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Post by nott1 on Jul 6, 2023 7:35:55 GMT
I have decided not to go to Meadow Lane on Saturday, even though it's just a short walk for me, as we could easily be humiliated!
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Post by biddulphchav on Jul 6, 2023 7:42:57 GMT
At this stage in a pre-season have we ever had a worse playing squad? I remember before the 1984/85 season we were very weak. That turned out to be a record breaking season for all the wrong reasons. This is a high risk strategy that is being taken to gamble on being able to recruit 10+ players in the few weeks we have left before the season starts. Not to mention the back room staff. Hopefully Alex Neal is a genius or this could all end very badly. Is there a plan? Hard to see it. I've read a lot of postings like this over the last few weeks. Few if any of them have come up with an alternative strategy. What would a different approach to that taken look like? Which of the players allowed to leave would you have retained and in what way would keeping them improve on the teams performances of previous seasons? The poster above can't see a plan, to me it's obvious: recruit a set of players that fit AN's vision of how he wants his team to play. That's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to happen in one transfer window, probably not even in one season. It's going to take time to recruit the right players rather than just any available players. Most, if not all, of those we are chasing will have alternative options to consider and some of them will choose to leave the decision till as late as possible and then decide that Stoke is not for them. We have to accept that. I agree it's a risky strategy and might indeed fail but unless you're prepared to endure more of the football we've suffered for the last 5 years I see no alternative. We are carrying too much risk if you ask me. We need too many new players and if we don’t get our primary targets there is a big big chance we end up in the shit. What could we have done differently? A few things I think, we shouldn’t have released Morgan Fox for one, and we should have given more minutes to players like Tymon, DWP and possibly even Edwards and Taylor last season instead of loan players who we had no chance of signing. He might get it right, but if he doesn’t we could really struggle.
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Post by idle on Jul 6, 2023 7:47:00 GMT
While I agree it's looking bleak right now, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy summer. Total rebuilds never are, and those who thought we'd sign a full new first 11 by July 1st have played too much Football Manager. We're not really a desirable club for players anymore, and given the rebuild it's also a risky prospect for the players.
We're not going to have a competitive squad until right up to the first match of the season, but I'd rather have the new players "needing time to gel" than us desperately signing donkeys or hasbeens looking for a payday.
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Post by march4 on Jul 6, 2023 8:03:06 GMT
While I agree it's looking bleak right now, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy summer. Total rebuilds never are, and those who thought we'd sign a full new first 11 by July 1st have played too much Football Manager. We're not really a desirable club for players anymore, and given the rebuild it's also a risky prospect for the players. We're not going to have a competitive squad until right up to the first match of the season, but I'd rather have the new players "needing time to gel" than us desperately signing donkeys or hasbeens looking for a payday. It will take until the end of the transfer window before the squad is complete. It was always going to be so.
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Post by idle on Jul 6, 2023 8:17:12 GMT
While I agree it's looking bleak right now, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy summer. Total rebuilds never are, and those who thought we'd sign a full new first 11 by July 1st have played too much Football Manager. We're not really a desirable club for players anymore, and given the rebuild it's also a risky prospect for the players. We're not going to have a competitive squad until right up to the first match of the season, but I'd rather have the new players "needing time to gel" than us desperately signing donkeys or hasbeens looking for a payday. It will take until the end of the transfer window before the squad is complete. It was always going to be so. Of course, but the squad needs to be competitive from day one, or at least a first 11. This is the first deadline. It's still a month away, so definitely doable.
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Post by neddy on Jul 6, 2023 8:23:19 GMT
It would be interesting to see if they would admit that they are finding it more difficult than they had envisaged?
It seems that way doesn’t it re Pearson and maybe others perhaps holding out for lower premier interest such as Luton. I’m pretty sure they will put out the hold your nerve for better players view which I support but it does seem concerning.
Perhaps the forum they may be running next week in Spain may provide some context? Personally I’m not expecting any more done deals until they are back from Spain?
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Post by march4 on Jul 6, 2023 8:25:15 GMT
It will take until the end of the transfer window before the squad is complete. It was always going to be so. Of course, but the squad needs to be competitive from day one, or at least a first 11. This is the first deadline. It's still a month away, so definitely doable. Totally agree.
