Cartwright.

[Sparrow]

Sept 1, 2024 22:01:19 GMT 1 4 pts said:

Sept 1, 2024 21:01:32 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-one/transfers/wettbewerb/GB3/plus/?saison_id=2024&s_w=s&leihe=3&intern=0&intern=1

All the strikers bought, sold or released by League one clubs this summer....which ones should we have gone for, which ones are the 20 goal strikers?

So is there a new rule that you must target the same players as every other League one club ? Is there just one pool of players for each division ? Is that how transfers work these days ? 

You do realise that we are a league 1 club right. A 3rd division club in old money

The pool we’re fishing in is pretty small.

We’re looking for a 20 goal league 1 striker. How many strikers who play in other European leagues or other leagues around the world, that might be capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, will be interested and willing to come play in League 1 in England? If you’re good enough to score 20+ goals in league 1, then there’s probably clubs in the Championship interested in you as well as clubs in bigger leagues in Europe/Rest of the World that what you’re currently playing in and that are bigger and better leagues than League 1. So why would you come to League 1?

How many strikers in the last 25 years have come from an overseas league and scored 20+ goals in their first season in League 1. None, Zero. Not one single striker has been bought in the summer transfer window from an overseas league and in his first season in league 1 scored 20+ goals, in the last 25 seasons. What makes you think that we can find one that wants to join us?

Anyone that good will be signed by a championship club or by a club in a bigger/better league than the English 3rd division

[Richard1986]

Dunno what Cartwright’s role or remit is, and I hate this director of football nonsense (same thing as a chief scout imo but instead it’s some chancer in a suit who talks bullshit).

It’s been fucking piss poor on the striker recruitment front.

Manager wants to play a two striker system and that’s what I want to see. And probably a few other fans.

However we are now in a situation where a good manager just has not been provided with the resources to make a go of it this season.

Recruitment department needs some serious improvement.

Might as well get Boothy registered as a player again. Absolute shower of shite. Need to bring in whoever we have in ‘B’ team or U18’s.

[ritchie]

Sept 1, 2024 22:43:32 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

Sept 1, 2024 22:01:19 GMT 1 4 pts said:

So is there a new rule that you must target the same players as every other League one club ? Is there just one pool of players for each division ? Is that how transfers work these days ? 

You do realise that we are a league 1 club right. A 3rd division club in old money

The pool we’re fishing in is pretty small.

We’re looking for a 20 goal league 1 striker. How many strikers who play in other European leagues or other leagues around the world, that might be capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, will be interested and willing to come play in League 1 in England? If you’re good enough to score 20+ goals in league 1, then there’s probably clubs in the Championship interested in you as well as clubs in bigger leagues in Europe/Rest of the World that what you’re currently playing in and that are bigger and better leagues than League 1. So why would you come to League 1?

How many strikers in the last 25 years have come from an overseas league and scored 20+ goals in their first season in League 1. None, Zero. Not one single striker has been bought in the summer transfer window from an overseas league and in his first season in league 1 scored 20+ goals, in the last 25 seasons. What makes you think that we can find one that wants to join us?

Anyone that good will be signed by a championship club or by a club in a bigger/better league than the English 3rd division

So will there not be any 20 goal a season strikers in L1 this year?

[Sparrow]

There’s only been 15 different players that have scored 20+ goals in league 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 9 if you take away penalties

Only 2 did it last season. One got 23, including 6 penalties, the other got 21, including 8 penalties.

5 season ago only 1 player did it. Ivan Toney.

Surely that shows how hard it is to find a 20+ a season striker for league 1

[utttrooper]

I'm not a massive Cartwright fan however I'm not unhappy with how the whole second striker search went because we probably did have alternatives but by the time Luton pulled the plug on Taylor it was likely too late to arrange another deal. I think his signings this summer have generally been good but I just wish we'd brought in someone like Taylor who can stretch the line and bring something different

[townarentbest]

Sept 1, 2024 23:26:47 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

There’s only been 15 different players that have scored 20+ goals in league 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 9 if you take away penalties

Only 2 did it last season. One got 23, including 6 penalties, the other got 21, including 8 penalties.

5 season ago only 1 player did it. Ivan Toney.

Surely that shows how hard it is to find a 20+ a season striker for league 1

Only 15 teams have been promoted from League 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 10 if you take away play off finals.

Only 3 did it last season. 

