@ButtleJR The wage cap can't be used as a reason. We could quite easily have paid a striker £7.5kPW, but we chose to spend that money on 3 other players instead.
Time will tell if we've made the right call. I genuinely believe we have a good squad but we do look a little light up top IMO.
Surprised Lincoln have had so much change, what’s happened there?
I got a couple of lols for suggesting they will be up and around the top of the league, but I think they have bought in some good players and play decent football. Long season, but I think they will be up there.
Surprised Lincoln have had so much change, what’s happened there?
I got a couple of lols for suggesting they will be up and around the top of the league, but I think they have bought in some good players and play decent football. Long season, but I think they will be up there.
Not sure about Lincoln yet... They started well last season and fell away, reckon they might do the same again
That be said they've been the best defensive side we've faced this season for me, whilst Donny have been the best attacking
Christ was it only a month ago we were wondering if our club was going to survive at all?
People have very short memories. I've no issue with who we bring in or where we finish this season (long as we stay up!). Build properly next summer, anything we achieve now is a bonus.
Next summer the cap will still be in place, we will still face the same problems
No, the Championship has a higher cap
Actually I don't think the Championship has a cap at all at the moment, not that we will have to worry too much about it.
Liverpool & Man Ure haven't decided how much the Championship cap will be yet!
We need to start shooting from outside the box, that's for sure. Being a small team, goals from set pieces are unlikely. I just don't see goals coming our way easily.
We’ve kept Doughty which is probably a bigger win than any signing.
Ah but will his head have been turned?
I'm pretty sure if Alfie wanted to go he would have gone. As a few have said on here why would he want to go anywhere at the moment. We are without doubt one of the few clubs with a plan going forward. He may as well stay and see where it goes
There is a great opportunity for one of our strikers/winger and attacking midfielders to step up to the plate.
Ronnie Swartz was going to be the striker that transformed our season but it broke down at the last moment.
Despite selling Bonne we couldn't get a direct replacement in that position. (Goal scorer with a 1 in 3 return)
Money has come into the club with the Grant sell on clause: IF 20% then Duchatelet hadn't totally lost his marbles. Phillips wasn't given away and both Oztumer and Lapslie are off the pay roll.
Lots of new players with experience and also players with something still to prove.
A decent window and we should be working on checking out the Striker/goalscorer who will make the difference before the next window in 3 months.
We signed Washington who has a 1 in 2 return already. The other 2 strikers we signed haven't even played yet!! Bonne didn't fit how Bowyer wants to play, I'd guess mainly because of his lack of ability. Get over him.
Cannot believe anyone is moaning about our business given what has been occuring at this club over the summer and for the last god knows how many years. Quite frankly disgraceful support.
Surprised Lincoln have had so much change, what’s happened there?
Makes their start even more impressive if they've got such a new squad
Did you watch our defeat to them. Christ we played them off the park, missed chance after chance, they had a complete non pen and rebound should have been disallowed. Hardly their quality that got the points that day....
Surprised Lincoln have had so much change, what’s happened there?
Makes their start even more impressive if they've got such a new squad
Did you watch our defeat to them. Christ we played them off the park, missed chance after chance, they had a complete non pen and rebound should have been disallowed. Hardly their quality that got the points that day....
They were tough bastards to break down though werent they? - Add that to your squad and you'll score goals as you'll get chances
Stop conceding and you just wont need as many yourselves
Teams like Charlton can play all the pretty passes they want down here, wont get you anywhere though without the grit and organisation
We gave Dillon the chance, he grabbed it but then as soon as we were relegated he wanted out.
Personally glad to see the back of him, thinks he’s better than he is.
Amos didn’t play at all last season, don’t know if Bows new Dillon wanted out and told Amos he would be No.1 but he certainly showed some faith and loyalty.
There is a great opportunity for one of our strikers/winger and attacking midfielders to step up to the plate.
Ronnie Swartz was going to be the striker that transformed our season but it broke down at the last moment.
Despite selling Bonne we couldn't get a direct replacement in that position. (Goal scorer with a 1 in 3 return)
Money has come into the club with the Grant sell on clause: IF 20% then Duchatelet hadn't totally lost his marbles. Phillips wasn't given away and both Oztumer and Lapslie are off the pay roll.
