What exactly is our transfer strategy?

[Claridge]

What like the one that got us promoted you lemon.

more like banana brain

[Fox Ulike]

Pearson has already been on record pointing out the negative impact a huge transfer fee can place on a single player.

Our transfer policy is retention of staff. It's actually "investment in people" and we could probably apply for ISSO accreditation.

We focus our funds on providing good contracts and a good working environment to the players, Rather than spending it out in huge transfer fees.

It seems to have gone largely unnoticed that none of our star players has chosen to leave for a bigger club for over 3 years now. That is a remarkable achievement for a club like ours.

Pearson and the Thais understand man-management. That means that players like it here and want to stay.

So, in business terms, our transfer policy is to spend money that ensures the retention of good staff, rather than constant replacement caused by a big turnover in staff numbers.

Long may in continue.

[lestajigs]

Wtf is this thread for real

[Rob1742]

Simple - keep the current group together, add a bit of premier experience without affecting the current group.

I suppose the alternative would be to try and buy better than what we currently have, which is what most teams do, but it would destabilise our current strong base.

If we went up a bit of a shambles then it would be different, but we went up as a solid unit that could very well finish at least 6th from bottom based on what we currently have.

He has purchased help for our two wide men, experience at the back and I could this Campbell signing happening as help for Vardy.

Better strategy than starting again as we all know that strarting again is full of risk and the unknown.

Keep your money in your pocket and spend it in January if certain individuals are struggling to adjust.

[Merchant_Banker]

One thing that I do find slightly strange, is that we have said we are looking at 4-5 signings to strengthen, and with 3 first team signings sorted now and no money spent, are we going to spend? (not that it's a necessity, of course), we likely still need to strengthen 2 or 3 positions. Whatever the case, in Nige we trust.

 

I assume you mean first team squad, if that makes sense. Hamer will be back up to Kasper and I am not sure wither Albrighton or Upson will get into the first 11. I would like to see us bring in 2 or 3 who are clear challengers to that first 11, but as someone else said those players are going to take their time.

[cc_star]

May, not deadline day!

The squad is already much stronger & experienced now than the one that just won the league with 102pts and looked much better than the likes of Hull & Cardiff in doing so & there's still a few months to go which will probably see a couple of 'unknowns' like Mahrez & Knockaert bought in, once players return from holiday.

The World Cup will have an impact too, players will be signed after it & this will affects players being sold on, who won't be sold until their replacements are signed.

[Stan]

It's still May. It's still May.  It's still May.  It's still May.  It's still May.  It's still May. etc, etc,

[Rhysm]

I am happy so far.

Back filled loss of dyer and Miguel with more then adequate replacements. We have needed decent sub goalie for ages.

Would imagine Campbell would be to replace Phillips.

We then have the rest of the summer to get a couple of real stellar signings to compliment what we have

And don t forget this is all before season has officially finished with Champs league final tonight!

[RizLCFC]

Happy with the business we've done so far in terms of players in and out the club, apart from maybe Dyer but Albrighton is a better option. I'd like to see a couple of real quality players come in now. One of them has to be a striker, then either a CB or CM, all three would be great. I think we'll end up with 8 or 9 new faces in all.

The likes of GTF, Hammond, Konch we all know will be squad players, take them out the equation and we still have a relatively small squad. Then there's King and Wood, who I'm not too sure how they'll fare next season.

I hope Nigel doesn't show too much faith in the fringe players we already have and spends a bit of money on some quality additions, it might work for some players but there's a few who we know won't be able to hack it in the Premiership, but we need them for their experience. This is my only worry.

[Hungry Hungry Fox]

Did someone mention that's it's still only may?

[sphericalfox]

We're awaiting the outcome of the CCC final today, and asset stripping their finest player(s). 

[Beliall]

Think what Nigel has done so far makes good sense: The signings he's made, though probably a little 'low key' and unexciting for some, have already adde to the depth of the squad and, arguably, improved it!

To summarise:

Hamer...Will replace Conrad as back up to Kasper. Little doubt that he's a better option than Logan and will press Schmeichel harder for the chance to be number one. Also, as has been said, doesn't leave us in a hole if Kasper departs at some point in the future!

Upson...Could be considered as a direct squad replacement for Whitbread. If so then, despite his age, he's undoubtedly an improvement being a far more viable option than Zac as an experienced 'old head' in the coming season!

Albrighton....Direct squad replacement for Lloyd?? Different type of player but a wideman all the same. Younger than Dyer and, however much we thought of Lloyd, surely a better bet at Premiership level!

