its the reality though.

Look at last season. How many players played better last season when we finished 11th, than in 22/23 when we finished 6th? Very very few.

MANY of our players have been a lot better than last year. Pervis, Veltman, Webster, Baleba, Lamptey, Mitoma, Welbeck. Arguably Verbruggen and Van Hecke.

Add Buonanotte to that list albeit not for us

 

[Reddleman]

If at the start of the season you had given him this situation he probably would have been happy but I think given reality he will be frustrated.

We simply couldn’t have wished for a better chance to qualify for Europe given the troubles of Man United and Spurs and given the extra place the PL will get. Given his summer investment I think he will view failure to make Europe (assuming we don’t) as a huge missed opportunity especially as we didnt have a cup run of any real note.

 

[Reddleman]

For a £30m investment, and taking his talent into account, imo he has done so-so. I doubt he himself would argue otherwise. If I’m honest - after speaking to some Watford fans - I was hoping for something more spectacular. Maybe that was unrealistic. He is fine though. If he stays clear of injuries he will achieve things that mean the last two year are largely forgotten.

20 goals in his first season is far better than so so. This season I agree but last season he was outstanding.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

“Some” is generous. The home performances have, by and large, been dreadful.

I was being nice

 

[5Ways Gull]

I don't know, but I hope so. He deserves it.