TICK TOCK

[Onneravineet]

It will soon be Tuesday and our ITKers and rumour mongers’ alike will be able to hang up their binoculars for a few months!
Now, Benji apart, I feel the general consensus is that it has been a good window with the Amazing and encouraging cancelling out the disappointing and inevitable losses and the middle ground pretty much, well staying middle(ish).
So I thought I would offer my summary and then pose the question…What can or should we expect on Tuesday!?!?

First off:
Transfers Out
Palacios – No Loss – Significant Wages Saved - Free
Sorensen – Loss but replaced – Decent Wages
Wilko – No loss – Wages saved but has short term deal
Huth – No loss* – Significant wages and reported £3-4M inc add ons
N’Zonzi – Significant Loss – Good wages and received £7M a decent fee in last year
Ness – No loss – Average/Low wage – Free
Begovic – Big Loss but succeeded by Jack – Good wages and received £8M a decent fee in last year

*Huth only made 1 substitution appearance last season as a contribution to Stoke

Transfers In:
Wollscheid – Average gain – Squad player – Already contributed this season - £2.7M
Haugaard – Replaces Jack as the successor – Good solid signing at the reported £420k
Joselu – Has potential, addition to the squad possibly a successor to the Crouch option – contributed already - £5.75M
Shay Given – Replaces Tommy – Decent wages – has contributed already and will be a great signing
Glen Johnson – Strong addition to the squad, improves on Bards – High wages probably for us - Free
Moha – Has potential and will need time, not bought to replace a loss.
Afellay – Great signing – Free – Has contributed and has great pedigree. Will need to settle more to meet N’Zonzi standard but has potential and has started as well as Fonz did when he first came…he didn’t have too many fans. He could hold down the position until a young un comes through! Shenton? Molina?
Molina – Great pedigree could be amazing???? Free so why not?
Shaqiri – AMAZING signing!!!! £12M!?!?!?! A sale of the fucking century – High wages.
Van Ginkel - Loan, showed promise and could develop into a very solid loan - average wage - loan fee (thanks Burge)

So, ignoring the details of signing on fees etc and looking solely at transfer fees stated:

Recouped - £18M
Wages wise we are probably spending a lot more than what we were! All guess work but:
Palacios £35k + Sorensen £30k + Huth £40k + Wilko £25k + N’Zonzi £30k + Ness £15k + Bego £40k = £215k?

Spent - £20.7M + undis
Wolly £30k + Haugaard £10k + Joselu £30k + Given £30k + Johnson £50k + Moha £15k + Afellay £40k + Molina £15k + Shaqiri £60k = £280k?

As I say totally guess work?

So not going all Benji but with £3M spent in terms of net (less fees etc) we may have more in reserve?
As for wages, in addition to the losses listed Shea and Edu are also reduced so that brings it about even I believe so all in all a great window for me!!!!
So for me a MASSIVE well done Stoke City and all of the team, fucking excellent work!!!!

Personally I think we’re done for this window but if we need any more reinforcements come January we will have the pennies I am sure!
Having said that though I wouldn't be surprised to see one more circa £12-15M signing...just because Sir Peter has a phenomenal transfer wand and he may want to use it!

What does everyone else think? Are we done?

[realstokebloke]

I think we should trust MLH to get the team settled and ease the MF / CB worries and therefore we could still easily afford Yarmo & / or Super Jon Calleri.

Simple.

[lordb]

I think although we could do with a 3rd winger & an experienced CB we are probably done

but who knows?

might be couple of players who leave

[Deleted]

Your forgiven for your silliness yesterday. A very fair assessment and great to actually see somebody bring positive on this board for once. We have signed players we would not have even dreamt about signing just a short while ago.

[nicholasjalcock]

Aug 28, 2015 12:42:17 GMT Onneravineet said:

It will soon be Tuesday and our ITKers and rumour mongers’ alike will be able to hang up their binoculars for a few months!
Now, Benji apart, I feel the general consensus is that it has been a good window with the Amazing and encouraging cancelling out the disappointing and inevitable losses and the middle ground pretty much, well staying middle(ish).
So I thought I would offer my summary and then pose the question…What can or should we expect on Tuesday!?!?

