The Official FOF Silly Season Summer Transfer Thread 2017-18

[Joseffc]

It honestly is beyond me - our player recruitment .... or rather non-recruitment. With such a good manager in-situ I'd have thought that the rookies in charge would do all they can to satisfy him, particularly after January & what he achieved with a reduced squad. Pretty obvious, his feelings, which are echoed by many of us. Where are we now - 25th July & the new season imminent? Not SJ's fault we are ill-equipped for a promotion push from day one. Perplexing & frustrating.

think everyone needs to be more realistic. Top 12 will be a good year for us. We haven't pushed on so don't expect our position too.

It's July...

Surely it is squad depth that has to be the major concern rather than simply the 11 we will start with, which in all reality will be reasonably strong. At present, with 11 days until the league season begins, we have only 17 players in the first team.

This is a poor and disorganised way to prepare for a season and far from sustainable.

[Marcel_Gecov]

It honestly is beyond me - our player recruitment .... or rather non-recruitment. With such a good manager in-situ I'd have thought that the rookies in charge would do all they can to satisfy him, particularly after January & what he achieved with a reduced squad. Pretty obvious, his feelings, which are echoed by many of us. Where are we now - 25th July & the new season imminent? Not SJ's fault we are ill-equipped for a promotion push from day one. Perplexing & frustrating.

think everyone needs to be more realistic. Top 12 will be a good year for us. We haven't pushed on so don't expect our position too.

It's July...

Surely it is squad depth that has to be the major concern rather than simply the 11 we will start with, which in all reality will be reasonably strong. At present, with 11 days until the league season begins, we have only 17 players in the first team.

This is a poor and disorganised way to prepare for a season and far from sustainable.

It's a core 17 though. We have only lost Malone and Kalas from our starting 11 and one of those could come back. I dont dispute that we need to add 3-4 players (CB. LB, 2x ST and perhaps another CM) but my point is that this constant panic is crazy. Newcastle lost their first two games last season and went up as champions.

[Captain Whatsisname]

Sorry but The difference between making signings in June/July rather than at the end of August isn't a matter of Shaun Hutchinson or Kalas.

I accept there's a subtle difference. Maybe you pay 10% more in June/July such that your budget only gets you 9 players in June/July whereas you'd get 10 new players if you were prepared to sign them all on deadline day.

However, sorry but given our experience of deals falling through at the last minute and dropping 10 points in August/September whilst the team settles, I'd rather just have 9 players early than try to be cute at the end of the window

This is a lesson the club just refuses to learn

This. All day long.

[BedsFFC]

Sorry but The difference between making signings in June/July rather than at the end of August isn't a matter of Shaun Hutchinson or Kalas.

I accept there's a subtle difference. Maybe you pay 10% more in June/July such that your budget only gets you 9 players in June/July whereas you'd get 10 new players if you were prepared to sign them all on deadline day.

However, sorry but given our experience of deals falling through at the last minute and dropping 10 points in August/September whilst the team settles, I'd rather just have 9 players early than try to be cute at the end of the window

This is a lesson the club just refuses to learn

Thats just wrong and does not apply to us.

We want premiership standard players. 10% in either wages or fee won't make any difference if we are competing with a player/club from the premiership.

Its entirely down to the players and their agents and they will be waiting as long as they need to, to see the best club that comes in. If newcastle want a player that we want, we should move on because 10% won't swing it.

Somehow on here, that will always be Khan and Kline's fault.

We put an offer of 5m to Bordeaux. Its accepted. We lay it all for the player, he visits the club twice...but ultimately he wants to sit it out for a Spanish or Premiership team.
Lets just say we offered him £30k p/w. You  think its just as simple of offering him £33k and everything will work out.

Its just utter nonsense

[Marcel_Gecov]

Sorry but The difference between making signings in June/July rather than at the end of August isn't a matter of Shaun Hutchinson or Kalas.

I accept there's a subtle difference. Maybe you pay 10% more in June/July such that your budget only gets you 9 players in June/July whereas you'd get 10 new players if you were prepared to sign them all on deadline day.

