The Rebuild

[74Blue]

I think we tried to use it as a defence that there was a potential move to Saudi or something but the panel didn't buy the story.

The club did absolutely the right thing under the circumstances. However, if not for the suspension, I think we'd have bitten a Saudi clubs hands off for £10m

[777Kidnappings]

I think we’d have just about gotten our money’s worth if Bolasie hadn’t gotten badly injured.

His game looked a bit awkward and his decision-making was infuriating at times but his pace, strength, and skill saw him get into tons of good attacking positions.

Wasn’t enough to boot Gerry D. out of the team for me but it was only a disaster because he got hurt. We paid more for other players who actively hurt the team, even fully fit.

Yeah I think he got a bad rap at the beginning. Like you say he'd do some awful stuff probably each match but he would consistently create chances too. Think he was an okay signing without the injury

We've probably made 10 where we'd have just been better off setting fire to the transfer fee. Bolasie isn't in that list

Ghambin is a weird 1 for me. Saw very little of him before the injury but he did nowt. Came back and was apparently quite unprofessional and has done even less since. At best he's a who knows but lots seem to want to say he was a good signing but for the injury. I imagine non of us have ever seen him play a good 90 minutes

[superpull]

Yeah I think he got a bad rap at the beginning. Like you say he'd do some awful stuff probably each match but he would consistently create chances too. Think he was an okay signing without the injury

We've probably made 10 where we'd have just been better off setting fire to the transfer fee. Bolasie isn't in that list

Ghambin is a weird 1 for me. Saw very little of him before the injury but he did nowt. Came back and was apparently quite unprofessional and has done even less since. At best he's a who knows but lots seem to want to say he was a good signing but for the injury. I imagine non of us have ever seen him play a good 90 minutes

Suppose with Gbamin, it was more about the profile of the player and the need of the team at the time.

He wasn't just another number 10 or winger with no real numbers.

[brap2]

I quite enjoyed watching bolasie and Rom together. Bolasie raised the level of our athletic ability as well, could shift on the break.

Gbamin was on to be a very very good player but has thrown his career away post injury.

In general tho, you can't reeeeeeally argue the jist. That team could have been anything and we squandered it trying to jump.

[Trowel]

I wish the old forum were still around so we could revisit the reactions to these signings, as I dare say they were almost universally positive at the time.

As were the Keane and Holgate contract extensions, but we don't need to go there...

[Trowel]

[Shogun]

Criminals get leaner sentences than that

[StirlingBlue]

I love that everyone is talking like those dodgy signing days are behind us.

Beto is basically the striker version of Bolasie

[Sir Stealth]

I love that everyone is talking like those dodgy signing days are behind us.

Beto is basically the striker version of Bolasie

Massively disagree with this

[weimaranerblues]

Mark robins is a decent manager , at least it's not Pulis

[The Doc]

I love that everyone is talking like those dodgy signing days are behind us.

Beto is basically the striker version of Bolasie

There's a big difference to the standard and the expectation of the team between the Bolasie years and now.

Before we bought Bolasie we were regularly pushing for europe, had Lukaku, Deulofeu, Barkley. Fresh with supposedly rich owners and about the crash the top 6. Then we signed Bolasie for a mega fee.

Now we're in a regular fight for survival and didn't have a penny to spend so somehow found a club that would accept a delayed payment for their first choice striker.

[MayorFarnham]

Chermiti loan, although not a surprise, pretty much confirms we're getting at least one new striker.

[Shogun]

The Stoke fans aren't ready for the Portuguese Bergkamp like

[777Kidnappings]

I love that everyone is talking like those dodgy signing days are behind us.

Beto is basically the striker version of Bolasie

I actually see that but I think bolasie had decent numbers as well as really poor moments


Also it's a similar fee about a decade late and with deferred payments and not offering players whatever money they want. Think we've drove a much harder bargain for a similar quality player

[superpull]

Chermiti loan, although not a surprise, pretty much confirms we're getting at least one new striker.

Dom will be like a new signings...