The Official Silly Season Summer Transfer Thread 2018/19

[filham]

Fonte to Newcastle in exchange for Mitrovic, please.

[Madman Maddle]

Being slower than the rest and being careful in the crazy transfer window isn't a bad thing. But being as lethargic as we are really hurts our preseason preparation. It showed last season and I fear it will show this season again. We are in a new league, arguably the best league in the world, and a good preperation is crucial to stand a chance.

I was at last year's summer camp in Austria, watching most of our training sessions. If it wasn't for our plethora of goalkeepers and many youth players - some of them I've never seen or heard of again - team training wouldn't have been possible at all. The quality level was dreadful. The likes of Cairney and McDonald having to do passing drills with our goalkeepers, duping youth players and our defenders battling Woodrow as the only striker available. Somehow Jokane worked his magic to overcome it, but you could tell he wasn't happy. If he has to go through the same circus again this season, it won't end well.

I recognize that fans are entitled to their belief that they know better than those employed to do the job, but I do find highly amusing the picture this post paints of a casual observer tearing his hair on the touchline at the gross incompetence being displayed beyond.

The party that was taken to Austria (which included almost all those involved in getting promotion - presumably the ultimate objective at the time these training shananigans were taking place) was: Betts, Button, Rodak, Freddo, Djalo, Ream, McDonald, Cairney, Cisse, Johansen, Piazon, Aluko, Woodrow, Ayite, Sigurdsson. The 'many' youth players were : Opoku (who was injured in the Checkatrade match v Pompey in August and was not seen out again), O'Riley (who made a first team debut in a season curtailed by injury), Edun (who also made a first team debut and was in and around the squad most of the season, and R. Sessegnon (not sure what became of him, but I'm sure he derived some benefit from the fiasco).

Just to show that appearances can be deceptive I append a photo of the manager doing his best to hide his unhappiness in Austria:

This is so ridiculous. Of course they are smiling in this picture: the weather was beautiful in this lovely place. Jokane was smiling too when we took photos with him, and when we asked him when the club is gonna finally sign a striker he laughed and said everything is alright. Good dry Serb sarcasm. Btw in the photo that's not even the main pitch but a smaller pitch where the goalkeepers worked out after the regular sessions. I was there at every training session and looked at Jokane collapsing internally when in most shooting drills nobody could hit the net, or when they had to involve all the goalkeepers and assistant coaches to have enough players for a complicated passing drill with attacking movements, leaving the goal empty. Only thing you got right is youth players, it was mainly Opoku who has now disappeared. O'Riley in fact stood out for his age and showed off good skills. Long story made short, I was there for all camp and you could tell Jokane was not amused about the small squad. It was made worse by several players, including Cairney, Freddo, Madl, sitting out at some point due to injuries and then our practice looked even bleaker.

I'm just hoping we get some key players signed soon. Can't go into summer camp and work intensely on tactics with a group like that again. When you're missing so many key players at this stage of preparation, you will suffer for 2 or 3 months until you can build good chemistry. If we go into camp with our current group, it's a mere movement therapy more than anything else. Camp should be about our key players growing together.

[cmg]

...This is so ridiculous....

You would, perhaps, find it a little less ridiculous if you read (and understood) what I have written.
Perhaps the manager's dry Serb sarcasm is easier to interpret than my damp, British variety.

[hovewhite]

Being slower than the rest and being careful in the crazy transfer window isn't a bad thing. But being as lethargic as we are really hurts our preseason preparation. It showed last season and I fear it will show this season again. We are in a new league, arguably the best league in the world, and a good preperation is crucial to stand a chance.

I was at last year's summer camp in Austria, watching most of our training sessions. If it wasn't for our plethora of goalkeepers and many youth players - some of them I've never seen or heard of again - team training wouldn't have been possible at all. The quality level was dreadful. The likes of Cairney and McDonald having to do passing drills with our goalkeepers, duping youth players and our defenders battling Woodrow as the only striker available. Somehow Jokane worked his magic to overcome it, but you could tell he wasn't happy. If he has to go through the same circus again this season, it won't end well.

I recognize that fans are entitled to their belief that they know better than those employed to do the job, but I do find highly amusing the picture this post paints of a casual observer tearing his hair on the touchline at the gross incompetence being displayed beyond.

