The lack of coherency in our recruitment strategy

[Japhet]

Spot on regarding getting players out. Given the financial state of most clubs, we did well to find loans quite frankly.
The tricky part comes in summer when we need buyers, otherwise it’s more loans and contracts/achievable fees dwindling.

My other concern for summer is this apparent focus on players out of/nearing end of contract.
Yes we save on fees but wages being demanded will be sky high & that’s not usually our style. Loads of other clubs will be trying the same tactic so we’ll need to be paying well.
If we’re still saddled with a few unwanted high earners, I fear our budget won’t stretch. Hope I’m wrong.

I share all of those concerns in the same way that I thought we wouldn't get Ndombele out and nobody would want Dele. There was a pretty ruthless edge to this window though.

 

[dudu]

6 months. When Paratici came in, we were told there would be a complete restructure of the recruitment team and how it operates. That evidently hasn’t happened as it’s just been a rinse and repeat of what we’ve seen already. If we’re talking about planning for what Conte wants, he’s still had at least 2 months and imo he’s failed him.

FWIW I like both of the players we’ve signed but the lack of a RWB when Conte’s system exclusively relies on its wing backs is negligent and a lack of cover for Kane given his history of injuries is bordering on incompetence.

I’m not getting particularly sucked into this “Fabio did a great job cleaning the decks” spiel either. Dele went for a ridiculously low fee with likely very unobtainable performance add ons and the pair of Ndombele and Lo Celso will likely be back in the summer stinking out the place again because they’ve only moved on loan with either an unrealistic buy option (Ndombele) or no option at all (Lo Celso).

Paratici can not fuck up the summer window. That’ll be make or break for us. Unfortunately I have no trust in the guy whatsoever because he’s done nothing to even warrant being trusted so far.

Seems like a very very negative spin to me.

I get in your opinion Paratici has failed Conte but surely it is only relevant how Conte feels.

You have literally no idea what our plan is for RWB and CF. Maybe Conte's choices weren't available until the summer? Would you not want to wait until players wanted by the manager are available or are you advocating for us to just buy anyone for the sake of it? Do you honestly think if the right payer for us was available now, at a price that fits into our budget we wouldn't have purchased them?

Are you aware of any RWB's or CF's in that category that are available and have been touted about?

I think successfully moving players out of our squad, be it on a perm or loan is part of his job, which he has done to free up space and funds for players our manager wanted.

Surely you have to take the mitigating circumstances into account here. Many clubs across Europe have money problems and loans, as well as loans with options seems to be the way a lot of business is done at the moment, especially in Jan.

Would you rather those 3 MF were still here?

 

[allatsea]

Seems like there is a clear plan which Conte has bought into. The coming summer window will be key in the future of our club and of Conte. I hope we are already working on deals for the summer which again Conte will have brought into.

 

[NEVILLEB]

No legitimate fan is happy with how our transfer business is run. The only people on here still defending ENIC are likely fake.

 

[smallsnc]

I am not happy with our transfer tragedy over the last few years though I thought this window was better than I had expected.

One thing that I believe will greatly impact the English game and all of the teams strategies going forward is the impact of Brexit regarding bringing in players from the EU that otherwise would not qualify for a work permit. I think this will especially affect bringing in younger players that might be academy prospects with EU passports as they will no longer qualify for the EU exemption. Will be very interesting as young UK players will be at a premium. Teams will either have to do a better job of recognition / development within the UK or have a higher percentage of senior transfers over the long run.

IMO, this put the PL clubs at a distinct disadvantage compared to the other big 5 leagues and especially the teams that buy young, develop and loan out until the players are ready for 1st team football.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

No legitimate fan is happy with how our transfer business is run. The only people on here still defending ENIC are likely fake.

Oh shut up.

What gives you the right to question anyone's legitimacy as a supporter of the club?

Maybe that's the issue. You're a fan, while those you are deriding are supporters.