Lots of new players with experience and also players with something still to prove.
A decent window and we should be working on checking out the Striker/goalscorer who will make the difference before the next window in 3 months.
We signed Washington who has a 1 in 2 return already. The other 2 strikers we signed haven't even played yet!! Bonne didn't fit how Bowyer wants to play, I'd guess mainly because of his lack of ability. Get over him.
Cannot believe anyone is moaning about our business given what has been occuring at this club over the summer and for the last god knows how many years. Quite frankly disgraceful support.
Bonne has 57 goals in 127 games for Orient,Charlton and QPR ! 1goal in 3 games is good in the Championship, despite the misses. He would've had a great partnership with Taylor but they never seemed to play together when they were both fit.
Lee Bowyer said he would get 2 strikers in to replace Bonne.
We wish our strikers and the winger Smyth well but I'm sure Steve Gallen will continue to search for a young Hales, Mendonca or Taylor amount the lower Leagues.
Both Lyle and Clive only became top goalscorer at 27.
Unlike Bonne who was already a goalscorer when he made the 3 level jump, the "20 goal scorer" can be on potential to score that many as opposed to already having met that figure.
A decent window compared to the nonsense under Southall.
As I said a great opportunity for players to step up and take their chances.
I think we will have to wait a couple of weeks as some of the new players are not match fit, plus they have to gel with the other players
So a 46 game season has not become a 42 game one but a 40 or even 38 game one. Good job we aren't already playing catch up.
You keep mentioning catch up, even though we’re only 4 games in. I very much doubt the top 6 after 4 games is ever the same top 6 at end of season. No need to be worrying about catch up at this time.
The defining statement of this thread "it's not my job to come up with transfers targets it's not what I am paid to do"
I wholeheartedly agree. On such a basis why would I give a 2nd thought to much of the nonsense posted about players the vast majority I expect have barely seen in person.
In the face of the past 6 months so many expectations show alarmingly little deference to reality. We can all read Wikipedia, Transfermarkt, Soccerbase etc., or may have a mate who follows whatever club etc.,
In the midst of a global pandemic which has savaged the economy of the industry someone has stepped in to the save the club from the "knackers yard" to enable a viable competitive squad.
Is it perfect? No it is fucking not. Yet we have added in team order;
- Gilbey hails from Dagenham - Washington was born in Chatham - Famewo was born in Lewisham and started at Luton - Watson is based in Beckenham and started at Palace
11. Levitt - Man U, 12. Bogle - Cardiff are the exceptions with no links to the environs of London or the South.
It is a Covid 19 - Salary Cap recruitment programme. Minimal relocation costs (within Salary Cap) - minimal player family disruption yet with 6 or 7 on multi year contracts or including 1 year options we are seeing small steps to normality.
In the circumstances it is an A minus grade for me.
There are 5 quality signings for a League 1 campaign: - Gunter, Gilbey, Watson, Shinnie, Maddison
There are 3 youngsters with real potential: - Famewo, Maasten and Levitt
There are 2 reclamation signings: - Washington, Bogle
There are 2 further players with things to prove: - Inniss and Smyth
Coming into this market after a relegation, months after the preparations of others and weeks after the market was open, in the space of 3 weeks it is a remarkable effort.
If you cannot respect such circumstances I suggest it says a great deal more about your understanding of the marketplace.
I agree the retention of Bonne and Phillips would have added notable value but quite simply this is about a new beginning.
The message is simple - if you are not signed up for the journey you are not needed here.
After 2yrs of begging and borrowing to construct squads - going forward it will be the club setting the agenda. We are in a period of transition.
As I have tried to point out there is a legacy situation here. YOU KNOW THE STORY. Month after month, as the divisions between the respective "executives" became ever more fractious, Administration grew ever more real.
With salary payments becoming ever more problematic, a large tax bill falling due and local creditors becoming evermore demanding if you do not think the prevailing decision makers did not give the nod to agents to test the market for their players you have never worked with a distressed business.
Expectations if not created were heightened. Pandoras' Box had been opened. You do not just get to stuff the expectations back in the box.
As for replacing Bonne if the right player was not there at the right price - he was not there at the right price. Gallen has 10/11 weeks to revisit the issue. Under the salary cap you most definitely only get to spend this money once.