The party that was taken to Austria (which included almost all those involved in getting promotion - presumably the ultimate objective at the time these training shananigans were taking place) was: Betts, Button, Rodak, Freddo, Djalo, Ream, McDonald, Cairney, Cisse, Johansen, Piazon, Aluko, Woodrow, Ayite, Sigurdsson. The 'many' youth players were : Opoku (who was injured in the Checkatrade match v Pompey in August and was not seen out again), O'Riley (who made a first team debut in a season curtailed by injury), Edun (who also made a first team debut and was in and around the squad most of the season, and R. Sessegnon (not sure what became of him, but I'm sure he derived some benefit from the fiasco).

Just to show that appearances can be deceptive I append a photo of the manager doing his best to hide his unhappiness in Austria:

This is so ridiculous. Of course they are smiling in this picture: the weather was beautiful in this lovely place. Jokane was smiling too when we took photos with him, and when we asked him when the club is gonna finally sign a striker he laughed and said everything is alright. Good dry Serb sarcasm. Btw in the photo that's not even the main pitch but a smaller pitch where the goalkeepers worked out after the regular sessions. I was there at every training session and looked at Jokane collapsing internally when in most shooting drills nobody could hit the net, or when they had to involve all the goalkeepers and assistant coaches to have enough players for a complicated passing drill with attacking movements, leaving the goal empty. Only thing you got right is youth players, it was mainly Opoku who has now disappeared. O'Riley in fact stood out for his age and showed off good skills. Long story made short, I was there for all camp and you could tell Jokane was not amused about the small squad. It was made worse by several players, including Cairney, Freddo, Madl, sitting out at some point due to injuries and then our practice looked even bleaker.

I'm just hoping we get some key players signed soon. Can't go into summer camp and work intensely on tactics with a group like that again. When you're missing so many key players at this stage of preparation, you will suffer for 2 or 3 months until you can build good chemistry. If we go into camp with our current group, it's a mere movement therapy more than anything else. Camp should be about our key players growing together.

MM great post.

[toshes mate]

I recognize that fans are entitled to their belief that they know better than those employed to do the job, but I do find highly amusing the picture this post paints of a casual observer tearing his hair on the touchline at the gross incompetence being displayed beyond.

The party that was taken to Austria (which included almost all those involved in getting promotion - presumably the ultimate objective at the time these training shananigans were taking place) was: Betts, Button, Rodak, Freddo, Djalo, Ream, McDonald, Cairney, Cisse, Johansen, Piazon, Aluko, Woodrow, Ayite, Sigurdsson. The 'many' youth players were : Opoku (who was injured in the Checkatrade match v Pompey in August and was not seen out again), O'Riley (who made a first team debut in a season curtailed by injury), Edun (who also made a first team debut and was in and around the squad most of the season, and R. Sessegnon (not sure what became of him, but I'm sure he derived some benefit from the fiasco).

Just to show that appearances can be deceptive I append a photo of the manager doing his best to hide his unhappiness in Austria:

You choose to criticise one poster for misrepresentation and follow it up with your own version of said activity.  Two wrongs are just two wrongs.

The test of any pre-season or transfer window comes from what happens from the first match immediately following the closure of said window.  I look at last winter's window and see Targett and Mitrovic slotting into the line up instantly, and Christie doing no mean impersonation of feeling at home either.  That is what every window and pre-season should be like.  The question is why are so many not like that and I don't see your post even touching upon answering that question.

Now if our recruitment come up with multiple selection auto-fits on day one of the 2018/9 campaign then I think the sweat on Jokanovic's brow is not from frustration but from sheer hard work getting the team to the best level it can reach until the next training session begins - and so on.   I hope the Kline nightmare is over but I also hope we use Jokanovic as the inspired reason for any player choosing to come to FFC because they won't ever be coming to gaze at the wonders of our recruitment team. 

[cmg]

Mmmm...

The point of my post, such as it was, was to express my personal reacton to what I perceived as the arrogance (or, perhaps, naivety) of MM to believe that a few days presence on the touchline of a training session in Austria somehow gave him a valid insight into the inner thoughts of the manager and the operational incompetence of the management regarding recruitment.

I make no comment on the current transfer situation because a) I believe it is too early to do so, and b) there is no shortage of such comment on a daily basis.

