Apologies to Dean Austin (1 Viewer)

AFCCOVENTRY · Feb 25, 2025

I will be the first to admit that I thought he was having a clanger as Head of Recruitment but he’s got some real quality and future assets in this squad.

We all knew on paper these were good players but we really did question if something wrong happened with recruitment.

Just shows what a different manager/setup can do with a group of players. No dig at Robins but realism. Unfortunately Austin got caught in the firing line of our anger and frustration at the start of the season.

The likes of Dovin, EMC and Rudoni are fantastic additions and to get Grimes in Jan is outstanding.

The money has been spent wisely since he came in. We have a very valuable squad.

Currently a top 7 deck soon to be top 6!

rob9872 · Feb 25, 2025

I wonder how many are still quoting that we've wasted £45m. I argued it at the time and would even more defiantly now. We're buying projects to improve not finished articles, they cost significantly more. Not all of them will work, but it's about growing the group and incremental improvements. Nothing has changed. As long as we keep investing and showing improvement year on year that should be all we expect.

AFCCOVENTRY · Feb 25, 2025

Play off season we only had a couple of real stars. Vik and Gus and Sheaf.

Now we have Dovin, MVE, Grimes, Sheaf, Rudoni, EMC, Wright, Simms

Mucca Mad Boys · Feb 25, 2025

AFCCOVENTRY said:
Play off season we only had a couple of real stars. Vik and Gus and Sheaf.

Now we have Dovin, MVE, Grimes, Sheaf, , EMC, Wright, Simms

The team is a lot better overall this season and even last season where we were on course to beat 22/23’s points total before only picking up 4/24 points from Easter Monday!

Grimes will really help fill that void that Hamer left because he’s so good at dictating the tempo, keeps the ball moving and always seems to know where he’s going with it as soon as he receives the pass. Offers great leadership too! Great signing!

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

AFCCOVENTRY said:
Play off season we only had a couple of real stars. Vik and Gus and Sheaf.

Now we have Dovin, MVE, Grimes, Sheaf, , EMC, Wright, Simms

I'd add Thomas and Rudi to that list, possibly Kitching too.

*edit. More importantly though because we're less reliant on a couple that we had to play even when unfit or running on empty, the level beneath the 'stars' in Torp, Eccles, BTA, Bassette, Tats is also better than previously.

SBT · Feb 26, 2025

I don’t think his job has been flawless - we’ve signed quite a few players for fees that are unlikely to be recouped, and it’s taken a long time for some players to bed in despite having paid handsomely for them. But he’s signed very few out and out clunkers, and given the scale of the rebuild we’ve had, he deserves a lot of credit for that.

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

SBT said:
I don’t think his job has been flawless - we’ve signed quite a few players for fees that are unlikely to be recouped, and it’s taken a long time for some players to bed in despite having paid handsomely for them. But he’s signed very few out and out clunkers, and given the scale of the rebuild we’ve had, he deserves a lot of credit for that.

Interested to see who you don't think we'd recoup money on or what you believe they cost. Not saying you're wrong, but I'd like to see the workings.

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

I'd say we'd lose on Tats and Raphael possibly but they weren't expensive and Tats arguably given us value at £1m just his age. Grimes we know will be a write off, but was necessary experience and certainly not wasted funds.

Maybe BTA, but think he was £2.5m reported and still young enough, I reckon we get that back in the summer or close to it.

SBT · Feb 26, 2025

rob9872 said:
Interested to see who you don't think we'd recoup money on or what you believe they cost. Not saying you're wrong, but I'd like to see the workings.

Kitching is the obvious one. Sakamoto probably won’t recoup his fee, and Bassette was a big investment for such an inexperienced player.

I also think the market for players like Simms, EMC and even Rudoni is relatively small - we paid big fees for all three, and realistically they’re not going to be sold to a PL team without another strong season under their belts so you’d need a top Championship team to come in to make your money back. But if they get us to where we want to go then it’s not a big deal I guess.

Lamps · Feb 26, 2025

AFCCOVENTRY said:
I will be the first to admit that I thought he was having a clanger as Head of Recruitment but he’s got some real quality and future assets in this squad.

We all knew on paper these were good players but we really did question if something wrong happened with recruitment.

Just shows what a different manager/setup can do with a group of players. No dig at Robins but realism. Unfortunately Austin got caught in the firing line of our anger and frustration at the start of the season.

The likes of Dovin, EMC and Rudoni are fantastic additions and to get Grimes in Jan is outstanding.

The money has been spent wisely since he came in. We have a very valuable squad.