They can can see that we've actually made a step in the right direction when it comes to addressing the issues within the squad.

You're just annoyed that we didn't spend £300gazillion.

 

[slartibartfast]

I think we've seen a big change in strategy this time. Unwanted players have been jettisoned at whatever cost and the prep has been done for the summer. Conte has been backed substantially and we have a fighting chance of top 4. Yes, we could have done more, but all eyes are now on the summer, exactly like we were told.

I don't understand why we keep hearing 'all eyes are on the summer' when what we achieve THIS SEASON will have a massive impact on what we can do in the summer.
Given our position and likelihood of top 4 I do thinknits pretty stupid to not have got a rwb.
No CL money or the lure of CL football it wont really matter a fuck what our plans are in the summer. It'll be twice as hard to get decent players and we'll have less money to do so.
Very odd way to run the club imo.
For what its worth I thiks its been a bit of a meh window.
I just hope Doherty can goon a run of Leicester like performances.
We can still get top 4 but I'd have liked to have seen a rwb more than anything else.

 

[smallsnc]

I am not happy with our transfer tragedy over the last few years though I thought this window was better than I had expected.

One thing that I believe will greatly impact the English game and all of the teams strategies going forward is the impact of Brexit regarding bringing in players from the EU that otherwise would not qualify for a work permit. I think this will especially affect bringing in younger players that might be academy prospects with EU passports as they will no longer qualify for the EU exemption. Will be very interesting as young UK players will be at a premium. Teams will either have to do a better job of recognition / development within the UK or have a higher percentage of senior transfers over the long run.

IMO, this put the PL clubs at a distinct disadvantage compared to the other big 5 leagues and especially the teams that buy young, develop and loan out until the players are ready for 1st team football.

slartibartfast I see that you disagree but what part do you disagree with?​

 

[Delboy75]

Was just looking at the out of contract list this summer and 2023. It’s crazy probably 30 top class players will be available on the cheap. Massive test of recruitment departments this summer.

 

[Timberwolf]

I am not happy with our transfer tragedy over the last few years though I thought this window was better than I had expected.

One thing that I believe will greatly impact the English game and all of the teams strategies going forward is the impact of Brexit regarding bringing in players from the EU that otherwise would not qualify for a work permit. I think this will especially affect bringing in younger players that might be academy prospects with EU passports as they will no longer qualify for the EU exemption. Will be very interesting as young UK players will be at a premium. Teams will either have to do a better job of recognition / development within the UK or have a higher percentage of senior transfers over the long run.

IMO, this put the PL clubs at a distinct disadvantage compared to the other big 5 leagues and especially the teams that buy young, develop and loan out until the players are ready for 1st team football.

Despite the disadvantage you mention, I think we're still much better off than the other 4 leagues due to the fact our league makes shitloads more TV money than any of them.

Sad as it is, money is the most important thing in football these days, and our league is the richest.

 

[haslemereyid]

Was just looking at the out of contract list this summer and 2023. It’s crazy probably 30 top class players will be available on the cheap. Massive test of recruitment departments this summer.

I doubt many of them will be cheap by the time you take into account sign on fees and wages. There is going to be a massive bun fight for these guys including the clubs who have lost players out of contract as well. The players will hold all the cards IMO

 

[smallsnc]

Despite the disadvantage you mention, I think we're still much better off than the other 4 leagues due to the fact our league makes shitloads more TV money than any of them.

Sad as it is, money is the most important thing in football these days, and our league is the richest.

I do agree with that but it may hinder clubs that routinely sign young talent to bring into their academies and loan them out to English teams seasoning, ie. Chelsea. I really think we need to develop through youth to compete long term with the big money clubs and this somewhat limits an option for signing top youth from the EU countries.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Even tho i think we have left ourselves short in the race for top four, I do think we can't judge Paratici until summer. For example, we know from several ITK that we will be targeting players with ether no contract or one year left on their deals come winter and I would much rather we wait and get the better player. Looking around i think we could come out with an excellent squad for 2022/23 campaign. It really wouldn't be that unfeasible to be starting next season with a number of the following players added.

