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Positive Intent
2016 is upon us, and with it comes the transfer window which opens tomorrow until 11pm, February 1. As always, it’ll be a time of rumours – which club Dimmy Gray is being watched by, which club Dimmy Gray might move to etc. However, Blues are expected to bring in players too with Rowett talking about looking at bringing in two attackers and a defender.
I think this transfer window is going to be crucial for Blues; it’s going to define just how much ambition we can afford, how much transfer nous Gary Rowett has and just how far he can be backed by Panos, the BIH board and Trillion Trophy Asia. Blues are in a half decent position in the table and with the right signings could make a run for the playoffs; expectations have been raised especially as Rowett has made it plain he’s got more cash than he’s had before to look at using on players.
I’ll be fair to him – I’m sure it’s more cash to be used on wages rather than transfer fees; however I would say it’s probably easier to bring in talent from the top flight with a bit of experience if a team can offer a parent club a wage contribution of 10-20k per week as opposed to 3-5k. Blues were in for a number of Premier League strikers on deadline day of the loan window only for them to fall flat for one reason or another – but the money was there.
However, I don’t think the excuses are going to wash if deals can’t be got over the line. The longer the window goes on without signings the more ammunition there is for the pessimists who say that there is no money – and the less credibility Blues will have that there is money to be spent. I really do hope Blues hit the ground running in the window and are able to secure targets early on; not only does it silence doubters but it gives players more time to bed in and get going.
If Dimmy goes, Dimmy goes. I’m tired of the rumours now – and as talented he evidently is I don’t think he’s irreplaceable – especially if transfer fees can be reinvested in the team. I’ll be honest with this and say if he’s going to go I’d rather it happened at the start of the window than deadline day as it would give Blues more time to spend money and invest in the team.
A successful transfer window for me will be one where we’re not left looking like a sad-faced loser on Bullseye at the end of the window, staring at what we could have been. Let’s hope Blues start 2016 with positive intent and show us that we are on our way back rather than cursing the drawn out Hong Kong shenanigans for condemning us to mediocrity.
Tags: Gary Rowett, Panos Pavlakis, Transfers
66 Responses to “Positive Intent”
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Big big time for panos and co undoubtedly there make or break month…let’s see the jury is out on them?
First off Happy new year to all Bluenoses and a positive start to the year against Brentford tommorow will be what the doctor ordered ( no pun intended Mr D ) … January will see Demari Gray leave for sure in my opinion but the money spent on replacements in other areas will hopefully make us a stronger team and squad as we already have Soloman to take Dimmis place … Centre half , left back and an all round midfield player along with a striker who has to be pushing Donaldson for a starting place is what we need I think … New year , New optimism , let’s try and keep it that way , difficult I know but it’s less stressful . Kro
Centre half and maybe a striker are the main focuses. Defence is our weakest area and has been since Davis left.
I really hope that they can complete a signing that will excite the fans, the positively that brings could help the team move forward. I expect one signing to be a permanent deal for Vaughan which although pleasing is not going to put bums on seats. I live in hope.
the bottom line realistically speaking, is that there will eventually only be one space up for grabs come may. and that will be the magical 6th spot. i predict 3 or 4 teams will be vying for this. in order to cement this spot i believe goal difference will be a factor. imagine missing out on the play-offs due to goal difference. food for thought.
Saying Goal difference has hit the nail on the thumb. It is critical that the window brings in the answer to feeding the ball to the player that puts it in the net. We have not got that. Or we have not clicked to do that except maybe at Fulham. The defence may be doing well but they would be much better if a few more goals were scored.
Vaughan is a local but he hssnt scored and we have two players just like him on loan. We need 2 players that put bums in seats as has been said. Losing Dimi would be going in the opposite direction but gaining two of his standard would be glorious. January is exciting.
Happy New Year to all.
I think it is all down to the pulling power of GR and BCFC. I believe we have some funds and maybe more than we have had for a while, but can we attract a good player to come to Blues?
What vision of the future is he given?
what security will they have?
For loanees these questions may not be prime to their decision, but again the question of playing minutes will be key.
So for me can GR and the club dazzle the would be’s with the glitzy Blue lights of St Andrews and all that it offers, we will know come the end of the month.
As few other teams seem to want him now – how about Ravel Morrisson, as he could add some real class, and may be persuaded to behave himself.
I think it’s just as important to being in good people ie right attitude as it is to bring in talent. Ravel undoubtedly has the latter but unfortunately he has been trouble pretty much everywhere he has been so I wouldn’ t go near him tbh. We have a group of players who really give their all for each other and I wouldn’t risk messing with that.
