Srg

Just now, RamLad1884 said:

8-10 mill seems the right kind of figure for a player who has consistently been one of top defenders in league one, now a championship player and a decent amount of time left on his contract. 
 

IF (and a big if) we sold him for that kind of sum then that’s a complete team rebuild kind of fee

Might be an unpopular opinion because I, like everyone else, love the lad. But I also don't believe he would make it in the Premier League, so I don't foresee that value increasing at any point. So should we get offered those kind of numbers, I'd likely take it.

6 minutes ago, Nuwtfly said:

Nobody is saying we were poverty stricken. And before you accuse me of doing this by using the word "shoestring", let me just clarify that I used that word simply to describe the small amount of money we had to work with and the balancing act the club had to go through to sign a player: CBT being the most obvious example of this. Fornah and Kane Wilson two others.

Our budget, even under restrictions, was almost certainly competitive when compared with the division as a whole. I'm sure Cheltenham Town and Bristol Rovers would struggle to match us ever with the EFL looming over us. 

But we certainly weren't in a position to splash the cash either, were we?

Other teams were managing to beat us to the signing of players because they could pay fees that we couldn't. Warne even acknowledged this when speaking about a striker that had joined a rival (believe it was Lang going to Portsmouth?).

You're trying to make out that we had money to spend and just chose not to. I don't think that's true or even fair. 

The wider point of this whole discussion though is around whether Warne and the club did an impressive job recruiting this season with those restrictions in place. I think they did. 

You don't seem to want to engage in that discussion, but instead you would rather play the role of an English teacher marking an exam paper, dishing out big red crosses for the use of terminology you find "erroneous" 

I've agreed with many of your points over the season on Warne and his style of play, but it's starting to feel now like you are just entrenched in a position of constant criticism of him that isn't particularly fair.

We clearly could have spent £750k on Aaron Collins, just like Bolton. The shoestring talk is nonsense I say!

The goalpost moving with regards to Warne's tenure is as predictable as it is boring.

2 minutes ago, Oldben said:

Viktor Johansson, a Patreon report from journalist Alan Nixon has revealed, we are being linked with him.

he's not as good as our current goalkeeper.

This is the transfer suggestion thread, if you wish to discuss that link then recalibrate your onboard computer and head to the corresponding topic: 

12 minutes ago, oomarkwright said:

We can now sign Clarke Harris on a free. Would be a great target man and scores goals in the championship IMO. 

No chance. 30 before the new season, only scored 21 goals in his entire career in the championship. Coming off a poor season. He’s a flat track league one bully. Been linked with the likes of Wrexham. He won’t be moving to the Championship. 

2 hours ago, Magicman said:

Keifer Moore please 

Imagine he will be way out of our price range with the wages he will be on. 

2 hours ago, Eoghan1884 said:

Rudoni is talented but lazy. He was taken off in the first half yesterday purely for his laziness also. We certainly don’t want someone coming in to be a poison in the dressing room.

Directly after Ipswich’s first goal where he gave the ball away limply in a dangerous area and made pathetic effort to get the ball back. 

3 minutes ago, Nuwtfly said:

No up front fees for any of these players as I understand it?

Sort of. Believe it was a loan fee for CBT wasn’t it?

8 minutes ago, G STAR RAM said:

Time may have clouded my judgement but I seem to remember the 13/14 team, of which Keogh was captain, as being one of the most tight knit groups we had in a while.

Maybe it was the mercenaries brought in by our cheque waving Chairman that caused the toxicity rather than Keogh?

Just an alternative suggestion.

The Lampard team was actually really close knit from the fans POV looking in. Needed to be as well with him managing it. 

3 minutes ago, Nuwtfly said:

All of the money we did have had to go into wages. We literally didn’t spend a fee on a player. We had weird loans and promotions clauses and all kinds of creativity going on. How else could you describe the other than shoe string? We weren’t able to compete with Bolton and Pompey for players - we even got out manoeuvred by Charlton!

There are things that Warne can be fairly criticised on but I don’t think managing our budget can be one. Credit where credit is due!

There was also a significant portion of that budget that was taken up by players he didn’t sign himself, nearly all of which were old. Not a criticism on anyone, we all know the situation, but given the option I doubt those are the attributes he would’ve spent the budget on. 

This guy paid for beers in the local before Rotherham’s last home game of the season. Warne has always been big on character. 

Just now, chewbacca said:

No, it's Washington.

Ooof stand corrected. Is Barkhuizen not there then? I thought I saw him in some pictures previously. 

