Here's my take.
1) We all wanted to move away from signing players on big contracts based on reputation, in favour of unearthing gems from lower leagues, young and hungry players that want to prove themselves. Obviously proof will be in the pudding when we actually see them play, but Gladwin, Luongo, JET and Blackwood fit that mould. Did well for their previous clubs (Blackwood did well for us on trial), younger players who would be bang up for the fight and not after one last payday. Jamie Mackie we know all about, limited in his ability yes, but will guarantee you 100% effort every time he pulls on that shirt, something which we have sorely lacked since the season we won the Championship.
2) Scouting. We are actually watching players extensively and signing them based on scout reports. Chery, 10 goals in 35 in his first season for Groningen, 15 goals in 34 in his second season, all from midfield, in the Eredivisie. Polter, 14 goals in 29 for Union Berlin. 27 and 24 years old respectively, both entering their prime, both wanting to prove themselves in England. Both of them unknown quantities but look very promising. Neither of them playing in sh!t unknown foreign leagues as was previously stated.
3) Selling. We have made it very clear we will sell the likes of Austin and Phillips if the price is right, £15m and £10m respectively, and we have so far stuck to that and not given in to lower offers, something i think the previous regimes would have done. We won't be taken for mugs and that, for me, is fantastic to see. We don't need to sell at all, but if we do get the right offer, we can and I believe we will put that money to good use.
All of these signings are exactly the types of signings everyone wanted. If it was a choice between these or players that won a Champions League medal once upon a time, I'd choose these ones every time. Sure, we may not go straight back up, but I'm confident we won't go down. They've made it very clear the number one priority is to consolidate, not go straight up.
So am I happy so far? Yes, very. We aren't done yet either.
1) We all wanted to move away from signing players on big contracts based on reputation, in favour of unearthing gems from lower leagues, young and hungry players that want to prove themselves. Obviously proof will be in the pudding when we actually see them play, but Gladwin, Luongo, JET and Blackwood fit that mould. Did well for their previous clubs (Blackwood did well for us on trial), younger players who would be bang up for the fight and not after one last payday. Jamie Mackie we know all about, limited in his ability yes, but will guarantee you 100% effort every time he pulls on that shirt, something which we have sorely lacked since the season we won the Championship.
2) Scouting. We are actually watching players extensively and signing them based on scout reports. Chery, 10 goals in 35 in his first season for Groningen, 15 goals in 34 in his second season, all from midfield, in the Eredivisie. Polter, 14 goals in 29 for Union Berlin. 27 and 24 years old respectively, both entering their prime, both wanting to prove themselves in England. Both of them unknown quantities but look very promising. Neither of them playing in sh!t unknown foreign leagues as was previously stated.
3) Selling. We have made it very clear we will sell the likes of Austin and Phillips if the price is right, £15m and £10m respectively, and we have so far stuck to that and not given in to lower offers, something i think the previous regimes would have done. We won't be taken for mugs and that, for me, is fantastic to see. We don't need to sell at all, but if we do get the right offer, we can and I believe we will put that money to good use.
All of these signings are exactly the types of signings everyone wanted. If it was a choice between these or players that won a Champions League medal once upon a time, I'd choose these ones every time. Sure, we may not go straight back up, but I'm confident we won't go down. They've made it very clear the number one priority is to consolidate, not go straight up.
So am I happy so far? Yes, very. We aren't done yet either.
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