Summer transfer, gossip, speculation and the usual butter ollocks thread

[Rory]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

[Steve67]

So FFP is suddenly a problem again?  That means we have to buy big but pay cheap?  So Watkins is not going to be paid 70k a week then is he?  We will not compete with anyone for the likes of Batshuayi (sp), Loftus-Cheek or any other Prem player because they are going to want waaay too much in salary.  Also rules out Romero as he will want huge wages.  Any Watford or Bormuff player, forget it.  You really don't what or who to believe these days.

The current squad may be a year more experienced in this division, but bar Grealish, Mings and (sometimes), SJM, the rest are still not good enough.  Luiz may be the other one.

[Toronto Villa]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I agree with that. We need reinforcements. And really good ones. But I still believe Lange coming in meant a complete review of what we did on the recruitment front. Most agree it didn’t go to plan do we have to give the bloke time to understand what we need and identify targets based on those needs. It’s not just about lashing another £100m out. And I have no doubt well documented targets like Watkins and Benrahma are still targets. They’ve not gone anywhere. But managers always say agents from all over are calling for their clients so we have make really sound decisions this summer. As well as allowing players bought last year to mature and give kids a chance to come through. The stats and therefore the needs speak for themselves. We need to defend better. We need to create more chances and score goals.

[sickbeggar]

I'm guessing going back 3 years is the real issue. I mean he had some right old crud on mega-wages back then. Richards, Gabby...........

[paul_e]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I don't think anyone has a problem with that, i certainly don't.

Where I get frustrated is 2 specific types of posts.
1. If the window closed today it would be shit and we'd be in a relegation battle again, or derivatives of that theme.
2. I posted how pissed off I was about a lack of signings yesterday and the day before but new day, new post about the lack of signings.

I'm not saying you can't be frustrated, I'm not saying you can't join in with conversations and I certainly don't expect everyone to think the same way, I'm just saying that logging on to the site having been off for a day and seeing 200 new posts should make people think that there's something to talk about and maybe some exciting links. Instead it's the same people (me included) having the same cyclical conversations over and over again. This year it feels worse than I can ever remember though.

[Damo70]

One thing on the wage bill. I completely hear Purslow and of course we don't want it getting out of control as in the last MON season but how are Leeds avoiding FFP restrictions given they're signing Germany and Spanish internationals for big money. Rodrigo must be on 60-70k given he cost them 30m.

Can only think they have a much smaller core squad than we do e.g. 4-5 youth players on the bench while we still have Kalinic, Lansbury, Hogan and Taylor all hanging about, combined weekly wage of over 100k there.

Leeds have Premier league money now so will spend it. I also think that Leeds have run quite a tight ship financially in the last few years and have quite a small squad so probably haven't accrued many financial losses.

[Steve67]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I agree with that. We need reinforcements. And really good ones. But I still believe Lange coming in meant a complete review of what we did on the recruitment front. Most agree it didn’t go to plan do we have to give the bloke time to understand what we need and identify targets based on those needs. It’s not just about lashing another £100m out. And I have no doubt well documented targets like Watkins and Benrahma are still targets. They’ve not gone anywhere. But managers always say agents from all over are calling for their clients so we have make really sound decisions this summer. As well as allowing players bought last year to mature and give kids a chance to come through. The stats and therefore the needs speak for themselves. We need to defend better. We need to create more chances and score goals.

Surely Lange had some players in mind when he arrived at the club?  It's not like his previous job was completely different to what he's doing now.  Are there no gems in the Danish league or players that he had an eye on already?

[Rory]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I don't think anyone has a problem with that, i certainly don't.

Where I get frustrated is 2 specific types of posts.
1. If the window closed today it would be shit and we'd be in a relegation battle again, or derivatives of that theme.
2. I posted how pissed off I was about a lack of signings yesterday and the day before but new day, new post about the lack of signings.

I'm not saying you can't be frustrated, I'm not saying you can't join in with conversations and I certainly don't expect everyone to think the same way, I'm just saying that logging on to the site having been off for a day and seeing 200 new posts should make people think that there's something to talk about and maybe some exciting links. Instead it's the same people (me included) having the same cyclical conversations over and over again. This year it feels worse than I can ever remember though.

That's fair enough. We do seem to be going round in circles a bit more than usual, but that's probably because we all know we need reinforcements and, Cash aside (who I think is a great addition), what's in the public domain isn't particularly reassuring.

