Summer transfer, gossip and speculation thread

[tomd2103]

Surely if we were looking at a free agent we’d have done it by now. I think SB is quite happy with what he’s got. It’s like the old Blackadder joke about the mad captain asked whether a ship needs a crew if it’s going to sail round the world, ‘there’s two opinions, every other captain says you do, I say you dont’.

There could be a list of reasons why we haven't though.  Maybe he did have some targets before the close of the window which he wasn't able to bring in for whatever reason.  When that didn't go through, maybe he did look to bring Terry back, but that deal didn't work out.  Maybe he also thought Jedinak would be fine at centre half and put his bad start down to his shortened pre season after the World Cup.

All speculation of course, but possible reasons why we may not have brought in a free agent up until now.  As I said before, it would be an emergency measure and far from ideal, but is definitely something we should be considering.   

[chrisw1]

Surely if we were looking at a free agent we’d have done it by now. I think SB is quite happy with what he’s got. It’s like the old Blackadder joke about the mad captain asked whether a ship needs a crew if it’s going to sail round the world, ‘there’s two opinions, every other captain says you do, I say you dont’.

There could be a list of reasons why we haven't though.  Maybe he did have some targets before the close of the window which he wasn't able to bring in for whatever reason.  When that didn't go through, maybe he did look to bring Terry back, but that deal didn't work out.  Maybe he also thought Jedinak would be fine at centre half and put his bad start down to his shortened pre season after the World Cup.

All speculation of course, but possible reasons why we may not have brought in a free agent up until now.  As I said before, it would be an emergency measure and far from ideal, but is definitely something we should be considering.   

That may all be true, but even so it's pretty remarkable that this long after the close of the window we still haven't sorted this. 

[tomd2103]

Surely if we were looking at a free agent we’d have done it by now. I think SB is quite happy with what he’s got. It’s like the old Blackadder joke about the mad captain asked whether a ship needs a crew if it’s going to sail round the world, ‘there’s two opinions, every other captain says you do, I say you dont’.

There could be a list of reasons why we haven't though.  Maybe he did have some targets before the close of the window which he wasn't able to bring in for whatever reason.  When that didn't go through, maybe he did look to bring Terry back, but that deal didn't work out.  Maybe he also thought Jedinak would be fine at centre half and put his bad start down to his shortened pre season after the World Cup.

All speculation of course, but possible reasons why we may not have brought in a free agent up until now.  As I said before, it would be an emergency measure and far from ideal, but is definitely something we should be considering.   

That may all be true, but even so it's pretty remarkable that this long after the close of the window we still haven't sorted this.

Agree Chris.  I thought it would be clear that after Terry left the number one priority should be bringing a centre back in to partner Chester and that any money we did have should have gone on that.  Yes we needed upgrades in certain positions, but we needed a replacement in that position and as you say, the failure to address that does not reflect well.

[Drummond]

Maybe he's still hoping Terry might come and as such hasn't moved for Collins (who's stalling on his move to Ipswich as a result of waiting for us) or Huth.

[mr underhill]

assuming the owners by into this can we afford £60-70k a week for JT and avoid FFP penalties?

[The Edge]

Surely if we were looking at a free agent we’d have done it by now. I think SB is quite happy with what he’s got. It’s like the old Blackadder joke about the mad captain asked whether a ship needs a crew if it’s going to sail round the world, ‘there’s two opinions, every other captain says you do, I say you dont’.

There could be a list of reasons why we haven't though.  Maybe he did have some targets before the close of the window which he wasn't able to bring in for whatever reason.  When that didn't go through, maybe he did look to bring Terry back, but that deal didn't work out.  Maybe he also thought Jedinak would be fine at centre half and put his bad start down to his shortened pre season after the World Cup.

All speculation of course, but possible reasons why we may not have brought in a free agent up until now.  As I said before, it would be an emergency measure and far from ideal, but is definitely something we should be considering.   

That may all be true, but even so it's pretty remarkable that this long after the close of the window we still haven't sorted this.

Let's get it right. It's not just the recent transfer window is it? What's remarkable is that it's precisely one year and eleven months since Bruce took charge and our defence is still an utter shambles. Even more remarkable is the fact that he's still our manager.

[garyshawsknee]

On the Blackadder theme, SB is probably a heavy defeat away from being seen at BH with his underpants on his head and two pencils up his hooter.

[VILLA MOLE]

I feel this thread title should now change to the winter of no content or  centre half

[Rudy Can't Fail]

On the Blackadder theme, SB is probably a heavy defeat away from being seen at BH with his underpants on his head and two pencils up his hooter.

Like Baldrick, he's fine when you send him out with little money to do the shopping. Give him loads of money to spend he comes back with a giant turnip.

[The Edge]

On the Blackadder theme, SB is probably a heavy defeat away from being seen at BH with his underpants on his head and two pencils up his hooter.

Like Baldrick, he's fine when you send him out with little money to do the shopping. Give him loads of money to spend he comes back with a giant turnip.

Mrs Bruce was making a lovely Sunday roast one day. They had green beans and parsnips but she realised that they were out of potatoes and carrots  to go with the lovely joint of beef she had. Steve was sent to the shops with plenty of money. He returned with lots more green beans and parsnips and he bought a trumpet with the leftover money.

[Villafirst]

According to the B'ham Mail, Bruce is about to sanction a loan deal for RDL to join Melbourne City! Well done Brucie if true! Weaken the defence even further! I thought RDL looked really good in pre-season matches??

[mr underhill]

plot totally lost - especially as RDL can play anywhere in defence. A total twat.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Please tell me RDL isn't yet another one of these players that is crap when he's here and then some folks are up in arms when he's gone ?

He's bang bloody average ... at best. Just like Elphick.

[RussellC]

Loaning RDL to Melbourne is absolutely crazy.  Alongside Green, he was our best performer in pre-season and Bruce has now removed both from the squad. You could argue that the Green loan will eventually benefit both the player and the club, but the only possible benefit here would be to save the club some money on De Laet’s salary and, even then, I highly doubt that Melbourne will be offering to cover all of it.  Weren’t there reports that we rejected a bid from Royal Antwerp for him in the summer? If so, Bruce needs to be held accountable for this.  The player couldn’t have done any more in the summer to stake a claim for a place in the squad, whereas a player like Neil Taylor couldn’t have done much less. Just another example of Bruce’s non-existent planning for, and management of the squad.

[tomd2103]

According to the B'ham Mail, Bruce is about to sanction a loan deal for RDL to join Melbourne City! Well done Brucie if true! Weaken the defence even further! I thought RDL looked really good in pre-season matches??

Bruce obviously does not rate De Laet or there is some kind of issue between the pair, so why wasn't he either sold or loaned out in the summer?  Instead he's now going to be loaned out to play in a footballing backwater (apologies to all our Aussie friends on here for that description!!) which as McCormack proved last season, is not really preparation for a possible return to Championship football. 

Aspects of Bruce's squad management really are atrocious.