The picture was obviously a joke...Well, not obviously, obviously. I captioned it with 'appearances can be deceptive.' Obviously (again) a poor joke if I have to explain it.

[S.F.Sorrow]

I recognize that fans are entitled to their belief that they know better than those employed to do the job, but I do find highly amusing the picture this post paints of a casual observer tearing his hair on the touchline at the gross incompetence being displayed beyond.

The party that was taken to Austria (which included almost all those involved in getting promotion - presumably the ultimate objective at the time these training shananigans were taking place) was: Betts, Button, Rodak, Freddo, Djalo, Ream, McDonald, Cairney, Cisse, Johansen, Piazon, Aluko, Woodrow, Ayite, Sigurdsson. The 'many' youth players were : Opoku (who was injured in the Checkatrade match v Pompey in August and was not seen out again), O'Riley (who made a first team debut in a season curtailed by injury), Edun (who also made a first team debut and was in and around the squad most of the season, and R. Sessegnon (not sure what became of him, but I'm sure he derived some benefit from the fiasco).

Just to show that appearances can be deceptive I append a photo of the manager doing his best to hide his unhappiness in Austria:

You choose to criticise one poster for misrepresentation and follow it up with your own version of said activity.  Two wrongs are just two wrongs.

The test of any pre-season or transfer window comes from what happens from the first match immediately following the closure of said window.  I look at last winter's window and see Targett and Mitrovic slotting into the line up instantly, and Christie doing no mean impersonation of feeling at home either.  That is what every window and pre-season should be like.  The question is why are so many not like that and I don't see your post even touching upon answering that question.

Now if our recruitment come up with multiple selection auto-fits on day one of the 2018/9 campaign then I think the sweat on Jokanovic's brow is not from frustration but from sheer hard work getting the team to the best level it can reach until the next training session begins - and so on.   I hope the Kline nightmare is over but I also hope we use Jokanovic as the inspired reason for any player choosing to come to FFC because they won't ever be coming to gaze at the wonders of our recruitment team.

Targett, Mitrovic and Christie all had experience from English football so I would expect them to settle in fast. But I have a feeling we are targetting players from other leagues and they may need more time. In some cases a LOT more time.

I know everything is delayed because of the world cup but this hasn't prevented the other relegation candidates to sign 2-4 players. And yes, I said "the OTHER" relegation candidate because with our current squad we are without doubt the number one favourite to go down. We have lost seven player from a Championship squad that was always 2-3 injuries/suspensions away from disaster. Our squad was dangerously thin in several positions last season. This is easy to forget after such an amazing end to the season.

We need to either strengthen or to add depth in almost every position. We'll probably need at least 10 players. Of course we shouldn't sign players just to add numbers to the squad. Hopefully the waiting means we are targetting better players than Cardiff/Huddersfield/etc. But time is running out. It's no good signing a lot of quality players during the last two weeks. If we start this season as unprepared as the last one we WILL go down. There's no way we can pull off anything remotely close to our unbeaten run in the PL. Poor start = disaster.

And what's this I'm reading about Mitrovic joining us "by the end of the month"? What kind of deal is that? The only answer I can think of is that there's NO deal yet and other clubs can still outbid us and steal him from under our noses when it's too late to find a proper replacement.

Sorry about the negativity, I really needed to get that out of my system, feeling better now. :005:

And I DO look forward to the start of the season, no matter what !!!! 049:gif

[Madman Maddle]

Mmmm...

The point of my post, such as it was, was to express my personal reacton to what I perceived as the arrogance (or, perhaps, naivety) of MM to believe that a few days presence on the touchline of a training session in Austria somehow gave him a valid insight into the inner thoughts of the manager and the operational incompetence of the management regarding recruitment.

I make no comment on the current transfer situation because a) I believe it is too early to do so, and b) there is no shortage of such comment on a daily basis.

The picture was obviously a joke...Well, not obviously, obviously. I captioned it with 'appearances can be deceptive.' Obviously (again) a poor joke if I have to explain it.

I'm sorry to have irritated you. Don't wanted to sound arrogant or something like that. Just wanted to share my first hand experience. I know a thing or two about football. The state of the squad at that time affected training in a bad way. Anybody with a little bit human and football sense could tell that neither our key players nor Jokane were happy with it.