First off:
Transfers Out
Palacios – No Loss – Significant Wages Saved - Free
Sorensen – Loss but replaced – Decent Wages
Wilko – No loss – Wages saved but has short term deal
Huth – No loss* – Significant wages and reported £3-4M inc add ons
N’Zonzi – Significant Loss – Good wages and received £7M a decent fee in last year
Ness – No loss – Average/Low wage – Free
Begovic – Big Loss but succeeded by Jack – Good wages and received £8M a decent fee in last year

*Huth only made 1 substitution appearance last season as a contribution to Stoke

Transfers In:
Wollscheid – Average gain – Squad player – Already contributed this season - £2.7M
Haugaard – Replaces Jack as the successor – Good solid signing at the reported £420k
Joselu – Has potential, addition to the squad possibly a successor to the Crouch option – contributed already - £5.75M
Shay Given – Replaces Tommy – Decent wages – has contributed already and will be a great signing
Glen Johnson – Strong addition to the squad, improves on Bards – High wages probably for us - Free
Moha – Has potential and will need time, not bought to replace a loss.
Afellay – Great signing – Free – Has contributed and has great pedigree. Will need to settle more to meet N’Zonzi standard but has potential and has started as well as Fonz did when he first came…he didn’t have too many fans. He could hold down the position until a young un comes through! Shenton? Molina?
Molina – Great pedigree could be amazing???? Free so why not?
Shaqiri – AMAZING signing!!!! £12M!?!?!?! A sale of the fucking century – High wages.

So, ignoring the details of signing on fees etc and looking solely at transfer fees stated:

Recouped - £18M
Wages wise we are probably spending a lot more than what we were! All guess work but:
Palacios £35k + Sorensen £30k + Huth £40k + Wilko £25k + N’Zonzi £30k + Ness £15k + Bego £40k = £215k?

Spent - £20.7M + undis
Wolly £30k + Haugaard £10k + Joselu £30k + Given £30k + Johnson £50k + Moha £15k + Afellay £40k + Molina £15k + Shaqiri £60k = £280k?

As I say totally guess work?

So not going all Benji but with £3M spent in terms of net (less fees etc) we may have more in reserve?
As for wages, in addition to the losses listed Shea and Edu are also reduced so that brings it about even I believe so all in all a great window for me!!!!
So for me a MASSIVE well done Stoke City and all of the team, fucking excellent work!!!!

Personally I think we’re done for this window but if we need any more reinforcements come January we will have the pennies I am sure!
Having said that though I wouldn't be surprised to see one more circa £12-15M signing...just because Sir Peter has a phenomenal transfer wand and he may want to use it!

What does everyone else think? Are we done?

I think this is an excellent summary. Your net transfer spend tallies with one I did and Transfermarkt too of about £3m. As you point out, our wages bill hasn't exploded either. Last table I saw, Stoke were 15th in the EPL wages league. Are we done? Would be nice to see 'Yarmo' preferably or Calleri join us. Other than that, I think MH is happy but I like many others would like a commanding CH!

[sufolkstokie]

MH: I think transfer deadline day will be quiet... Sky don't need to come to the training ground! We've done a lot of work already and I don't anticipate too many comings or goings. We try to do business early, it's not always possible. Some times you have to wait for the right deals. Other clubs try to keep their cards close to their chest and do everything late. I'm happy with the group. At the moment we're ok.

[burge2u]

A good summary, but no mention of Van Ginkel (loan)

[Onneravineet]

Aug 28, 2015 13:56:37 GMT burge2u said:

A good summary, but no mention of Van Ginkel (loan)

Cheers Burge - Edited

[MilanStokie]

I would be astounded if either Sorensen or Given were/are on £30k a week.

Same goes for Johnson on 50k...

I might be wrong like but if they are, that is bloody ridiculous!

[Onneravineet]

Aug 28, 2015 14:44:10 GMT MilanStokie said:

I would be astounded if either Sorensen or Given were/are on £30k a week.

Same goes for Johnson on 50k...

I might be wrong like but if they are, that is bloody ridiculous!

Considering Given would have been paid massive wages at both Villa and Citeh I would expect that £30k would be the least he would have signed for.
I remember Tommy discussions at the time that he was one of the higher earners before Crouch et al. You could of course be right though and as said it is all just guesswork.

[stokebloke]

Shaqiri alone made my summer after that nothing mattered

[nott1]

Please repeat after me:-

WE WANT YARMO
WE WANT YARMO
WE WANT YARMO
WE WANT YARMO

[jeycov]

So who will miss out / move on when we nominate our 25?

Ryan?

[thebet365]

Aug 28, 2015 14:44:10 GMT MilanStokie said:

Same goes for Johnson on 50k...

I might be wrong like but if they are, that is bloody ridiculous!

