NUFC Transfer Rumours

[Conjo]

1 minute ago, SteV said:

You could argue (quite easily) that Targett has been a failure since he signed permanently. His loan spell was great, but since then he’s barely had a decent game.

 

Harsh to call it a failure when it's due to injuries. His transfer didn't work out, but it wasn't a failure by him, Howe or the ones that approved the transfer.

[SteV]

6 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

Harsh to call it a failure when it's due to injuries. His transfer didn't work out, but it wasn't a failure by him, Howe or the ones that approved the transfer.

You can debate WHY it’s been a failure (and you’re probably right about injuries being the biggest factor), but ultimately it has been a failure.

 

Call that unlucky or whatever, and maybe in these circumstances it’s less of a black mark against the manager/recruitment team, but if many of your transfers turn out like this one, you’d be in serious trouble.

 

 

Edited May 28 by SteV

[Super Duper Branko Strupar]

Why people feel to go through history with a fine tooth comb to find fault to justify a certain stand point is beyond me, like. Probably the same people who bum Emery who brought in Sancho, Abraham, Barkley etc. 

[The Butcher]

55 minutes ago, Skeletor said:

 

I classify all of them as failures. The mental gymnastics people have done to try and defend the Wood signing in particular is exhausting. Add the ones from last summer and its obvious why Eddie's preference for PL players needed to be overruled this summer.

 

 

 

It's mad.  An absolute plank for us.

[TheHoob]

Our transfer hit rate has been mostly very good, Wissa and Elanga have obviously not worked out but people go on like we've been the Harold Shipman of the transfer world which is just not true  

[AyeDubbleYoo]

If Targett was unlucky due to injuries then definitely Wissa was too. 

[SteV]

3 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

If Targett was unlucky due to injuries then definitely Wissa was too. 

To a degree aye, but the more you cost, the less sympathy you get for the effect of injuries.

 

See the current British record transfer…

[BennyBlanco]

Think Elanga deserves another season. There was glimpses. Not many but glimpses. 
 

Wissa though. Fucking hell. Just a really really poor fit all round.

[Interpolic]

8 hours ago, The Prophet said:

Can't say I'm a fan of the "stepping stone" narrative that's being peddled by the usual club mouthpieces.

 

Think it's necessary for us to redress the narrative somewhat after last summer. Isak and Liverpool had their minions painting us as unreasonable and this Gordon transfer paints a different picture. 

 

I want players to feel they can come here and achieve all they want with us but sometimes it ain't going to be possible, so I've no issue saying if you're a good pro, go about it correctly and it's good for all parties we can sell. 

 

Easy to say about Gordon mind as I've little attachment to him whereas I was gutted about Isak. 

[Skeletor]

I mean the stepping stone thing is annoying for sure, but not inaccurate thanks to the cartel and PL changing the rules as they go along. If our owners wanted to flex their muscle and send the best lawyers in the world after the PL they probably could have got all restrictions thrown out by now, but they want to play it like this.

[The Prophet]

4 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

Think it's necessary for us to redress the narrative somewhat after last summer. Isak and Liverpool had their minions painting us as unreasonable and this Gordon transfer paints a different picture. 

 

I want players to feel they can come here and achieve all they want with us but sometimes it ain't going to be possible, so I've no issue saying if you're a good pro, go about it correctly and it's good for all parties we can sell. 

 

Easy to say about Gordon mind as I've little attachment to him whereas I was gutted about Isak. 

 

 

Top post, didn't consider it that way.

[Interpolic]

11 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

 

Top post, didn't consider it that way.

 

Tbh it might be partly why our strategy was to flog Gordon early, if we thought our rep had taken a hit and we needed that sorted before going on a recruitment drive.

 

Just thinking aloud though and maybe taking it too far and talking bollocks, but the journos saying the same thing means they want the message out there anyway. 

[black_n_white]

29 minutes ago, BennyBlanco said:

Think Elanga deserves another season. There was glimpses. Not many but glimpses. 
 

