Calm down...

We agree there Wakey but hand on heart can you honestly say half way through the season we are anywhere near good enough to come up this year.
The season's gone which is why I, amongst others, am talking about next year and not just wasting money in January chasing an idyll.

No I don’t think we’re good enough

And I also don’t think we should gamble by buying players who might not be good enough.

But I don’t buy into the idea, that you can’t buy good players in January

but quantity as well as quality, not realistic, especially given Victor's track record.

comment by Mr Juxtaposition. (U8016)
posted 9 minutes ago
LDL I thought that was the issue with De Bock, that he isn't good going forward. A bit like Bera on the other flank, steady and a good defender but offers little of an attacking threat.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know nothing about this guy other than he played for a decent team and i defy anyone on here to know anything about him either, I said i was hoping and he could well be but again he might not be but at least hes a LB and bound to be a better option than either CBJ or anita who are both poor, Berardi was ok but as he says himself hes not a LB. It always helps if you buy players who play in specific positions rather than try and fit square pegs in round holes or in CBJ case totally useless koontz

What bothers me more than anything else is two things :-

1. This anal pre-occupation with signing 17 and 18 year-olds from continental leagues in the hope that they develop into world-beaters a few years down the line, instead of addressing major shortcomings in the first team now. If we don't protect and look after the now we'll go backwards, and tomorrow's world-beaters won't stick around to drag us out of the mire - they'll be off to ply their trade for one of the big boys who will undoubtedly come knocking offering silly money.

2. Tired of the pedestrian, one-gear, stale football that's being served up week after week. No passion, no intensity, no closing down of the opposition, no controlling a game, next to no threat - spineless and toothless.

No doubt points 1 and 2 are connected. Average players (with a minority of exceptions) on fat contracts who are too comfortable, not hungry enough and are not up for a battle.

On a final point, I believe TC has his hands tied and has little influence on what goes on above his head, but I also believe he needs to grow a pair and read some of these players the riot act rather than say nothing as he claimed to do after the Newport game. The players need shaking up and need to know who's boss and a good kick up the jacksie now and then won't do any harm.

But then, what truly goes on behind closed doors is anyone's guess. TC is good at keeping his cards close to his chest and not berating his players in public.

We may be a work in progress but lessons need to be learned. The trouble is the lessons are taking a millenium to sink in.

"Phil hay confirmed my suspicions the other day also ; that the de bock signing was purely reactive to aylings injury and as soon as they found out about surgery they went and targeted a LB."

Were they not in talks before Aylings injury, he would have been signed with or without Aylings injury!..

LDL my statement was based on what was reported about De Long and why he wasn't getting into the Brugge team. Can only go on what I read and that is that he fell out of favour because he offered very little as an attacking wing back.

My understanding re de Bock is he plays in a back 4, New Bruges coach has played with a back 3 and wing backs who were essentially wingers... de Bock isn’t a winger so didn’t suit the style of play. Bruges fans think he’s decent defensively and not that great going forward, Belgian journos suggest he actually likes to get forward and puts decent crosses in, but isn’t a tricky winger type. Sounds tayloresque to me from descriptions. If he’s as good as Charlie that would be a result i’d Say.

comment by LufcGermany (U6066)
posted 5 hours, 45 minutes ago
"Phil hay confirmed my suspicions the other day also ; that the de bock signing was purely reactive to aylings injury and as soon as they found out about surgery they went and targeted a LB."

Were they not in talks before Aylings injury, he would have been signed with or without Aylings injury!..
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't sound like it

You could be right, I'm forgetting Ayling was injured on New Years day, so, I'm more than likely wrong!..

I was thinking the cup game!.

Sorry!.