Johnson was on 100K a week at liverpool, we would have had to offer a juicy wage to land him.

[jezzascfc]

A very good assessment! Johnson will be on around 50k, I am sure, and Given on 30k seems about right. 30k is now apparently the average PL squad wage, crazy as it seems!

[greystokie]

I'd like to see a pacey left sided player a la Moses signed but don't think it'll happen. Callieri to sign before Tuesday.

Wingie will go out on loan and either Crouch or Walters will be sold are my predictions.

All pure guesswork... No ITK pretensions

[a.d.faye.god]

We may well e holding something back in reserve for January. I always think teams who make one or two strong additions then are very well placed. The group should be settled, bojan back to his best, Ryan returned to fitness, then bring in Sergei Roberto and yarmolenko and watch us go!

EDIT: also agree with other comments, nice to see a positive, level headed assessment. It's easy to get sucked into pessimism on here at times

[Titan Uranus]

Honestly thought we would be in for Evans.

See he's signed for TP.

Good signing for the baggies that.

[Onneravineet]

Aug 28, 2015 17:37:07 GMT a.d.faye.god said:

We may well e holding something back in reserve for January. I always think teams who make one or two strong additions then are very well placed. The group should be settled, bojan back to his best, Ryan returned to fitness, then bring in Sergei Roberto and yarmolenko and watch us go!

EDIT: also agree with other comments, nice to see a positive, level headed assessment. It's easy to get sucked into pessimism on here at times

Those two in January would be beyond dreams!

[hartzchoco]

Dippers are now willing to send Borini out on loan. Not sayin, just sayin.

[stokiejoe]

Aug 28, 2015 18:27:55 GMT hartzchoco said:

Dippers are now willing to send Borini out on loan. Not sayin, just sayin.

might be worth a bid at a sensible price as competition for Arnie, especially as they want rid. Only 23.

[benjaminbiscuit]

Well for what's its worth and it's alll opinion .

If we are really done my take is it's been a shocking window because

- we have sold prize assets too easily as prices have increased throughout the summer
- we have lost our outstanding proven midfield player without replacement and didn't need to given our position .
- we have failed to cover for our injured skipper which we knew was a risk in may
- we have failed to replace our stand out left winger from last year
- we have not met the pre window hype of investment in the first. team
- we have underinvested dramatically versus our competitor set
- we have changed large numbers but not quality and risked the power and physique which was a proven part of our success the most valuable legacy of our previous manager
-we have put huge faith in a loan player as the lynch pin of our whole team and one who is totally unproven
- we are ignoring the evidence of the First games if we bereave it's all good news
- we have materially unbalanced the squad
- we have proven me right in investing less than £5 m in a First team that needed 25m to improve if we were set on selling nzozni .


Of course at this stage it's opinion by December the 31st there will be some evdidene to support or oppose the two opposing views of the wndow but for me it's been a shocker .

[a.d.faye.god]

Aug 28, 2015 19:12:51 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Well for what's its worth and it's alll opinion .

If we are really done my take is it's been a shocking window because

- we have sold prize assets too easily as prices have increased throughout the summer
- we have lost our outstanding proven midfield player without replacement and didn't need to given our position .
- we have failed to cover for our injured skipper which we knew was a risk in may
- we have failed to replace our stand out left winger from last year
- we have not met the pre window hype of investment in the first. team
- we have underinvested dramatically versus our competitor set
- we have changed large numbers but not quality and risked the power and physique which was a proven part of our success the most valuable legacy of our previous manager
-we have put huge faith in a loan player as the lynch pin of our whole team and one who is totally unproven
- we are ignoring the evidence of the First games if we bereave it's all good news
- we have materially unbalanced the squad
- we have proven me right in investing less than £5 m in a First team that needed 25m to improve if we were set on selling nzozni .


Of course at this stage it's opinion by December the 31st there will be some evdidene to support or oppose the two opposing views of the wndow but for me it's been a shocker .

Who was the stand out left winger?

[Davef]

Aug 28, 2015 19:12:51 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Well for what's its worth and it's alll opinion .

If we are really done my take is it's been a shocking window because

- we have sold prize assets too easily as prices have increased throughout the summer
- we have lost our outstanding proven midfield player without replacement and didn't need to given our position .
- we have failed to cover for our injured skipper which we knew was a risk in may
- we have failed to replace our stand out left winger from last year
- we have not met the pre window hype of investment in the first. team
- we have underinvested dramatically versus our competitor set
- we have changed large numbers but not quality and risked the power and physique which was a proven part of our success the most valuable legacy of our previous manager
-we have put huge faith in a loan player as the lynch pin of our whole team and one who is totally unproven
- we are ignoring the evidence of the First games if we bereave it's all good news
- we have materially unbalanced the squad
- we have proven me right in investing less than £5 m in a First team that needed 25m to improve if we were set on selling nzozni .