Currently a top 7 deck soon to be top 6!

Maybe a few people said what you say they did.

But many said the same as myself. We signed players. We didn't sign for positions. We didn't sign to strengthen the squad where needed. We signed Asante who was the WBA top scorer from last season that we didn't need as much as a RB.

Then you also have the restrictions of making money in the future and not bringing in experienced players. Lampard has changed this. He brought in Grimes. A player that cost a few million we won't see back but worth every penny.

hill83 · Feb 26, 2025

SleepyGinger · Feb 26, 2025

After the play off loss had to build a whole new team. Not every signing was going to be a 10/10 but over all we spent very well.

Brylowes · Feb 26, 2025

rob9872 said:
*edit. More importantly though because we're less reliant on a couple that we had to play even when unfit or running on empty, the level beneath the 'stars' in Torp, Eccles, BTA, Bassette, Tats is also better than previously.

I would add Allen to that group as well.

Calista · Feb 26, 2025

AFCCOVENTRY said:
We all knew on paper these were good players but we really did question if something wrong happened with recruitment.

I never had any problems with the players we recruited. So it's fine if you feel the need to backtrack, but there's no need to apologise on everyone's behalf. Some of us coped a bit better with a few setbacks earlier in the season.

SleepyGinger · Feb 26, 2025

Since Dean Austin came in December 2022
All fees from Transfermarkt

Jan 2023

Sean Maguire - free - 3/10
Low risk but useless signing.

Josh Wilson Esbrand - loan - 4/10
Needed LB cover, was ok.

Brooke Norton-Cuffey - loan - 7/10
Got better as the year went on, big part in the play off push.

Luke McNally - loan 8/10
Great signing.

2023/24

Haji Wright - €9m - 9/10
Big outlay for someone unproven in England, Sheff U have just spent more on Tom Cannon. Great signing and credit Dean Austin. Our best player and one of the best in the league.

Ellis Simms - €7m - 7/10
Had some up and down spells so far, been much better under Lampard.

Ephron Mason-Clark- 5m- 8.5/10
Great signing

Liam Kitching- €4.6m - 5/10
Quite like Kitching but not worth what we paid.

Milan Van Ewijk- €4.3m - 9/10
Will play in the premier league

Victor Torp- €2.5m - 7/10
Started slow but another looking much better under Lampard

Bobby Thomas - €2.3m - 7/10
Probably our best CB

Sakamoto - 2.25m - 6/10

Brad Collins - €685k 3/10
No better than Wilson, pointless signing.

Jay Dasilva - free - 3/10

Joel Latibeaudiere - free - 5/10
Big Character and bit of a leader but not good enough.

Yasin Ayari - loan - 3/10
Obviously a decent player but we didn’t see it here.

Luis Binks - loan - 5/10

2024/25

Jack Rudoni €5.8m - 8/10

Luis Binks €3.8m - 5/10
Didn’t really want him back and haven’t seen anything to change my mind

Brandon Thomas- Asante - €2.95m - 6/10

Norman Bassette -€2.7m- 6/10
Think this signing will age well

Oliver Dovin- €1.9- 8/10
Best player last 10 or so games

Raphael - Undisclosed - N/A
Matt Grimes- Undisclosed N/A
Jamie Paterson - free- N/A

sorry for the essay quiet night at work

TomRad85 · Feb 26, 2025

The recruitment was never the problem. Who'd have thought?

larry_david · Feb 26, 2025

Haven't heard from Ol Gimoc since things started going well have we!

HuckerbyDublinWhelan · Feb 26, 2025

I think what’s helped massively is signing Grimes. We’ve desperately needed someone like him since Hamer went.

be interesting to see what we do in the summer

Speedies_Chips · Feb 26, 2025

SleepyGinger said:
Since Dean Austin came in December 2022
All fees from Transfermarkt

Jan 2023

Sean Maguire - free - 3/10
Low risk but useless signing.

Josh Wilson Esbrand - loan - 4/10
Needed LB cover, was ok.

Brooke Norton-Cuffey - loan - 7/10
Got better as the year went on, big part in the play off push.

Luke McNally - loan 8/10
Great signing.

2023/24

Haji Wright - €9m - 9/10
Big outlay for someone unproven in England, Sheff U have just spent more on Tom Cannon. Great signing and credit Dean Austin. Our best player and one of the best in the league.

Ellis Simms - €7m - 7/10
Had some up and down spells so far, been much better under Lampard.

Ephron Mason-Clark- 5m- 8.5/10
Great signing

Liam Kitching- €4.6m - 5/10
Quite like Kitching but not worth what we paid.