Barmby....Total 'unknown' for us, but in terms of the squad can probably be looked upon as being Waghorn's replacement. Don't think that many on here would have seen 'Waggie' as being pivotal to our Premiership campaign as he seemed to have lost his way a little here! Quite a few MUFC fans seem surprised that they've let Barmby go which rings as being a good sign. Will be peripheral to start with, but who knows?

Campbell..(if it happens)...Would be the direct replacement in the squad for KP. Similar type of player and similar in build and, of course, much younger. Remember we have KP on the coaching staff now and I've little doubt that he could help Campbell, (and Barmby),become better players !

Dawson...(again,if it happens)....To fill the hole left by SSL's departure? Again, if so, then it looks like decent business. Arguably a little more versatile than Sean and has PL experience which 'Ledge' doesn't!

All in all, so far NP appears to have been concentrating on topping up the gaps in the squad left by the departing, (and retiring), players. In my view he's also added to the strength of what we have!

Those of us, (ALL of us), who are waiting for an exotic 'Galactico' or two MAY end up being disappointed, though I doubt it. The changes so far have been subtle but encouraging, but there still appears to be a position or two that we'd like to see strengthened......Where's the future Left Back, the midfield 'enforcer, the 'goal machine'???

Think by August we'll probably all know!!

Great post.

[Captain...]

Our transfer policy will be to sign players which are available at the right price that improve our squad, whilst not getting drawn into protracted transfer sagas in the press, being held to ransom on transfer fees nor waiting until august and panic buying over priced dross to satisfy the moronic element in our fan base that think we need to spunk millions up the wall to compete.

[Dan]

Intelligent additions that will add something to our squad.

 

Our transfer policy is exactly how I'd like it to be.

[katieakita]

So far i think you cannot argue with anything NP has done very very early doors. We may have only brought in 3 players with Barmby being one for the future. Remember the club are building a long term future and developement is key. Early business allows players and their families to settle in. One thing Nigel and his team does is their homework, these players have al had good seasons i never noticed Upson and he brings experience he may hardly play a game but in training he could help Moore with defending from set pieces or something we don't know. Last season we increased our points tally by about 50% with additions that cost little or no money infact i would have thought our wage bill would have dropped yet the performances show what the management acheived.

 

We have a world cup very soon, we may or may not be looking at players but we will be affected by other clubs policies. Players may find themselves surplus to requirements and unavaiable players become available and i have every faith in our management being ahead of the game on this. Big money signings come with risks look at Mills, Akinbiyi,Blake and we actually have big signings already DD,VardY,Moore,Knockers ,Mahrez are all worth plenty.

 

The management team has worked wonders not just in who they have brought in but who they have moved out so for me our recruitment looks spot on so chill watch the world cup have your hols get down to Grace Road wait for the fixtures to be released think more like corporal Jones and not corporal Fraser.

[Guest Col city fan]

Had a lengthy chat with some mates whilst watching the Champs league last night.

The gist of it was this:

1. We know what Pearson is doing and it needed doing. He's clearly filling the squad with 'Cover'. SSL has left, Whitbread has left, so he brings in Upson. Dyer has left/leaving, so we bring in Albrighton. Etc..

2. None of the new additions represent a significant improvement on the existing squad. Eg. Upson, no better than Wasa, Albrighton not really any better than Knocky/Mahrez etc.

3. As things stand now... the bulk of last season's first team would start next season.

This begs two questions...

- as things stand now, do you believe that last season's starting 11 will be strong enough for the Premiership?

- if we get injuries to key players, are you content with the replacements? Eg. King for James, Upson for Morgan, Hamer for Kasper?

This line of conversation resulted in us agreeing that we want to see at least two players signed, over the summer, which will clearly IMPROVE what we have in the squad, not just add to it. One at Centre Mid, one at Striker.

In this way, James would then become the 'cover', as would Nugent/Vardy.

Finally, we agreed that this is what we thought Pearson would do.. ie at some point, start to introduce better than what we already have.

[Bettsj2]

Had a lengthy chat with some mates whilst watching the Champs league last night.

The gist of it was this:

1. We know what Pearson is doing and it needed doing. He's clearly filling the squad with 'Cover'. SSL has left, Whitbread has left, so he brings in Upson. Dyer has left/leaving, so we bring in Albrighton. Etc..

