Time to look forward and be positive!

[bill taylors apprentice]

Can't say I'm completely happy with our recruitment or to be precise they way we go about it but it's done now so time to get behind the team and be positive.

Our Head Coach announced he wanted to recruit players who can improve the team, not just squad fillers.
In fact I heard him say as much so with some speculation from myself this is where we are now.

Positions we reportedly wanted to recruit and remember the idea was to get players in who could genuinely challenge the incumbent or even be an improvement.

Right & left full backs / achieved with Castagne & Ballo- Toure
CB's right & left / achieved with Bassey & Tosin staying for now.

Defensive Midfield / not achieved, at least Palhina is still with us.
Attacking Midfield / achieved, Iwobi fits the bill.

Wingers / partly achieved, Traore in means 3 genuine wide men and others who can fill in but injuries as in last season could leave us short.

Centre forward / again partly achieved. Muniz back in the squad, Jimenez, I suspect was lined up anyway as an alternative  way of playing and complimenting Mitro. so we have enough in Muniz, Jimenez & Vinicius but do they have enough goals in them?

Also..... Benda in to allow Wickens out on loan when fit and possibly Rodak go in January.

Mbabu, Kongolo moved on albeit on loan, 
But Knockaert still hanging around,   

On a positive note we look a stronger outfit with the exceptions 1. How does Palhina react and can we keep him beyond the next window?
2. We now have the problem bigger clubs than ours have, that is, where do you find a regular PL goal scorer?

So there you have it, not such a bad window considering the unexpected advances on our 2 best players.
I'm convinced our approach to recruitment is flawed, it gains us some great deals but loses us some acquisitions we really shouldn't have lost and leaves us vulnerable late in the window.

But what do I know about the goings on of this business and I did start by saying time to be positive, just hope Marco feels positive as well!

Come on you whites!

[filham]

Yes things would be looking good it is just that leading question, where are the goals coming from without Mitro.

A Jiminez hat trick today and we would all be on the crest of a wave.

[McBrideOfFrankenstein]

Hear, hear! Still a very fun squad to watch and support, we should count our blessings.

[ianthailand]

Can't say I'm completely happy with our recruitment or to be precise they way we go about it but it's done now so time to get behind the team and be positive.

Our Head Coach announced he wanted to recruit players who can improve the team, not just squad fillers.
In fact I heard him say as much so with some speculation from myself this is where we are now.

Positions we reportedly wanted to recruit and remember the idea was to get players in who could genuinely challenge the incumbent or even be an improvement.

Right & left full backs / achieved with Castagne & Ballo- Toure
CB's right & left / achieved with Bassey & Tosin staying for now.

Defensive Midfield / not achieved, at least Palhina is still with us.
Attacking Midfield / achieved, Iwobi fits the bill.

Wingers / partly achieved, Traore in means 3 genuine wide men and others who can fill in but injuries as in last season could leave us short.

Centre forward / again partly achieved. Muniz back in the squad, Jimenez, I suspect was lined up anyway as an alternative  way of playing and complimenting Mitro. so we have enough in Muniz, Jimenez & Vinicius but do they have enough goals in them?

Also..... Benda in to allow Wickens out on loan when fit and possibly Rodak go in January.

Mbabu, Kongolo moved on albeit on loan, 
But Knockaert still hanging around,   

On a positive note we look a stronger outfit with the exceptions 1. How does Palhina react and can we keep him beyond the next window?
2. We now have the problem bigger clubs than ours have, that is, where do you find a regular PL goal scorer?

So there you have it, not such a bad window considering the unexpected advances on our 2 best players.
I'm convinced our approach to recruitment is flawed, it gains us some great deals but loses us some acquisitions we really shouldn't have lost and leaves us vulnerable late in the window.

But what do I know about the goings on of this business and I did start by saying time to be positive, just hope Marco feels positive as well!

Come on you whites!

Excellent BTA Thanks.

[jarv]

Excellent post.  I think we will be fine (despite the nonsense going on).

[WindyCity]

Totally agree with the sentiment of moving forward and being positive.  I think MS is an excellent manager and should have his squad ready and prepared to move forward.  Great recent results v Arsenal, Spurs and first half v City, var not withstanding.  MS can motivate and prepare proper game plans.  I know it's early in season, but I view the Luton game as 'must win'.

All that said, I am very disappointed in the summer transfer period.  Very disappointed.  I was so looking forward to it after our nice 10th place finish and the building upon that success.  Quite frankly, I really don't see any building done here, the team has remained somewhat stable if not some regression.  In my view, total **** ups in the Mitrovic and Palhinha situations.  And the players brought in not particularly impressive, but that does remain to be seen.  Hopefully MS can mold something positive and winning in what players he has now under his guidance.  Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

[alfie]

Totally agree with the sentiment of moving forward and being positive.  I think MS is an excellent manager and should have his squad ready and prepared to move forward.  Great recent results v Arsenal, Spurs and first half v City, var not withstanding.  MS can motivate and prepare proper game plans.  I know it's early in season, but I view the Luton game as 'must win'.

All that said, I am very disappointed in the summer transfer period.  Very disappointed.  I was so looking forward to it after our nice 10th place finish and the building upon that success.  Quite frankly, I really don't see any building done here, the team has remained somewhat stable if not some regression.  In my view, total **** ups in the Mitrovic and Palhinha situations.  And the players brought in not particularly impressive, but that does remain to be seen.  Hopefully MS can mold something positive and winning in what players he has now under his guidance.  Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

They agreed fees with 3 clubs but the players did not want to move to Fulham, that is not something you can blame the club for.

