We are totally underprepared

[dimiSpur]

In all areas. You look at the match last night, after 70 mins we capitulated. Man Utd have played the Community Shield and one PL match, whereas we've played once against what was a woeful pile of crap in Hearts. Before that we played a similarly undercooked Bilbao side. At no stage in those games did we have a team out that even resembled the 1st choice XI, for numerous reasons.

Then we have the amount of friendlies we played. We all looked at them at the start of the summer and I'm sure most of us thought "Is that it?". There seemed to be a lack of match time, and that showed in the closing quarter of last nights encounter.

Then you've got the numerous injuries. Why do we have so many? I don't put it down to bad luck. No way can one club have so much bad luck with injuries for such a long period of time. Then you've got Woody at Stoke playing every week 90 minutes so far. Makes you think what we're doing wrong. That in itself is cause for worry. I mean have we not looked into it at all? Or would that take time out of Harry's precious TV ad time?

Moving on, you've got the subsequent reaction to these injuries. POTL, arguably the only credible ITK, said how we've had the same targets from the start of the window. Yet 9 days before the window's closure, we've only signed Brad Friedel thus far, the only position we're arguably covered. If we've had Adebayor and Diarra targeted for so long, why haven't we signed them yet? Because by waiting for the final week you get the best deal. We all know it. By saving £2-3m we've started the season with one central midfielder fit. And he's someone who didn't make it in the lower leagues on loan last season. We've gone to Old Trafford with Defoe up front and Kranjcar in the middle. And that's our planning.

We know Diarra is more than available for transfer, and we know Adebayor has been available all summer. We haven't even managed to sell our deadwook yet due to the fact we demand ridiculous prices apparently. We're lumbered with wankers like Bentley, Giovani & Hutton, on wages that are pretty high, and we can't get rid.

I just find it utterly disappointing that we've started the season with no striker and with so many problems. You could even argue the Modric situation is our own fault. I'm sure none of us would be surprised if come the 31st of August we read how a late bid has been accepted by Levy. A deal which leaves him no time to spend the £30 odd million we get from him.

This in no way is a knee jerk thread by the way, just common logic. I'm just very disappointed with the club's apparent "que sera" attitude this window. We seem to lack a plan.

I need a pint :beer:

 

[Jaispurs]

No we outplayed them for 60 mins. We then lost a silly goal and 'Arry went for it by going two up top with VDV in the hole and Hudd holding.
Hudd was overrun in the midfield thats all.
We were not under prepared just lost the first goal and have a manager that would rather try and win the game rather than hold out for a 1-0 defeat

 

[Yid-ol]

Even before the goal we were being over run in CM.... really its we are not good enough in CM without Sandro and Mordic in there! we need another player there or 2 if modric goes.

 

[RichSpur58]

Its farcical the only player we have signed so far is Brad Friedel.

Levy out

 

[dimiSpur]

No we outplayed them for 60 mins. We then lost a silly goal and 'Arry went for it by going two up top with VDV in the hole and Hudd holding.
Hudd was overrun in the midfield thats all.
We were not under prepared just lost the first goal and have a manager that would rather try and win the game rather than hold out for a 1-0 defeat

We we're knackered for the 5 minutes leading up to the goal. We looked like we lacked fitness.

If you don't think Livermore & Kranjcar in the middle away to United is ill prepared then you're obviously Ardiles in disguise.

And steady with the outplayed them. We held our own and the match was even in the 1st half. I wouldn't say we outplayed them.

 

[RichSpur58]

Why have we had so few friendlys this year?

 

[Stoof]

We played on Thursday. Manchester United did not.

It's not an excuse, it's a factor.

As for the rest of it: conjecture based on a biased opinion of what's gone on.

You alude to POTL as the only credible ITK, whereas many others have pointed in the direction of the selling clubs messing us around.

It's not just down to us in terms of a transfer. How many times do we have to talk about this? Selling clubs, agents, solicitors and players. So many bits to go wrong - but you choose to blame those who have been trying the hardest to resolve the situation. How odd/stupid.

 

[dimiSpur]

We played on Thursday. Manchester United did not.

It's not an excuse, it's a factor.

As for the rest of it: conjecture based on a biased opinion of what's gone on.

You alude to POTL as the only credible ITK, whereas many others have pointed in the direction of the selling clubs messing us around.

It's not just down to us in terms of a transfer. How many times do we have to talk about this? Selling clubs, agents, solicitors and players. So many bits to go wrong - but you choose to blame those who have been trying the hardest to resolve the situation. How odd/stupid.

I hate the way you portray your opinion on what's going on as fact. How do you know those are the problems holding up the deals mate?

Also, why would Real Madrid mess us about? They can't wait to get shot of Diarra to free up space. He didn't feature in either El Clasico derby. Same goes for Ade. Mancini hates him.