2. None of the new additions represent a significant improvement on the existing squad. Eg. Upson, no better than Wasa, Albrighton not really any better than Knocky/Mahrez etc.

3. As things stand now... the bulk of last season's first team would start next season.

This begs two questions...

- as things stand now, do you believe that last season's starting 11 will be strong enough for the Premiership?

- if we get injuries to key players, are you content with the replacements? Eg. King for James, Upson for Morgan, Hamer for Kasper?

This line of conversation resulted in us agreeing that we want to see at least two players signed, over the summer, which will clearly IMPROVE what we have in the squad, not just add to it. One at Centre Mid, one at Striker.

In this way, James would then become the 'cover', as would Nugent/Vardy.

Finally, we agreed that this is what we thought Pearson would do.. ie at some point, start to introduce better than what we already have.

Our starting 11 would survive in the Prem without a problem.

If we were hit by loads of injuries then no but not many could. Like all including you have said, as soon as the window opens, i've no doubt the quality that we're all gagging for will arrive and at that point, the pants of some can cease being filled with shit.

[Harry - LCFC]

Had a lengthy chat with some mates whilst watching the Champs league last night.

The gist of it was this:

1. We know what Pearson is doing and it needed doing. He's clearly filling the squad with 'Cover'. SSL has left, Whitbread has left, so he brings in Upson. Dyer has left/leaving, so we bring in Albrighton. Etc..

2. None of the new additions represent a significant improvement on the existing squad. Eg. Upson, no better than Wasa, Albrighton not really any better than Knocky/Mahrez etc.

3. As things stand now... the bulk of last season's first team would start next season.

This begs two questions...

- as things stand now, do you believe that last season's starting 11 will be strong enough for the Premiership?

- if we get injuries to key players, are you content with the replacements? Eg. King for James, Upson for Morgan, Hamer for Kasper?

This line of conversation resulted in us agreeing that we want to see at least two players signed, over the summer, which will clearly IMPROVE what we have in the squad, not just add to it. One at Centre Mid, one at Striker.

In this way, James would then become the 'cover', as would Nugent/Vardy.

Finally, we agreed that this is what we thought Pearson would do.. ie at some point, start to introduce better than what we already have.

 

Hope I don't sound dull saying that but we're only a little further along the line than when the season ended. Gauging how well we'd do as things stand now isn't that useful because we know there are going to be a number of changes. It's still a case of what those changes will be.

 

The question should still be who we need to sign, just as it was when we found out we were promoted.

[Finn Claw II]

It's May!   All the signings improve the squad and we haven't lost anyone that really counts yet (bar Lloyd) so this is progress.

 

I'm sure there will be two or three "big" signings down the spine of the team, either exciting loans or potential gems from Europe.  Look at Hull last year,  a number of cheaper additions (Elmohamady, Figuerroa, Boyd, Sagbo etc.) and then some exciting signings (Davies, Huddlestone, Livermore).  They also further strengthened in Jan.

[steflcfc]

I think Pearson ha started with the same transfer strategy a last season, like when we brought in Hammond,Taylor Fletcher and Phillips with experience to balance with the younger inexperienced squad we have.

Pearson has done the same with Upson and Albrighton and possibly Campbell with our squad having very little Premier League knowledge.

I don't think these signings will be in the starting 11 week in week out but they make the 25 man squad a lot stronger in depth which throughout the campaign, which we will need.

Also, I wouldn't be suprised if we don't make any massive signings, but fill the squad with players with "points to prove" and experience in the league without disrupting what bond that the players that got us into the Premiership have created.

[justfoxes]

Some folk on here seem to think we have £180m to spend this summer, come on do you think the owners would give Nigel that much now?

Wake up that is for a Three year plan if we were to have that much to spend now do you think we still would be signing Hamer upson and that promising young lad from Man Utd? I think not we would be in for some top stars like who knows, our aim this coming season is to survive in the prem and with the squad Nigel has and is putting together we have a great chance of doing just that I feel we will finish our first season back no lower than 15th place.

Once premier league survival has been eataished then that will be year one objective complete then we can build on our success (with luck!) and go for better objectives year two top ten places Nigel will build and add as he seems fit and he will have the backing of our very ambitious and generous owners!

So let's not get too carried away just yet and enjoy being back in the premier league and believe in Nigel and the owners to bring us even greater success and sod all our knockers who give us grief for saying we're getting far too big for our boots they're just bitter and jealous!

Just enjoy and keep the awesome fan support that we have given our team over our last season in the championship!