Of course at this stage it's opinion by December the 31st there will be some evdidene to support or oppose the two opposing views of the wndow but for me it's been a shocker .

It's a good job you're not a Man United fan.

[LDE76]

Aug 28, 2015 19:12:51 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Well for what's its worth and it's alll opinion .

If we are really done my take is it's been a shocking window because

- we have sold prize assets too easily as prices have increased throughout the summer
- we have lost our outstanding proven midfield player without replacement and didn't need to given our position .
- we have failed to cover for our injured skipper which we knew was a risk in may
- we have failed to replace our stand out left winger from last year
- we have not met the pre window hype of investment in the first. team
- we have underinvested dramatically versus our competitor set
- we have changed large numbers but not quality and risked the power and physique which was a proven part of our success the most valuable legacy of our previous manager
-we have put huge faith in a loan player as the lynch pin of our whole team and one who is totally unproven
- we are ignoring the evidence of the First games if we bereave it's all good news
- we have materially unbalanced the squad
- we have proven me right in investing less than £5 m in a First team that needed 25m to improve if we were set on selling nzozni .


Of course at this stage it's opinion by December the 31st there will be some evdidene to support or oppose the two opposing views of the wndow but for me it's been a shocker .

It's like the Winnie the Pooh story when Tigger hid Eeyore's zoloft.

[Deleted]

Didn't Hackett say he would get his arse out in wrights if traore didn't sign for us? Or something like that

[benjaminbiscuit]

Question 1 Moses


Question 2. man utd have hung on to their best saleable asset to the very death , have sold fringe players for big money , and strengthened their area of weakness , have no unproven loan players and aren't finished , plus it's a ridiculous comparison however there first three results suggest progress ours don't

[Onneravineet]

Aug 28, 2015 19:12:51 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Well for what's its worth and it's alll opinion .

If we are really done my take is it's been a shocking window because

- we have sold prize assets too easily as prices have increased throughout the summer
- we have lost our outstanding proven midfield player without replacement and didn't need to given our position .
- we have failed to cover for our injured skipper which we knew was a risk in may
- we have failed to replace our stand out left winger from last year
- we have not met the pre window hype of investment in the first. team
- we have underinvested dramatically versus our competitor set
- we have changed large numbers but not quality and risked the power and physique which was a proven part of our success the most valuable legacy of our previous manager
-we have put huge faith in a loan player as the lynch pin of our whole team and one who is totally unproven
- we are ignoring the evidence of the First games if we bereave it's all good news
- we have materially unbalanced the squad
- we have proven me right in investing less than £5 m in a First team that needed 25m to improve if we were set on selling nzozni .


Of course at this stage it's opinion by December the 31st there will be some evdidene to support or oppose the two opposing views of the wndow but for me it's been a shocker .

I particularly like your 3rd bottom point where you went all Chinese.

All your points are well thought out but you are certainly a glass half empty kind of guy. You also miss the point that Moses played 20 something games.
Ryan's injury was bad luck, with the benefit of hindsight and everything it is easy to slate at this stage.
One thing I would certainly say is don't be too eager to write off Afellay and MvG as N'Zonzi fillers. They are VERY good footballers, both of them. Font got dogs abuse in seasons past, especially under TP when there were numerous calls for him to be dropped by plenty of those that laud him now.
One thing I am extremely glad of, that you give absolutely no credit for, is the presence of youth. Remember Watson et al.? I give the management team credit that they are trying to integrate it and that in Molina and Shenton we are covering the succession planning for midfield in a similar vein to Southampton.

So, glass half full with a curly straw for me.

[a.d.faye.god]

Aug 28, 2015 20:12:26 GMT benjaminbiscuit said:

Question 1 Moses


Question 2. man utd have hung on to their best saleable asset to the very death , have sold fringe players for big money , and strengthened their area of weakness , have no unproven loan players and aren't finished , plus it's a ridiculous comparison however there first three results suggest progress ours don't

So the same Moses that was wildly inconsistent, hugely injury prone and clearly didn't want to be here?

You have some very rose tinted glasses when it suits

[benjaminbiscuit]

Look up points away with Moses in the team last year