 

[Stoof]

I hate the way you portray your opinion on what's going on as fact. How do you know those are the problems holding up the deals mate?

Also, why would Real Madrid mess us about? They can't wait to get shot of Diarra to free up space. He didn't feature in either El Clasico derby. Same goes for Ade. Mancini hates him.

I'm not. I'm just trying to widen the scope of your opinion. As it seems that you are presenting this narrow opinion as complete fact.

You think it's solely down to us. I'm pointing out that there are so many other factors.

It speaks volumes that you choose to blame us rather than even consider the possibility that we're being messed around.

It's not too difficult to imagine dealing with the powers that be at Real Madrid and Manchester City would be quite tricky? It's hardly a leap of faith.

 

[bern]

We played on Thursday. Manchester United did not.

It's not an excuse, it's a factor.

As for the rest of it: conjecture based on a biased opinion of what's gone on.

You alude to POTL as the only credible ITK, whereas many others have pointed in the direction of the selling clubs messing us around.

It's not just down to us in terms of a transfer. How many times do we have to talk about this? Selling clubs, agents, solicitors and players. So many bits to go wrong - but you choose to blame those who have been trying the hardest to resolve the situation. How odd/stupid.

Crickey Stoof you sound just like my old man used to!

 

[RichSpur58]

We played on Thursday. Manchester United did not.

It's not an excuse, it's a factor.

As for the rest of it: conjecture based on a biased opinion of what's gone on.

You alude to POTL as the only credible ITK, whereas many others have pointed in the direction of the selling clubs messing us around.

It's not just down to us in terms of a transfer. How many times do we have to talk about this? Selling clubs, agents, solicitors and players. So many bits to go wrong - but you choose to blame those who have been trying the hardest to resolve the situation. How odd/stupid.

I find it odd and stupid that even after the last few failed windows you still refuse to believe that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy

 

[Stoof]

I find it odd and stupid that even after the last few failed windows you still refuse to believe that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy

Much experience with multi-million pound deals have you?

 

[Stoof]

Crickey Stoof you sound just like my old man used to!

Is that a good thing? He sounds like a stand-up chap. :grin:

 

[talkshowhost86]

In all areas. You look at the match last night, after 70 mins we capitulated. Man Utd have played the Community Shield and one PL match, whereas we've played once against what was a woeful pile of crap in Hearts. Before that we played a similarly undercooked Bilbao side. At no stage in those games did we have a team out that even resembled the 1st choice XI, for numerous reasons.

You're right! Next year to fix this we need to:

1. Win the league or the FA Cup so that we can play in the Community Shield;
2. Predict that there will be riots in Tottenham and therefore organise for us to play the first game of the season away from home; and
3. Instruct UEFA to draw us against a much better team in the qualifying rounds.

To be honest I can't believe we didn't do all these things this season.

Levy out!

 

[dimiSpur]

I'm not. I'm just trying to widen the scope of your opinion. As it seems that you are presenting this narrow opinion as complete fact.

You think it's solely down to us. I'm pointing out that there are so many other factors.

It speaks volumes that you choose to blame us rather than even consider the possibility that we're being messed around.

It's not too difficult to imagine dealing with the powers that be at Real Madrid and Manchester City would be quite tricky? It's hardly a leap of faith.

I'm going on evidence.

I'm not a doom and gloom type of fan. From the years I've been on this site, people will know I'm not the type who will often let his knee jerk wildly without wearing protective gear.

But this is the 3rd window in a row we are (thus far) striker-less. Last summer we signed VdV on the final day, and that wasn't well thought out as he didn't really fit into our system. Then we tried to sign Charlie Adam, at a time we we're over populated in central midfield areas. Yes now we are short there, but that's down to our ongoing injury list which is as long as a London teenager's JD Sports late night shopping list, Luka Modric's ridiculous behaviour and Palacios taking knee fitness tips from Ledley King.

The fact of the matter is, this time last year we we're waiting for a new striker. Not only did we not sign one, we bought a player that mean't when we did eventually signed one, it would have to a certain type of striker to play the lone striking role. Roll on the January window we didn't address the problem, and now it's August 23rd and we still haven't signed anyone. It's a funny market, I'm not arguing against that. It's getting worse by the day with these stupid fees for average players. But we can't not sign anyone ever or wait for deadline day all the time. We only need one striker, what's the problem if we overpay by £2-3m for that one player and be prepared for the new season?

I refuse to believe the lack of activity is purely down to agents and selling clubs fucking us off. I agree it may be a delaying factor, but not to delay activity for years! And it has been years Stoof. And it's especially important when for a year and half we've been saying "one good striker and we'll overtake the lot".

