Summer Rumour Mill

[rammieib]

Where’s the money gone? 
 

 

[Norman]

3 minutes ago, rammieib said:

Where’s the money gone? 
 

 

On all the signing-on fees for all the free agents we have signed, agents fees and wages to attract them over other clubs.

We need 3 players, like Warne stated. So there is still money in the pot, it's just how Warne chooses to use it now that's up for debate. 

If I was Warne, I'd be more tempted to go for a few loan fees after seeing what's available on frees. 

[Ramos]

1 hour ago, JHB said:

Surprised that in recent years we haven't explored the European option. Must be some decent, sensible cost options from the likes of Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, etc. Possibly don't have any scouting capability for this though?

This - since George burley bar the odd signing from abroad we have barely ever tapped into other markets. I get the expenses involved with having a wider recruitment strategy but surely at some point we need to get better at recruiting from aboard once again. The club has done it successfully in the past. (Thinking burley and smith eras). 

[Ram a lamb a ding dong]

Fwiw  as some well considered posts on here.

Overall the gk and dec upgrades have put us in a far stronger position to last season. I agree creativity in midfield could be a problem but we do still have prem/ Championship quality already there in Conor, Bird and Smith. Rooney is good back up and Robinson will be knocking on the door this year.

Lack of pace further forward is where the loan market will be utilised. I reckon we will get 2 season loans for a wide player and striker. It actually wouldn't really suprise me if we see Dobbin here again next year.

There are done decent looking players from the younger age group who may makeca break through after Xmas which could help to boost numbers towards the end of the season. 

All those teams that robbed us blind should hang their heads in shame. The kids they took could have been our meal ticket instead we got pittance. Hopefully with the u18s looking strong that will push on into the u21s who were weak last season

 

[RamLad1884]

14 minutes ago, rammieib said:

Where’s the money gone? 
 

 

Not sure the money has gone anywhere. 
 

We’re assuming the business plan was based on ‘spend what we bring in’ but it’s more probable that we had an agreed plan based on a set budget. 
 

We probably factored in Bielik money but not necessarily Knight. 
 

Even with the attendance, are we profit making at this level? If we’re losing money then the Knight money is covering loss 

[Jayram]

31 minutes ago, richinspain said:

Sorry, but I have to disagree. We've sold Bielik after making zero appearances last season, so although he is a quality player the squad hasn't gone backwards from last season.

We've sold Knight, who is obviously a very good player played all of the minutes he could have done. However he played those minutes either at right back where we have brought in two specialised wing backs, or at centre mid where Smith is now available in his preferred position.

I don't think that the squad has gone backwards for those two sales.

We released several aging centre backs, and replaced them with younger better suited players for the preferred style of play.

McGoldrick decided to move on. He will obviously be difficult to replace, however he limited a little our style of play due to us being forced to play to his. We have signed an experienced forward who plays to Warne's preferred style.

Last season we finished 7th on goal difference. We were hardly treading water. It is to be seen if we have recruited as well as it would appear, but I don't think for one second that we have gone backwards.

I wasn’t really thinking about Bielik, more the loss of Knight and McGoldrick. Neither in my view have been replaced by better quality players in Smith or Washington. The problem we have is that Warnes preferred style is easily countered if you press/nullify the wing backs. Once you’ve done that and stopped the crosses coming in our current strikers are dead in the water, so we desperately need another more mobile/quick forward who can makes things happen in other ways. I appreciate we are restricted financially but without this option I think we are going to be lame ducks next season. 

[RoyMac5]

23 minutes ago, DiggerB said:

And waste a wage? 

Can't see him being too expensive this time round! 

[maxjam]

How can you not like him...

 

[i-Ram]

4 minutes ago, maxjam said:

How can you not like him...

 

Really nice guy, and even though he would struggle to trap a bag of cement, I would be happy to have him giving his all in a League One campaign.

[i-Ram]

31 minutes ago, rammieib said:

Where’s the money gone? 

You are Mel Morris and I claim my £5.

[DiggerB]

5 minutes ago, RoyMac5 said:

Can't see him being too expensive this time round! 

He was clearly give half hour yesterday for PW to have a look. Always difficult in that type of game admittedly, but I didn’t see much that made me pine for his return. 

[Loughborough Ram]

Is there any real suggestion that Waghorn could return, or is it just fan speculation?

I would definitely say that he'd strengthen us, he never gave less than 100% and he always seemed to be a positive influence in the dressing room. In league 1, if we could afford him, it seems a no brainer to me.

Waghorn or Jordan Rhodes, I know they're different types of player, but it would Waghorn every time for me.

[Tyler Durden]

I'd get Waghorn in just for the novelty value.

I've missed the compilations of him being through 1 on 1 with the keeper only to find a series of ingenious ways to fluff it up

[Millenniumram]

Just now, Tyler Durden said:

I'd get Waghorn in just for the novelty value.

