Who’d be an owner. (1 Viewer)

[Deity]

I think most of the frustration could have been avoided with a bit of communication.

Obviously I know they can't say in case things don't happen and not on about a tweet every 5 minutes but just feel if it was handled a bit better.

There wasn't anything to say business is done and waited until 9pm to announce a player we knew about. They could have announced it earlier, announced Rapha going out and said business is done and then said we kept all the main players etc.

Any sensible fan should judge the window over its duration not based on whether we sent a go to bed X message …..

Fans are frustrated ??
Buy own stadium
Keep all of best players
Get rid of dead wood
Bring in 4 better quality players

Ok we all would have liked another attacker but it’s the cherry on the cake not the cake itself

 

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[Deity]

You enjoyed many of those top flight years? We had our brief moments for sure but I think the feeling in the main was relief at getting over the line at the end of it.
We became accustomed to being a part of something that we never exactly set alight.
The finances needed now to emulate the same are off the scale.

I grew up thinking City being in Division 1 ( before the rebrand ) was normal. I also know that most seasons felt like a relegation fight, most home matches were far from a sell out, most matches the football was pretty average as we scrapped to stay in the division …. Yes there were some brilliant moments (87, the Quinn purple patch , the entertainers etc ) but let’s big get it twisted it was far from being the dream land that some younger fans might assume the top division to be ….

 

[CovRes]

EFL Handbook.

56.1.2 any recall clause requiring the early termination of a Standard Loan can only be included in a full Season Standard Loan and this can only be activated during the Winter Transfer Window;

And the recall option has to be specifically included. It's not automatic.

 

[Moff]

Next summer we will likely lose MVE, Rudoni, Wright amongst others. Its a total rebuild from scratch.

Didn't we have to do this after losing Gyokeres, Hamer and O'Hare....and reached the FA Cup Semi Finals (albeit before O'Hare left) and then the play offs again.

I would argue our squad is stronger now than then, as the initial team also included a number of loans. Now we own the whole lot.
If we did it once we can certainly do it again.

 

[Cally Fedora]

We may lose players next summer. But again, the owner has done the smart thing with long contracts. IF we lose those three we’ll have a lot of cash in the same way we did when we sold Gyok & Hamer. We instantly had 5/6 saleable assets rather than 2. That’s life as a club outside the top 4/5. At the moment we’re playing that game well thanks largely to King.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

So am I reading this right, you would have rather we won the FA Cup than win promotion, If so I don't think you are in a very big group

Dunno about this - I’m all for promotion and would love to bet at the top table for a season. But if we won the FA Cup 2 years ago, coming from 3-0 down to United then beating Man City - it would be arguably the greatest sporting achievement ever

 

[skyblu3sk]

I still have mixed feelings about promotion to the PL if/when it comes we need to be in a position to actually make a go of it. Having things like our stadium and a squad with a decent value is part of that. Likelihood is though without external investment we won't be staying up or seeing any level of success. I know people point to the magic pot of cash the prem gives you but the expenditure that comes with higher quality players pretty much wipes it out and more. To that point id say getting the stadium was far better for the club than any season in the prem. I really enjoy Championship football it's not like the dark days of league 2, we get to see a great quality of football and win a decent number of games. I'm not in any rush to get out of the league until we are ready.

 

[bigfatronssba]

Next summer we will likely lose MVE, Rudoni, Wright amongst others. Its a total rebuild from scratch.

Which is fine. That’s the model.

Every rebuild makes us stronger.

This squad is far better than the one that got to the playoffs in 2023

 

[bigfatronssba]

I still have mixed feelings about promotion to the PL if/when it comes we need to be in a position to actually make a go of it. Having things like our stadium and a squad with a decent value is part of that. Likelihood is though without external investment we won't be staying up or seeing any level of success. I know people point to the magic pot of cash the prem gives you but the expenditure that comes with higher quality players pretty much wipes it out and more. To that point id say getting the stadium was far better for the club than any season in the prem. I really enjoy Championship football it's not like the dark days of league 2, we get to see a great quality of football and win a decent number of games. I'm not in any rush to get out of the league until we are ready.

You enjoy championship football because we’re now a decent team in this division.

A single PL season, done correctly, would cement our place at the top end of the Championship for several years to come

 

[skyblu3sk]

You enjoy championship football because we’re now a decent team in this division.

A single PL season, done correctly, would cement our place at the top end of the Championship for several years to come

I watched a lot of PL football last time we were there and beyond celebrating the great escapes and a few decent players it wasn't all that. I'd also say we have already cemented our place at the top end of the championship without the PL cash.

 

[itsabuzzard]

So am I reading this right, you would have rather we won the FA Cup than win promotion, If so I don't think you are in a very big group

I'm in that group. I'd then be looking to get promoted the following season

 

[Mcbean]

ProMotion this year for me - last chance for a free ticket !