 

[RickyVilla]

I find it odd and stupid that even after the last few failed windows you still refuse to believe that there is something wrong with our transfer strategy

Not so sure there is but as we cannot throw millions at every player that comes along, it makes it more difficult to negotiate

 

[dimiSpur]

You're right! Next year to fix this we need to:

1. Win the league or the FA Cup so that we can play in the Community Shield;
2. Predict that there will be riots in Tottenham and therefore organise for us to play the first game of the season away from home; and
3. Instruct UEFA to draw us against a much better team in the qualifying rounds.

To be honest I can't believe we didn't do all these things this season.

Levy out!

You're an idiot for portraying my post in that light. I never rambled that we're underprepared for not playing in the Community Shield, I said that we didn't play enough friendly matches. And that's true. Prior to the Hearts game which was a 30 minute runout, we hadn't played since Bilbao at the Lane.

Yes some rustiness was to be expected at the end of the United match, but not to the level of them walking through our half at will after 65 minutes.

 

[dimiSpur]

Much experience with multi-million pound deals have you?

Why, have you?

 

[Stoof]

I'm going on evidence.

I'm not a doom and gloom type of fan. From the years I've been on this site, people will know I'm not the type who will often let his knee jerk wildly without wearing protective gear.

But this is the 3rd window in a row we are (thus far) striker-less. Last summer we signed VdV on the final day, and that wasn't well thought out as he didn't really fit into our system. Then we tried to sign Charlie Adam, at a time we we're over populated in central midfield areas. Yes now we are short there, but that's down to our ongoing injury list which is as long as a London teenager's JD Sports late night shopping list, Luka Modric's ridiculous behaviour and Palacios taking knee fitness tips from Ledley King.

The fact of the matter is, this time last year we we're waiting for a new striker. Not only did we not sign one, we bought a player that mean't when we did eventually signed one, it would have to a certain type of striker to play the lone striking role. Roll on the January window we didn't address the problem, and now it's August 23rd and we still haven't signed anyone. It's a funny market, I'm not arguing against that. It's getting worse by the day with these stupid fees for average players. But we can't not sign anyone ever or wait for deadline day all the time. We only need one striker, what's the problem if we overpay by £2-3m for that one player and be prepared for the new season?

I refuse to believe the lack of activity is purely down to agents and selling clubs fucking us off. I agree it may be a delaying factor, but not to delay activity for years! And it has been years Stoof. And it's especially important when for a year and half we've been saying "one good striker and we'll overtake the lot".

It's a much more reasoned response.

The problem is, we've got good strikers. They took us to the Champions League. They did, you can't dispute that.

The next level up, is, well, exactly that. We're looking at potentially World Class players. It's not a case of just £2m or £3m, we're talking in realms of £30m+. That's a lot of money, and for a club with our turnover etc., that's a big ol' gamble.

I don't want to see years of hardwork undone for the sake of seeing the headline that we've spent £30m.

We've assembled a good team so far. A really good team; and I think Levy's bought enough time to earn our patience - at least until the window ends.

It is a tough market - you've mentioned that in passing - but it's a massive point. Aside from Chelsea, City, Liverpool and United - all who have massive financial backing - the only club to do a lot of deals is Sunderland.

Do you want any of those players that signed for Sunderland? They're just spending their Henderson money, that was spunked all over them by Liverpool.

We went after Young and Jones - but up against the draw of playing for the Champions - what chance do we have? Acting quickly or not - agents are keen to get the best deals for their players (and hence themselves) and will hold out for bigger clubs to come in if they know they've got a good product to sell.

From the strikers we've been linked with the strongest (I'm not including Vucinic, because I'm not convinced that was anything more than agent talk): Adebayor, Llorente and Rossi.

Two of those command ridiculous wages and transfer fees of 25m+. The other we're supposedly on the cusp of signing.

We're looking for proven goalscorers at the highest level. Not a run of the mill player. We're upgrading, not swapping like-for-likes. Yes we need a certain type of striker, but that'll cost us if we want the quality that we do.

Just give Levy until 1st September, then have a go as much as you want. Just give him that time, it's only fair.

 

[Misfit]

I'm not. I'm just trying to widen the scope of your opinion. As it seems that you are presenting this narrow opinion as complete fact.

You think it's solely down to us. I'm pointing out that there are so many other factors.

It speaks volumes that you choose to blame us rather than even consider the possibility that we're being messed around.

It's not too difficult to imagine dealing with the powers that be at Real Madrid and Manchester City would be quite tricky? It's hardly a leap of faith.

I hear you and agree with you. However, the flak some want to throw the club's way is also fair enough. We're not talking an insignificant amount of time here. Levy, Harry et al are handsomely compensated for their efforts precisely because it's not as easy as boiling an egg. 3 windows and counting to sort out the major hole in our squad, with various clubs all over the world is just poor. Whatever the myriad of reasons.

It's a little from column A and column B. It's hard and involved and also really poor that not one has been brought in.