15 Nov 2021 18:15:35
Wonder if we are interested in Tarkowski a few things in the press today but I suppose would he come in January probably a few will try but the temptation of a free with a signing on fee at the end of the season will no doubt be in his mind.

{Ed002's Note - James Tarkowski (CB) options are Newcastle and Wolves.}

1.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 18:44:37
Would be a decent signing and a proven CB. I can’t see Burnley wanting to lose him on a free.

2.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 21:56:31
You would have to be disappointed not at least to be in for a player like him.

Talking of things we don't want to miss out on. Watched Vitinha for Portugal under 21. Looked outstanding. Really hope that doesn't turn into a Pedro Goncalves situation. I fear it might. Could always go back in for him.

3.) 15 Nov 2021
15 Nov 2021 23:03:21
Tommy. The thing is as I see it there's only so much in the pot. Sanches 25m a starter. Vitinha 20m. Is he a starter? I don't think so 10m on the bench then yes.
Tarkowski Jan say 5m yes please.
Bottman Jan 35m. I know value when I see it. My opinion obviously!

4.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 07:20:08
Yeah completely agree Ken there is only so much we can do. I think we could have got Vitinha for way less than 20. I don't think we will actually spend big in Jan.

It rarely presents much in the way of value for money.

5.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 10:33:10
Tommy - I admit I haven't seen him play for the U21s and so can't comment on that performance but would note that he has always been superb in junior football - when he was with us he ran the show for Portugal against England U21 - but to date he never reproduced that in adult football (similar to Silva).
Will he ever? For £20m that is a gamble we simply can't afford to take.
If we could buy him (and had bought Silva) for the sort of money we sold Owen or bought Yerson then maybe it would be an idea worth persuing.
Ps Yes to Tarkowski but fear that as Ed2 notes Newcastle will be in for him as well and will offer far more in wages than we will even though you are getting him way below value and so could afford a higher wage ( at the risk of upsrtting thr dressing room mind!)

6.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 13:54:57
I too haven't seen too much of him this season but there must be a reason why he has only started 3 of the 15 games Porto have played. No goals, assists or big chances created during the 416 minutes he's been on the pitch.

7.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 15:53:05
As an addendum to my comments above. I have previously mentioned Lingard who at 15m presents a bargain who would be a starter pretty much anywhere in the prem except where he is obviously! Problem only being salary but compared to Vitinha who to me is a lightweight its a no brainer.

8.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 17:11:50
Ken - he is currently on 75kpw allegedly. If we can't pay that wage, (or indeed even a slightly higher figure!) to a player who would (if his time at WH is anything to go by) take us to another level - probably more than earning his wage just in the increased prize money we would earn then we have real problems and no ambition.
Sadly as you say it is a no brainer so there will be numerous clubs in for him and some may well be willing not just to pay him the 75k pw + I mentioned but in fact far far more which we probably can't or shouldn't do. Consequently I think it will be hard to persuade either him or indeeed any players of that quality to join us now.
To get back to where we were, (competing for Europa qualification) will now cost far far more than it would have cost us to push on and reach Champions league football.
Stich in time saves nine or penny wise pound foolish both sum it up perfectly.
We were so close but I fear it may never come again in my lifetime as the gap to the now big 3 is wider than ever due to the money differential and Arsenal who we had clearly overtaken have finally, on the back of a good youth program, recovered to some extent whilst the remaining members of the so called big 6, Man U and Spurs, who we were competing with continue to throw cash at the problem on a scale we can't even imagine. Just to rub salt into the wound several more clubs WH, Leicester and maybe even Brighton, etc etc (who, perhaps with the exception of Leicester, weren't even in our rear view mirror we were so far ahead of them) are pushing for the European places and it is hard to argue that they (or at least some of them) won't end the season above us.

9.) 16 Nov 2021
16 Nov 2021 21:13:12
Linked in rumours with John Swift from Reading. Really like him. He was a huge prospect coming through the Chelsea ranks. Now 26 years old and looks quite a different player in recent years. Looks to have bulked up a bit and consequently stronger. Started this season, his last in contract at Reading, really strongly, with goals and assists. Plays a similar role to Dendonker and I think looks a better prospect for our style of play. Would also make a good financial deal, as Dendonker would demand a bigger fee than we would have to pay for Swift.

10.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 09:31:03
future. Put quite a long comment on here about this last night where on earth it's gone I've no idea! Not the first time this has happened but anyway I agree with you on this. Plus I wrote a very long piece on it so I'm not best pleased but heh that's life! Can't be bothered doing it all again.