I agree. Our apple cart is just fine thanks.. we don’t need anyone upsetting it.
Panos’ meeting with TTA a few months back has yielded some more funds and put us back in the game to pay higher wages on better quality loans.Using the money to buy players wouldn’t bring in the sort of player we need as we would probably need to spend 1-2 mill so it has to be loans.
Gray leaving in this window wouldn’t be ideal if we are to have serious ambitions of getting into the play-offs although I’m getting the feeling that GR isn’t as bothered about him leaving as he was at the start of the season because he’s been average apart from a couple of games.
As you rightly say,if he is to go then hopefully it will be at the start of the window instead of close to the deadline.
If the ‘selling’ club are holding out on the hope of s better deal unless you say ‘take it or leave it’ you have to wait
As you said in your first line saltley there are still a few teams who would take him so it don’t look likely mate though he done great last time . Kro
How about Peter crouch or odinwinge on loan
Crouch or Walters from Stoke would be great signings.
Jon Walters?
Are you serious – do you honestly think we’d be able to sign him?
He can’t get in their team. The worst that can happen is they say no!
A bit ambitious tbh.
After his goal against MKDons and his play in general Magombe looks a ready made replacement for Gray.. I think Rowett has done a remarkable job with the squad of players at his disposal, but I think the team is nowhere near a promotion outfit. We need 3 or 4 quality players to get to that position and then untold millions if we got promoted. Carson Yeung is the monkey on Blues back and people in the football business, especially agents, know this. A consequence of this is, some players will be reluctant to join BCFC. I would advise all bluenoses to support our team, but until new ownership is in place, don’t expect too much. Carson Yeung and the |Hong Kong connection, will continue to hinder the progress of the club.
We get untold millions if we get promoted so that isn’t an issue, I guess the dilemma for GR is whether to spend the money he has to get three loan signings from the Premier League to give us a chance of pushing for the play offs or use the money to bring in one or two permanent signings to gradually improve the team.
It’s not really the millions that needs spending that is the problem, if we got promoted this year there’s not one of those players apart from maybe the goal keeper and a couple others who could cut it. If you make wholesale changes to teams their former suffers and we will have to do that. So any promotion ambition needs to be gradual.
It would not surprise me to see an early swop deal involving BM. perhaps getting Washington or Maddison. BM would do a good job at Coventry or Peterbrough.Also wiping the slate clean with the return of Halford. As Dave Mann stated months ago- players who come in have to go straight in the first eleven. No messing.
I agree – it makes sense to loan out BM (if anyone wants him) to find out whether he will ever be good enough and in turn that releases wages to help to bring in players who can contribute for the remainder of the season.
Yes Mitchell , they have to be ready , good enough and wiling to jump straight in otherwise why bother , experience over youth on this occasion , happy new year mate . Kro
I really don’t understand the signing nor the money on Brock Madsen? A lot of money on a player who quite clearly is not good enough?
I guess he came highly recommended but just hasn’t done it yet. Even Sir Alex Ferguson signed a few duds. If we get him out on loan to a FL side if he can’t do it at that level we know he isn’t going to do it in the Championship.
I wouldn`t get too excited about transfer activity in january.Yes i expect 2 or 3 to come in but i doubt they`ll be anything better than we already have.I keep hearing that we have money to spend so let`s see it.I will not be holding my breath though.Happy New Year and KRO.
GR has stated that he can’t wait for this window to open and that there is more money available to him than before.He stands to get some egg on his face if he doesn’t improve the team with some significant additions imo.
Gary has also said that it might not mean new players coming in but the retention of some players with loan extensions or purchase of loanee’s, at least that’s what I heard him say in a videocast. Kro
He can only be referring to Vaughans loan extension.
Well if he meant that I would feel defrauded, the implications to all the fan is that new players , better players would be coming in never mind extensions for who we have
Brighton lost again today and I don’t expect them to finish
in the top six they like their manager have flattered to deceive.
It’s always nice to bring in a new player or two, but to be honest, loans don’t excite me at all, regardless of the quality. I’d much rather have our own players.. players who know they’ll be here next season and have something to fight for.
Well we’re hardly in a position to bring in our own players are we ? As long as they help our play off push i don’t care who they are,or how long they’re here.
Has someone actually told you we can’t bring players in permanently? We seem to have managed ok with the likes of Kuszczak, Legzdins, Maghoma, Brock-Madsen and Kieftenbeld. Are they not permanent?
Apart from Brock,weren’t the others out of contract ? Nobody will be out of contract in January.Plus GR saying we are in a position where we can be competitive on wages,suggests to me that they will be loans.