Surely thst shows how difficult it is to get promoted out of League 1 and why we should have brought in an actual proven goal scorer?

Unless, of course, we as a club don't need the instant promotion that I as a fan need.

I use the word "need" carefully...football is less important than it once was, I won't be watching L1 beyond this season, it's not very entertaining. 

[Convictatthemac]

Sept 1, 2024 20:00:28 GMT 1 nicovaesen said:

Aug 31, 2024 16:44:24 GMT 1 Convictatthemac said:

Does it matter that Cartwright held onto Helik and Nichols? He’s wasted the strength they create by not getting in a striker. Sack him.

What’s a striker

Nobody seems to know in Huddersfield Town 😂

[Captainslapper]

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

[crux]

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

That's how bad it was and still is. We have strengthened up front in terms of numbers, but 2 appear to be injury prone. We also don't have any genuine pace up front, or anyone with a presence to hold the ball up.

[iangreaves]

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

As far as I am aware both came with injury records. How many games has Radulovic played for us since signing. You would have thought we might have learned from past experience of signing players with a history of injuries.

[runner76]

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

Exactly right......would have been great to land one of the main targets but we have better options now than we did before January.......!! Injured players and International players WILL be back and then we should have enough to compete Top 6 and, if we can land the right striker come January, could see us a solid Top 6...maybe even challenging autos....

[Scott Chegg]

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

I'm not sure the argument is that we haven't strengthened (or at least tried to) this year.

It is that having done so primarily in January, it quickly became apparent that Radulovic and Healy weren't going to be regular fixtures in the side as they are both made of glass.

Knowing this and only bringing in a 19 year old loan striker in the summer window is what I think is understandably giving people cause for concern.

And Kev's daft comments on deadline day haven't helped either as we watch Ben Wiles leading the line in the last 20 minutes against Rotherham.

[townian]

Sept 2, 2024 10:31:48 GMT 1 iangreaves said:

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

As far as I am aware both came with injury records. How many games has Radulovic played for us since signing. You would have thought we might have learned from past experience of signing players with a history of injuries.

You're mistaken. Radulovic had barely missed a game throughout his due to injury before arriving here. Healey had one serious injury (ACL) two years ago, but fully recovered by the time he signed for Watford, where he was in the matchday squad virtually every game. Prior to his ACL he had played 65 out of a possible 68 league games for Toulouse over two seasons. Just unlucky here.

[Sparrow]

Sept 2, 2024 0:18:54 GMT 1 townarentbest said:

Sept 1, 2024 23:26:47 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

There’s only been 15 different players that have scored 20+ goals in league 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 9 if you take away penalties

Only 2 did it last season. One got 23, including 6 penalties, the other got 21, including 8 penalties.

5 season ago only 1 player did it. Ivan Toney.

Surely that shows how hard it is to find a 20+ a season striker for league 1

Only 15 teams have been promoted from League 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 10 if you take away play off finals.

Only 3 did it last season. 

Surely thst shows how difficult it is to get promoted out of League 1 and why we should have brought in an actual proven goal scorer?

Unless, of course, we as a club don't need the instant promotion that I as a fan need.

I use the word "need" carefully...football is less important than it once was, I won't be watching L1 beyond this season, it's not very entertaining. 

Yep very difficult to get promoted from any division.

We don't disagree that having a 20+ goals scorer increases the chances of being promoted significantly. And I absolutely wish we'd have been able to sign one. Disappointed that we didn't, but I can understand why it didn't happen.

Surely you agree that there are not many strikers, capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, that are actually willing to play in League 1.

We tried to sign the one who's done it on 2 or 3 occasions recently in Alfie May. We had the deal all but done, then Brum totally gazumped up. No one in this league have been able or willing to keep up with Birmingham's level of spending. Indeed they've spent a lot more than a number of Championship sides.

We had another in the building that we felt could do it and was willing and keen to join us and play in League 1 in Taylor. The deal was all but done, until Luton couldn't get a striker of their own and pulled the plug on the deal.

The other proven one is Jonson Clarke-Harris, but he obviously wanted to go back to Rotherham. Where I believe Steve Evans previously managed him.

Realistically, and not on some computer game, how many more strikers out there in the world that are capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, would actually be willing to come and play in League 1. There will be a lot that "could" come and score 20+, but there will not be many willing to come and play in League 1.

