It's another window where we haven't sold our prized assets. It's about as far from a disaster as it gets. This forum used to be a feeding frenzy in years past, when we inevitably sold at least one star player. Amazed that some folk can't see the progress. It's as big as signing someone, retaining your key players. Let's see what happens this season. Because it won't go on forever. We'll have to cash in at some point, that's the way it goes. But we should all be excited to see what we can try and achieve this season first.
I guess the only thing about a left back would be that Styles obviously plays as left wing back but you wouldn’t have him in a back 4. If the gaffer did what to change shape his options are limited. Although I wonder if Kitching could play as a left back
Yeah that's why I said on the day. I think we have swapped Kane for Gomes (which I think is maybe a bit strange but essentially fine) but then we've lost Miller too, and I thought it was fairly obvious that Schopp saw him as an option for wing back. If that is the case it leaves us weak there. We already had the Belgians, so I wasn't including them in our transfer day dealings. It's strange - I can't shake the suspicion that we're weak in places but until I actually see some lineups I'm not quite sure where!
I don’t think Miller gets anywhere near the match day squad when everyone is available. I see his departure as necessary rather than it weakening us
Not entirely sure about that, but if you're right then I suppose we have to keep our fingers crossed that everyone else becomes -and stays - available. I think Conway said that we were after players at wing back and in midfield. We've got somebody in midfield but lost another, and sent somebody out on loan who was playing at wing back in pre season. To me it looks a lot like we've lost out on targets and ended up short.
Miller played at wing back in pre-season in previous years as well, and then didn’t feature at all. I don’t believe it would have been any different this time when you’ve got seven players coming in to the match day squad who are clearly ahead of him.
Miller has played about ten minutes of first team football in this league in the last 3 years. His departure doesn't weaken us. Good luck to him like, hope he does well at Walsall.
As you say we will have to cash in at some point but the difference between now and when these Owners came in is IMO in all positions with the exception of Midfield we have some depth and will be easier and less disruptive for someone to step in to replace.
What I don't understand is why us the fans had to wait till 10.02 PM to be told Gomez had signed, but all the pictures of him in red etc were taken in daylight
To be 100% sure the deal was going through? Look at Dan James at Leeds United three years ago or Oli McBurnie for us as well. Negotiations and registrations (essentially the 'admin') can be happening simultaneously with taking photos and doing promo videos. You then need agreement from the club on parent club on making the announcement.
Not sure how anybody can say that Miller's departure would weaken us. He definitely would've needed both Brittain and J Williams to be unavailable to have a chance of a game, and even then Schopp might have preferred to switch Styles to the right, like Ismael did last season in the same situation.
You shouldn't be amazed. Many on here would never admit to us making progress even if we were playing in the world club championship against River Plate. It's the nature of the beast.
I think it's unfair to say we haven't lost any of our top players, as Mowatt left this window and we haven't replaced him. Having 3 first team centre mids with as little experience as they do (pedigree or natural ability aside) in the Championship is unheard of and at best a risk. There have been positives and negatives to the window but, for sure, but to characterise dissenting opinion as naysaying or merely throwing the teddies out of the pram is wide of the mark. I think fans of most clubs would be nervous about the centre mid situation.
But how do you replace him? He turned down the best contract that we could offer, which suggests we can't afford anybody that would be at that standard already. There have been a few players move that might have fit the bill. Hourihane - Don't know how much Sheff U have offered in wages. Guessing a fair chunk of it though. Morsy - Offered a three year deal plus a fee, as well as going to a coach that he's worked with at two previous clubs. So unlikely to have been very realistic. Drinkwater - Career nosedived in last 5 years, and not through bad luck from what I can tell. So, would've been more of a gamble than having 3 inexperienced players there. Yes, we wanted some experience there, but you need a lot of things to fall together like they did with James last season. Maybe we should've just coughed up for Whiteman last season, would've been cheaper in the long run.