Neils post match comments on transfer

[the other bob wilson]

We got as much done as almost any other club in the league up until that point. In fact I think at the point of signing Sala, we were the only club as well as Bournemouth who'd also signed 2 players? Why should we expect our club to be signing more when no-one else is? Do you not think other clubs want to strengthen too; or is it just that it's extremely difficult.

Let's not forget either that we had an agreement for a right back to come here in the first few days of January only to have it scuppered by another club at the last minute. I'd have some sympathy with blue lewj's view under normal circumstances - I would be very disappointed with just one loan signing going into the last day of the window in our position were it not for the Sala situation. However, for me, that has changed everything. Firstly, we'd signed a striker for a club record fee well before the end of the window and, secondly, we then lost him under tragic circumstances before he'd kicked a ball for us - it's not fair or credible to expect business as usual at the club after something like that.

Regarding the point about signing players earlier, you are correct to point out that hardly anybody is enjoying much success in bringing in newcomers so far in this window - the January market in particular is one that does few favours for clubs looking to buy because its relative shortness gives players the opportunity to hang on right to the bitter end in the hope that a more attractive offer may come along.

My guess is that there will be a lot of transfer activity today and I'm hopeful that City will be doing their fair share of it, but, if they don't, then, this time at least, I will not be blaming them.

[billy.ronson]

It's all about momentum which is tricky for a relegated side, and if you lose it, trouble usually isn't that far away. We went through a rough patch after our first OGS relegation, and we only started to built a bit of momentum after Warnock arrived, which in turn set us up for our promotion last season.

Agreed , when we went down last time, we did ok for first 5 games or so then wheels came off . We had 2 home games which could have seen us push on but we threw away a 2-0 lead over Norwich, lost 0-1 to Boro and OGS was sacked. Gabbidon/Young temporarily took charge and we had a very inflated unhappy squad and we started cancelling contracts and shipping players out.

[ccfcwelshlad]

It could be argued we needed it more than anybody though. I can't think of any team in the top league that would be playing a centre half at right back as an example.

We'll see what happens today and we'll have to go with what we have from there but I would have liked to see a few more additions.

Everyone will say that.

I dare say that every forum of every club of every league will want their club to sign more. It's natural, yet sometimes unrealistic.

I think the club will get something done today. If they don't it won't be for a lack of trying. And if they don't then it is what is, we'll back what we have and see where it takes us.

[the other bob wilson]

Regardless of what happens today, I do believe that the next transfer window is so important for the club's future whatever division we're in. We had a back three with a combined age of ninety six at Arsenal. Things like that and the stat showing that we're the only club in the Premier League who has not had a single player under the age of twenty two play first team league football for them this season offer clues that our squad is an ageing one that will, surely, be in need of an influx of younger legs soon.

[ccfcwelshlad]

Let's not forget either that we had an agreement for a right back to come here in the first few days of January only to have it scuppered by another club at the last minute. I'd have some sympathy with blue lewj's view under normal circumstances - I would be very disappointed with just one loan signing going into the last day of the window in our position were it not for the Sala situation. However, for me, that has changed everything. Firstly, we'd signed a striker for a club record fee well before the end of the window and, secondly, we then lost him under tragic circumstances before he'd kicked a ball for us - it's not fair or credible to expect business as usual at the club after something like that.

Regarding the point about signing players earlier, you are correct to point out that hardly anybody is enjoying much success in bringing in newcomers so far in this window - the January market in particular is one that does few favours for clubs looking to buy because its relative shortness gives players the opportunity to hang on right to the bitter end in the hope that a more attractive offer may come along.

My guess is that there will be a lot of transfer activity today and I'm hopeful that City will be doing their fair share of it, but, if they don't, then, this time at least, I will not be blaming them.

Clyne was a stitch up.. though we wouldnt've have signed Niasse on a perm deal I wouldn't have thought; so may have helped us eventually.

The Tameze deal was all done bar a medical as well Bob; him and Sala were pretty much all done on the same day, back when it first broke that Warnock was flying out to that game in Nantes. It took a while to get the Sala deal through but everything was done on the Tameze deal and then something happened (I don't know what) and it didn't happen.

[the other bob wilson]

Clyne was a stitch up.. though we wouldnt've have signed Niasse on a perm deal I wouldn't have thought; so may have helped us eventually.

The Tameze deal was all done bar a medical as well Bob; him and Sala were pretty much all done on the same day, back when it first broke that Warnock was flying out to that game in Nantes. It took a while to get the Sala deal through but everything was done on the Tameze deal and then something happened (I don't know what) and it didn't happen.

Thanks for reminding me about Tameze - I read somewhere that he would not accept a wage reduction in the event of us being relegated.

[blue lewj]

Everyone will say that.

I dare say that every forum of every club of every league will want their club to sign more. It's natural, yet sometimes unrealistic.

I think the club will get something done today. If they don't it won't be for a lack of trying. And if they don't then it is what is, we'll back what we have and see where it takes us.

I think it is fair to say we have the weakest squad on paper that are punching above their weight.
We also have a few players playing out of position too.

We all would have preferred to be in a better position both in terms of league position and having completed more transfer dealings at this stage in January but as you've said it is what it is.

We all want what is best for the club but I feel they could have done better than they have done prior to the Sala deal going through which would have made things easier at this stage in very difficult circumstances.

Some will feel the club have tried all they can to get people in and others will say they could have done more. I feel we need a football man overseeing transfers at least (and felt this prior to the summer transfer window) and feel this would see a big improvement in our dealings if we did but we have to go with what we have and hope for the best.