Out of contract/Bosmans… still permanent signings all the same. There will be players in the last 5-6 months of their contracts. We could sign them now, or loan with a view to signing permanently in the summer. Absolutely no one knows for sure, except Rowett and Pavlakis.
No fees paid though. And with all the uncertainty in HK,how can we view a permenant signing in 6 months time.
The problem with buying as opposed to loaning is that your going to struggle to improve on what we already have.It would mean GR having to take gambles on unproven players in the hope that he can uncover a few gems and for every one Micheal Morrison there’s another 5 Brock-Madsens in that sort of market.
Loans are a quick fix given our current finances.Buy when we’ve got money available that can make a difference.
With the Euro’s coming up,there could be a lot of players desperate for playing time. Probably not players for the main countries,but still some quality.
Good point.Squad selection candidates for the home nations especially will want to put themselves in the shop window instead of being inactive or being on a bench somewhere.
We do not need another charade like the last loan spell, Rowett has to act and act quickly, I’m still not convinced of his abilities in the market. Lowry, Brock martin etc
You’re right Tony. He needs to do his business early. He knows what cash he has to spend,so hopefully he’s been working behind the scenes already.
Wow the transfer window has given us some potential for reinforcements and the nay sayers are even reducing it to a moan like saying on christmas eve they wont get enough presents.
I would like Messi, Zinadine and rio ferdinand. And GR should be good enough to convince them. If not he is a failure.
Lowry and Brock were failures Pete
Why s Brock a failure? He has come from abroad and is learning game. He has come I and has to try and replace our best player upfront on his own when our supply line in cotterill was also out. He did okay and after a loan could develop nicely. Good to see another supporter who does not support a player.
Problem is Pete he’s a striker who doesn’t score goals
In the 4 full games no. Not much of a chance is it. Is Donaldson measured by his prolific goal scoring record too?
I’d be quite happy with a decent left back to challenge Grounds and a player who is a little switched on and capable of playing closer to Donaldson and anticipating his knock downs and flick ons. That could take us a long way.
I’d be happy with a CB,an attacking midfielder and a striker. It sounds like Vaughan could be the striker,extending his loan deal.
IMO we’ll bring in Halford challenge Caddis and cover for Morrison; a left back, Tesche and a striker. If they can get Vaughan on loan perhaps but not as a purchase
I’m intrigued about who he has lined up for the left back spot. Will he go for an out-and-out left back, or just another utility player. For me, another utility player would be a waste of money, we already have 3 in Spector, Lowry and Halford… unless two of those will be let go next week.
Daily Mirror are saying that Leicester have won the race to sign Gray. I won’t lose any sleep about him going.Just hope GR gets some of the dosh.
Has to be add-ons. Surely the club can’t be as stupid as they were in the past? Add-ons could eventually double the price. But, as long as Rowett gets at least £2/2.5 milluion, I don’t think there will be too many moans.
Looks like Leicester have got Gray £3 . 7 million that’s a gift
Probably add ons and maybe a loan back.
As OP has said, I wouldn’t want him loaned back. We need to plan for the future.
I wouldn’t want him back either. But GR loves him.
If Dimmi is going then I wish him well, I think he may have been one of GR’s favorites but times have changed, and I do not see how he will fit in at Lc with his inconsistency, but good luck to him and thanks for hopefully putting some coffers into the transfer fund, especially on day one. Now lets bring some quality in and show the doubters what were made of. Kro
Regarding dimmy blues have to many wingers not enough goalscorers , so not enough goals scored from crosses , we have good defensive midfield players .but need to go for it when we find ourselves unlucky to be behind , it would be nice to keep him but on the other hand , Gaz R deserves a bit of money to spend , it would be nice to keep him in the Midlands though if he does go ., COME ON ONWARD AND UPWARD …. Kro
Happy New Year Dan and to all Bluenoses around the world.
Would like to see us agree deal for Jon Toral permanently. Coming out of contract. Only 20 and could be a shrewd buy with gray money. A move for tesche would be superb and the other players would like is Zak cough at Bolton, who would sell cheaply. Finally the young left back at Walsall would. E great. All 4 easily affordable for money in from gray
Would like to see Toral permanently also, Tesche back aswell along with a left back , a centre back and that striker to challenge Donaldson , could be brought with the Gray money and would strengthen the squad and the team I think … Win today which I know will be difficult and seventh place awaits and only two points off sixth , come on Blues , kro
Regards strikers, a proven goalscorer at this level and who would offer something different to Donaldson is Frederico Macheda, now completely out of favour at Cardiff.
And on a lot more money.
Good shout Richard.If we payed a part of his wages as part of a loan.
I know getting an affordable goalscorer is very difficult but is Bradbury just too risky?