Kevin Thelwell - New Director of Football

[bluestevon]

Why do we need a direct Richy replacement when 2 of our 3 wingers play in his position and the 1 that doesn't is injured till next year???

Think you've hit desperation levels of spoon-bending here, Stevon.

I don't think we really do need one mate, it's more a response to the 'need to replace Richy brigade' I think the interest in cornet - is more as a versatile player who for no initial cost this season can cover three positions (as let's face it we will not be able to get a player to cover each position we need by a long shot)

 

[Nymzee]

I don't think we really do need one mate, it's more a response to the 'need to replace Richy brigade' I think the interest in cornet - is more as a versatile player who for no initial cost this season can cover three positions (as let's face it we will not be able to get a player to cover each position we need by a long shot)

And yes, I agree we need 1 player for 3 positions. Except why is it £17m Cornet formerly of the PL? All I'm asking for is a plan, but a sustainable and innovative plan, to make sure our money goes far.

Links so far to players £25m+ are all pure bull in my eyes as we don't have that sort of cash since no team is accepting £2.5m up front. Players are moving all over Europe for decent fees, in positions we need, and we are just utterly blinkered to it.

 

[bluestevon]

And yes, I agree we need 1 player for 3 positions. Except why is it £17m Cornet formerly of the PL? All I'm asking for is a plan, but a sustainable and innovative plan, to make sure our money goes far.

Links so far to players £25m+ are all pure bull in my eyes as we don't have that sort of cash since no team is accepting £2.5m up front. Players are moving all over Europe for decent fees, in positions we need, and we are just utterly blinkered to it.

Devil's advocate mate, he's come into a mess of a club both on and off the pitch.

Just off the top of my head.
A youth system in complete dissaray
Lots of hangers on from the 'played for us brigade'
A scouting system that's not fit for purpose.
A meddling owner.
A meddling chairman.
A complete and utter nothing of a CEO.
No head if recruitment.
No medical department effectively.
A financial meltdown enforcing massive limitations on business. A wage structure that was out of control
A squad in need of a complete overhaul but saddled with way too many almost unmovable players.

Since he's been here the youth systems have been now overhauled and some of the hangers on have 'decided' to move on to further their managerial ambitions (?) given his prior role it's no shock this was his priority - and likely task he felt most at hand given the season was underway, obviously now his attention is on the playing squad/finances side - SO FAR what I've seen him doing I've liked on the academy side, I'm hoping he now does the same methodical step by step approach on the rebuilding of the team.

It's a massive task all he has to do here - I'm thinking after the window the scouting network followed by head if recruitment would be the next logical step in the process.

I'm not raving about the guy, and yup I'd love it if day one we get everything we need through the door, but similarly I've liked the low key get on with the job he did with the academy/Ferguson/Unsworth going etc too

 

[bluestevon]

And yes, I agree we need 1 player for 3 positions. Except why is it £17m Cornet formerly of the PL? All I'm asking for is a plan, but a sustainable and innovative plan, to make sure our money goes far.

Links so far to players £25m+ are all pure bull in my eyes as we don't have that sort of cash since no team is accepting £2.5m up front. Players are moving all over Europe for decent fees, in positions we need, and we are just utterly blinkered to it.

Just to add, if as I suspect our scouting network is appealing, then I'd not want him relying on recommendations coming via that pipeline. Hence the players he knows (and his/Lampards staff) are the logical 'safer' choices - limited funds do we gamble at that juncture or try ensure positions we need are filled by players capable of doing that role

 

[Nymzee]

Devil's advocate mate, he's come into a mess of a club both on and off the pitch.

Just off the top of my head.
A youth system in complete dissaray
Lots of hangers on from the 'played for us brigade'
A scouting system that's not fit for purpose.
A meddling owner.
A meddling chairman.
A complete and utter nothing of a CEO.
No head if recruitment.
No medical department effectively.
A financial meltdown enforcing massive limitations on business. A wage structure that was out of control
A squad in need of a complete overhaul but saddled with way too many almost unmovable players.

Since he's been here the youth systems have been now overhauled and some of the hangers on have 'decided' to move on to further their managerial ambitions (?) given his prior role it's no shock this was his priority - and likely task he felt most at hand given the season was underway, obviously now his attention is on the playing squad/finances side - SO FAR what I've seen him doing I've liked on the academy side, I'm hoping he now does the same methodical step by step approach on the rebuilding of the team.

It's a massive task all he has to do here - I'm thinking after the window the scouting network followed by head if recruitment would be the next logical step in the process.

I'm not raving about the guy, and yup I'd love it if day one we get everything we need through the door, but similarly I've liked the low key get on with the job he did with the academy/Ferguson/Unsworth going etc too

Don't you think focusing on the present (first team) before the future (academy) with a shorter pre-season should have been the correct plan?

I will judge him end of the window but I am not buying the "we have no money" for much longer. Moyes never had money and made do.

You telling me we couldn't afford this dude? https://onefootball.com/en/news/official-wolfsburg-sign-mattias-svanberg-from-bologna-35458061

 

[bluestevon]

Don't you think focusing on the present (first team) before the future (academy) with a shorter pre-season should have been the correct plan?

I will judge him end of the window but I am not buying the "we have no money" for much longer. Moyes never had money and made do.

