Wonder how differently would have worked out, as would have made more sense buying 2 wingers with EPL, (one very experienced and also played for Barcelona; with Hutchinson young and just 1 season with relegated Ipswich in EPL) instead of 2 new to the EPL; and so suppose give Nuno credit - in that Traore would have made much more sense. even at 10-12 million, than paying out: about 15 million more for Bakwa...
Adama Traore [BUPA]
- Thread starter Matt
- Start date
Alf-engelos Mindminackers
The Artiste formally known as "w**ksy"
Interestingly, 2025 was the Chinese year of the Snake lol
Cortez the Killer
Impressive member
I think even if Edu had santioned the signing of Traore, Nuno would likely have been sacked by now. I'm sure we wouldn't be as low as 17th but we still wouldn't have been in the Euro spots. And that wouldn't have been good enough.
Nuno wanted the squad strengthening overall, to enable us to compete this season in the Premier League, the Europa League and two domestic cups. Clearly we have failed to do that. And spent 200m in failing to do that. I think Nuno knew these signings weren't good enough, and that's why he was vocal. At the minute it's hard to say he was wrong.
Nuno wanted the squad strengthening overall, to enable us to compete this season in the Premier League, the Europa League and two domestic cups. Clearly we have failed to do that. And spent 200m in failing to do that. I think Nuno knew these signings weren't good enough, and that's why he was vocal. At the minute it's hard to say he was wrong.
Worsley Red
Viv Anderson
You have to ask whether it was all worth it. Maybe the issue was the £200m spent elsewhere as opposed to the pocket change for traore
Slim Jim
First Team Squad
David Sullivan probably already has quite the supply of baby oil
Alf-engelos Mindminackers
The Artiste formally known as "w**ksy"
Agreed.
Although Nuno's complaint about players not arriving early enough was unrealistic too tbf, and that seemed to be a big deal. I get the angle and don't disagree with it - get players in early to form a bond - but the reality of the window is clubs like ours have to wait on bigger clubs to make their moves first before certain deals are able to get rolling.
There's good and bad in everyone, and I think this Summer saw the worst of everyone involved from most angles.
Notcher
Ian Bowyer
There is one complaint that Nuno had which does chime with something aimed at Edu when he was at Arsenal which is that he took too long to make signings.
Osiris
Geoff Thomas
People forget that we had to wait an absolute age for CAS to rule definitely that we would compete in the Europa League rather than the Conference League which negatively impacted our ability to sign players
If we'd known from the get-go which competition we were competing in I've no doubt we'd have signed players a lot sooner
If we'd known from the get-go which competition we were competing in I've no doubt we'd have signed players a lot sooner
Cortez the Killer
Impressive member
Personally I don't think that made much difference. It might have helped attract a higher calibre of players being in the EL instead of the ECL but I'm not sure we signed players at a high calibre anyway.
I think Nuno would have got more out of them. Definitely would have got more out of the players we had from last season. Douglas luiz I think he would have utilised him better. I still aint given up hope with our new signings
In the grand scheme did it really matter that much? We needed to improve and potentially win the conference aswell if we had been in it. Looking at the players west ham have bought in and what we have got in summer? Was that just speculation to get edu some time to make a list of requirements?
Master Yates
Stuart Pearce
Rumour has it he picked up a load of it cheap from a motivated seller in the New York area. Seller was having a bit of legal trouble….
Berkshire Red
Jack Burkitt
Maybe it wasn't Edu? Ross Wilson was still here.
Cortez the Killer
Impressive member
Yep. As we've seen over countless windows, Alf, the real business only happens in the final days of the transfer window. I suspect Nuno used that as an excuse, but he may have been agitating because of the targets being discussed and not reckoning much to them.
Most likely, id have thought someone would need a bit more time to make a impact. I do suspect that the players bought in would have been more stats based to our requirements as it has been reported how thats a big part of our transfer policy previously.
Matt
Stuart Pearce
Osiris
Geoff Thomas
Baby Oyle sports?
Captain Sinister
Senior doom Monger
Is he tested for anabolic steroids?
His physique just doesn’t look natural
donny
Jack Armstrong
I think there were issues with our summer recruitment that probably stem from the involvement of both Wilson and Edu, as well as Syrianos coming back in to 'lead' recruitment across the Marinakis group.
Now that some form of order has come round, it'll be interesting to see what our recruitment is like in the Summer, especially if we can get in on our targets before the World Cup.
vertigored
Viv Anderson
Is this a bit like how jlingz was on 750k per week for us though?
PynchonForest
Stuart Pearce
Based upon what he did to Cucurella, we should have bought him. That was arguably the best moment of the entire EPL season.
Senior Flange Technician
Laying Pipe
Will be tested during the season, or off cycle.
Worsley Red
Viv Anderson
He rides a bike?