{Ed001's Note - was it this one?

16 Nov 2021 20:43:14

future. Shock I agree with you! The top six boat has sailed sadly. The reality being Seville proved a catalyst for a number of things. Though prior to that the loss of Thelwell who was the buffer and the glue. He kept Shi and Nuno apart. Seville fueled Nuno to push on but Shi in reality I knew the money wasn't there for a big push I think he wanted to consolidate hence the big spend on a young player for the future but also one quality player to partly fuel Nuno. As we know it didn't work! For Shi though I think he was very brave in giving the job to Lage which to me was a massive gamble, staked his job on it think. There were safer hands out there! I'm very impressed with Bruno so far and obviously support him 100%. I hope we significant funds to invest in the players that Bruno wants in January even though it's not the best time to buy historically. I fear though it will come at the expense of losing Traore who I will miss very much. I think he's on his way pretty sure his head has been turned he's clearly unlikely to sign the new contract. If that is the case now's the time to sell his value is only going to go down now! A massive shame really.


If it is not then the comment never came through. The likelihood is your internet dropped at some point and so it got lost. It used to happen all the time in the old days of phones as the connections were so poor.}

11.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 10:19:31
Thistle I have also seen this rumour and it sounds interesting particularly as you would hope, given his contract situation, we can get a bargain.
Are you suggesting though that we sell Dendonker to fund this?
Surely we don't need to do that?
Plus as I said to Longmynd Wolf in an earlier thread I think we need to add 3 net not gross so swapping Dendonker for Swift numbers wise gets us nowhere

12.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 11:06:17
You have to smile when you see some posts, seeking out bargains and value for money signings on behalf of our owners, makes no difference to fans What transfer and signing on fees are or any other financial arrangements, they didn’t seem too concerned about how their customers are fixed for cash when they increased ticket prices and quietly upped their car park charges to ten pounds, could ask the question “What have they done for us”, showed they could mount a challenge if they wanted to, then settled for glad to be here mid - table mediocrity.

13.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 11:20:05
Ken - Bizarelly I think Shi was wrong if he thought we couldn't afford to push on. In fact I think it has cost us money, (a substantial reduction in revenues from prize money, tv and the commercial exploitation of the brand etc etc) not to have done so - even before you count the diminution of the value of the club.
I also actually don't think it did need a lot of money - just well spent money and in a previous thread I detailed what we could have done with the money we did spend that summer (note there were a lot of players sold that summer that would have assisted our move to the next step). Remember that year we had a really strong side - its still not a bad one today despite the failure to spend well over the last couple of years - so the step up required was a v modest one
In any case although we didn't buy a CB, CM or CF that now pretty much everyone agrees we should have we did as you say spend pretty chunky amounts JUST badly massively overpaying for Semedo, Hoever and most spectacularly Silva.
Losing Thelwell, Dalrymple and then Nuno was also a disaster.
To lose one is unfortunate to lose all three? - Ask Oscar Wilde!
The idea that you can consolidate is a tough one as well - everyone is pushing really hard, so standing still really means going backwards.
But we have had this debate a thousand times just like the Traore one. There are various threads on here about him even now as he is the ultimate marmite player.
I have stated my views on him, (his potential, end product etc etc) a million times which are in line with the views of the major clubs in Europe and their managers.
If he leaves you fear that just like Jota he will blossom and then even his harshest critics will be able to tell that we gave away a world class player that we may nver see the like of again at Wolves.
Ouch!
But yes Lage has done v well and given funds this Jan we may regain some of the ground lost -but top 6 let alone top 4 now seems unlikely?

14.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 11:28:46
Ed001 yes thank you that is the one! I wondered where on earth it had gone!

Oxley. I like a significant number on here post because I see it as a group of people who like the club but for whatever reason like speculating about the club without any expectations of any of these things happening. Obviously I only speak for myself above all who does it harm? No one, bit of fun! I don't forecast stupid unattainable prices plus if the owners ever took any notice of anything I were to say I'd be shocked. Its a business is it not! It exists to make money that's all.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know where it went, sorry. It just appeared in the list we have of previous posts. I will get Ed33 to have a look and see if there is an issue.}