The cost of a quality striker at that point over the remaining 4 month period may more easily fit under the total salary cap.
It is noticeable a number of loan signings elsewhere are just until January.
None of us know how our financial numbers look today.
What we do know is the club now has a "senior" squad of just 18 players. Thus the assertion you could have used the salary cap for 3 or 4 players on one striker is not only entirely speculative it further reduces your senior squad to 15/ 16.
With 3 already injured, Aneke struggling to stay fit, Forster Caskey still off the pace and with Pearce (when fit) Pratley and even Williams struggling to play 2 games in a week the squad numbers would simply not be fit for purpose.
By my reckoning the club now has 47 players under professional contracts but even adding Maynard-Brewer, Maatsen, Levitt, Doughty, Morgan, Barker, Vennings and Davison to the mix perpetuates the default to "the next man standing" culture ingrained in the squad for years.
These lads have to compete to win their spot not be given it because there is no one else. Only two have the experience of a full first team campaign.
As of now there is a whole new team of players ready to pull on our shirt as we start a new journey. Those who did not want to travel the journey have made their choice. I genuinely wish them well.
Whether YOU wish to travel this journey, respecting where we have come from in such a short period, is entirely a matter for you.
I, for one, will most certainly be looking forward to seeing how we progress. No diversions, no distractions just, for the first time in 70 months, an aligned Executive and clubhouse to support in the pursuit of collective sporting success with all the usual bumps, bruises, successes and failures which will inevitably occur along the way.
With respect if you cannot enjoy such a prospect in the middle of a global pandemic then I suggest it really is your problem.
I think its quite obvious that alfie can play at a higher level based on his performances last term and his head has been turned. Dont think its anything against the club.
Also someone said on here he supports millwall so no reason to stay.
I disagree, I think it's quite obvious that Alfie has the potential to play at a higher level.
He only played as many games as he did last season because he was fit and avaliable. Something you can't say about many of our players then.
Big 10 weeks for him now, not in terms of his development, in terms of his attitude. He may for the first time find himself left out of the 1st XI despite being fit and ready to go.
Agree to disagree then! For me he played at a higher level for half a season and was great.
Comments
That be said they've been the best defensive side we've faced this season for me, whilst Donny have been the best attacking
You can imagine Bowyers reply.
We signed Washington who has a 1 in 2 return already. The other 2 strikers we signed haven't even played yet!! Bonne didn't fit how Bowyer wants to play, I'd guess mainly because of his lack of ability. Get over him.
Cannot believe anyone is moaning about our business given what has been occuring at this club over the summer and for the last god knows how many years. Quite frankly disgraceful support.
Did Amos always wear 13?
I think we have to remember there are a lot of 1 year contracts around in League One, especially with smaller clubs.
Stop conceding and you just wont need as many yourselves
Teams like Charlton can play all the pretty passes they want down here, wont get you anywhere though without the grit and organisation
We gave Dillon the chance, he grabbed it but then as soon as we were relegated he wanted out.
Personally glad to see the back of him, thinks he’s better than he is.
Amos didn’t play at all last season, don’t know if Bows new Dillon wanted out and told Amos he would be No.1 but he certainly showed some faith and loyalty.
Was number 9 meant to be for Rocket Ronnie Schwartz, I wonder?
Perhaps there's a sign on the dressing room door: "Vacancy. Please apply within".
Bonne has 57 goals in 127 games for Orient,Charlton and QPR !
1goal in 3 games is good in the Championship, despite the misses.
He would've had a great partnership with Taylor but they never seemed to play together when they were both fit.
Lee Bowyer said he would get 2 strikers in to replace Bonne.
We wish our strikers and the winger Smyth well but I'm sure Steve Gallen will continue to search for a young Hales, Mendonca or Taylor amount the lower Leagues.
Both Lyle and Clive only became top goalscorer at 27.
Unlike Bonne who was already a goalscorer when he made the 3 level jump, the "20 goal scorer" can be on potential to score that many as opposed to already having met that figure.
A decent window compared to the nonsense under Southall.
As I said a great opportunity for players to step up and take their chances.
I wholeheartedly agree. On such a basis why would I give a 2nd thought to much of the nonsense posted about players the vast majority I expect have barely seen in person.