Palo Dybala (free)
Frank Kessie (free) or Fabian Ruiz (one year left) or Marcelo Brozovic (free)
De Vrij (one year left)
Pau Torress (two years left)
Tariq Lampety (three years left)

That may sound like a lot but i don't feel it would be that hard to facilitate especially if we move a few out as well such as Dohety and Tanganga etc. Even if we only brought in one of Ruiz/Kessie/Brozovic and De Vrij/Torress it would still set us up perfectly for next season. Realistically the only really expensive signing out of that group would be Lampety. Im disappointed by this window, but if we hit it hard out the gate and tie up some of these type of players the moment the season fishiness then we would be a completely different beast going into next season and i really wouldn't find it that far fetched to be challenging for the league. For example, hypothetically, we could be lining up like this next season....

Son Kane Dybala
(Bergwijn/Gil) (Dybala/Berg) (Lucas/Kuluveski)

Reguilon Bentancur Brozovic Lampety
(Sess) (Hoijberg) (Skipp/Winks) (Royal)

Pau Torres De Vrij Romero
(Davies) (Dier) (Sanchez)

Lloris
(?)
​

And realistically that line up would cost not much over 100 mil in buying fees at least, maybe like 120. Obviously contracts etc is a different matter. But beyond that you could sell Winks and buy Fabian Ruiz or bring in Kessie if you wanted to offset the buying fees further. But my point is, I don't think anyone here could tell me this line up, or one similar, wouldn't be among the best in the league and, along with Conte, give us a real shot at winning something. Obviously there is a lot of hypotheticals going on and if we don't get top four will the likes of Dybala, Brozovic, Kessie etc want to come. But i'm hoping that something along these lines is the plan, and as mentioned, the sounds from the club seem to aline with this.

Purely taking this window gone by itself, as i mentioned previously, im not particularly happy with it on an incoming front and i'm not convinced that we are placed in the best position possible to achieve top 4. But IF we can nail the summer with something like the above then it would be completely worth it and ultimately be for the best. Only time will tell.

 

[fecka]

Even tho i think we have left ourselves short in the race for top four, I do think we can't judge Paratici until summer. For example, we know from several ITK that we will be targeting players with ether no contract or one year left on their deals come winter and I would much rather we wait and get the better player. Looking around i think we could come out with an excellent squad for 2022/23 campaign. It really wouldn't be that unfeasible to be starting next season with a number of the following players added.

Palo Dybala (free)
Frank Kessie (free) or Fabian Ruiz (one year left) or Marcelo Brozovic (free)
De Vrij (one year left)
Pau Torress (two years left)
Tariq Lampety (three years left)

That may sound like a lot but i don't feel it would be that hard to facilitate especially if we move a few out as well such as Dohety and Tanganga etc. Even if we only brought in one of Ruiz/Kessie/Brozovic and De Vrij/Torress it would still set us up perfectly for next season. Realistically the only really expensive signing out of that group would be Lampety. Im disappointed by this window, but if we hit it hard out the gate and tie up some of these type of players the moment the season fishiness then we would be a completely different beast going into next season and i really wouldn't find it that far fetched to be challenging for the league. For example, hypothetically, we could be lining up like this next season....

Son Kane Dybala
(Bergwijn/Gil) (Dybala/Berg) (Lucas/Kuluveski)

Reguilon Bentancur Brozovic Lampety
(Sess) (Hoijberg) (Skipp/Winks) (Royal)

Pau Torres De Vrij Romero
(Davies) (Dier) (Sanchez)

Lloris
(?)
​

And realistically that line up would cost not much over 100 mil in buying fees at least, maybe like 120. Obviously contracts etc is a different matter. But beyond that you could sell Winks and buy Fabian Ruiz or bring in Kessie if you wanted to offset the buying fees further. But my point is, I don't think anyone here could tell me this line up, or one similar, wouldn't be among the best in the league and, along with Conte, give us a real shot at winning something. Obviously there is a lot of hypotheticals going on and if we don't get top four will the likes of Dybala, Brozovic, Kessie etc want to come. But i'm hoping that something along these lines is the plan, and as mentioned, the sounds from the club seem to aline with this.

