Brucey's buys


Status
Not open for further replies.

MonkeyLove

Striker
Looking ahead to January and beyond I'm looking forward to seeing what Brucey does transfer wise and what contribution this ex Wigan man will make as to me we still haven't seen the best of Brucey's foreign contacts yet in the market.

Whilst we have done canny it has usually been at a very high price (Bent, Gyan etc...) or the foreign buys he has got in have been at a bargain of frees or a couple of million and aside from El Mohammedi none have really made a huge impact.

However now this guys got his feet under the desk and we have spent a bit of time looking around hopefully with his reputation we might still be looking to unearth a couple of real gems.

We clearly need real class if we are to jump to the next level but don't think we should put all our eggs in the basket of looking for an established player like N'Zogbia for silly money. Brucey's best selling point when coming to us was that he was incredibly shrewd in the transfer market and good at getting quality players in from abroad for reasonable money - He has done well but hopefully with the right people on board we have a few irons in the fire that can help us kick on to the next level.
 
His dealings in the transfer market have been excellent, particularly the identification so early on that almost all of the ones he inherited needed shipping out.

I cant quite believe the squad he has built in such a short space of time.
 
Looking ahead to January and beyond I'm looking forward to seeing what Brucey does transfer wise and what contribution this ex Wigan man will make as to me we still haven't seen the best of Brucey's foreign contacts yet in the market.

Whilst we have done canny it has usually been at a very high price (Bent, Gyan etc...) or the foreign buys he has got in have been at a bargain of frees or a couple of million and aside from El Mohammedi none have really made a huge impact.

However now this guys got his feet under the desk and we have spent a bit of time looking around hopefully with his reputation we might still be looking to unearth a couple of real gems.

We clearly need real class if we are to jump to the next level but don't think we should put all our eggs in the basket of looking for an established player like N'Zogbia for silly money. Brucey's best selling point when coming to us was that he was incredibly shrewd in the transfer market and good at getting quality players in from abroad for reasonable money - He has done well but hopefully with the right people on board we have a few irons in the fire that can help us kick on to the next level.

Mignolet? Up until the derby game he was excellent. Glad he was taken out of the line soon after though.
 
Team that started against Chelsea last week:

2 Scots (although Bardo is really English)
7 Englishmen
1 Dutchman
1 Ghanaian


So our best team performance for years included very few foreign players.
 
His dealings in the transfer market have been excellent, particularly the identification so early on that almost all of the ones he inherited needed shipping out.

I cant quite believe the squad he has built in such a short space of time.

Aye. I can't remember the last time someone did this so quickly. We all knew of course, but they always seemed to be able to con the new man into hanging around for another year or two.

Everyone was unhappy with 'the blip' last year, but more and more it looks like a blessing in disguise. He saw how little character some of the lads had.
 
Can't see as his transfers have failed to make an impact.

Migs
Bramble
Catts
Onuoha
Mensah
Welbeck

as well as the "big" signings have all had a major part to play in the sides good start to the season. This is without considering a few others who are being developed slowly. What exactly does the fella have to do to impress you?
 
Frazer Campbell. slow start, looked like he was starting to come good before his injury. Overall probably a good buy.

Paulo Da Silva
. Rarely used, now looks a long way away from the team, hasn't been a successful signing.

Lorik Cana. Sold for the same amount we paid a year later. Didn't turn out as well as we hoped but we got our money back, so not really a success or a failure.

Darren Bent
. Total phenomenon. Spectacular success.

Lee Cattermole
. Divides opinion, I don't rate him at all, others rave about him. Picked up a little in the last few games, jury still out I suppose.

Michael Turner. Until a fortnight ago I would have said he'd been awful, but massive in the last few games, so difficult one to give a verdict on. If he keeps up recent form he will be a big success, if he reverts he won't be.

Bolo Zenden
. Good signing, pleased to see him getting used more now.

Matt Kilgallon. Seemed an unnecessary signing at the time and sent straight out on loan to the championship, so not a good signing.

Simon Mignolet
. Great buy for both the present and the future.

Christian Riveros
. Looks to be heading the same way as Da Silva?

Titus Bramble
. Has been immense for the most part.

Marcos Angeleri
. Who?

Asamoah Gyan
. f***ing mint.


Loan signings: John Mensah (x2); Great when fit, must have earned a fortune when not. Alan Hutton; worked out well for us, even better for him and Spurs! Benjani (!). El Mohammady; looks decent. Danny Welbeck; a mixed bag so far, the problem i the better he does the less likely we get to keep him. Nedum Onuoha; seems to be growing into it, like Welbeck the better he does the harder it will be for us to keep him, even if its only because of the rising price.

New contracts: Nyron Nosworthy; why? Kieron Richarson; versatility proving useful, I like him. Phil Bardsely; great to have in squad. Henderson, Meyler (and Colback?) upgraded to senior contracts but they are a bit of a no brainer.

Overall the transfer market is definitely a strength of Bruce and he has done well in that area.

I really don't see there being much left to spend in January though. Even though we've been able to recoup a decent amount in fees, the players we've brought in are in another league in terms of wages compared to the ones we've shipped out. Wages were something like 78% of turnover in the last lot of figures, which don't even include the signings of the likes of Bent, Cattermole and Turner, yet alone this season's buys.

So I don't really see anyone coming in without the same amount in wages going out, unless Short is feeling incredibly generous.
 
Still think Killgallon got undue stick because of where we signed him from rather than his performances.

I don't think we'll sign anyone in January.

Was the guy mentioned in the first post John Benson? Didn't he pass away a couple of weeks ago?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top