However, sorry but given our experience of deals falling through at the last minute and dropping 10 points in August/September whilst the team settles, I'd rather just have 9 players early than try to be cute at the end of the window

This is a lesson the club just refuses to learn

Thats just wrong and does not apply to us.

We want premiership standard players. 10% in either wages or fee won't make any difference if we are competing with a player/club from the premiership.

Its entirely down to the players and their agents and they will be waiting as long as they need to, to see the best club that comes in. If newcastle want a player that we want, we should move on because 10% won't swing it.

Somehow on here, that will always be Khan and Kline's fault.

We put an offer of 5m to Bordeaux. Its accepted. We lay it all for the player, he visits the club twice...but ultimately he wants to sit it out for a Spanish or Premiership team.
Lets just say we offered him £30k p/w. You  think its just as simple of offering him £33k and everything will work out.

Its just utter nonsense

Exactly, this. All day long.

It's also not a learning exercise, it's a marketplace and currently a sellers marketplace.

[westcliff white]

Sorry but The difference between making signings in June/July rather than at the end of August isn't a matter of Shaun Hutchinson or Kalas.

I accept there's a subtle difference. Maybe you pay 10% more in June/July such that your budget only gets you 9 players in June/July whereas you'd get 10 new players if you were prepared to sign them all on deadline day.

However, sorry but given our experience of deals falling through at the last minute and dropping 10 points in August/September whilst the team settles, I'd rather just have 9 players early than try to be cute at the end of the window

This is a lesson the club just refuses to learn

Thats just wrong and does not apply to us.

We want premiership standard players. 10% in either wages or fee won't make any difference if we are competing with a player/club from the premiership.

Its entirely down to the players and their agents and they will be waiting as long as they need to, to see the best club that comes in. If newcastle want a player that we want, we should move on because 10% won't swing it.

Somehow on here, that will always be Khan and Kline's fault.

We put an offer of 5m to Bordeaux. Its accepted. We lay it all for the player, he visits the club twice...but ultimately he wants to sit it out for a Spanish or Premiership team.
Lets just say we offered him £30k p/w. You  think its just as simple of offering him £33k and everything will work out.

Its just utter nonsense

Couple of things it wasn't just Rolan, Bordeaux also stalled the deal in the hope to receive more money, they did this once Newcastle registered an interest. Newcastle are willing to better any offer we make by 10% or so up to a certain price, which is believed to be in the region of  8 and 9 million pounds.

For Rolan he doesn't want to harm his international prospects going into a world cup year, fully understandable, but as you say the extra 10% won't always get your man so to speak.

[cmg]

Isn't it the unveiling of the new shirt today? Doubt they'd announce any signings today and steal the new/same sponsors glory.

Tomorrow apparently

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Nothing like bit of culture from old Bill to cheer you up.

[brightster]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

[Marcel_Gecov]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

If anything, tell them that they are injured so they plan accordingly, only for them to rock up to the game.  :wine:

[fulhamben]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

[Marcel_Gecov]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

[ToodlesMcToot]

Isn't it the unveiling of the new shirt today? Doubt they'd announce any signings today and steal the new/same sponsors glory.

Tomorrow apparently

Was orignally the 24th but is now the 26th

Hopefully a sign that something more than a loan signing will coincide with the unveiling.

[fulhamben]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

indeed not, but point is most managers will now have a plan for both eventualities of his availability. This is not a secret anymore, no reason for the club to with hold info on our captain imo

[westcliff white]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

indeed not, but point is most managers will now have a plan for both eventualities of his availability. This is not a secret anymore, no reason for the club to with hold info on our captain imo

perosnllly the less info we give out the better, i owuldnt even say in press conferences who wasnt available, no matter how small th einfo is it can help the opposition

[fulhamben]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

indeed not, but point is most managers will now have a plan for both eventualities of his availability. This is not a secret anymore, no reason for the club to with hold info on our captain imo

perosnllly the less info we give out the better, i owuldnt even say in press conferences who wasnt available, no matter how small th einfo is it can help the opposition

then there would hardly be much point to pressers, fans want to know what's going on with their clubs, not see it locked behind an iron curtain. If secrecy was truly the main goal then all games would be behind closed doors.