And of the ones there are, how do you know we didn't make enquiries about some of them and those clubs just wouldn't sell the player, just like Luton ended up doing. Or he was sold to another club for more money than we could offer. Or the player himself went to another club offering him more money, just like Alfie May. Or he went to a club playing at a higher level than League 1. We also probably looked at a few players similar to Bojan in the sense of the level of league he was playing in and his success rate and ultimately decided not to make a move for them.

Have a look at the Swedish, Finish or Danish leagues etc and tell me 1 striker you'd like us to sign. Ashley Coffee was second top scorer behind Bojan in the Finish league, before joining the Finish league he was in the Swedish league. Before playing in the Swedish league he was playing for Marske United & Whitby.

Any player in Africa capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, will be wanted by clubs bigger clubs than us in Holland, Belgium, France etc and will chose there before us in League 1.

Similar with players in countries such as Japan, China etc.

So whilst I agree with everyone saying we need a 20+ goal a season striker, where is he coming from?

[townarentbest]

Sept 2, 2024 12:02:32 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

Sept 2, 2024 0:18:54 GMT 1 townarentbest said:

Only 15 teams have been promoted from League 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 10 if you take away play off finals.

Only 3 did it last season. 

Surely thst shows how difficult it is to get promoted out of League 1 and why we should have brought in an actual proven goal scorer?

Unless, of course, we as a club don't need the instant promotion that I as a fan need.

I use the word "need" carefully...football is less important than it once was, I won't be watching L1 beyond this season, it's not very entertaining. 

Yep very difficult to get promoted from any division.

We don't disagree that having a 20+ goals scorer increases the chances of being promoted significantly. And I absolutely wish we'd have been able to sign one. Disappointed that we didn't, but I can understand why it didn't happen.

Surely you agree that there are not many strikers, capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, that are actually willing to play in League 1.

We tried to sign the one who's done it on 2 or 3 occasions recently in Alfie May. We had the deal all but done, then Brum totally gazumped up. No one in this league have been able or willing to keep up with Birmingham's level of spending. Indeed they've spent a lot more than a number of Championship sides.

We had another in the building that we felt could do it and was willing and keen to join us and play in League 1 in Taylor. The deal was all but done, until Luton couldn't get a striker of their own and pulled the plug on the deal.

The other proven one is Jonson Clarke-Harris, but he obviously wanted to go back to Rotherham. Where I believe Steve Evans previously managed him.

Realistically, and not on some computer game, how many more strikers out there in the world that are capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, would actually be willing to come and play in League 1. There will be a lot that "could" come and score 20+, but there will not be many willing to come and play in League 1.

And of the ones there are, how do you know we didn't make enquiries about some of them and those clubs just wouldn't sell the player, just like Luton ended up doing. Or he was sold to another club for more money than we could offer. Or the player himself went to another club offering him more money, just like Alfie May. Or he went to a club playing at a higher level than League 1. We also probably looked at a few players similar to Bojan in the sense of the level of league he was playing in and his success rate and ultimately decided not to make a move for them.

Have a look at the Swedish, Finish or Danish leagues etc and tell me 1 striker you'd like us to sign. Ashley Coffee was second top scorer behind Bojan in the Finish league, before joining the Finish league he was in the Swedish league. Before playing in the Swedish league he was playing for Marske United & Whitby.

Any player in Africa capable of scoring 20+ goals in League 1, will be wanted by clubs bigger clubs than us in Holland, Belgium, France etc and will chose there before us in League 1.

Similar with players in countries such as Japan, China etc.

So whilst I agree with everyone saying we need a 20+ goal a season striker, where is he coming from?

Thats the clubs problem to solve, and it'll likely still be a problem that needs solving in January unless by some miracle - 

1) Bojan can stay fit AND turns out to be a significantly better footballer than he's looked; which seems unlikely - more likely he needs a loan spell in League 2 next year and string 10-15 appearances together and hopefully bag 5 goals for someone and comes back more ready to play in 25/26 if we're still a League 1 club.

2) AND Healey can somehow prove that he's not just another Danny Ward...again seems unlikely, he's 29 years old and outside of 2 seasons in a poor standard of football in France, he's managed to play more than 20 games just once - TEN years ago at Colchester.


We need another striker if we want to go up this season...having Ward as a sub is a total waste of time, Koroma is not a striker, we need to be playing 2 from Healey, Marshall and SOMEONE ELSE. If the club don't bring in that "someone else" in January, that could end up being the difference between play-offs and staying down, by delaying to January I believe we've already realistically lost out on an automatic spot.