Milan Van Ewijk- €4.3m - 9/10
Will play in the premier league

Victor Torp- €2.5m - 7/10
Started slow but another looking much better under Lampard

Bobby Thomas - €2.3m - 7/10
Probably our best CB

Sakamoto - 2.25m - 6/10

Brad Collins - €685k 3/10
No better than Wilson, pointless signing.

Jay Dasilva - free - 3/10

Joel Latibeaudiere - free - 5/10
Big Character and bit of a leader but not good enough.

Yasin Ayari - loan - 3/10
Obviously a decent player but we didn’t see it here.

Luis Binks - loan - 5/10

2024/25

Jack Rudoni €5.8m - 8/10

Luis Binks €3.8m - 5/10
Didn’t really want him back and haven’t seen anything to change my mind

Brandon Thomas- Asante - €2.95m - 6/10

Norman Bassette -€2.7m- 6/10
Think this signing will age well

Oliver Dovin- €1.9- 8/10
Best player last 10 or so games

Raphael - Undisclosed - N/A
Matt Grimes- Undisclosed N/A
Jamie Paterson - free- N/A

sorry for the essay quiet night at work

Think we overpaid for Dasilva.

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

Brylowes said:
I would add Allen to that group as well.

I did have him in but removed as he was in both squads. Arguably Eccles too, but he wasn't established.

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

SBT said:
Kitching is the obvious one. Sakamoto probably won’t recoup his fee, and Bassette was a big investment for such an inexperienced player.

I also think the market for players like Simms, EMC and even Rudoni is relatively small - we paid big fees for all three, and realistically they’re not going to be sold to a PL team without another strong season under their belts so you’d need a top Championship team to come in to make your money back. But if they get us to where we want to go then it’s not a big deal I guess.

I think you're stretching on all fronts if you look at the ages and improvement in all. Certainly not wasted. Lots of the fees reported on some of those are also based on appearance and success not up front.

Also Bassette a 19 year old when we bought with a high ceiling and less than £2m is very early to write off as a loss.

Sky Blue Goblin · Feb 26, 2025

Think on paper all the signings are decent players with maybe Kitching being the only one we really overpaid for.

Said earlier in the season my worry was how the squad was built as opposed to the signings. Grimes looks to be a smart signing and gives me hope in the future to see a more balanced view to building the team with a focus on youth but also experience to guide said youth.

Just wish we got a rightback in as well to protect us if MVE gets hurt

Ccfcisparks · Feb 26, 2025

SleepyGinger said:
Since Dean Austin came in December 2022
All fees from Transfermarkt

Jan 2023

Sean Maguire - free - 3/10
Low risk but useless signing.

Josh Wilson Esbrand - loan - 4/10
Needed LB cover, was ok.

Brooke Norton-Cuffey - loan - 7/10
Got better as the year went on, big part in the play off push.

Luke McNally - loan 8/10
Great signing.

2023/24

Haji Wright - €9m - 9/10
Big outlay for someone unproven in England, Sheff U have just spent more on Tom Cannon. Great signing and credit Dean Austin. Our best player and one of the best in the league.

Ellis Simms - €7m - 7/10
Had some up and down spells so far, been much better under Lampard.

Ephron Mason-Clark- 5m- 8.5/10
Great signing

Liam Kitching- €4.6m - 5/10
Quite like Kitching but not worth what we paid.

Milan Van Ewijk- €4.3m - 9/10
Will play in the premier league

Victor Torp- €2.5m - 7/10
Started slow but another looking much better under Lampard

Bobby Thomas - €2.3m - 7/10
Probably our best CB

Sakamoto - 2.25m - 6/10

Brad Collins - €685k 3/10
No better than Wilson, pointless signing.

Jay Dasilva - free - 3/10

Joel Latibeaudiere - free - 5/10
Big Character and bit of a leader but not good enough.

Yasin Ayari - loan - 3/10
Obviously a decent player but we didn’t see it here.

Luis Binks - loan - 5/10

2024/25

Jack Rudoni €5.8m - 8/10

Luis Binks €3.8m - 5/10
Didn’t really want him back and haven’t seen anything to change my mind

Brandon Thomas- Asante - €2.95m - 6/10

Norman Bassette -€2.7m- 6/10
Think this signing will age well

Oliver Dovin- €1.9- 8/10
Best player last 10 or so games

Raphael - Undisclosed - N/A
Matt Grimes- Undisclosed N/A
Jamie Paterson - free- N/A

sorry for the essay quiet night at work

Giving Kitching a 5 the same as Binks and less than BTA and Bassette is hilarious

Nick · Feb 26, 2025

SleepyGinger said:
Since Dean Austin came in December 2022
All fees from Transfermarkt

Jan 2023

Sean Maguire - free - 3/10
Low risk but useless signing.