You telling me we couldn't afford this dude? https://onefootball.com/en/news/official-wolfsburg-sign-mattias-svanberg-from-bologna-35458061

I think given we weren't even sure if we'd stay up and then if not who'd be the manager mate then sorting what you could was the correct choice

Still think we where rotting from the top at the board and at the bottom via the academy

Thing about Moyes though mate was yeah we where broke but the league in general didn't have so much money. Look now at the promoted teams - likes of palace etc who can sink huge sums on players and wages too.

No idea on the lad you linked mate as never seen him play

 

[Nymzee]

I think given we weren't even sure if we'd stay up and then if not who'd be the manager mate then sorting what you could was the correct choice

Still think we where rotting from the top at the board and at the bottom via the academy

Thing about Moyes though mate was yeah we where broke but the league in general didn't have so much money. Look now at the promoted teams - likes of palace etc who can sink huge sums on players and wages too.

No idea on the lad you linked mate as never sent him play

He's been here since Feb. We should not still be scratting around heading to August with no real strategy and no succession planning for losing our best players (Richy).

Like I say, will give him till the end of the window, but not strengthening the squad because we can't sign more £25-30m players is beyond unacceptable.

Anyone who says "we don't have a Head of Recruitment" also needs pushing off a cliff - Thelwell hires said position and if he can't find anyone, it's his job. We all watch footie, we all know players.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

Devil's advocate mate, he's come into a mess of a club both on and off the pitch.

Just off the top of my head.
A youth system in complete dissaray
Lots of hangers on from the 'played for us brigade'
A scouting system that's not fit for purpose.
A meddling owner.
A meddling chairman.
A complete and utter nothing of a CEO.
No head if recruitment.
No medical department effectively.
A financial meltdown enforcing massive limitations on business. A wage structure that was out of control
A squad in need of a complete overhaul but saddled with way too many almost unmovable players.

Since he's been here the youth systems have been now overhauled and some of the hangers on have 'decided' to move on to further their managerial ambitions (?) given his prior role it's no shock this was his priority - and likely task he felt most at hand given the season was underway, obviously now his attention is on the playing squad/finances side - SO FAR what I've seen him doing I've liked on the academy side, I'm hoping he now does the same methodical step by step approach on the rebuilding of the team.

It's a massive task all he has to do here - I'm thinking after the window the scouting network followed by head if recruitment would be the next logical step in the process.

I'm not raving about the guy, and yup I'd love it if day one we get everything we need through the door, but similarly I've liked the low key get on with the job he did with the academy/Ferguson/Unsworth going etc too

Disappointing that a Head of Recruitment wasn’t higher up his ‘To Do’ list though.
It’s an apparent failure that is now being emphasised by our sluggish activity in the current window.

 

[chippy1722]

This fella just follows Walsh and Brands, I still have no idea exactly what they did or was supposed to do.

 

[bluestevon]

He's been here since Feb. We should not still be scratting around heading to August with no real strategy and no succession planning for losing our best players (Richy).

Like I say, will give him till the end of the window, but not strengthening the squad because we can't sign more £25-30m players is beyond unacceptable.

Anyone who says "we don't have a Head of Recruitment" also needs pushing off a cliff - Thelwell hires said position and if he can't find anyone, it's his job. We all watch footie, we all know players.

That's a fair enough POV mate, only come the end of the window will we see exactly what we had and how it is used - proof then is in the pudding.

I still think we are caught between the loan/buy for 2-3 positions atm personally.

We are cautious about buying/loaning in a position or from a team in case a option we prefer becomes available.

Risk is we wait and wait and things don't fall as we hope or think they will.

A big risk obviously

 

[bluestevon]

Disappointing that a Head of Recruitment wasn’t higher up his ‘To Do’ list though.
It’s an apparent failure that is now being emphasised by our sluggish activity in the current window.

Mate I agree but also I'm aware that what we see as the horror show throughout the club is likely much worse under the bonnet.

 

[Nymzee]

That's a fair enough POV mate, only come the end of the window will we see exactly what we had and how it is used - proof then is in the pudding.

I still think we are caught between the loan/buy for 2-3 positions atm personally.

We are cautious about buying/loaning in a position or from a team in case a option we prefer becomes available.

Risk is we wait and wait and things don't fall as we hope or think they will.

A big risk obviously

Yeh, we could have an amazing August for transfers, or a belting deadline day. My biggest worry though is we have 5 games in August, and potentially forfeit them all at this point.

 

[blulouie]

NEW DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL

Not very good at this are you Kev
Get a move on you lazy lazy man.

 

[bluestevon]

Yeh, we could have an amazing August for transfers, or a belting deadline day. My biggest worry though is we have 5 games in August, and potentially forfeit them all at this point.

Yup that's a huge worry - I'd hope and expect if all the business is done very late that we'd see the pragmatic Lampard in the early season fixtures mate, the way he did post Palace in the cup last season. That way we'd grind out a few results

 

[Lob]

Well done for strengthening Franks squad where he needs it well in advance of the new season starting Kev. Just what we needed, another absolute whopper of a helmet of a DOF. Nothing he does now will be acceptable to me as there wont be enough time for Frank to bed the players in and get them ready for the first game.

Just K'off Everton. You are turning me to croquet.