I've missed the compilations of him being through 1 on 1 with the keeper only to find a series of ingenious ways to fluff it up

It’s true, someone’s got to replace Lewis Dobbin in that regard

[May Contain Nuts]

1 hour ago, Jayram said:

Well that to me says we’ll be treading water next season. 

We've still got promotion worthy budget and the 'king' of League one management in charge of a good squad.

Treading water this season simply wouldn't be acceptable.

[RoyMac5]

25 minutes ago, DiggerB said:

He was clearly give half hour yesterday for PW to have a look. Always difficult in that type of game admittedly, but I didn’t see much that made me pine for his return. 

Well no, but for me he didn't look any worse than Collins. He closed down better was faster and would probably need as many chances to score. I think his deadball and shooting ability might be better or as good. We're short of money and I don't want to be in the same place we were last January, that derailed us as much as losing Birdy through injury.

[Anag Ram]

1 minute ago, Millenniumram said:

It’s true, someone’s got to replace Lewis Dobbin in that regard

If it’s Waghorn or Dobbin I’d go for Dobbin. 
His pace and trickery scares defenders. If he can learn the composure to even make a simple pass after beating a man, we’ll create so many chances.

If he learns how to shoot we won’t keep him long!

[FlyBritishMidland]

57 minutes ago, Caerphilly Ram said:

Which we’ll have if Warne acquires the 2-3 further bodies he wants;

GK - Wildsmith/Vickers/Loach

LWB- Elder/NEW (with emergency cover from Ward/Wilson/Thommo/Sibley/Foz)

RWB - Ward/Wilson (with emergency cover from Smith/NML)

CB - Forsyth/Nelson/Bradley/Cashin/Rooney

CM - Smith/Hourihane/Bird/Thompson/Sibley/NEW (plus Rooney can do a job and Radcliffe/Robinson from the u21s)

WF - Mendez-Laing/Barkhuizen (Sibley/Ward and Wilson all able to cover here)

CF - Collins/NEW/Washington (Brown from u21s getting games)

Including the goalkeepers in the numbers and excluding the u21 options it’s a squad of 23, with some depth at each position and players capable of covering in an emergency. Then options in the u21s for the bench or cup games etc.

It’s also a squad that can be used in different formations using a back 3 or a back 4 and has a slightly improved age profile on last year with the cbs bringing the average age of the defence down. Elder, Ward, Wilson and Vickers are in that “peak” bracket. And our own youngsters are a year further on in their development having spent a season playing league one football on top of their championship experience.

Some people can’t see reason for optimism, I really struggle to see the reasons for such pessimism. The recruitment has been pragmatic if unspectacular, McGoldrick leaving robs us of a very talented footballer who brought skill and intelligence to the side, that’s a loss, but I’m equally entertained by the type of football we saw at times yesterday. High energy, high press with a bit of skill and resilience thrown in. If Collins shins one in whilst falling over his shorts I’ll still cheer as much as I did when McGoldrick stroked one in with grace and poise as it’s a goal for Derby. So long as we’re winning games I’ll be happy, and I see the squad and the intended playing style as being capable of winning more than it loses.

Spot on.  I’d also add that for the Nr 10/ACM position, either in a 3-4-1-2 or a 3-4-2-1 formation, we have NML, Barkhuizen and Sibley.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see a loan move for someone in this position.  That may not happen until towards the end of the window as the PL teams sort their squads with the knock on effect on the Championship and L1.

I get the concerns about Knight leaving but I think some are forgetting that Smith is now able to play in his natural and preferred position in CM.  This in turn allows Bird to be a bit more advanced.  By signing players who can play in Warne’s system (e.g. wing backs) and freeing up others for their natural positions I think the squad is much better.

[Ram1988]

25 minutes ago, Loughborough Ram said:

Is there any real suggestion that Waghorn could return, or is it just fan speculation?

I would definitely say that he'd strengthen us, he never gave less than 100% and he always seemed to be a positive influence in the dressing room. In league 1, if we could afford him, it seems a no brainer to me.

Waghorn or Jordan Rhodes, I know they're different types of player, but it would Waghorn every time for me.

I would like and go for Waggy too. He would actively press, get about and have a sense of pride wearing a ram on his shirt and not just a pay cheque.

[Anag Ram]

1 minute ago, FlyBritishMidland said:

Spot on.  I’d also add that for the Nr 10/ACM position, either in a 3-4-1-2 or a 3-4-2-1 formation, we have NML, Barkhuizen and Sibley.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see a loan move for someone in this position.  That may not happen until towards the end of the window as the PL teams sort their squads with the knock on effect on the Championship and L1.

I get the concerns about Knight leaving but I think some are forgetting that Smith is now able to play in his natural and preferred position in CM.  This in turn allows Bird to be a bit more advanced.  By signing players who can play in Warne’s system (e.g. wing backs) and freeing up others for their natural positions I think the squad is much better.

I would point out that when teams counterattack against Us, Smith and Hourihane are incredibly slow and that makes us vulnerable.

More pace in midfield please!