As for the pic, I misread your description and thought you meant it serious.

To share another story, when Kit Symons was in charge it was even worse. They were literally practicing booting the ball out of play for a whole session! Jokane's training is all about playing with the ball. At least it was a joy to watch McCormack and Mitroglou, who left a few days later, hitting 99% of their shots. But we've come a long way since then and I fear that irritating Jokane with a lame transfer window could set us back again.

[cmg]

Mmmm...

The point of my post, such as it was, was to express my personal reacton to what I perceived as the arrogance (or, perhaps, naivety) of MM to believe that a few days presence on the touchline of a training session in Austria somehow gave him a valid insight into the inner thoughts of the manager and the operational incompetence of the management regarding recruitment.

I make no comment on the current transfer situation because a) I believe it is too early to do so, and b) there is no shortage of such comment on a daily basis.

The picture was obviously a joke...Well, not obviously, obviously. I captioned it with 'appearances can be deceptive.' Obviously (again) a poor joke if I have to explain it.

I'm sorry to have irritated you. Don't wanted to sound arrogant or something like that. Just wanted to share my first hand experience. I know a thing or two about football. The state of the squad at that time affected training in a bad way. Anybody with a little bit human and football sense could tell that neither our key players nor Jokane were happy with it.

As for the pic, I misread your description and thought you meant it serious.

To share another story, when Kit Symons was in charge it was even worse. They were literally practicing booting the ball out of play for a whole session! Jokane's training is all about playing with the ball. At least it was a joy to watch McCormack and Mitroglou, who left a few days later, hitting 99% of their shots. But we've come a long way since then and I fear that irritating Jokane with a lame transfer window could set us back again.

Thanks for your reply. A very generous and amiable one.
I, too apologise, if I have ruffled any feathers.
Let's hope our recruitment turns out equally happily.

As for Symonds' training, 'booting the ball out of play' was my only constructive talent as a player (the other talent, for mistimed tackles could hardly be described as constructive) so I was obviously 40 years too late in my bid for stardom.

[Twig]

Are we there yet?

[Fulhamfan666]

Fonte to Newcastle in exchange for Mitrovic, please.

How much did we pay for Fonte? And how much do you think he'd be worth now?

[FFC1987]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

[Fulhamfan666]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Oh yeah...welp

[Marcel_Gecov]

From Sky Sports Transfer Centre:

FULHAM IN MITROVIC TALKS

Fulham are in talks with Newcastle to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic and are confident of concluding a deal for the striker, SSN understands.

The Magpies are prepared to sell the Serbian, who helped fire the Whites into the Premier League during an explosive loan spell last season, but want upwards of £20m for his transfer.

Crystal Palace have also been interested in Mitrovic, but the player is understood to want to continue his successful stay spell at Craven Cottage and Fulham are not concerned about rival bids at this stage.

Mitrovic enjoys a good relationship with the Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic - a fellow Serb – and scored 12 Championship goals after joining the club on loan on Deadline Day of the winter transfer window.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are interested in replacing Mitrovic with Nice striker Alessane Plea – also a name on Fulham's list – but face competition from West Ham.

[Texas White]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

[LVBPTS]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

totally agree

[Tonywa]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

totally agree

As a rule of thumb I would tend to disagree. I don't think anyone has a God-given right to an automatic  place in the squad purely because they had one last year. If the manager considers all the players to be good enough for the higher division then fine, he will make that decision and will be judged on it, though I would be surprised if he thinks along those lines any more than Tigana did when we went up last time.

[hovewhite]

In slav I trust on player selection.

[MrD1879]

I don't necessarily think Fonte is a bad player just a "second striker" / number 10 who likes the drop deep and link up play appreciate he played as a lone striker for Braga or on the flanks but doesn't take much of a scouting department to realise he has neither the pace or physicality to play as either for us. Clear example of the transfer gurus  (numpties) not listening to how Slav wants to play or the type of player we needed

[FFC1987]

Roughly 10m wasn't it? I think we'd struggle to find a suitor for 4m.

Disagree. And I think he is more suited to the premier league. Certainly derserves a chance as does everyone else who got us promoted.

What do you actually disagree with, that we purchased for around 10m or that we'd find a buyer for more than 4m?