When all is said and done we want as much success as possible for this football club. Maybe that comes across in the wrong way and I've been accused of being insensitive here. That was not my intention. It is truly a unique sequence of circumstances. It is also difficult to discuss the club's transfer activity in January without mentioning Sala. It is such a significant part of this window and will be discussed for time to come I'm sure.

[ccfcwelshlad]

I think it is fair to say we have the weakest squad on paper that are punching above their weight.
We also have a few players playing out of position too.

We all would have preferred to be in a better position both in terms of league position and having completed more transfer dealings at this stage in January but as you've said it is what it is.

We all want what is best for the club but I feel they could have done better than they have done prior to the Sala deal going through which would have made things easier at this stage in very difficult circumstances.

Some will feel the club have tried all they can to get people in and others will say they could above done more. I feel we need a football man overseeing transfers at least and feel this would see a big improvement in our dealings but we have to go with what we have and hope for the best.

When all is said and done we want as much success as possible for this football club. Maybe that comes across in the wrong way and I've been accused of being insensitive here. That was not my intention. It is truly a unique sequence of circumstances. It is also difficult to discuss the club's transfer activity in January without mentioning Sala. It is such a significant part of that.

I know you're not insensitive mate . It's all about opinions.

[ken smith]

I think it is fair to say we have the weakest squad on paper that are punching above their weight.
We also have a few players playing out of position too.

We all would have preferred to be in a better position both in terms of league position and having completed more transfer dealings at this stage in January but as you've said it is what it is.

We all want what is best for the club but I feel they could have done better than they have done prior to the Sala deal going through which would have made things easier at this stage in very difficult circumstances.

Some will feel the club have tried all they can to get people in and others will say they could have done more. I feel we need a football man overseeing transfers at least (and felt this prior to the summer transfer window) and feel this would see a big improvement in our dealings if we did but we have to go with what we have and hope for the best.

When all is said and done we want as much success as possible for this football club. Maybe that comes across in the wrong way and I've been accused of being insensitive here. That was not my intention. It is truly a unique sequence of circumstances. It is also difficult to discuss the club's transfer activity in January without mentioning Sala. It is such a significant part of this window and will be discussed for time to come I'm sure.

I dont think you were insensitive. As bad as what happened to Sala is, someone at the club should still be looking at the playing side of things.
We're a business and while most would be doing the press conferences and press coverage relating to Sala and liaising with his family etc, someone else should be business as usual and looking at contingencies (like any other business would).

If were talking insensitivities however, having full page adverts for holidays to Guernsey and Alderney down the side of the message board with the tag "Great things happen in Guernsey" would be more so.

[blue lewj]

You are being very insensitive. You obviously also have no idea how the transfer system works or how difficult it is to get players in mid season. NW has already said that they had been working on the Sala transfer for weeks. They have very likely been looking at who to bring in this January since the last window closed in August and would have had a list to chase. You seem to actually think that they sit on their hands for four months waiting for January to come around before rushing around like hesdless chickens trying to sign anybody they can. How on earth can they plan for their number one target being killed in an accident with under two weeks left in the window. How soon after the accident do you think we should have gone looking for a replacement - 8 hours ? 12 hours ? a day ? You are living in cloud cuckoo land.

How high do you think Bacuna was on their list of possibles?

Do you not think Reading wouldn't have ripped our hands off in the first week of January for him?

[Croesy Blue]

How high do you think Bacuna was on their list of possibles?

Do you not think Reading wouldn't have ripped our hands off in the first week of January for him?

Is it not more likely that he was way down on a list and we’ve been spending all of January trying to sort better targets that haven’t come off?

The club haven’t been sat on their hands they’ve just not managed to get a transfer over the line.

[blue lewj]

The club haven’t been sat on their hands they’ve just not managed to get a transfer over the line.

How many times have we heard this?
So how many do you think they haven't got over the line?

A lot of posters seem to suggest they have inside knowledge on this type of thing when most (with a few exceptions) know diddly like the rest of us.

At a guess I would say Bacuna was well down the list, if he ever featured on it.

[Croesy Blue]

So are you saying you think Bacuna was the club’s first choice and they waited until today to get him in because they’re lazy?
What are you even whinging about?

[blue lewj]

What I'm saying is if we don't get signings over the line then the end product is just as fruitful as if we had not approached them in the first place.

My main point is that there is something fundamentally wrong with the way we approach these transfer windows. How many bad transfer windows will we have before things change?

[Croesy Blue]

What’s wrong is we don’t have enough money. You can complain all you want but the club have obviously been trying to get a few transfer done but due to budget constraints we can’t get them done.

Would it have been such a bad window if our main signing hadn’t been lost in a tragic accident?

[Vindec]

Three players in in a January transfer window is good. However, it is hardly the club's fault that one ended in tragedy.

[blue lewj]

Will the people here sticking up for the club in this thread be happy with Bacuna and Niasse this transfer window?

This would mean no specialist right back through the door although we have known we needed one since August and no goal scoring striker but admittedly we have had awful luck in that regard.

[J R Hartley]

What’s wrong is we don’t have enough money. You can complain all you want but the club have obviously been trying to get a few transfer done but due to budget constraints we can’t get them done.

Would it have been such a bad window if our main signing hadn’t been lost in a tragic accident?

Budget constraints yet we are handing out 4.5 year deals?!?