In the face of the past 6 months so many expectations show alarmingly little deference to reality. We can all read Wikipedia, Transfermarkt, Soccerbase etc., or may have a mate who follows whatever club etc.,
In the midst of a global pandemic which has savaged the economy of the industry someone has stepped in to the save the club from the "knackers yard" to enable a viable competitive squad.
Is it perfect? No it is fucking not. Yet we have added in team order;
1. Gunter - Reading, 2. Inniss - Crystal Palace,3. Famewo - Norwich, 4. Maatsen - Chelsea, 5. Gilbey - MK Dons, 6. Watson - Notts Forest, 7. Shinnie - Luton, 8. Smyth - QPR, 9. Maddison - Peterborough, 10. Washington - Hearts
- Gilbey hails from Dagenham
- Washington was born in Chatham
- Famewo was born in Lewisham and started at Luton
- Watson is based in Beckenham and started at Palace
11. Levitt - Man U, 12. Bogle - Cardiff are the exceptions with no links to the environs of London or the South.
It is a Covid 19 - Salary Cap recruitment programme. Minimal relocation costs (within Salary Cap) - minimal player family disruption yet with 6 or 7 on multi year contracts or including 1 year options we are seeing small steps to normality.
In the circumstances it is an A minus grade for me.
There are 5 quality signings for a League 1 campaign:
- Gunter, Gilbey, Watson, Shinnie, Maddison
There are 3 youngsters with real potential:
- Famewo, Maasten and Levitt
There are 2 reclamation signings:
- Washington, Bogle
There are 2 further players with things to prove:
- Inniss and Smyth
Coming into this market after a relegation, months after the preparations of others and weeks after the market was open, in the space of 3 weeks it is a remarkable effort.
If you cannot respect such circumstances I suggest it says a great deal more about your understanding of the marketplace.
I agree the retention of Bonne and Phillips would have added notable value but quite simply this is about a new beginning.
The message is simple - if you are not signed up for the journey you are not needed here.
After 2yrs of begging and borrowing to construct squads - going forward it will be the club setting the agenda. We are in a period of transition.
As I have tried to point out there is a legacy situation here. YOU KNOW THE STORY. Month after month, as the divisions between the respective "executives" became ever more fractious, Administration grew ever more real.
With salary payments becoming ever more problematic, a large tax bill falling due and local creditors becoming evermore demanding if you do not think the prevailing decision makers did not give the nod to agents to test the market for their players you have never worked with a distressed business.
Expectations if not created were heightened. Pandoras' Box had been opened. You do not just get to stuff the expectations back in the box.
As for replacing Bonne if the right player was not there at the right price - he was not there at the right price. Gallen has 10/11 weeks to revisit the issue. Under the salary cap you most definitely only get to spend this money once.
The cost of a quality striker at that point over the remaining 4 month period may more easily fit under the total salary cap.
It is noticeable a number of loan signings elsewhere are just until January.
None of us know how our financial numbers look today.
What we do know is the club now has a "senior" squad of just 18 players. Thus the assertion you could have used the salary cap for 3 or 4 players on one striker is not only entirely speculative it further reduces your senior squad to 15/ 16.
With 3 already injured, Aneke struggling to stay fit, Forster Caskey still off the pace and with Pearce (when fit) Pratley and even Williams struggling to play 2 games in a week the squad numbers would simply not be fit for purpose.
By my reckoning the club now has 47 players under professional contracts but even adding Maynard-Brewer, Maatsen, Levitt, Doughty, Morgan, Barker, Vennings and Davison to the mix perpetuates the default to "the next man standing" culture ingrained in the squad for years.
These lads have to compete to win their spot not be given it because there is no one else. Only two have the experience of a full first team campaign.
As of now there is a whole new team of players ready to pull on our shirt as we start a new journey. Those who did not want to travel the journey have made their choice. I genuinely wish them well.
Whether YOU wish to travel this journey, respecting where we have come from in such a short period, is entirely a matter for you.
I, for one, will most certainly be looking forward to seeing how we progress. No diversions, no distractions just, for the first time in 70 months, an aligned Executive and clubhouse to support in the pursuit of collective sporting success with all the usual bumps, bruises, successes and failures which will inevitably occur along the way.
With respect if you cannot enjoy such a prospect in the middle of a global pandemic then I suggest it really is your problem.
A good window.