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Ghost of Clough

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  1. Clap
    Ghost of Clough reacted to duncanjwitham in EFL Verdict   
    The weird thing is, going into last season, I thought we were a striker short of being a very good squad.  We'd kicked on under Cocu from when Rooney arrived, we'd addressed most of the major needs in the squad (with Matt Clarke back, Jozwiak and Marshall), we'd sold an asset but replaced him for a fraction of the cost (Byrne for Bogle) and so on.  Obviously things didn't pan out that way. 
    This season, if you look at who we've lost compared to last season, it's only really Matt Clarke (who was excellent again) and Waghorn (who was poor for most of the season).  We've lost quite a few warm bodies - Gregory scored a few, Roberts showed the odd flash, bits and bobs from Menghi etc.  But bar Clarke, is there anyone that we've lost that will *really* be missed?
    Obviously we're not in a good position at all, but there's plenty of reasons to think it can be turned around.  We desperately need a striker and 2 central defenders, but beyond that, the first XI isn't too bad.  Marshall/Roos, Byrne, Shinnie, Lawrence and CKR are still decent championship players. Jozwiak has had a decent Euros and should hopefully either be more settled and kick on, or be sold for a decent amount.  We should hopefully have Bielik for more of the season than last. Lawrence missed a lot of games last season too, he was missed. Knight, Bird, Buchanan have all got another year of championship football under their belts. Sibley started to establish himself back in the team towards the end of the season. McDonald, Ebosele, Watson etc have started to get first team football.  It's reasonable to think we can get 3 or 4 loans in relatively easily. With Rooney's name and a guarantee of first team football, I suspect we'll have a fair few top-end prem youngsters here.  And given the state of the transfer market, there are going to be a lot of players around on free transfers, so we can pick up a bunch more experienced warm bodies, if we need to.  
    I'm not trying to gloss over the state of the squad, but it's not an unfixable problem.
  2. Like
    Ghost of Clough reacted to RoyMac5 in EFL Verdict   
    Errr no not really, you edited your version to make it have a different meaning.
    Why is it delusional, 7 weeks (?) from the transfer window shutting to say what he did?! Why are you panicking?
  3. Clap
    Ghost of Clough reacted to richinspain in EFL Verdict   
    It's plainly obvious that the squad in it's current state will be relegated on points by Christmas, but that same squad with perhaps 3 players in the right positions and quality should be more than enough to be mid table. Add in the return of a hopefully fully functioning Bielik and we'll be more than safe in my opinion. Injuries with such a small squad would be a problem though.
  4. Clap
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Rich84 in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  5. Clap
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Zag zig in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  6. Clap
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Comrade 86 in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  7. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Oldben in Summer 2021 Transfer Window - Suggestion Thread   
    This is how I'm expecting the squad to look for the coming season.
    GK: Roos, Marshall
    RB: Byrne, Ebosele/McDonald
    CB: CB, CB, Davies, Solomon/Cashin/JBrown
    LB: Buchanan, Forsyth
    CM: Knight, Bird
    CM: Shinnie, Bielik, CM
    AM: Sibley, Watson
    RW: Jozwiak, RW
    LW: Lawrence, LW
    CF: CF, Kazim, Stretton
    If we sign more than that, then we've either been taken over or sold someone.
    Depending on who those 6 signings are, I'd be quite happy with that.
  8. Cheers
    Ghost of Clough reacted to Angry Ram in The UEFA European Championship 2020 Thread   
    Ticket sorted for weds.. Block 115. Can’t wait..
  9. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Carnero in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  10. Clap
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from ck- in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  11. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from angieram in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  12. Clap
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from RoyMac5 in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  13. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Angry Ram in Gareth Southgate   
    I think poor tactics and squad selection were the main drivers for not achieving more.
    Hargreaves should have been a regular in that team rather than shoehorning two attacking players into CM. Injuries to key players also didn't help - Neville, Rooney, Owen injured at one stage or another.
    First XI: Robinson, Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney, Owen
    Backup: James, Hargreaves, Carragher, Campbell, Bridge, Lennon, Jenas, Carrick, Downing, Crouch, Walcott, Carson
    That first XI, with the exception of Robinson, was world class. The backups admittedly weren't great, but Campbell, Hargreaves, Carrick and Crouch offered very good cover.
    However, there were two obvious errors with squad selection given we wanted to play 442 - RB and CF.
    We didn't need to take 3 backup CMs at the expense of a RB when playing 442. Neville got injured in the first game resulting in Carragher filling in at RB for a couple and Hargreaves for two as well.
    With Rooney being injured from the start and Owen injury prone, why didn't we have a better 4th choice than Walcott? Bent scored 18 in that PL season (top English goal scorer). Harewood had a good season and was 4th top English scorer (behind Rooney and Lampard). There was also Beattie and Defoe as possible options..
  14. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Rammy03 in EFL Verdict   
    The season doesn't start for another 5 weeks. When Lampard joined we didn't make any key signings until the latter parts of July.
  15. Clap
    Ghost of Clough reacted to DCFC1388 in EFL Verdict   
    Fully understand what you're saying but plenty of other clubs still haven't signed anyone and it seems like a takeover isnt too far off so could mean we're shopping in a different market than we would be currently.
    Wouldn't it be worth waiting 2 weeks to get target 'A' rather than going out and getting target 'B' or 'C' just because we need numbers. If in 2 weeks we havent got taken over then thats when you move on. Yes there is 4 weeks until the season starts on Aug 7th but there is 8 weeks of the transfer window left.
  16. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from DCFC1388 in EFL Verdict   
    "We have a core of senior players and extremely talented academy players." = We have the basis of a team for the season 
    "That is enough to operate with and we have a plan for the rest of the window" = we will make signings
    "We are not rushing to fill the squad for next week. We have a clear plan ready" = we will not panic and make signings for the sake of having the numbers immediately.
     