Wissa though. Fucking hell. Just a really really poor fit all round.

Unfortunately I can see both bring here next season, although Eddie really did not use Wissa much so maybe he’s had a change of heart?

[Conjo]

44 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

If Targett was unlucky due to injuries then definitely Wissa was too. 

 

Not even close.

 

Targett was out for 125 days with his hamstring, then just two weeks later he got an achilles injury which set him out another 148 days. Came back only to be hampered a month later by his eczema for 50 days. Then a minor illness (5 days) and another lesser hamstring issue (35 days) before he went to Middlesbrough.

 

Wissa had one injury which set him out for 114 days, and has now been injury free (bar a bruised knee that saw him out of action 12 days) nearly 6 months. 

 

If Wissas knee injury was so bad that he would never be the same player again then fair enough, but I haven't read anywhere that the injury was so serious so correct me if I'm wrong.

[robbo_11]

25 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

Think it's necessary for us to redress the narrative somewhat after last summer. Isak and Liverpool had their minions painting us as unreasonable and this Gordon transfer paints a different picture. 

 

I want players to feel they can come here and achieve all they want with us but sometimes it ain't going to be possible, so I've no issue saying if you're a good pro, go about it correctly and it's good for all parties we can sell. 

 

Easy to say about Gordon mind as I've little attachment to him whereas I was gutted about Isak. 

 

I'm the same regarding Isak and Gordon, as in I felt Isak was a bigger miss. It does make me wonder if this was the sale in 2022/23 to get Isak, Tonali and Gordon to sign for us. I know in the media it was 'win the Prem in 5 years' from Amanda, but behind the scenes with maybe they were a bit more pragmatic.

 

I think the timing and the way this season has went also influences opinion. We'd won the cup and qualified for the Champions League which I think created an expectation to hold onto players like Isak and build around them. Whereas we've not had a good season, missed out on Europe and now expectation has tapered. The way Gordon and Isak have handled this is totally different too - so with Gordon I feel like we've got a good deal for us and him. With Isak I was totally exasperated with the media around it and just wanted him gone with the disrespect he showed to the club - the £130m feels a lot sweeter given the awful season he has had.

 

The ultimate proof in the pudding will be how we operate in the market this summer with a domestic only schedule.

[oldtype]

I certainly don't mind players using the club as a stepping stone as long as they give 100% while they're here and go about it respectfully. And I don't mind us telling that to players if it's going to convince them sign in the first place. The reality is that in this moment, we are a stepping stone club. And to some extent, we'll always be one (even the top clubs in the PL are often "stepping stones" to Real/Barca)

[relámpago blanco]

I wouldn't have been annoyed if Isak had gone to Barca or Real Madrid. I feel bad for Barca almost. He's a good player but he's not elite as those players turn up. He probably will for Barca though, Gordon never gave his all for us. He did work hard but just found another level when he wanted to.

[Fak]

1 minute ago, relámpago blanco said:

I wouldn't have been annoyed if Isak had gone to Barca or Real Madrid. I feel bad for Barca almost. He's a good player but he's not elite as those players turn up. He probably will for Barca though, Gordon never gave his all for us. He did work hard but just found another level when he wanted to.

 

I dont think there's many elite out-and-out footballers out there at the moment. I think the way the game is going its more about being an elite athlete. Run and press. Run and press. Run and press.

[oldtype]

3 minutes ago, relámpago blanco said:

I wouldn't have been annoyed if Isak had gone to Barca or Real Madrid. I feel bad for Barca almost. He's a good player but he's not elite as those players turn up. He probably will for Barca though, Gordon never gave his all for us. He did work hard but just found another level when he wanted to.

 

I kind of get it for them in the sense that they want to press and already have plenty of attacking creativity in their team. Gordon's not going to be asked to absorb all of the attacking usage, he can lead the press, run hard on counters, and fit in as a cog in the machine. It's a great fit in that sense.

[Holmesy]

56 minutes ago, BennyBlanco said:

Think Elanga deserves another season. There was glimpses. Not many but glimpses. 
 