[westcliff white]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

indeed not, but point is most managers will now have a plan for both eventualities of his availability. This is not a secret anymore, no reason for the club to with hold info on our captain imo

perosnllly the less info we give out the better, i owuldnt even say in press conferences who wasnt available, no matter how small th einfo is it can help the opposition

then there would hardly be much point to pressers, fans want to know what's going on with their clubs, not see it locked behind an iron curtain. If secrecy was truly the main goal then all games would be behind closed doors.

We will have to agree to disagree, as a fan I dont want other clubs to know about our squad / team prior to games taking place. I cringe when we say so and so is out.

[We Are Premier League]

Still can't get over the fact the Puddlesfield managed to get promoted with a negative goal difference last season...must be a hard one for the stats guys to swallow.

[Roberty]

Still can't get over the fact the Puddlesfield managed to get promoted with a negative goal difference last season...must be a hard one for the stats guys to swallow.

It is also off p*ssing that we beat two of the promoted clubs home and away last season - would have been good if we'd been able to put the clubs in the bottom half to the sword

[brightster]

So anyone think anything will happen today? Eleven days until the first game of the season and we have - correct me if I'm wrong - a senior squad of 19 players as it stands.

The sensible ultimate deadline to give new signings a chance to be bedded in and ready for the Norwich game was last Friday. Now that has passed I suspect we are working to the widow closing date as our deadline, as we did last season.

Depressing isn't it.

Not really, would rather we worked up to the end of the window and got quality in for example Johansen, kebano,  Piazon, etc than got quantity early in - Kay Voser, Shaun Hutchinson, Taggart etc. According to some of the posters, the Magath summer seems more positive than last year as there were more signings...

The starting line up for Norwich will include either Odoi/ Sessgenon left back, Norwood (if deal is closed and Cairney injured) centre mid and Aluko or Kebano up front. It's actually a similar 11 to that which played a number of matches last year. We'll be fine.

The big difference between this team and last years is the lack of Kalas.  Whenever he did not play we averaged an extra goal conceded per game.

The management know this and will be working to sort something out. Either Kalas will come back and Chelsea are making us sweat or alternatively we will get someone else. As I said further up we have over a month with a solid nucleus of a team. Last year we were integrating 14 players into a squad this time it'll be small changes so shouldn't have the same impact.

not so sure, trying to integrate just the derby player killed us in September. Granted not everyone will turn up as poor as him, if any do turn up. But every single manager will tell you about the importance of pre season. Which we have now pretty much run out of

Every single manager will say that, but even Ferguson was integrating Berbatov into his team in September. It wasn't just Martin as well, Piazon, Johansen, Kebano, Sigurdsson all joined towards the end. We shouldn't have that problem this year.

possibly, possibly not. Still think top 12 will be a good target for us as it stands. We don't even no how long our captain is out for. And is Kebano injured. Club tells us nothing.

The club will not tell us who's injured and don't don't blame them, why tell the other teams that our best players are injured!

do you think it was only a handfull of Fulham fans who saw the Cairney news yesterday? Every man and his dog would know about it by now.  Plus do you not think Norwich will have a scout there on sat?

yeah but it was picture of a plaster on a knee. Hardly conclusive evidence of lasting damage...

indeed not, but point is most managers will now have a plan for both eventualities of his availability. This is not a secret anymore, no reason for the club to with hold info on our captain imo

perosnllly the less info we give out the better, i owuldnt even say in press conferences who wasnt available, no matter how small th einfo is it can help the opposition

then there would hardly be much point to pressers, fans want to know what's going on with their clubs, not see it locked behind an iron curtain. If secrecy was truly the main goal then all games would be behind closed doors.

We will have to agree to disagree, as a fan I dont want other clubs to know about our squad / team prior to games taking place. I cringe when we say so and so is out.

I am with you here WW, also factor in that maybe TC could be out for a while, I do hope not, but if we need a replacement of that quality the price for a player would go up because they know we are desperate!
Less said about injuries the better!

[fulhamben]

Still can't get over the fact the Puddlesfield managed to get promoted with a negative goal difference last season...must be a hard one for the stats guys to swallow.

maybe that's why they haven't sanctioned a new striker 😂