[Toronto Villa]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I agree with that. We need reinforcements. And really good ones. But I still believe Lange coming in meant a complete review of what we did on the recruitment front. Most agree it didn’t go to plan do we have to give the bloke time to understand what we need and identify targets based on those needs. It’s not just about lashing another £100m out. And I have no doubt well documented targets like Watkins and Benrahma are still targets. They’ve not gone anywhere. But managers always say agents from all over are calling for their clients so we have make really sound decisions this summer. As well as allowing players bought last year to mature and give kids a chance to come through. The stats and therefore the needs speak for themselves. We need to defend better. We need to create more chances and score goals.

Surely Lange had some players in mind when he arrived at the club?  It's not like his previous job was completely different to what he's doing now.  Are there no gems in the Danish league or players that he had an eye on already?

I mean he might have. But they have to fit what we are looking for. Got to remember his former club was constantly in Europe. We just escaped the trap door by the skin of our nuts. Different criteria. I’m sure if have a decent season then recruitment for him and his team becomes a little easier. Especially with a years knowledge under their belt.

[Damo70]

I fully understand those who are worried. We barely survived last season, which was indeed a great effort after lockdown, but I was one of many who hoped that we'd make sure it wasn't quite such a close call this season.

I'm not going to slag off anyone at the club, and I recognise that the intricacies of trading and managing multi-million pound assets must be difficult, but I don't think it's unreasonable that a supporter would like to see a team that stayed up by 1 point strengthened before they feel confident of starting a new season.

I agree with that. We need reinforcements. And really good ones. But I still believe Lange coming in meant a complete review of what we did on the recruitment front. Most agree it didn’t go to plan do we have to give the bloke time to understand what we need and identify targets based on those needs. It’s not just about lashing another £100m out. And I have no doubt well documented targets like Watkins and Benrahma are still targets. They’ve not gone anywhere. But managers always say agents from all over are calling for their clients so we have make really sound decisions this summer. As well as allowing players bought last year to mature and give kids a chance to come through. The stats and therefore the needs speak for themselves. We need to defend better. We need to create more chances and score goals.

Surely Lange had some players in mind when he arrived at the club?  It's not like his previous job was completely different to what he's doing now.  Are there no gems in the Danish league or players that he had an eye on already?

I would like to think he has brought his laptop and Filofax with him rather than him starting from square one 

[kippaxvilla2]

The Watkins and Benrahma situations are strange.  Neither of them have been involved in pre season, their manager just says they’re still Brentford players but how long does it take for someone to either agree a fee or withdraw from a deal.  I would’ve thought they’d have been sold by now.  If no team is willing to meet their asking prices then it seems odd to not include them in any pre season games or indeed today’s competitive fixture.

[charlatan]

The Watkins and Benrahma situations are strange.  Neither of them have been involved in pre season, their manager just says they’re still Brentford players but how long does it take for someone to either agree a fee or withdraw from a deal.  I would’ve thought they’d have been sold by now.  If no team is willing to meet their asking prices then it seems odd to not include them in any pre season games or indeed today’s competitive fixture.

I'd assume it means Frank anticipates they will leave because the club has told him (and them) that it needs to sell, so he is not interested in wasting practice time on players who aren't going to be playing for him going forward. The club has had enough interest that it feels in no rush to settle for what it sees as undervalued fees with a fair amount of time left until the window closes.

It would surprise me if they didn't play in the first league match, but then remained at Brentford.

[john2710]

The transfer window closes on 5th October but for transfers between PL & EFL clubs the window is open until 16th October.

Therefore transfers for Watkins, Benrhama or any other EFL player may run for a while. It could be who blinks first.

[Gareth]

The Watkins and Benrahma situations are strange.  Neither of them have been involved in pre season, their manager just says they’re still Brentford players but how long does it take for someone to either agree a fee or withdraw from a deal.  I would’ve thought they’d have been sold by now.  If no team is willing to meet their asking prices then it seems odd to not include them in any pre season games or indeed today’s competitive fixture.

They obviously will want top dollar for both which is 100% their right as we would with Jack if anyone bid - part of me thinks if either were totally number 1 on the transfer list that the deal would have been done as they are clearly available at the right price

[sickbeggar]

The transfer window closes on 5th October but for transfers between PL & EFL clubs the window is open until 16th October.

Therefore transfers for Watkins, Benrhama or any other EFL player may run for a while. It could be who blinks first.

Brentford are playing a risky game. We''ll have played 4 games by then and with Samatta and Davis on fire we probably won't want them. *cough*