Luton Outlaws - The Avenue of Evil

Transfers

Posted by Since 62 on 14/8/2024, 8:47:15

Looking at the movement of players during August alone.
Ritchie, Willock, Baath etc. All on free transfers.
Surely players we could have considered.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Bootin on 14/8/2024, 12:07:56, in reply to "Transfers"

Maybe we did consider them and maybe they had better deals or reasons to go elsewhere. We will never know.

Re: Transfers

Posted by The Dutchman on 14/8/2024, 9:55:44, in reply to "Transfers"

I cannot fathom out for the life of me why we have abandoned the tried and tested methods that got us where we are. Sign the right characters, get them in early so they gel before the season starts , properly drill them in pre season training have a specific way of playing that suits those players. Jones laid the blueprint for this and it worked.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Just an observation on 14/8/2024, 12:45:22, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I am confused by conflicting messages. The Manager said 3 weeks ago he was hopeful of getting 1 or 2 in the next week. The CEO says it is a deliberate strategy to wait until nearer the close of the window. Surely, if we were hopeful of signings 2/3 weeks ago, how does this fit the declared strategy?

Re: Transfers

Posted by Supporter on 14/8/2024, 11:58:40, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

2020 dont care. when we reahed the premiership that was their goal.They have lost interest now

Re: Transfers

Posted by Ches Fordroad on 14/8/2024, 13:19:11, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

In that case, I'm sure they'll listen to your offer

Re: Transfers

Posted by Hatters on 14/8/2024, 10:19:39, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

This^

It does feel we have left this behind a little. It seems Edwards has a very specific idea of how he wants to play, high energy, high risk, expansive and very technical, thus to achieve this you would also need very technically gifted players who are also very strong athletically, basically we are describing premier league players. Unfortunately these players are very difficult to come across on what relatively speaking is a very small budget.

Does Edwards need to be more pragmatic about how we attempt to play, do we need to cut out cloth more accordingly, this is certainly something NJ did, especially second time around, he recognised our limitations in whom we could realistically recruit, we went for hard working, physically strong and fast players with a great never say die attitude, players who would run through a brick wall, yes technically they weren't as good as others in the division but that didn't matter due to how we were attempting to play and the ability to bully other more technically gifted teams. Wasn't always the greatest to watch but it did bring success.

Re: Transfers

Posted by SJF on 14/8/2024, 10:31:58, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I preferred our high pressure physical counterattack football.

Re: Transfers

Posted by The Dutchman on 14/8/2024, 10:24:18, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I loved watching us a be a strong, physical side, lads like Collins, Bradley, Berry etc. It suited us down to the ground. Edwards will have to soon realise he can't play champagne football in a league that drinks bitter.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Madpig on 14/8/2024, 15:09:31, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Bring em all back, they'd jump at it.
We can start from square one again 👍

Re: Transfers

Posted by Hatters on 14/8/2024, 10:32:15, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

"Edwards will have to soon realise he can't play champagne football in a league that drinks bitter."

It's totally possible to play champagne football in this division but to do so realistically you need to spend big money and even by doing that nothing is guaranteed.

As a club we wont do this, and rightly so, so surely shouldn't we be adapting to a playing style that suits the kind of player we can realistically attract? Hopefully Edwards will show the pragmatism that he did when he first joined us otherwise and without wanting to sound too dramatic we could end up with another Graham Jones type nightmare.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Herve Baquet on 14/8/2024, 10:05:51, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

The programme notes (posted several times on here) saying we've had to change that approach for this window for a variety of reasons.

I don't think it's out of some contrary change. And the 'Gary refuses to spend money' argument is absolute tosh. The management and the board know we need reinforcements. But obvious have been priced out of some players (probably on wages rather than fees).

It feels like a lot of people would rather see us owned by some Saudi prince, spunking oil money on whoever had a good season last year. But that's the state of modern football. Short term memories and an utter lack of patience.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 10:32:37, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Psalm 112: 1-8 says:

“ Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies”

And that is how I see GS.

Imposter Klaxon!!!!!

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 10:54:01, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Grow up.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Hmmmm on 14/8/2024, 10:16:27, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

How do you know its a load of tosh?

Re: Transfers

Posted by Herve Baquet on 14/8/2024, 10:23:31, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Firstly because everyone from the club who's commented has said we're going to sign some players. But mainly because of the evidence of the entire time he's been CEO.

Throughout 2020's time in charge they've spent money. Often at times where it could've been a financial risk and there was no promise of financial stability i.e big signings (for us) in L2 relegation season, in the conference, promotion to L2, in the post play off semi L2 and Championship summers.

Name a season where we've needed players and the board has said no...