Josh Wilson Esbrand - loan - 4/10
Needed LB cover, was ok.

Brooke Norton-Cuffey - loan - 7/10
Got better as the year went on, big part in the play off push.

Luke McNally - loan 8/10
Great signing.

2023/24

Haji Wright - €9m - 9/10
Big outlay for someone unproven in England, Sheff U have just spent more on Tom Cannon. Great signing and credit Dean Austin. Our best player and one of the best in the league.

Ellis Simms - €7m - 7/10
Had some up and down spells so far, been much better under Lampard.

Ephron Mason-Clark- 5m- 8.5/10
Great signing

Liam Kitching- €4.6m - 5/10
Quite like Kitching but not worth what we paid.

Milan Van Ewijk- €4.3m - 9/10
Will play in the premier league

Victor Torp- €2.5m - 7/10
Started slow but another looking much better under Lampard

Bobby Thomas - €2.3m - 7/10
Probably our best CB

Sakamoto - 2.25m - 6/10

Brad Collins - €685k 3/10
No better than Wilson, pointless signing.

Jay Dasilva - free - 3/10

Joel Latibeaudiere - free - 5/10
Big Character and bit of a leader but not good enough.

Yasin Ayari - loan - 3/10
Obviously a decent player but we didn’t see it here.

Luis Binks - loan - 5/10

2024/25

Jack Rudoni €5.8m - 8/10

Luis Binks €3.8m - 5/10
Didn’t really want him back and haven’t seen anything to change my mind

Brandon Thomas- Asante - €2.95m - 6/10

Norman Bassette -€2.7m- 6/10
Think this signing will age well

Oliver Dovin- €1.9- 8/10
Best player last 10 or so games

Raphael - Undisclosed - N/A
Matt Grimes- Undisclosed N/A
Jamie Paterson - free- N/A

sorry for the essay quiet night at work

Lati was about 500k

JSL · Feb 26, 2025

Its amazing how loyalty to MR blinkered many of us. All that the players needed was decent coaching, unbeknown to us that this wasnt happening. Collins and Dasilva are still clangers though

Nick · Feb 26, 2025

JSL said:
Its amazing how loyalty to MR blinkered many of us. All that the players needed was decent coaching, unbeknown to us that this wasnt happening. Collins and Dasilva are still clangers though

How many of the Chelsea connection players we signed properly, weren't?

Ccfcisparks · Feb 26, 2025

Nick said:
Lati was about 500k

So was Da Silva I think

JSL · Feb 26, 2025

Nick said:
How many of the Chelsea connection players we signed properly, weren't?

Maatsen would be lovely right now. KP had his moments but I cant say I was overly fussed that he went

Sky Blue Goblin · Feb 26, 2025

Ccfcisparks said:
So was Da Silva I think

Da Silva was on a free after his deal expired.

https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/transfer-coventry-city-agree-to-sign-jay-dasilva/

rob9872 · Feb 26, 2025

Nick said:
Lati was about 500k

Simms was a lot less too, need to come from the official accounts.

clint van damme · Feb 26, 2025

Unless you're dealing with sporting who seem happy to blab the details to the media no one really knows what these transfers are worth.

fernandopartridge · Feb 26, 2025

Kitching gets a lot of grief for his fee but he's a good championship centre back, you don't just invest for future returns in fees but future returns from success, and our record with him in the team shows that he helps greatly to achieve it.

Of the league games he's started this season we've

Won 9
Lost 4
Drew 2

1.93ppg

JSL · Feb 26, 2025

I've always liked Kitching on the basis that I was confident that he would come good and he seems to be doing just that.

Ccfcisparks · Feb 26, 2025

JSL said:
I've always liked Kitching on the basis that I was confident that he would come good and he seems to be doing just that.

Kitching vs Binks

One thing is for certain in my mind and that is we don't have enough defenders with cover to start playing a back 5. We barely have enough for a back 4. Competition for LCB is good between Binks and Kitching, but we are lacking decent competition for Thomas as RCB and only have Lati spare. Only...

www.skybluestalk.co.uk

Evo1883 · Feb 26, 2025

When we were doing shit I was blaming Austin and everybody said it was robins recruitment .. now we are doing well its Austins team were all fucking knobs tbh

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