1 hour ago, IlsonDerby said:

I wonder why they are travelling to different countries? 
 

All clubs have wyscout or similar don’t they which allows you to watch any game and focus on any particular player? 
 

I wonder if it’s to actually speak to targets as a decision won’t be made based on 1 performance (unless we’ve gone backwards in terms of recruitment again) 

Warne has touched on this previously. Forgive me as I’m trying to do it from memory as I can’t remember exactly when the interview was, but it was essentially talking about getting a feel for them when they’re away from the ball, their reactions to different events within the game. There’s just certain things you don’t get from video. 

I would personally imagine you wouldn’t take the step to go watch in person abroad unless you have some serious interest. 

13 minutes ago, chewbacca said:

Isn't that Washington at the bottom left of the pic holding a Bud Light?

No, that’s Barkhuizen. 

42 minutes ago, angieram said:

Assuming that's the whole gang, I'm interested in who is, and isn't, on holiday.

Ward and Rooney probably have to stay back for treatment (is Rooney even old enough?) Robinson definitely isn't. 

Pretty much the whole first team regulars are there, apart from that. Wildsmith the obvious omission. 

Fornah we know, keeps himself apart. 

Also missing are Washington, Fozzy, Waghorn, Gayle, TJJ, anyone else? 

I love that Adams is there, even though he's a loan player. He's a Ram, for sure.

Ward put something up with him pushing kids in one of those shopping toy car things at Westfield Stratford. Fornah looked to be buying clothes or something or other. 

Unlikely to be Linz though. Contracted til 2028, only extended a few months ago. AGF Aarhus, their opponents in the cup final, have numerous players of a good age out of contract this summer though if Transfermarkt are to be believed. 

3 hours ago, Ghost of Clough said:

I suggested Alexander Lind before Christmas. He's only 21, has a 1 in 2 record and chips in with the odd assist. 

Silkeborg play Copenhagen tomorrow and in the Danish Cup Final next week. 

One to spark another debate no doubt… but Liam Rosenior has underperformed with that Hull squad. 

27 minutes ago, Eoghan1884 said:

Funnily enough just after I posted this Warnes interview was released where he’s said he’ll be looking at the free agent market and him and his staff are going to games in the Netherlands to look at players. 
 

Also extra info for people who haven’t seen it, they’re also going to be at games in Denmark and Warne has already met with a few players who he’s trying to sign.

Good, I like the sound of that. Dutch and Scandinavian players seem to be getting more and more common in the Championship, as do Japanese players. Anecdotal, I know, I haven’t ran any numbers!

Seen a few suggestions for Phillips from Barnsley. I actually rate Luca Connell much higher. Been very impressed with him several times. Younger than Phillips too. 

12 hours ago, ram59 said:

I think that we already have one 'new' CDM, I think that Jake Rooney will take up this position, effectively he's an addition to the squad that won promotion.

Nah, he’s pretty solidly a CB in a 3 or a right back. 

1 hour ago, Day said:

You’ve gone past Liam Thompson’s sunglasses and pearl necklace to comment on Hourihanes sunglasses chain? 

Sunglasses not so weird but that necklace… yeah, I have no words on that one

2 hours ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

A fair few pics of the lads on Nat’s IG

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6hdqYxSGxA/?igsh=MXNla3FjbWtwdHRodw==

Has Hourihane gone a string round his neck for his sunglasses?! 😂

27 minutes ago, Eoghan1884 said:

Since we’re apparently going to try get prem loans, what about Omari Kellyman, apparently didn’t want to leave at all but did it for the good of the club. 
 

He’s played 4 times for Villa this season and looks a real talent, constantly being selected for their bench. I’m sure he’d happily come back for a season.

Not actually a bad shout. Removing the bias of him being here as a kid, it's the type of loan we should be looking at anyway in this league.

55 minutes ago, MadAmster said:

Agreed. However, we should, IMO, temper our expectations. Clowes has been clear from day 1 that the club will be run sustainably and be self sufficient. i.e. he's not going to throw millions at it. We'll spend what we can afford and no more than that. If it takes 2 or 3 seasons to start challenging for the top 6, so be it.

Obviously, top 6 is where I'd love to be this time next year. I'm just not going to run that particular flag up the pole as it's a perfectly normal wish but not a likely probability. Midtable would do me fine under the circumstances. If we do better, you won't find me complaining about it. 

Of course, I've said on another thread something like 12-17th would be a good result. But as far as recruitment goes, no restrictions other than our own budget will be fascinating to see who we end up targeting to try and achieve the style of play he's spoken about.