Purely taking this window gone by itself, as i mentioned previously, im not particularly happy with it on an incoming front and i'm not convinced that we are placed in the best position possible to achieve top 4. But IF we can nail the summer with something like the above then it would be completely worth it and ultimately be for the best. Only time will tell.

I'm a fan of the players you mention but most, if not all, of them will likely be very hard to get.
Kessie has interest from Barca, Dybala has a crush on Inter, Torres has a lot of suitors, and Ruiz will almost definitely be going to RM.
The only realistic ones IMO will be Brozovic, De Vrij, and Lamptey (who'll be crazy expensive). Two of them are turning 30 this year and will likely want mega wages. It's also doubtful if Lamptey really is a +£50m player

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I'm a fan of the players you mention but most, if not all, of them will likely be very hard to get.
Kessie has interest from Barca, Dybala has a crush on Inter, Torres has a lot of suitors, and Ruiz will almost definitely be going to RM.
The only realistic ones IMO will be Brozovic, De Vrij, and Lamptey (who'll be crazy expensive). Two of them are turning 30 this year and will likely want mega wages. It's also doubtful if Lamptey really is a +£50m player

Kessie I agree will most likely be difficult and tbh im not even his biggest fan but figured id list him as we have been linked. Also If we are going ahead with Bentancur as a CM in a two we will need someone more progressive next to him, Brozovic or Fabian for example although Conte might not be so fussed. Re Fabian, Real will be going all out for Mbappe and Haaland most likely, how much money they have left after that im not sure but again, he will probably end up there because they always find the cash somehow. But there are other options out there, wouldn't be surprised if we looked at Bissouma for example or Gravenberch both of which we were linked to and have a year left. The thing that baffles me a little is the Dybala to Inter concept. I have no doubt Inter would want him, but Dybala loves Juve and by going to Inter he will be destroying his club legacy. Its true that he's fallen out with the club board completely but i really don't see him going to another Italian team especially Inter who are one of their most hated rivals. It would be a massive fuck you to all the fans. I would think its more likely that Dybala might accept a smaller wage at Juve then go to Inter but i guess it depends how much grovelling the Juve board do. But even if he doesn't go to Inter your right that any other big club could come in for him. Re the age thing, that is a point but Conte is a here and now manager, he doesn't build for the future, he will prioritise players that he believes will help him win something next season not in one, two, three years time so i wouldn't be surprised if we bring in a few older players for smaller fees/free.

All in all you raise good points, but i'm just purely going off ITK that we have a big eye on the free transfers and those with only a year left, its just a hypothetical two and two. If we really are targeting this sort of market then one would hope that Paratici would be fairly confident that the required players can be brought in because I don't see Conte hanging around if he doesn't feel like next season he has a shot at winning something with the tools at his disposal. I really wouldn't be surprised if our wage bill changes quite significantly next summer rather then us spending masses on transfer fees. Again, i will hold my judgment until summer and im purely pontificating on what the plan COULD be. It is also just as likely that there is no real plan and we are figuring things out on the fly, in which case summer could be a total disaster.

 

[mendesstormer]

I'm a fan of the players you mention but most, if not all, of them will likely be very hard to get.
Kessie has interest from Barca, Dybala has a crush on Inter, Torres has a lot of suitors, and Ruiz will almost definitely be going to RM.
The only realistic ones IMO will be Brozovic, De Vrij, and Lamptey (who'll be crazy expensive). Two of them are turning 30 this year and will likely want mega wages. It's also doubtful if Lamptey really is a +£50m player

I'd be delighted with Brozovic, De Vrij and Lamptey.