    I'm not sure how you can read that and think we won't make any signings.
  17. COYR
    Ghost of Clough reacted to Woodley Ram in Starting line up for the first game of the season.   
    I was thinking
                                                                  MackworthRam
                  Coconut         B4ev6is         i-ram            Nottsram77
                                                      Shinnie  SDSR 
                                          Islandexile    JimboRam Sage
                                                        CKR
  18. Clap
    Ghost of Clough reacted to DCFC1388 in EFL Verdict   
    I think it means its more a good basis to start from, clearly holding the academy players in high regard.
    Good to see about the loans owed situation, players are fully paid & the accounts delay with Companies House had been agreed.
    Just nice to have abit of an update and clarification.
  19. Cheers
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from IslandExile in Summer 2021 Transfer Window - Suggestion Thread   
    Duncan will only play if he's partnered with another CF. He'll be an U23 regular, whereas the others listed will be regulars in the first team squad
  20. Haha
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Sheikh n Bake in Summer 2021 Transfer Window - Suggestion Thread   
    I think he's being a bit optimistic with 9 signings (8 really as Davies is one of them)
    With out budget, I'm struggling to see beyond 6 signings. 2 CBs (+ Davies), possibly DM (Bielik cover), 2 wingers, 1 CF
  21. Like
    Ghost of Clough reacted to Pearl Ram in The coronabrexit thread. I mean, coronavirus thread   
    Just giving my take on it. Louts picking on an easy target sickens me. Duncan Ferguson’s about the same age as Whitty, I’d like to see them being a bit silly with him.
    I’m pleased an apology seems sufficient for you, that would have been a throughly unpleasant experience for Whitty, and not the first one he’s had to endure if my memory serves me correctly so I hope both the perpetrators have a lousy few months.
    I’ve got a lad I’m proud as punch of. Polite, gentle, respectful, thinks of others before himself. He’s been on the wrong side of a bit of silliness and it ducked his head, he couldn’t understand why he was target of people he was no threat to.
    These see you next tuesdays don’t give a toss about the consequences of their actions so don’t duckin’ give me all that silliness crap.
     
     
  22. COYR
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from RoyMac5 in Summer 2021 Transfer Window - Suggestion Thread   
    This is how I'm expecting the squad to look for the coming season.
    GK: Roos, Marshall
    RB: Byrne, Ebosele/McDonald
    CB: CB, CB, Davies, Solomon/Cashin/JBrown
    LB: Buchanan, Forsyth
    CM: Knight, Bird
    CM: Shinnie, Bielik, CM
    AM: Sibley, Watson
    RW: Jozwiak, RW
    LW: Lawrence, LW
    CF: CF, Kazim, Stretton
    If we sign more than that, then we've either been taken over or sold someone.
    Depending on who those 6 signings are, I'd be quite happy with that.
  23. Like
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Stuniverse in Summer 2021 Transfer Window - Suggestion Thread   
    This is how I'm expecting the squad to look for the coming season.
    GK: Roos, Marshall
    RB: Byrne, Ebosele/McDonald
    CB: CB, CB, Davies, Solomon/Cashin/JBrown
    LB: Buchanan, Forsyth
    CM: Knight, Bird
    CM: Shinnie, Bielik, CM
    AM: Sibley, Watson
    RW: Jozwiak, RW
    LW: Lawrence, LW
    CF: CF, Kazim, Stretton
    If we sign more than that, then we've either been taken over or sold someone.
    Depending on who those 6 signings are, I'd be quite happy with that.
  24. Clap
    Ghost of Clough reacted to Woodley Ram in What song reflects the Rams over the last 12-18 months?   
    Tubthumping, 
    we get knocked down but we get up again
    your never going to keep us down 
  25. Cheers
    Ghost of Clough got a reaction from Comrade 86 in EFL Verdict   
    Obviously it will help with the 3 years to 2018. It then follows that this would have helped in the periods up to and including 2020. However, due to Covid, the 3 yewr period became four, which means it will actually help for the 4 year period to 2021.
    That's right. I very much doubt we actually did use Transfermarkt (I ran a quick analysis and the numbers simply wouldn't add up), I think that was thrown in there to imply we didn't just make numbers up.
    The best method I can think of is like this:
    A straight line is used from when signed towards typical retirement age or the end of the contract (whichever is later). A second straight line is used between the start of the final year of contract to the end of contract.
    A couple examples here, and I'll assume typical retirement age is 33.
    Example 1: 32 year old player signs for £500k on a 2 year deal. Contract runs beyond typical retirement age, so £250k is amortised each year.
    Example 2: 23 year old player signs for £2.5m on a 4 year deal. End of contract is before typical retirement age. £250k is amortised for the first 3 years (the fully amortised point would fall in the season he turns 33). Then £1.75m is amortised in the final year.
    Hopefully I've explained that well enough? ?
    It ensures numbers arent plucked from thin air, it's systematic, but is it reliable? It sounds reasonable to me though.
    Maybe a get out is to get a few accountancy bodies to give our policy a seal of approval.
    He'll be welcomed as a hero if it means we can realise the £30m stadium 'lost' money.
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