Forum | General Discussion

the board that is. i know there is a lot of respect for the owners etc and I'm not trying to be disrespectful but i look at us as a prem league club and every time the transfer window opens we act like a bunch of amateurs. I'm not just moaning about the lack of good signings, I'm talking about the manner in which we do business. why is it this way with us? everton get linked with a young 19 yo striker, Lookman. next thing you hear is they have signed him for 10 mill. no fuss, no nonsense, deal done. we on the other hand issue a paltry 5 mill for defoe, it hits the news and it of course gets dismissed. there is talk of another bid, 12 mill or something but actually this apparently was more like 7 mill. it gets dismissed and sunderland say he's not for sale, go away. we go to hull and offer a ridiculous 3 mill for snodgrass. it hits the breaking news….it of course gets dismissed. then we're linked with hogan, and we duly put in a 10 mill bid. did we ask brentford how much they valued him? they then say he's valued at 15 mill, so we of course go and bid 12 mill. I'm sorry but its just laughable. who exactly is running the clubs transfers? did they sit down with Bilic a few weeks ago and identify exactly who he wants and needs? did they then go and 'sound out' these players? this is what other clubs do. we look like we had a quick chat with Bilic down the pub the day before the window opened, he says he needs a striker so we phone up sunderland and say 5 mill for defoe, then 3 mill for snodgrass at hull as Bilic didnt ask for him but we saw him score a great free kick the other day….i mean come on.

so gold&sullivan are at a loss to understand why our squad is underperforming after doing so well last season seeing as we still have all those players with us...well its not difficult to grasp I am afraid....last season we played above all expectations and our dealings in the transfer market were first class with everyone performing brilliantly for the new manager...now forward it 12 months and you have a manager under pressure(seemingly has 2 games to save his job)players complacent and players that were purchased or loaned very sub standard to say the least....in football you cannot stand still what was good for you last year is not a surprise to the opposition the following one and so you have to tweak your tactics.
point one.. the board tried to do transfers on the cheap and got what they paid for which is rubbish...apart from fernandes who has done well and fletcher still yet to be given a proper chance all the others just not up to the job..the money wasted on Ayew was a panic buy because of all the nonsense spewed out everyday by the club about what should be done behind closed doors.
point two..bilic is as much to blame wanting certain players who have proved to be beyond poor we all know who they are!..and his stubbornness to play Antonio in any position other than the one he is best suited to....the inability to find a right back when we have been crying out for one for a long long time his sale of Tomkins was strange as surely a younger fitter man is better long term than ginge who despite last seasons heroics is now in the twilight of his career.
point three...players they claim the move had impact and they are tired and injuries etc but unless you have to fight for your place complacency sets in and so you underperform because there is nobody to challenge you for your position..apart from the gk's very little changes week in week out and that takes you back to point one.
point four ..we the fans promised much but a farce delivered from season ticket fiasco to stewards treating you like crap no wonder there is discontentment in the crowd and the fact that you were told a few tall stories about how close to the pitch you will be with the stands rolling in and out then the stand up sit down argument that still rumbles along...and of course the long walk to the station..
All this and more needs looking at with fresh eyes because this season has been a total cock up from the first day onwards and whilst I believe we will stay up what will the season after hold for us if we don't learn what has been a few very harsh lessons already this season.

Who do you think will be the first to demand a transfer. Looking at our players I think we might have a battle to keep a few if not this transfer market but in the summer.The big mouth board said we where going for big names last summer and we end up with shit so if I was a player I would be worried about the true ambitions of G and S. We have already seen the vultures from the media saying that Antonio is wanted by Chelsea, Payet wanted by everyone, Cresswell wanted by Pool and I can see Reid, Kayoute and Obiang on a few radars after their performances this season.

Al Ain an Arabian club have apparently made a £20.2million bid for andre ayew and allegedly offering wages of over £200thousand a week...well injury aside he has failed to impress and I would make the deal..we lose out around £250thousand on the deal but that's the price of doing business....and hopefully those who are involved in our transfer dealings learn there lesson.