[Worcesterwhite]

Indeed, get behind the team and let's enjoy the season!

[filham]

Indeed, get behind the team and let's enjoy the season!

Agree but we need to keep an eye on the league table.
34 games left 36 points needed to meet or target, things would look a lot more comfortable with a win over Luton in 2 weeks time.

[hovewhite]

Am always feeling positive and every home game I watch football from what should be the home of football.CRVERN COTTAGE 

[Woolly Mammoth]

Positive should be left to Batteries.

[LittleErn]

I am generally positive about our team and particularly our manager except for a nagging doubt about where the goals will come from. I hate to say it, but generally it is the teams which score the least goals that end up at the wrong end of the table.

[FFC1987]

I don't get this argument that club can't be at fault for players not wanting to join us. People are paid vast sums to identify targets, broker deals, and to convince players to join us. It might not be the 'clubs' fault, but surely it's the fault of someone in the management chain that we were either chasing targets who literally had zero interest ever, or a failure to convince said player who at least showed some potential desire to perhaps join us.

Either way, just saying we failed but at least we tried feels like an acceptance in failure and a job for the boys.

[AnOldBrownie]

Come on you Whites.   There are a lot of games left in the season...and I'd argue the team can only get better.

International break...vet the new players...we're good.

[blingo]

Positive should be left to Batteries.

Don't be so Negative Mr Woolly

[ianthailand]

I'm getting very uncomfortable with situations like Gray and CHO where we agree terms with the player and then go below asking price keeping all concerned on tenterhooks. we then try to get a better player Ocampos, who said he doesn't want to come, wait a few weeks and go back in for him knowing he won't sign and surprise, surprise CHO goes to Forest. Surely this gets into the market and some players will not want to be involved with a club that acts like that.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Hear, hear! Still a very fun squad to watch and support, we should count our blessings.

Yes we should count our blessings, but sometimes they do not always add up.

[Free Elvis Hammond]

I don't get this argument that club can't be at fault for players not wanting to join us. People are paid vast sums to identify targets, broker deals, and to convince players to join us. It might not be the 'clubs' fault, but surely it's the fault of someone in the management chain that we were either chasing targets who literally had zero interest ever, or a failure to convince said player who at least showed some potential desire to perhaps join us.

Either way, just saying we failed but at least we tried feels like an acceptance in failure and a job for the boys.

My guess would be it's more to do with wages, bonuses and agents - rather than the players themselves just not fancying it

Take someone like Hudson-Odoi - a real gamble of a signing, hasn't really progressed and has a bad achilles injury behind him - so if his agent is just looking for whoever will offer the most in wages, it's probably for the best we don't end up in a bidding war against a mad reckless club like Forest

[WindyCity]

Totally agree with the sentiment of moving forward and being positive.  I think MS is an excellent manager and should have his squad ready and prepared to move forward.  Great recent results v Arsenal, Spurs and first half v City, var not withstanding.  MS can motivate and prepare proper game plans.  I know it's early in season, but I view the Luton game as 'must win'.  All that said, I am very disappointed in the summer transfer period.  Very disappointed.  I was so looking forward to it after our nice 10th place finish and the building upon that success.  Quite frankly, I really don't see any building done here, the team has remained somewhat stable if not some regression.  In my view, total **** ups in the Mitrovic and Palhinha situations.  And the players brought in not particularly impressive, but that does remain to be seen.  Hopefully MS can mold something positive and winning in what players he has now under his guidance.  Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

They agreed fees with 3 clubs but the players did not want to move to Fulham, that is not something you can blame the club for.

Really?  You don't blame the club?  Well, I sure do.  What on God's green Earth is FFC doing chasing players that are not even interested in playing at CC?  Why spending time and monies courting players that are simply not interested?  What is the recruitment team doing, what are they thinking?  This doesn't make sense at all. 

Scratches head.......

[alfie]

Totally agree with the sentiment of moving forward and being positive.  I think MS is an excellent manager and should have his squad ready and prepared to move forward.  Great recent results v Arsenal, Spurs and first half v City, var not withstanding.  MS can motivate and prepare proper game plans.  I know it's early in season, but I view the Luton game as 'must win'.  All that said, I am very disappointed in the summer transfer period.  Very disappointed.  I was so looking forward to it after our nice 10th place finish and the building upon that success.  Quite frankly, I really don't see any building done here, the team has remained somewhat stable if not some regression.  In my view, total **** ups in the Mitrovic and Palhinha situations.  And the players brought in not particularly impressive, but that does remain to be seen.  Hopefully MS can mold something positive and winning in what players he has now under his guidance.  Fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

They agreed fees with 3 clubs but the players did not want to move to Fulham, that is not something you can blame the club for.

Really?  You don't blame the club?  Well, I sure do.  What on God's green Earth is FFC doing chasing players that are not even interested in playing at CC?  Why spending time and monies courting players that are simply not interested?  What is the recruitment team doing, what are they thinking?  This doesn't make sense at all. 

Scratches head.......

Erm, perhaps that non interest came after we chased them, how on earth do you know they are not interested until they are asked? We agreed prices with 3 clubs, it was then the players said no.