[benhomly]

Sept 2, 2024 0:18:54 GMT 1 townarentbest said:

Sept 1, 2024 23:26:47 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

There’s only been 15 different players that have scored 20+ goals in league 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 9 if you take away penalties

Only 2 did it last season. One got 23, including 6 penalties, the other got 21, including 8 penalties.

5 season ago only 1 player did it. Ivan Toney.

Surely that shows how hard it is to find a 20+ a season striker for league 1

Only 15 teams have been promoted from League 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 10 if you take away play off finals.

Only 3 did it last season. 

Surely thst shows how difficult it is to get promoted out of League 1 and why we should have brought in an actual proven goal scorer?

Unless, of course, we as a club don't need the instant promotion that I as a fan need.

I use the word "need" carefully...football is less important than it once was, I won't be watching L1 beyond this season, it's not very entertaining. 

And only 5 if you take away those who finished second

[sonny]

Sept 2, 2024 12:33:14 GMT 1 benhomly said:

Sept 2, 2024 0:18:54 GMT 1 townarentbest said:

Only 15 teams have been promoted from League 1 in the last 5 seasons. Only 10 if you take away play off finals.

Only 3 did it last season. 

Surely thst shows how difficult it is to get promoted out of League 1 and why we should have brought in an actual proven goal scorer?

Unless, of course, we as a club don't need the instant promotion that I as a fan need.

I use the word "need" carefully...football is less important than it once was, I won't be watching L1 beyond this season, it's not very entertaining. 

And only 5 if you take away those who finished second

And none if you take away those who finished first. About time these entitled Town fans got some perspective.

[Captainslapper]

Sept 2, 2024 10:31:48 GMT 1 iangreaves said:

Sept 2, 2024 9:31:48 GMT 1 Captainslapper said:

Havent we signed 3 strikers in the past 8 months?
Ok 2 of them are currently out, but that will change, and think both cost in the region of £1m each. When fit id expect both to do well at this level.
And then a highly rated young NI international on loan..who so far looks like a really good player.

Another would have been great and we were clearly trying to get the right one in, but I dont think its fair to say we havent strengthened up front with the 3 weve brought in this year.

As far as I am aware both came with injury records. How many games has Radulovic played for us since signing. You would have thought we might have learned from past experience of signing players with a history of injuries.

Think we're in a problem position when it comes to signings.
We want a certain quality but we dont have the money to get the ideal ones we want...so we take a risk on players who have shown the right quality but come with a caveat..that they are potentially going to be injured a lot.

You can get lucky and sign a bargain whos fit every week, or you can be unlucky and sign someone whos barely ever on the pitch...Balker springs to mind,,,clearly a great player but will he ever play enough?
We will take the advice of our medical people when working out if its a gamble worth taking.

Are the injuries Bojan and healey out with the same injuries they had before coming here? Is balkers?
If theyre different injures its likely weve just been unlucky.

edit..just seen townians post and seems neither were regularly injured prior to coming here. Seems like weve been unlucky with those two strikers then.
Hopefully when. theyre back, they'll stay back.

[soapystevens]

Sept 1, 2024 20:00:28 GMT 1 nicovaesen said:

Aug 31, 2024 16:44:24 GMT 1 Convictatthemac said:

Does it matter that Cartwright held onto Helik and Nichols? He’s wasted the strength they create by not getting in a striker. Sack him.

What’s a striker

I always thought a striker was someone who withdraws their labour and refuses to work until certain conditions are met.

A player who scores a lot of goals is something i am not familiar with at Town.

[detox]

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

[Sio]

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

The problem is that, sadly, the club are going to lose a lot of goodwill and attendance if we don't go up this year. I wouldn't say because people are entitled - rather that the Club have talked about how it's our agenda this season, and a failure to even make the play-offs will take away any trust in them moving forward.

Obviously this is all total speculation and let's hope our depleted squad can find enough, but two seasons of talking the talk without results will be the final straw for many. 

[detox]

Sept 2, 2024 14:51:06 GMT 1 Sio said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

The problem is that, sadly, the club are going to lose a lot of goodwill and attendance if we don't go up this year. I wouldn't say because people are entitled - rather that the Club have talked about how it's our agenda this season, and a failure to even make the play-offs will take away any trust in them moving forward.

Obviously this is all total speculation and let's hope our depleted squad can find enough, but two seasons of talking the talk without results will be the final straw for many. 

