gshaw wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 6:26 pm
Monkey Boy wrote: I know it’s easier said than done but I really think if we stay up(which I’m sure we will
) think we must take a look at our long term strategy .
Tbh I don't think much will change. RW has been frustrated by the late transfer activity that left us a month behind the curve fitness wise but the DoF wants to do it that way to save 1 month of wages.
Did we get better deals than "that club beginning with S" by waiting? Questionable.
So to put this late transfer bullshit to bed:- We Signed:-
1/7 Ethan Gailbraith on expiry of his Man U contract a day earlier.
1/7 Dan Agyei on expiry of his Crewe contract a day earlier.
1/7 Max Sanders on expiry of his Lincoln contract a day earlier.
5/7 Idris El Mizouni on loan from Ipswich Town.
6/7 Sam Howes from Wealdstone.
10/7 Sol Brynn from Middlesboro. This was the earliest date M'boro would allow him to join us.
21/7 Joe Pigott from Ipswich on the same day he had his contract at Portman Road ripped up.
1/8 Ed Turns on loan from Brighton 2 days after returning from Brighton's US pre season tournament.
2/8 Jordan Graham who has been talking with other clubs after his release from Birmingham. Wellen's really wanted him.
14/8 Shaq Forde from Watford after they agreed he could join.
1/9 Brandon Cooper on deadline day after injury to Beckles .
First three signed on the first day they became free agents, could not have signed any sooner.
El Miz Signed because of his excellent relationship with ML - no-one thought we could get him back but Ling got him.
Sam Howes was a bit left field as signings go.
Sol Brynn signed for us the deal had been in the making for a couple of weeks but Boro wanted him for pre season training before letting him come to us.
Joe Pigot had another season at Ipswich and had to negotiate his release and joined us the day he left Ipswich Town.
Ed Turns signed at the earliest opportunity after Brighton agreed he could return, He was in America with BHA three days prior to signing.
Jordan Graham was speaking to other clubs before we got him we had been talking to him for some time before he made his mind up to come to us.
Shaq Forde not sure how long he was in the pipeline but brought in to cover Agyei and Drinan getting injured.
Brandon Cooper signed on deadline day to give us a fourth centre back as cover.
So 9 of our 11 signing made before the season started Forde and Cooper signed before deadline day was done. It's not that they were signed late but to get decent players in a club like ours needs to be patient because we haven't got a budget to spend money on players - apart from Howes (nominal fee) all our signings were out of contract or loans. We have had terrible luck with injuries early on and it has forced our hand with the Forde and Cooper signings.
We don't put off signing players to save a months wages here and there I'm afraid there are some proper mugs on here who will believe anything, Ling commented last close season that one of our signings had delayed putting pen to paper and at least it had saved the club a months wages it was tongue in cheek but those of a limited IQ are unable to separate this from fact. it was a one off and down to the player not the club.
It's amazing how as soon as our form dips an assortment of anti Lingers - doom laden know nothings, general idiots and wind up merchants crawl out of the woodwork and jump on the bandwagon. I have every confidence that RW/ML will manage to wheel and deal in January and bring in a couple of new faces. But whatever Ling does it will never be enough.