The Rebuild

[brap2]

We can't ignore the fact that the backroom set up is so up in the air to the point that some very senior roles still haven't actually joined.

[MayorFarnham]

Yeah but he was just an example. No reason Douglas Luiz can't be done now. No reason club can't be getting other targets in early doors. The longer we wait, the more disjointed we're going to be.

Luiz is exactly the profile of player that doesn't have to make any hasty decisions. Guaranteed a move and if his luck is in may even get a CL team or a mega payday in Saudi.

[kramer]

We can't ignore the fact that the backroom set up is so up in the air to the point that some very senior roles still haven't actually joined.

Also true.

I agree with the sentiment that we should’ve kept Thelwell for another summer just given the magnitude of what needed to be done.

With that said, I do have faith in Moyes to get it right based purely on his previous work. Yes, the game’s changed but the current task is still a bit easier than trying to maintain your Europe-challenging side with less than the money from outgoing transfers to spend.

(Check the run from 09/10 to 12/13 on TransferMarkt. It’s brutal, especially 10/11 and 11/12. The fact that we were reliably good over that period is a testament to a manager who understands the market at a high level, even if things are more expensive today than they were then.)

[Blues Mahoney]

I think it's the sheer number of players needed that makes it disappointing.

An injury to any one of six players leaves us in big trouble.

N'Diaye or McNeil = 1 winger left
Charli = 0 Attacking Mid
Gana or Garner = 1 proper senior CM
Myko = 0 Left Backs

That's pretty nasty when you think about it.

Forgetting injuries, though, even if we go with our current first 11 against Leeds, we still need a reasonable bench to change things if losing or tiredness, etc.

I'm a 'tad' concerned, to be honest, but only a 'tad' at the moment.

[StirlingBlue]

I’m genuinely not worried at all.

Even if we signed the three to six players tomorrow we pretty much know the starting line up for the first few games as Moyes always beds in slowly.

Much better to keep trying to sign better players who are reluctant to come here than settle for Jack Harrison today

[Evertonian in NC]

No signings makes me flap lots less than bad signings.

[Escalator]

Agreed in principle.

Moyes said he’s looking at 4-6 more additions. I bet we’re trying to negotiate every fee, loan or permanent, down as low as possible because the leftover money can be used to finance additional squad players.

We have to do this at the expense of players getting here in our preferred timeframe simply because this is the hand we’ve been dealt. Too much money spent on players who aren’t good enough over too many years, basically no return for any of them, even the good ones like Doucoure.

Just a hunch but it lines up with some of the players who are below our level of ambition being offered new contracts. Needing this many additions is a tough spot for a budget-conscious club.

I imagine we’d have another notable signing boxed off if Tete had signed. That deal falling through created some pressure on our budget that I assume we were hoping to avoid.

Don’t think we want to pay the £34.5 million that they want for Luiz nor do we know if he is even interested in us.

[Shogun]

No signings makes me flap lots less than bad signings.

Wait until everyone sees Thierno Barry take to the pitch with his Timberlands on

[Trowel]

I think it's the sheer number of players needed that makes it disappointing.

An injury to any one of six players leaves us in big trouble.

N'Diaye or McNeil = 1 winger left
Charli = 0 Attacking Mid
Gana or Garner = 1 proper senior CM
Myko = 0 Left Backs

That's pretty nasty when you think about it.

Forgetting injuries, though, even if we go with our current first 11 against Leeds, we still need a reasonable bench to change things if losing or tiredness, etc.

I'm a 'tad' concerned, to be honest, but only a 'tad' at the moment.

Don't forget AFCON in Dec/Jan.

[Evertonian in NC]

I wonder if the African Euros factor means we might loan a young player or two for 6 months only (ie, get them back for the January gauntlet and the FA Cup)

[Cozzie]

I don't think I'd get much of an "ardon" if he signed.

[Cozzie]

[kramer]

Hackney’s ball progression and attacking look outstanding for a DM as per FBRef.

Appears to do everything Gana doesn’t.

Someone bigger has to be in for him, right?

[Blues Mahoney]

Don't forget AFCON in Dec/Jan.

Oh yes. I had forgotten about that, to be fair.

I think I'll continue to have memory fog on that one for now.....

[kramer]

https://fbref.com/en/players/ba397562/Hayden-Hackney

This is a super profile for our needs. Great age, Championship is a good level.

Prefer this to Luiz, imagine there will be a bit of competition from other PL teams for him though.