In reality the club couldn't say anything else could they ? Not if they wanted to sell SC's, get sponsors on board etc..

[Sio]

Sept 2, 2024 15:01:35 GMT 1 detox said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:51:06 GMT 1 Sio said:

The problem is that, sadly, the club are going to lose a lot of goodwill and attendance if we don't go up this year. I wouldn't say because people are entitled - rather that the Club have talked about how it's our agenda this season, and a failure to even make the play-offs will take away any trust in them moving forward.

Obviously this is all total speculation and let's hope our depleted squad can find enough, but two seasons of talking the talk without results will be the final straw for many. 

In reality the club couldn't say anything else could they ? Not if they wanted to sell SC's, get sponsors on board etc..

True - and I'd be disappointed if they didn't talk us up, actually. Perhaps I just believed they would show more action to back it up. 

[Waterloo Terrier]

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

Not getting in the playoffs would be to be blunt be a disaster. There is zero justification for not achieving that. Not getting up would still result in people not renewing, but the play-offs is an absolute base requirement in this league.

[townarentbest]

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

I think this too...

Especially when you look at the then out of contract players, which I think would contain...Hogg, Lees, Pearson, Ward, Helik, Koroma, Kasumu, Headley, Turton, Ruffels, Maxwell, Ayina & High...and by then players like Spencer, Wiles, Healey, Nicholls, will have just 1 year left.

Thats some relatively big wages coming out of the club and a real opportunity for an actual reset.

The challenge though is that big proportions of that list are players we already sort of have to play...its going to be very difficult to magic up 8 players coming in as starters who collectively are better (assuming we want promotion in 25/26), given we've shown how difficult it is already to do that with just 2 or 3 positions to fill this summer.

There's a collective fingers crossed going on at the moment I reckon - its going to be difficult enough to rebuild the defence next summer without having to finish the job we've possibly failed to do elsewhere as well...hopefully as this season progresses, Iorpenda, Kane, Sorensen, Miller, & Healey show, or continue to show, their value, as having them as reliable 1st teamers makes the rebuild slightly less onerous across the full XI.

[Sparrow]

It wont be that difficult though will it.

We have a 1 year option on Helik's contract, which will most likely be activated.

Spencer will still be with us, unless he has a brilliant season this season and someone signs him (i dont think this will happen).

Balker will still be with us.....Hopefully over his injuries

We'll be able to go back into the Loan market and get another young PL CB is we need. If we get promoted and he does well, that could easily be Lunwijk (Wolves may even decide he's not going to make the grade in the PL and sell him to us if we're in the championship)

We actually signed a 20 year old, left footed CB from Villa in this window, so you'd be hoping for him to be in first team contention next season. (Not necessarily a starter, but nocking on the door and in the first team squad).

So without having to really break sweat that's 5 CB's and we've only had to sign 1 either on loan or permanent.

That may be enough or we may want 1 more if we think Balker may continue to struggle with injuries.

At RWB we've got Sorenson and we're obviously hoping that Eccleston develops well on loan and could come back and compete for the shirt.

At LWB we've got Miller. He'll more than do if we're in League 1. If we get promoted we may look for another one and have him as back up, allowing Headly to leave. If we're still in league 1, then Headly is fine as back up. If not, it wont be hard to find a young lad to come in as back up.

So we've got 7/8 players that will already be with us.

We'll need 1-2 CB's to be part of the squad and 1 LWB to challenge Miller...That's not going to be particularly difficult.

In Midfield we're only loosing 2 players, plus Hodge on Loan. You'd be hopeful that Iorpenda continues to develop and become someone who can be more than a bit part player, cover for injuries, into someone who can challenge more consistently for a starting place. So that gives you Kane, Evans, Wiles & Iorpenda. We then probably need to make 2 signings, either permanent or loan, along with one of the B team midfielders progressing to be the 7th Midfield option.

And then we are back to Strikers, which again will be where the work will be......And I wont start that conversation off again :-)

[bluebeard]

I find all this striker business very depressing because those of us who are old enough like myself knows what is coming. Relying on a another club waiting to get someone in before we can sign the player is appalling, it's alright saying "well Luton promised us Taylor when they sign a player first" what a shocking way to do business and eventually the person/s responsible will run out of excuses.

[Million Dollar Babies]

Sept 2, 2024 16:02:25 GMT 1 townarentbest said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

I think this too...

