Speakman on the transfer window so far - Echo article


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We have no FB's and DH has been injaaaad for most of the last year and is out of contract in a matter of days. I don't blame the club for playing hardball with him. I just hink it's a harsh world we live in. nobody wants to be injaaaaad nevermind constantly.

How is Watmore doing at Boro? Sad we had to let him go because of his injuries.
 
Any idea why Portsmouth didn't trigger his contract option?
He asked to leave, also their club reckon they’ve got better (he was back up a couple of seasons ago and their other keeper got injured).

I suggested we sign him months ago and most on here weren’t fussed, this season will tell who's right.
 
Up to now I've seen nothing that suggests the club is being ran any different to when Donald was in charge. I don't think we'll be promoted as this rate..
 
He asked to leave, also their club reckon they’ve got better (he was back up a couple of seasons ago and their other keeper got injured).

I suggested we sign him months ago and most on here weren’t fussed, this season will tell who's right.

I'll be honest, I'd never heard of him. Odd that Cowley didn't fancy him as reports suggest, mind that could be sour grapes.
 
Up to now I've seen nothing that suggests the club is being ran any different to when Donald was in charge. I don't think we'll be promoted as this rate..

The club are clearly trying to move in a new direction but appear to be finding out it's harder than it looks, especially in this market. Every club would love to copy what Brentford have done but it's easier said than done. It does feel like there's little optimism or excitement going into this season, unlike the previous three campaigns at this level with under a week to go. It might not be the worst thing in the world but we'll have to see. We need bodies in the door.
 
The club are clearly trying to move in a new direction but appear to be finding out it's harder than it looks, especially in this market. Every club would love to copy what Brentford have done but it's easier said than done. It does feel like there's little optimism or excitement going into this season, unlike the previous three campaigns at this level with under a week to go. It might not be the worst thing in the world but we'll have to see. We need bodies in the door.

I'm reasonably confident Brentford didn't get there in a matter of months. Based in London they have a significant advantage that we'll forever find difficult to overcome. We don't need bodies in the door, we need the right people.
 
"There will always be outliers [clubs] who are doing something a bit different, which is absolutely fine.
"If we were in a situation where players we had targeted had gone to clubs who were our competitors, then that might cause greater concern.
"But that hasn't happened at this point in time.

I like that.

Basically he’s saying give it until the end of the window to judge. And he sounds confident it’ll be sorted and ready then.
Trouble with waiting until the end of the Window, is we will already have played 5 games.
I had hoped, thst with the new set up. We would know exactly who we wanted would have them in by now ready for the start of the season. With a couple still to bring in just in case someone became available right at the end of the window. But no here we are still following the same routine of getting squad fillers in on deadline day.
 
We have had 3 players, 2 full backs and a center forward up here over the last 2 weeks all have gone elsewhere.
What does that tell you, if they were brought up here to sign and did not, why?.
Is it because they were looked in the eye and SH thought NAH they don't have that look in the eye I'm after. They don't move onto phase 3.
Please explain in detail what the three phases of the player interview procedure are, and who conducts them.

You have stated on here you had twenty minutes with both Speakman and Johnson in the inner sanctums of the SOL last Friday night. Please expand on how these two longish chats came to be.

I agree with your concerns on Johnson and am not a fan to date but want him to do well nonetheless and then we’d all be a lot happier. Whether this happens will be interesting to see. Let’s hope so for the clubs sake.
 
The club are clearly trying to move in a new direction but appear to be finding out it's harder than it looks, especially in this market. Every club would love to copy what Brentford have done but it's easier said than done. It does feel like there's little optimism or excitement going into this season, unlike the previous three campaigns at this level with under a week to go. It might not be the worst thing in the world but we'll have to see. We need bodies in the door.
Brentford still speculated to accumulate. It doesn't look like safc are prepared to do that, not spent a bean. The taxi driver listed our apparent targets, two of them being the full back kids from Liverpool and Exeter they could both be here by now but aren't. We've appear to have failed with both of them.
 
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Really? We think the fans want us to play high pressing football so we best do that

Is that all they teach when you get your coaching license? Just play the way you think the fans will like you to

I think its mostly smoke and mirrors. Like the "data". Meaningless really

Am not even sure I can recall another top level coach, footballing director, recruitment specialist, say the words "that's what the data is telling us" in public. At least try and pretend you've got some personal insight

Highly paid hoodwinkers I fear

But willing to be more optimistic at present

Clubs should have an "identity" in that players purchased fit a manner of playing otherwise upheaval will be costly.

I do think the importance of tailoring it to the area is either a bit fluffy or disingenuous. Take Gus for example, no one was complaining when we did our best Barca impression on man utd or City. They did the following season when we played counter attacking with slow players.

Either way, I guess the outcome is the same.
Brentford still speculated to accumulate. It doesn't look like safc are prepared to do that, not spent a bean. The taxi driver listed our apparent targets, two of them being the full back kids from Liverpool and Exeter they could both be here by now but aren't. We've appear to have failed with both of them.

To be fair they proved their process prior to scaling. Evans and pritchards wages will eclipse the entirety of all of Brentford signings from the first couple of windows when they made the change.

If I had to bet I'd suggest they didn't have enough time to identify targets and are now in a very sticky position.
 
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Brentford still speculated to accumulate. It doesn't look like safc are prepared to do that, not spent a bean. The taxi driver listed our apparent targets, two of them being the full back kids from Liverpool and Exeter they could both be here by now but aren't. We've appear to have failed with both of them.

Their last season in league 1 total spend was next to nowt. Plenty loans spread over the season but only two "undisclosed" transfer fees paid. First season in the Championship a few frees four undisclosed fees and one for big money, a certain Mr. Will Grigg for a princely £325K :)
 
I've noticed that Bobs posts seem to be a little bit more on the critical side these days. From the dealings he has/had with the club in the past, has he now been marginalised this season?
If he's right about all this 3 phase interview stuff etc then just smacks of absolute overkill and trying to be too clever tbh. We're in league one ffs, this would be the sort of thing you do if you were in the premier league surely.
 
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