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Post by greystokie on Jul 6, 2023 8:31:38 GMT
I've read a lot of postings like this over the last few weeks. Few if any of them have come up with an alternative strategy. What would a different approach to that taken look like? Which of the players allowed to leave would you have retained and in what way would keeping them improve on the teams performances of previous seasons? The poster above can't see a plan, to me it's obvious: recruit a set of players that fit AN's vision of how he wants his team to play. That's not going to happen overnight. It's not going to happen in one transfer window, probably not even in one season. It's going to take time to recruit the right players rather than just any available players. Most, if not all, of those we are chasing will have alternative options to consider and some of them will choose to leave the decision till as late as possible and then decide that Stoke is not for them. We have to accept that. I agree it's a risky strategy and might indeed fail but unless you're prepared to endure more of the football we've suffered for the last 5 years I see no alternative. We are carrying too much risk if you ask me. We need too many new players and if we don’t get our primary targets there is a big big chance we end up in the shit. What could we have done differently? A few things I think, we shouldn’t have released Morgan Fox for one, and we should have given more minutes to players like Tymon, DWP and possibly even Edwards and Taylor last season instead of loan players who we had no chance of signing. He might get it right, but if he doesn’t we could really struggle. I really can't see how what you've suggested would move the dial very much. Fox has already been replaced by Stevens who will probably turn out to be no better or worse. So, not much change there, then. Tymon has limited impact and is a poor crosser of the ball and can't play in a back four: supposedly AN's preferred defence. DWP, Edwards and Taylor are marginal at best and I think their inclusion would have made us worse rather than better.
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Post by boskampsflaps on Jul 6, 2023 8:39:59 GMT
A little PR from the club would go a long way!!! Fans will quite rightly start to get a little twitchy the longer the silence continues!!! We're not asking for names, just a little update now and then of what's going on in the background.... Days are now turning to weeks, and the silence coming from the club is deafening!!! Just read the sentinel, they do all the clubs PR for them these days 😂
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Post by hoppo96 on Jul 6, 2023 8:40:19 GMT
OK then let's go buy any Tom dick or Harry like we did in January and hope they play well as a team we could end up doing that anyway... we should have been planning for this window from march
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Post by wilcopotter on Jul 6, 2023 8:40:44 GMT
A little PR from the club would go a long way!!! Fans will quite rightly start to get a little twitchy the longer the silence continues!!! We're not asking for names, just a little update now and then of what's going on in the background.... Days are now turning to weeks, and the silence coming from the club is deafening!!! So what are they going to say? Sorry, we haven’t got many players yet, but we will do. Post Co-Vid the football world has changed below the Prem with regard to transfer fee capability, sizes of squads and level of wages. I think a lot of players will be panicking and dropping their wage demands as August process. It’s all a game of bluff from the agents at the minute I would expect. Plus, all the Prem big business will cause the ripple effect of player availability, something Pulis used to talk about 10 years ago.
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Post by knype on Jul 6, 2023 8:43:38 GMT
I have decided not to go to Meadow Lane on Saturday, even though it's just a short walk for me, as we could easily be humiliated! It's a pre-season friendly?
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Post by prestwichpotter on Jul 6, 2023 8:46:37 GMT
I have decided not to go to Meadow Lane on Saturday, even though it's just a short walk for me, as we could easily be humiliated! I don't think you can be humiliated in a pre-season friendly, it's a fitness exercise.................
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Post by wilcopotter on Jul 6, 2023 8:47:30 GMT
OK then let's go buy any Tom dick or Harry like we did in January and hope they play well as a team we could end up doing that anyway... we should have been planning for this window from march We probably have been internally, hence all the players that have left. But can’t see players committing to new contracts for next club in March, they will wait to se best offer, probably up until latter part of August in some cases.
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Post by prestwichpotter on Jul 6, 2023 8:50:44 GMT
There's still time, it's only worrying if we're missing out on our key targets to other clubs because players aren't being sold or believing the "project"
If that's the case then we'll end up with a team full of players way down the wanted list..............
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Post by suck_the_mop. on Jul 6, 2023 8:56:17 GMT
Stick or twist isn't it, plenty of shit could be signed right now full squad of tat your better players will hang on or be discussing their futures with their clubs we have simply got to wait and hope we can get who we want. Is it a risk damn right it is but i don't see we have a choice, we can't go spunking money again with ridiculous offers and wages etc, i just hope and pray it works out..
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Post by questionable on Jul 6, 2023 8:59:28 GMT
Obviously there’s a reason why most of the staff have left, no idea why but there’s no smoke without fire.
This has a disaster written all over it and in truth we’ve been recklessly heading this way for the past 6 seasons so it doesn’t come as a massive surprise.
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Post by somersetstokie on Jul 6, 2023 9:03:16 GMT
At this stage in a pre-season have we ever had a worse playing squad? I remember before the 1984/85 season we were very weak. That turned out to be a record breaking season for all the wrong reasons. This is a high risk strategy that is being taken to gamble on being able to recruit 10+ players in the few weeks we have left before the season starts. Not to mention the back room staff. Hopefully Alex Neal is a genius or this could all end very badly. Is there a plan? Hard to see it. This is a good time to be an optimist, giving a chance to survive the apparent doubts and gloom surrounding the football club. In the 1950's there was a popular Radio series called Dick Barton, Special Agent, and our action hero would get into all sorts of scrapes, before the script informed you dramatically that "with one bound he was free." I am rather clinging to the hope that Alec Neill can in many ways emulate Mr Barton and pluck some huge surprise out of the air and suddenly change the situation!