 

[Trueskyblue20]

I don’t think anyone has an issue with Doug do they?

The issue clearly is the Recruitment Team who have been poor and left our squad paper thin in places like central midfield and on the wings. Again, as I have mentioned losing your captain to a team in the same league with no replacement is complete idiocy.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

I don’t think anyone has an issue with Doug do they?

The issue clearly is the Recruitment Team who have been poor and left our squad paper thin in places like central midfield and on the wings. Again, as I have mentioned losing your captain to a team in the same league with no replacement is complete idiocy.

I’m not sure it isn’t Doug though - rightly he tried to drive a hard bargain.

hull see Charlie Hughes as a 20m player and we by all accounts started at 4m, then went to 8m

this isn’t a criticism. But it is going to mean we lose out on targets. We’re not bidding for people who are cast off no more.

the recruitment team seemingly have found a number of players, our willingness to pay anywhere near what teams want may be the issue.

I don’t have a problem with Doug btw.

 

[Captain Dart]

I don’t think anyone has an issue with Doug do they?

The issue clearly is the Recruitment Team who have been poor and left our squad paper thin in places like central midfield and on the wings. Again, as I have mentioned losing your captain to a team in the same league with no replacement is complete idiocy.

That's not the way I see it. Instead of making a big mistake with trying to get more bodies in who are not quite the right fit the recruitment team are invested in making careful decisions whilst not paying over the odds.

The only true mess up they have made recently is Bassette every other decision has been quite good even if it has taken some time for the players to step up or be deployed in an effective way but once they're here that's the coaching teams job.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

I don’t think anyone has an issue with Doug do they?

The issue clearly is the Recruitment Team who have been poor and left our squad paper thin in places like central midfield and on the wings. Again, as I have mentioned losing your captain to a team in the same league with no replacement is complete idiocy.

We're not paper thin in CM. We have Grimes, Torp, Eccles, Allen and Andrews. You may argue there's a bit of a drop off from the first teames but hardly anyone at this level can have a player as good as the likes of Grimes sitting on the bench. Eccles is a more than capable Championship player and Allen can still do a job, even though I'd be looking to upgrade.

Wings I'll give you, and given Lampard likes to play a 4-3-3 it does seem odd we're so light there and we're going to have to push a fullback into an attacking position at some point (some would argue we already are with Brau).

As for the recruitment team, I think you have to include Doug and Lampard within that team. Lampard will be the one asking for players in particular areas. King will be the one rubber stamping or vetoing transfers as he's the one that has hold of the purse strings. The easiest bit is generating a list of players in every position. If we'd signed players and they were shit then you can blame the recruitment team. Not signing players at all is more a management/director issue.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

We're not paper thin in CM. We have Grimes, Torp, Eccles, Allen and Andrews. You may argue there's a bit of a drop off from the first teames but hardly anyone at this level can have a player as good as the likes of Grimes sitting on the bench. Eccles is a more than capable Championship player and Allen can still do a job, even though I'd be looking to upgrade.

Wings I'll give you, and given Lampard likes to play a 4-3-3 it does seem odd we're so light there and we're going to have to push a fullback into an attacking position at some point (some would argue we already are with Brau).

As for the recruitment team, I think you have to include Doug and Lampard within that team. Lampard will be the one asking for players in particular areas. King will be the one rubber stamping or vetoing transfers as he's the one that has hold of the purse strings. The easiest bit is generating a list of players in every position. If we'd signed players and they were shit then you can blame the recruitment team. Not signing players at all is more a management/director issue.

Allen and Andrews...

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Looks like Doug is wasting no time getting his favourite bands to play at the CBS now he owns it. Ed Sheeran just announced.

Coldplay next?

 

[Trueskyblue20]

We're not paper thin in CM. We have Grimes, Torp, Eccles, Allen and Andrews. You may argue there's a bit of a drop off from the first teames but hardly anyone at this level can have a player as good as the likes of Grimes sitting on the bench. Eccles is a more than capable Championship player and Allen can still do a job, even though I'd be looking to upgrade.

Wings I'll give you, and given Lampard likes to play a 4-3-3 it does seem odd we're so light there and we're going to have to push a fullback into an attacking position at some point (some would argue we already are with Brau).

As for the recruitment team, I think you have to include Doug and Lampard within that team. Lampard will be the one asking for players in particular areas. King will be the one rubber stamping or vetoing transfers as he's the one that has hold of the purse strings. The easiest bit is generating a list of players in every position. If we'd signed players and they were shit then you can blame the recruitment team. Not signing players at all is more a management/director issue.

Thin on quality in the CM squad depth then. It’s the fact we’ve sold our captain and a very good CM and now have to promote Allen and Andrews in the pecking order, where people were arguing prior to the end of the window Andrews needs a loan and Allen isn’t at the level anymore. But instead we are now reliant on them as squad players.