Wissa though. Fucking hell. Just a really really poor fit all round.

I think the opposite. Pretty sure we'll see a very different Wissa next season - he was getting in decent positions, just fluffing the chances. I don't think we've seen anything at all from Elanga to suggest he'll come good. He's not even as fast as everyone said he was - we've been absolutely diddled.

[timeEd32]

10 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

I think the opposite. Pretty sure we'll see a very different Wissa next season - he was getting in decent positions, just fluffing the chances. I don't think we've seen anything at all from Elanga to suggest he'll come good. He's not even as fast as everyone said he was - we've been absolutely diddled.

 

Elanga's acceleration and (lack of) ability to change direction really disappointed me. Being fast in football is a lot less useful with those negative traits.

[Casey]

Although only rumours, lovely links so far. Even if only on principle, the type of player and deal we're going for is exciting. Every LW option touted so far has upside in different ways, that lanky farmer with more vowels than fingers in the net, Costa from Porto, Kamara at Monaco etc.

 

Overall very promising *if* this is the style of recruitment we are aiming at. A couple of these players come here and improve – especially with new training facilities on the horizon – we could end up with a reputation for making players careers.

 

Ultimately, good recruitment is self-fulfilling for future success. Nothing yet to be satisfied with but at least a bit of optimism after a dull, disappointing season.

 

 

Edited May 28 by Casey

[Joe1984]

Just now, Casey said:

Although only rumours, lovely links so far. Even if only on principle, the type of player and deal we're going for is exciting. Every LW option touted so far has upside in different ways, that lanky farmer with more vowels that fingers in the net, Costa from Porto, Kamara at Monaco etc.

 

Overall very promising *if* this is the style of recruitment we are aiming at. A couple of these players come here and improve – especially with new training facilities on the horizon – we could end up with a reputation for making players careers.

 

Ultimately, good recruitment is self-fulfilling for future success. Nothing yet to be satisfied with but at least a bit of optimism after a dull, disappointing season.

We were aiming for quality players last summer. They turned us down.

 

Hoping for better this summer...

[Casey]

Just now, Joe1984 said:

We were aiming for quality players last summer. They turned us down.

 

Hoping for better this summer...

Yeah I think they were slightly out-of-reach for us. With all the money we had we aimed high. No issue really but reality bites when other clubs with better chances at success, more flexibility in wages, more historical prestige etc etc outbid us.

 

Then the Swedish twiglet with papier-mache groins went offski. We had the money with no time or exhaustive list of targets and we've seen the result.

 

Fingers crossed for this season but at least the links we're getting (so far) seem attainable and more forward-thinking. 

[TheBrownBottle]

3 hours ago, Skeletor said:

 

I classify all of them as failures. The mental gymnastics people have done to try and defend the Wood signing in particular is exhausting. Add the ones from last summer and its obvious why Eddie's preference for PL players needed to be overruled this summer.

 

 

 

The Targett permanent signing is the only one I’d class as a failure.  Wood didn’t fit us at all, but he ended up costing us almost nowt and helped push Burnley down under us (as well as covering for the injury-prone Wilson).  Kelly looked shite when he played but within six months was a nice PSR boost.

 

Targett was a bit of an eye-raising permanent signing; he’d done well on loan, but it looked unnecessary to make the move permanent.

 

For me, the following would be ‘hits’:

 

Trippier

Burn

Bruno

Targett (loan)

Isak

Botman

Pope

Gordon

Tonali

Barnes

Livramento

Hall

 

The following ‘qualified successes’:

Wood

Minteh (PSR success)

Osula (cheap fee)

Kelly (PSR success)

 

The following ‘jury out’:

That Greek keeper

Woltemade

Ramsay

Thiaw

Elanga (borderline - I’d be inclined to move to ‘failure’

 

 

And finally, ‘failures’

Targett (permanent)

Ramsdale

Wissa (even if he bangs goals in next season)

It doesn’t look too bad, but it’s heavily front-loaded in terms of timescales