morty
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Saw a report linking us with Patrick Bamford.
Nah, you're alright...
Nah, you're alright...
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Sonyc
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I see Mattsson starts for Silkeborg in the Champions League Conference opener. Assume this means something isn't close.
morty
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Reports Sargent to Wolfsburg has fallen through. Hopefully we are just playing hardball.
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Sonyc
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Refused their interest. Perhaps Leeds or Burnley (or even Brentford) have an interest and he knows he can get an EPL gig.
Whichever way it lands, it looks like we might also generate north of the £20 m rumoured.
Fenway Frank
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I've seen from a reliable source that this will mean he will have enough points which will make it easier to sign for us
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Sonyc
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Ah, that makes sense.
I read too that he is the preferred centre midfielder with Topic second choice.
Maybe we might hear something in a week or so given the season start is looming.
morty
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Ipswich have just signed Ashley Young 
morty
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Schlupp confirmed.
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Sonyc
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On paper looks quite a signing.
And yet...we've had older ex EPL players before and they've not been inspiring.
Just have to wait and see if this works out.
On the plus side: Tons of experience to bring and secondly, you'd expect he will not block anyone's progression. Thirdly, he can play in a few positions. A sort of Sorensen replacement! And probably a better and more useful one.
More good signs in pre season I think.
morty
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Only a one year contract too, which seems sensible.
A lot more sensible than signing a 40 year old Ashley Young...
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Sonyc
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Yeh that is a weird one. I have often been impressed though by Young's longevity. He's looked fine still and that must show how motivated he has been to keep so fit. Impressive really. But I'm glad we've not signed him (bet his wages won't be low) as it feels like one of those signings indicating you're going in a certain direction! Especially when you've signed very little other players and still have a larger group together used to losing.
Our recruitment has felt purposeful, strategic even.
morty
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morty
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All aboard!
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Sonyc
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Cannot recall a pre-season like this one. A huge amount of ambition in these signings. I know it's always good to see new signings and it raises expectations... but all the same, you can't help thinking something good is building
morty
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Watford wanted Diallo, and we pipped them to him. Can you remember the last time we actually got a player another club wanted?
The extra little bit of financial clout we have now is showing. And it feels like we are buying better quality.
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Sonyc
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I think Pritchard was 'stolen' from Brighton? And I recall Earnshaw being signed in a layby very late on transfer deadline day ....but I totally agree we seem to just have a pulling power. That must be due to ambition, the pathway for younger players and now players can see how former players have gone on to get big moves. Not that we may be seen as a transition club only but new players must believe we are an EPL club in the making. Don't think that's just with my green and yellow glasses on.
These players signed seem very much on their way up too. The Championship is one hard league though and it will find you out. It feels a good time. And I like the cut of Manning. Can we now mould a team? At the minute you'd believe it.
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Sonyc
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Just thinking a bit more, maybe like new players who often might take a season to really settle, then Knapper might be the same. That he has found his feet, his voice or whatever term you want to use. And he has the full backing of Attanasio.
If that's the case we just now need the fans to get fully onboard. You then get alignment throughout the club - board, management, players, fans and that bodes well.
We didn't have that last year - there was a lot of goodwill for the new broom Thorup but the feeling evaporated like the team performances halfway through the season. A real missed opportunity. Too much churn maybe in the team, bad timing of injuries and too many communication gaffs / expectation management. Tactics were off too at times.
Edit. We also had the full changeover of ownership halfway through. Norfolk Holdings now seems settling in well.
If that's the case we just now need the fans to get fully onboard. You then get alignment throughout the club - board, management, players, fans and that bodes well.
We didn't have that last year - there was a lot of goodwill for the new broom Thorup but the feeling evaporated like the team performances halfway through the season. A real missed opportunity. Too much churn maybe in the team, bad timing of injuries and too many communication gaffs / expectation management. Tactics were off too at times.
Edit. We also had the full changeover of ownership halfway through. Norfolk Holdings now seems settling in well.
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morty
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Having more money definitely helps. Also it feels like, in the past, we have only had one or two real good quality players at a time, and it feels that now the quality of the squad overall is being pushed up. All too often we have relied heavily on one player, like when we went to shit as soon as Sargent got injured.
I have already had a bet on us going up! I think we'll make the play offs at least.
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Fimbo
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It's been quite a rollercoaster of a transfer window so far. The slightly odd glut of goalies, then some safe and steady defenders in medic and darling, then the coup of Kvistgaarden, and now some higher-risk veterans (who we hope give a shit). Exciting stuff - I really haven't a clue how it will pan out.
morty
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