Yes the wings are paper thin, the final day letting Rapha and Sheaf go without replacement is bizarre.

Whichever way we try and dress it up, the transfer window in terms of outgoings and incomings has been a cock up.

 

[StrettoBoy]

Allen and Andrews...

Andrews is, as yet, an unknown quantity, although he shows promise.

Allen manifestly isn't as good as any of our first choice players - you wouldn't really expect a back-up to be - but he is very decent.

When fit, I expect Eccles to be our go-to backup midfielder. I think we are lucky to have him as cover, though I wouldn't expect him to be happy in that role for long.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

Looks like Doug is wasting no time getting his favourite bands to play at the CBS now he owns it. Ed Sheeran just announced.

Coldplay next?

2 to avoid lol. I fly home on Friday and there is an international break great !!!!

 

[StrettoBoy]

2 to avoid lol. I fly home on Friday and there is an international break great !!!!

You must make a better job of timing your trips

 

[Captain Dart]

Looks like Doug is wasting no time getting his favourite bands to play at the CBS now he owns it. Ed Sheeran just announced.

Coldplay next?

Count me out but I am sure it will be very popular.

 

[Skyblue Bangkok]

You must make a better job of timing your trips

I should do but I've also come back for some medical tests.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Thin on quality in the CM squad depth then. It’s the fact we’ve sold our captain and a very good CM and now have to promote Allen and Andrews in the pecking order, where people were arguing prior to the end of the window Andrews needs a loan and Allen isn’t at the level anymore. But instead we are now reliant on them as squad players.

Yes the wings are paper thin, the final day letting Rapha and Sheaf go without replacement is bizarre.

Whichever way we try and dress it up, the transfer window in terms of outgoings and incomings has been a cock up.

Our fourth choice CM who would only play if we got two injuries to players in a single position has well over 150 games under his belt at Championship level. I don't call that paper thin. Sub-optimal maybe, but not paper thin.

 

[usskyblue]

Looks like Doug is wasting no time getting his favourite bands to play at the CBS now he owns it. Ed Sheeran just announced.

Coldplay next?

No m8..

 

[Moff]

Allen and Andrews...

But most clubs back up players are not as good as their first teamers.

Whilst I would have either preferred Sheaf to stay or replace him, it was a decent bid for someone who was now a squad player.

We are not going to sign another Grimes who would be happy to sit on the bench so we either felt our squad is enough, or couldn’t identify a suitable replacement or were priced out of the market.

 

[GC1976]

If it means having old Cliff Richard, Chesney Hawkes or Jedward bringing in the coin for concerts frankly who cares. Make the CBS work for CCFC at last.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

But most clubs back up players are not as good as their first teamers.

Whilst I would have either preferred Sheaf to stay or replace him, it was a decent bid for someone who was now a squad player.

We are not going to sign another Grimes who would be happy to sit on the bench so we either felt our squad is enough, or couldn’t identify a suitable replacement or were priced out of the market.

Andrews is literally totally unproven at any level in English football.

Who is asking for another Grimes, this argument that we can't sign players because they aren't as good as Grimes or wont want to sit on the bench is idiotic

 

[Trueskyblue20]

Our fourth choice CM who would only play if we got two injuries to players in a single position has well over 150 games under his belt at Championship level. I don't call that paper thin. Sub-optimal maybe, but not paper thin.

Yeah I’d agree with that in terms of depth, just my point is poor in back up quality.

In the window we are:
Stronger in defence
Weaker in midfield
Weaker in attack

I was hoping we would kick on and strengthen but we’ve been let down.

 

[Sick Boy]

You enjoyed many of those top flight years? We had our brief moments for sure but I think the feeling in the main was relief at getting over the line at the end of it.
We became accustomed to being a part of something that we never exactly set alight.
The finances needed now to emulate the same are off the scale.

The problem was that we got relegated at the worst time possible before the big money started rolling in.

 

[StrettoBoy]

I should do but I've also come back for some medical tests.

Best of luck with those. I hope you get the desired results

 

[SBT]

I still don’t get all the moaning over the communication - didn’t we just do what every other club does on deadline day?

 

[Moff]

Andrews is literally totally unproven at any level in English football.

Who is asking for another Grimes, this argument that we can't sign players because they aren't as good as Grimes or wont want to sit on the bench is idiotic

If you think its idiotic you are missing the point, and you know that.

Twist it whichever way you want but a better class midfielder wont want to sit on the bench, so we weren't going to sign that type of player, and failed to find anyone that would be a suitable back up.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

If you think its idiotic you are missing the point, and you know that.

Twist it whichever way you want but a better class midfielder wont want to sit on the bench, so we weren't going to sign that type of player, and failed to find anyone that would be a suitable back up.

you don’t think we could sign a better midfielder than Andrews or Allen just because they won’t sit on the bench?