Especially when you look at the then out of contract players, which I think would contain...Hogg, Lees, Pearson, Ward, Helik, Koroma, Kasumu, Headley, Turton, Ruffels, Maxwell, Ayina & High...and by then players like Spencer, Wiles, Healey, Nicholls, will have just 1 year left.

Thats some relatively big wages coming out of the club and a real opportunity for an actual reset.

The challenge though is that big proportions of that list are players we already sort of have to play...its going to be very difficult to magic up 8 players coming in as starters who collectively are better (assuming we want promotion in 25/26), given we've shown how difficult it is already to do that with just 2 or 3 positions to fill this summer.

There's a collective fingers crossed going on at the moment I reckon - its going to be difficult enough to rebuild the defence next summer without having to finish the job we've possibly failed to do elsewhere as well...hopefully as this season progresses, Iorpenda, Kane, Sorensen, Miller, & Healey show, or continue to show, their value, as having them as reliable 1st teamers makes the rebuild slightly less onerous across the full XI.

Hogg will get a new contract and continue to start every game.

This will still be the case when he is 45

[rockwall]

Sept 2, 2024 14:51:06 GMT 1 Sio said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:43:51 GMT 1 detox said:

I don't think we're geared up enough for an auto promotion this year, maybe not even a playoff place. This doesn't actually feel like a concerted push from the club. There's plenty of other stuff going with the Stadium etc which is sucking cash and time out of KN. I think the club would be happy just to stabilise things this season, and besides that to compete in the Championship would need a major recruitment of new squad of players. and that will cost £m's...the squad we have now would not survive in the Championship..that's already clear.

Fans who are expecting us to go straight back up are, I'm afraid, going to be disappointed., and need to temper their ambitions to avoid getting too frustrated.. I'm not being a doom monger, or having a go at anyone..but looking at what I think is the reality given where we are. The club won't admit this of course,but by xmas I think we'll be getting messages about summer 2025 being the time to recruit for a promotion push.

The problem is that, sadly, the club are going to lose a lot of goodwill and attendance if we don't go up this year. I wouldn't say because people are entitled - rather that the Club have talked about how it's our agenda this season, and a failure to even make the play-offs will take away any trust in them moving forward.

Obviously this is all total speculation and let's hope our depleted squad can find enough, but two seasons of talking the talk without results will be the final straw for many. 

All clubs have an expectation and agenda.
Liverpool and Arsenal's will be to win the PL, is it a 'failure' and fans not going again next season if they don't?

I'm pleased we have someone in charge with these expectations. So anyone that holds it against him if we for example, make the play offs and lose' needs to give their head a shake.

The amount of moaning about our 'underdog' or 'little' mentality and now we lose 1 league game and its a meltdown on the owner saying promotion os the target.

What I do believe, in my opinion, is those responsible for dealing with transfers still not getting the required level of striker in. The money is clearly there, so why haven't they utilised it?

[FloridaTerrier]

Sept 2, 2024 17:12:16 GMT 1 bluebeard said:

I find all this striker business very depressing because those of us who are old enough like myself knows what is coming. Relying on a another club waiting to get someone in before we can sign the player is appalling, it's alright saying "well Luton promised us Taylor when they sign a player first" what a shocking way to do business and eventually the person/s responsible will run out of excuses.

Unfortunately, that's the way it is when you're loaning a player and/or a smaller team down the pyramid. If you strike aggressively and early in the window, with offers the receiving club cannot refuse, it ultimately gives them time and resources to replace. However, clubs now try to be more proactive as opposed to reactive, and if the offer is a loan, the selling club is massively in the drivers seat, especially if it's later in the window.

Not to slight on Cartwright or Nagle as I do believe there was an effort. But, if we can't convince a club to sell their 4th/5th striker for me it tells me that we weren't aggressive and/or clinical enough. 

We can't compare an Alfie May to a Taylor. Because Alfie May was Charlton's 1st choice, high goalscoring striker. But, Charlton were willing to sell when clubs gave them offers too good to turn down. I don't think Luton received an offer that gave them no choice.

What the clubs hierarchy need to understand, is that strikers are usually worth their salt if you bring in a good one. They like the QBs in American Football, the Point Guard in Basketball. They're usually the difference, thus, they demand a higher fee, and a higher salary.  I understand not upsetting the apple cart with disharmony amongst wages within the team, especially those who took wage cuts from Relegation. But, a striker is worth millions if they fire you to promotion.