Last January was a notoriously edgy window throughout the whole of English football. Hardly anyone signed any players. This summer is equally weird, as GS stated.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Um on 14/8/2024, 11:42:35, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Just looked at PL stats for new players in this window
95 new players in at a cost of approx £1.5b, so hardly a quite window.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Pauls on 14/8/2024, 10:44:13, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Two wrongs don't make a right. If other clubs can't afford to make signings but we can then we take advantage and use our strong position to strengthen.

And its not fair to say other clubs in this league are not signing players.

This simply isn't true, and its not just Sheffield United.

Leaving it all to the last few days won't end well, particularly if we also get bids for our better players.

Will get very messy.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Madpig on 14/8/2024, 10:20:56, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Cos he read what Sweet wrote?
Jeez, it's not rocket science

Re: Transfers

Posted by Oh on 14/8/2024, 11:00:36, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Must be true then.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Madpig on 14/8/2024, 11:31:57, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Truer than most of what he said.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Ches Fordroad on 14/8/2024, 10:18:16, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

"How do you know its a load of tosh?"

How do you know it isn't???

And so we go on .....

Re: Transfers

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 10:13:25, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Decent post.

Re: Transfers

Posted by RADSB on 14/8/2024, 10:15:10, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Re: Transfers

Posted by MG on 14/8/2024, 10:24:15, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Re: Transfers

Posted by Jack on 14/8/2024, 9:49:06, in reply to "Transfers"

Ritchie would never have come here.

He's a Portsmouth lad and Pompey are a far bigger club than us anyway.

Not sure on the situation with the other players you mentioned.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Toddingtonsteve on 14/8/2024, 9:38:41, in reply to "Transfers"

This season has probably been our most difficult from a recruitment perspective for a long time. In leagues 1 and 2 we were a reasonably big fish so an attractive prospect for players. When we first got to the Championship we were looking to survive so looking at players from the lower leagues (and abroad) who we thought could do a job. Last season was easy because we had Prem football on offer. This season we are looking for players who can help us compete at the top of the Championship, and we are competing for these with Championship clubs that have far higher ongoing revenues than us, and even lower Prem clubs. GS is right that we did a lot of this years recruitment last year because that’s when we could attract them. The unrealistic aim of auto promotion is probably hindering us this season, and we need to go back to being an aspiring play off club and looking at appropriate players for that aspiration

Re: Transfers

Posted by HH on 14/8/2024, 10:02:42, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I wonder what the tipping point is though, or where the balance is.

At some point we're going to need to sign players. So do we panic and end up paying more for players we identified as our first choice, or pay less for players with potential in the hope they come good and just accept they were our 3rd and 4th choices etc?

Tricky decisions.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Music Critic on 14/8/2024, 10:12:09, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

If we're talking about transfer fees, then, yes, it's a straightforward decision. Do you hold your nose and pay a couple of million more for a player you only value at X?

But wages is probably more the sticking point. If targets are insisting on X but our wage structure and ceiling is Y, the club aren't going to piss off the existing players by making new boys the top earners and giving them X

Recruitment has, generally, been great over the last 10 or 11 years but, as has been suggested, this summer has presented a very different challenge to previous years. One that, so far, we've obviously struggled to meet

I just hope we don't bow to pressure and sign any old shite. I'd rather just muddle through until the injuries have cleared up than do that. We'll be way off the pace but better that than lumber ourselves with dross... and be off the pace anyway.

And when I say muddle through, find a way to get Townsend (if he stays), Pelly and Holmes in the starting line up, instead of 3 promising but still naive kids in central positions

Re: Transfers

Posted by Ches Fordroad on 14/8/2024, 10:47:14, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Well said.

I love when posters say we should be smashing the wage structure - I take it that they'd be happy in their own job (if any) when someone joins their team on a higher salary than they're on, that never causes resentment in the workplace does it?

Re: Transfers

Posted by HH on 14/8/2024, 10:40:01, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Very true.

Part of the equation must also be that things will start moving as the window moves to a close.

Big clubs will start moving and that will unclog some of the hold up and allow transfers to start trickling down the pyramid.

Also, players might blink first and accept lower wages than what they wanted 6 weeks ago etc.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Ramridge Raider on 14/8/2024, 10:34:10, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Sensible post.

As a club, we are in a relatively unique position that we are building for the future rather than gambling everything on getting back to the Prem immediately.

Lots of clubs in the Championship have owners that are desperate to get into the Prem in the quickest possible time. It could be ego, return on investment for hedge funds, flipping a quick profit etc. They will gamble on getting to the 'promised land'. For some that gamble will work, the majority however will get their fingers burnt.

Also, the majority of managers in this division are probably only six games away from the sack. They don't really care what transfer fees are paid or what wages players are on, they just want/need immediate results to protect their careers. If that means overpaying for a player they want, they will push for it, no matter the cost.

Again, we are different. RE knows he is in it for the long haul and can plan accordingly. Of course, he is not fireproof but he has one of the most stable jobs in the Championship. Therefore, no need to panic buy.

