Eagles, McCourt, Etherington, Baldock, Wallace, Becchio.

[The Truth]

Noone, Bennett, Murray and tarrico please.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

On the plus point Burkes lists have included the elusive combination of realistic and exciting targets. Players like Ward, Grabban, Clayton and Conway so the talent identification appears to be working.

Since we have been without Gus to sell the club (and himself) Burke seems unable to secure our priority targets and ends up settling for cast offs like Lita, Obika, Kemy, Spanish Rod etc. There's not a lot wrong with the structure and recruitment framework he has in place but he's clearly not the man to close deals.

Is Stockdale the exception that proves the rule.

And McCourt, who is on trial and therefore presumably in with a serious chance of being taken on, and wanting to be taken on, doesn't look too shabby, either.

 

[ewe2]

Harry Kane .

 

[chaileyjem]

Since we have been without Gus to sell the club (and himself) Burke seems unable to secure our priority targets and ends up settling for cast offs like Lita, Obika, Kemy, Spanish Rod etc. There's not a lot wrong with the structure and recruitment framework he has in place but he's clearly not the man to close deals.

Lita and Obika were emergency loans who in the end we didn't need to play in starting XI and were either sent back or weren't in the 18 at end of the loan period . Not great signings but not indicative of the 20 or so incoming players in last few years. You don't have a lot of choice with emergency strikers outside of the windows.

Kemy hasn't turned out ok. But some signings don't. Oscar wanted Rodriguez and the club got him. He's a proven Primera striker with some La Liga experience but, yep, found Champ difficult. Although his Blackburn goal was a highlight.

As for closing deals then since Gus we've signed or loaned
Ward, Lingard, Conway, Andrews, Upson (who signed post Gus) who all made a big contribution last season.
Even the re signed Lopez had a fleeting impact.
And Stockdale, JCT, Hughes, Walton, Toko, and COG should, but we don't know yet, do likewise this season. That's a dozen or so closed deals right there ...and it was the same team who closed the deal on Ulloa signing in Jan .

And it was TB who didn't sanction the signing of Grabban as the last minute wage hike after Bournemouth offered him a new contract was more than club was "prepared to pay".

Did Gus get all his targets by the way ?

 

[edna krabappel]

Wise words as always, Jem.

 

[b.w.2.]

Lita and Obika were emergency loans who in the end we didn't need to play in starting XI and were either sent back or weren't in the 18 at end of the loan period . Not great signings but not indicative of the 20 or so incoming players in last few years. You don't have a lot of choice with emergency strikers outside of the windows.

Kemy hasn't turned out ok. But some signings don't. Oscar wanted Rodriguez and the club got him. He's a proven Primera striker with some La Liga experience but, yep, found Champ difficult. Although his Blackburn goal was a highlight.

As for closing deals then since Gus we've signed or loaned
Ward, Lingard, Conway, Andrews, Upson (who signed post Gus) who all made a big contribution last season.
Even the re signed Lopez had a fleeting impact.
And Stockdale, JCT, Hughes, Walton, Toko, and COG should, but we don't know yet, do likewise this season. That's a dozen or so closed deals right there ...and it was the same team who closed the deal on Ulloa signing in Jan .

And it was TB who didn't sanction the signing of Grabban as the last minute wage hike after Bournemouth offered him a new contract was more than club was "prepared to pay".

Did Gus get all his targets by the way ?

Problem is we still have a severely weakened squad - 4 more needed for me - and our failure (because that's what it is ) to complete deals or move on to the next one timely is already impacting our season.