Throw in a back up striker (maybe on loan) and we've pretty much solved all our major deficiencies.

 

[fecka]

I'd be delighted with Brozovic, De Vrij and Lamptey.

Throw in a back up striker (maybe on loan) and we've pretty much solved all our major deficiencies.

I definitely wouldn't mind.
However, I think that we might face a lot of competition for them, and I hope no one thinks that they are absolutely nailed on to join us if we decide to go for them. Despite that, I'm really looking forward to this summers TW

 

[NEVILLEB]

Oh shut up.

What gives you the right to question anyone's legitimacy as a supporter of the club?

Maybe that's the issue. You're a fan, while those you are deriding are supporters.

They can can see that we've actually made a step in the right direction when it comes to addressing the issues within the squad.

You're just annoyed that we didn't spending

If you want to know why our club are laughed at as perennial losers go and look in the mirror. Either that or your a fake because no one could be that stupid or gullible to think everything is great.

If the new signings are actually consistently brilliant and improve the first team, we won’t know for a long time. Recent transfers have been catastrophically bad so maybe hold on before declaring it a big success.

I’m sure you fainted when we signed Ndombele or Lo Celso!

 

[worcestersauce]

Even tho i think we have left ourselves short in the race for top four, I do think we can't judge Paratici until summer. For example, we know from several ITK that we will be targeting players with ether no contract or one year left on their deals come winter and I would much rather we wait and get the better player. Looking around i think we could come out with an excellent squad for 2022/23 campaign. It really wouldn't be that unfeasible to be starting next season with a number of the following players added.

Palo Dybala (free)
Frank Kessie (free) or Fabian Ruiz (one year left) or Marcelo Brozovic (free)
De Vrij (one year left)
Pau Torress (two years left)
Tariq Lampety (three years left)

That may sound like a lot but i don't feel it would be that hard to facilitate especially if we move a few out as well such as Dohety and Tanganga etc. Even if we only brought in one of Ruiz/Kessie/Brozovic and De Vrij/Torress it would still set us up perfectly for next season. Realistically the only really expensive signing out of that group would be Lampety. Im disappointed by this window, but if we hit it hard out the gate and tie up some of these type of players the moment the season fishiness then we would be a completely different beast going into next season and i really wouldn't find it that far fetched to be challenging for the league. For example, hypothetically, we could be lining up like this next season....

Son Kane Dybala
(Bergwijn/Gil) (Dybala/Berg) (Lucas/Kuluveski)

Reguilon Bentancur Brozovic Lampety
(Sess) (Hoijberg) (Skipp/Winks) (Royal)

Pau Torres De Vrij Romero
(Davies) (Dier) (Sanchez)

Lloris
(?)
​

And realistically that line up would cost not much over 100 mil in buying fees at least, maybe like 120. Obviously contracts etc is a different matter. But beyond that you could sell Winks and buy Fabian Ruiz or bring in Kessie if you wanted to offset the buying fees further. But my point is, I don't think anyone here could tell me this line up, or one similar, wouldn't be among the best in the league and, along with Conte, give us a real shot at winning something. Obviously there is a lot of hypotheticals going on and if we don't get top four will the likes of Dybala, Brozovic, Kessie etc want to come. But i'm hoping that something along these lines is the plan, and as mentioned, the sounds from the club seem to aline with this.

Purely taking this window gone by itself, as i mentioned previously, im not particularly happy with it on an incoming front and i'm not convinced that we are placed in the best position possible to achieve top 4. But IF we can nail the summer with something like the above then it would be completely worth it and ultimately be for the best. Only time will tell.

I don't think we've left ourslves short in the race for top four, ganted those players you list would make us even better but to be honest with that lot I'd expect more than to be challenging for top four.

 

[ryanyourself]

More excited over our departures than incomings to be honest. Maybe Betancur and Kulusevski will be good players for us but they scream of panic buys to me.