I get the frustration with this transfer window but I also trust the club and RE's judgement implicitly.

Re: Transfers

Posted by MG on 14/8/2024, 10:26:27, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I know they were only friendlies but what I saw of Holmes in Slovenia didn't make me think he was yet the answer. Strong and good at carrying the ball forwards but defensively . . .

Could be why he isn't in favour.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 10:57:16, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Sounds like he could make a decent holding midfielder then?

Re: Transfers

Posted by Music Critic on 14/8/2024, 10:36:50, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I think it's just a case of needs must. Holmes has quite a lot of EFL games under his belt and, against opposition of that quality, I'd have still thrown him in for his greater experience and know-how despite looking less than convincing in the friendlies (I don't know I haven't watched any of them but by others' accounts most of the players have looked unconvincing pre-season)

And I know this sounds like a hindsight post but I did say similar to my eldest when the team news came through

Re: Transfers

Posted by MG on 14/8/2024, 10:51:45, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Yes, it did seem a bit of a reach with three such young players making their debuts against a team of the class of Burnley. I'm just wondering if they had the same concerns about him, particularly on pace.

Re: Transfers

Posted by m on 14/8/2024, 10:24:58, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Holmes is 24 and has played over 100 times in the league. Ironically more matches than Baptiste or this lad from Swansea who’s being linked.
Why wasn’t he playing ?

Re: Transfers

Posted by The Outsider on 14/8/2024, 11:48:46, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

He was injured at the back end of last season. I suspect that he has ended up playing more than Edwards would have wanted in the pre-season games.

He was on the bench against Celta Vigo but had to come on after only a few minutes.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Music Critic on 14/8/2024, 10:31:49, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Well, who knows? I rattled on about the team selection yesterday. But I agree. And Nelson instead of Pelly was equally as strange, especially as Clark was ruled out late

Re: Transfers

Posted by Herve Baquet on 14/8/2024, 10:17:18, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

That's just typical of the type of post that someone in Gary's clique would make.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Music Critic on 14/8/2024, 10:20:10, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Ha!

Yeah, right!

Re: Transfers

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 10:15:00, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Another decent post. What's going on this morning?!?!?!!???!!!

Re: Transfers

Posted by The Dutchman on 14/8/2024, 9:59:19, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

That still doesn't explain why we started with three kids and player who has hardly played in years when there were over a thousand league appearances on the bench.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Herve Baquet on 14/8/2024, 10:15:15, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

For me, that's the biggest issue over the last week.

I'm assuming that he was going for the most attacking line up he could pick. Nelson, JJ and Walters are definitely more progressive and attacking options than Pelly and Holmes.

Didn't quite work out like that on the pitch, though. And was pretty naive from RE.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Shutupya on 14/8/2024, 9:40:50, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Agree Steve ..... also we only sign the "right" sort of person so not every good player falls into that category.

Re: Transfers

Posted by TRA on 14/8/2024, 9:49:43, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

I’ve heard this a few times but genuine question, what that does that even mean?

Re: Transfers

Posted by Godders on 14/8/2024, 9:54:12, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

It's about the right attitude and ethos. Players who will run through a brick wall for you, see the value of team, and don't have over inflated egos.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Round Green Hatter on 14/8/2024, 9:50:29, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Lads that aren't bellends.

Re: Transfers

Posted by bbb on 14/8/2024, 8:57:34, in reply to "Transfers"

Why? They're all proper shit.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Midnight Son on 14/8/2024, 9:08:22, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Wages maybe a problem. Where their families want to live all sorts of factors might be involved. Mick and co are very experienced in the player recruitment market . They know whats what.

Re: Transfers

Posted by TRA on 14/8/2024, 9:10:02, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Hash………🤐

Re: Transfers

Posted by Ches Fordroad on 14/8/2024, 9:23:35, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Excellent point.

And all of the other fucking awful signings - Pepple, McAtee, Muskwe, so many others I can't even remember - which FAR outweigh the few decent ones, who were all down to pure luck and/or NJ anyway.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Midnight Son on 14/8/2024, 9:40:06, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

Ches you should know you sometimes have to take a flyer or risk on signings .They don't always work out for various reasons. Working on a strict wages budgets imposes certain limitations on the team but it results in a sound club financially.This current unfortunate situation gives one or two players a chance to impress.I would expect they are waiting on a couple jg high quality signings being released.Maybe more.

Re: Transfers

Posted by Mad dog on 14/8/2024, 15:51:12, in reply to "Re: Transfers"

It’s about time Gary sweet tells us what’s going on. Perhaps he thinks this current team can win promotion easily. We’ve been promised players and nothing. Well good luck to rob edwards because he will need it. If we don’t bring other players in by august 30th we will see how we get on.

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