15.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 12:16:04
Oxley totally understand your frustrations and view re the relationship of the club with its fans.
Sadly though football is not a local community thing any more with the butcher owning the club and the players being lads who the fans went to school with and who live in modest houses in the area.
It is a multi trillion pound global industry whose owners, players, managers etc live, (as a result of the countless millions thrown at them), in a gilded palace far away from reality and us!
This means the key man at the club is no longer the star striker, the captain or even the manager but the CEO who organises the millions/ (or even billions) required to compete at the top level these days.
So to your point sadly it is all about the money and its careful/clever use so its no surprise posters comment on it.
In days gone by a Brian Clough or a Bobby Robson could take a modest side and make them winners - not any more! All (well virtually all) the trophies go to the big money teams.
If we want trophies you must manage the money!
For us yes the last couple of years haven't been as succesful as the 2 or 3 that preceeded them and I have (regularly despite being castigated for it) pointed out Jeff's failings.
But we are still in the game and Lage is doing ok with what he was left with and as a fan I still (perhaps foolishly) believe/hope that the Future will be old gold - (not Chelsea blue or Man U red!)

16.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 12:25:28
Ed001 no worries. I know the internet didn't drop because it conks the tv when it does. As she who must be was watching and I had the use of the laptop (for a change) instead of trying to follow my own thread on my phone!

{Ed001's Note - wow mate, you were spoilt!!}

17.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 12:46:31
future. Quite I don't think we were that far away. I didn't understand our buying policy that summer not much logic to it. Semedo though has become far better this season though maybe took a long time to settle. Remember Henderson's first season at Liverpool, fans I knew didn't have a good word to say about him him, then! One of my oldest friends who is a Sunderland supporter just said wait and see. Semedo seems to have become a good club man supporting young players, good for him.
Hindsight is wonderful and we can speculate all we like I just hope they make a difference in January.
Swift is interesting a rare thing a chance to get British player with little prem experience and normally you'd have to pay a premium to find out if he's good enough. It's a rare opportunity to not have to spend a fortune to find out though there could be a lot of competition for him.

18.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 13:11:06
Ed001 yes I know awfully generous of her I thought! Generally if I'm good she allows me to drive her wherever she wants to go! Never wanted to drive purely I reckon to avoid becoming the designated driver! No fool is she!

{Ed001's Note - that's so she can make sure you can't drink, after all she wouldn't want you to go enjoying yourself or anything.}

19.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 13:40:53
Ed001 doesn't work just means we have to find the car the day after!

{Ed001's Note - then she has a nice ready-made excuse to be angry with you. It is win-win for her!}

20.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 15:37:08
Ed001. One is always in it, it's just the depth that varies!

{Ed001's Note - fair point, it is amazing the lengths a woman can go to in order to be angry with you over something that you have no control over. My friend's wife didn't speak to him for a week because she dreamed about him kissing another woman. A whole week before he even found out why she was giving him the cold shoulder!}

21.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 17:15:20
Ed001. That's a new one, mind you after 43 years I'm inclined to believe anything! I did recently read a sentence that had "wedded" and "bliss" in it. Never thought that happened or was allowed for that matter! I just keep my mouth shut first thing and see how the land lies first.

{Ed001's Note - to be fair, I think he would have called that week about as close to wedded bliss as you can get. I find it helps to apologise early, just in case and let them wonder why I am apologising. It keeps my gf busy trying to figure out what I have done wrong so you can get angry with me, but as she can't find out what it is she is extra nice to try and get me to lower my guard and admit my indiscretion.}

22.) 17 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 17:53:23
Good luck with that one, don't hold your breath though. Generally I just accept I won't win, they can go on ad infinitum.

{Ed001's Note - fair point.}

23.) 18 Nov 2021
17 Nov 2021 20:43:14
future. Shock I agree with you! The top six boat has sailed sadly. The reality being Seville proved a catalyst for a number of things. Though prior to that the loss of Thelwell who was the buffer and the glue. He kept Shi and Nuno apart. Seville fueled Nuno to push on but Shi in reality I knew the money wasn't there for a big push I think he wanted to consolidate hence the big spend on a young player for the future but also one quality player to partly fuel Nuno.

As we know it didn't work! For Shi though I think he was very brave in giving the job to Lage which to me was a massive gamble, staked his job on it think. There were safer hands out there! I'm very impressed with Bruno so far and obviously support him 100%. I hope we significant funds to invest in the players that Bruno wants in January even though it's not the best time to buy historically.

I fear though it will come at the expense of losing Traore who I will miss very much. I think he's on his way pretty sure his head has been turned he's clearly unlikely to sign the new contract. If that is the case now's the time to sell his value is only going to go down now! A massive shame really.