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Post by somersetstokie on Jul 6, 2023 9:07:05 GMT
I have decided not to go to Meadow Lane on Saturday, even though it's just a short walk for me, as we could easily be humiliated! I haven't been to Meadow Lane since a huge match in 1979! There could be some very contrasting memories coming out of this one.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Jul 6, 2023 9:23:33 GMT
Obviously there’s a reason why most of the staff have left, no idea why but there’s no smoke without fire. This has a disaster written all over it and in truth we’ve been recklessly heading this way for the past 6 seasons so it doesn’t come as a massive surprise. Who out of all the staff that have left would you have kept?
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Post by chiswickpotter on Jul 6, 2023 9:40:23 GMT
It would be interesting to see if they would admit that they are finding it more difficult than they had envisaged? It seems that way doesn’t it re Pearson and maybe others perhaps holding out for lower premier interest such as Luton. I’m pretty sure they will put out the hold your nerve for better players view which I support but it does seem concerning. Perhaps the forum they may be running next week in Spain may provide some context? Personally I’m not expecting any more done deals until they are back from Spain? Not sure it is different to what they expected. I spoke to the older Chairman at the end of the season and he was optimistic but said if it was easy everyone would do it. Unlike most posters, they know it is a very competitive, unpredictable market and time and patience are required. Inevitable we won’t be done until the end of the window
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Post by greystokie on Jul 6, 2023 9:44:16 GMT
OK then let's go buy any Tom dick or Harry like we did in January and hope they play well as a team we could end up doing that anyway... we should have been planning for this window from march Is there any evidence that we haven't?Just because players haven't been signed doesn't mean that AN and his staff have been sitting on their hands. I imagine that we've made enquiries about lots of players and even made offers for a few of them. The decision, however, lays with the players and their agents. The best approach, from their point of view, is to hold off committing for as long as possible till they are sure that Stoke offers the best deal. I know it's frustrating from the fans point of view but that's the way of the world of football, unfortunately.
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Post by nott1 on Jul 6, 2023 9:50:01 GMT
I have decided not to go to Meadow Lane on Saturday, even though it's just a short walk for me, as we could easily be humiliated! I don't think you can be humiliated in a pre-season friendly, it's a fitness exercise................. Tell that to my County neighbours!
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Post by thevoid on Jul 6, 2023 9:53:12 GMT
All those other people on the plane don’t count as your friends you know😉 Deserves it's own thread, how much would Voidy have to pay you to go on his stag do There's no room left anyway, Bluers and Wilko bagsied the last room 😉
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Post by thevoid on Jul 6, 2023 9:55:14 GMT
There's still time, it's only worrying if we're missing out on our key targets to other clubs because players aren't being sold or believing the "project" If that's the case then we'll end up with a team full of players way down the wanted list.............. Aren't we already in that territory?
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Jul 6, 2023 9:56:26 GMT
Obviously there’s a reason why most of the staff have left, no idea why but there’s no smoke without fire. This has a disaster written all over it and in truth we’ve been recklessly heading this way for the past 6 seasons so it doesn’t come as a massive surprise. Who out of all the staff that have left would you have kept? He doesn't do answers, just baseless doom-mongering. He's the Wish version of Benji.
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Post by Laughing Gravy on Jul 6, 2023 9:57:47 GMT
Who out of all the staff that have left would you have kept? He doesn't do answers, just baseless doom-mongering. He's the Wish version of Benji. Hence his name. 😉 Just out of interest as far as I can remember the only one who left voluntarily was Richard Walker who went to Wolves which at the moment is a bigger job. The rest were sacked by Neil so that he could bring his own/better versions in. So the inference that they all left because they hated Neil is bollox. No smoke without fire is such a ludicrous phrase.
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Post by somersetstokie on Jul 6, 2023 10:02:32 GMT
While I agree it's looking bleak right now, we all knew this wasn't going to be an easy summer. Total rebuilds never are, and those who thought we'd sign a full new first 11 by July 1st have played too much Football Manager. We're not really a desirable club for players anymore, and given the rebuild it's also a risky prospect for the players. We're not going to have a competitive squad until right up to the first match of the season, but I'd rather have the new players "needing time to gel" than us desperately signing donkeys or hasbeens looking for a payday. I'm not really sure that we're a desirable club for fans either!
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Post by bunnyscfc on Jul 6, 2023 10:24:04 GMT
Perhaps the impatient fans weren't the ones who clapped them off after getting relegated against Palace?
Sorry, and I know there are a few weeks left before we start the season, but I really can't see how anyone can't be slightly worried about our squad. Even more worrying is how people think that players will be falling over themselves to join a club with five bottom half Championship finishes and with no sign of that being put right anytime soon? Most worrying for me is how not one of the loan players we had last season look like joining us.
Maybe in a month's time it'll have changed - but we will be playing catch up again with players basically getting to know each other's names in August. We shopuld have had a number in by now before our Spanish camp.....the names on that lost who are going fills me with dread.
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Post by boskampsflaps on Jul 6, 2023 10:28:27 GMT
OK then let's go buy any Tom dick or Harry like we did in January and hope they play well as a team we could end up doing that anyway... we should have been planning for this window from march Who said we weren't?
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