Transfer targets

[Jim Levenstein]

No, we literally cannot sign anyone. We can reach agreements with players and clubs, but we can't actually sign someone until July 1st. It might seem like a pedantic point to make, but there's very little bonus to us (at this level at least) to jump head first into the transfer market in June. The squad haven't even reported back for pre-season yet.

Throwing around accusations that we're a tinpot club because we've yet to sign anyone is a huge jump. Our season only finished a month ago and transfers are a hugely (and unnecessarily) complicated business, not least because it seems at least some of our targets - Mclaughlin and Piggot, namely - want to see if/how they fit into their new manager's plans before committing either way. If it gets towards the end of July and we're still looking short, that's the time to panic.

Tongue in cheek fella haha lighten up come on it's Friday!!!!

 

[Barry.C]

No, we literally cannot sign anyone. We can reach agreements with players and clubs, but we can't actually sign someone until July 1st. It might seem like a pedantic point to make, but there's very little bonus to us (at this level at least) to jump head first into the transfer market in June. The squad haven't even reported back for pre-season yet.

Throwing around accusations that we're a tinpot club because we've yet to sign anyone is a huge jump. Our season only finished a month ago and transfers are a hugely (and unnecessarily) complicated business, not least because it seems at least some of our targets - Mclaughlin and Piggot, namely - want to see if/how they fit into their new manager's plans before committing either way. If it gets towards the end of July and we're still looking short, that's the time to panic.

Can you just help me understand how come we cant sign anyone when other clubs in our league have signed around 60 players since Mid May?

 

[Shrimper Joe]

I really don't understand why everyone is comparing our lack of signings thus far to other clubs appearing to make "loads" of signings; who cares what other clubs are doing at this stage? We have the workings of a very strong side already not to mention the 4-5 additional players, which by now may be more, that Phil has mentioned he's in talks with. Some people will just never be happy. If you're moaning like this now, imagine what you'd have been like had we have lost to Wycombe at Wembley. Just be patient and stop acting like spoilt brats haha

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

No, we literally cannot sign anyone. We can reach agreements with players and clubs, but we can't actually sign someone until July 1st. It might seem like a pedantic point to make, but there's very little bonus to us (at this level at least) to jump head first into the transfer market in June. The squad haven't even reported back for pre-season yet.

Throwing around accusations that we're a tinpot club because we've yet to sign anyone is a huge jump. Our season only finished a month ago and transfers are a hugely (and unnecessarily) complicated business, not least because it seems at least some of our targets - Mclaughlin and Piggot, namely - want to see if/how they fit into their new manager's plans before committing either way. If it gets towards the end of July and we're still looking short, that's the time to panic.

Isn't it that we can't register anyone until 1st July.

We can however sign contracts with them. Contracts that would ensure other clubs can't sign them and contracts that will ensure that they will get a full pre-season under their belt and be at the fitness levels we expect.

I get that some of the players we would like to sign want to hold out and see what better options they have, but if we're looking to build around someone it would be rather useful to have them signed up. The complementary pieces can wait until later when we can try and pick up some bargains.

 

[Barry.C]

Just out of interest I watched a fascinating interview with Ray Wilkins on Sky yesterday, essentially talking about the prospects of the top teams in the Premiership, did anyone else see it.? He made some telling points about the importance of getting players in early. He said meeting other players pre season was vital. That a team has less chance of becoming a team quickly unless the people gel first. Not every player is lolling about on a beach in Marbella apparently, still what does he know.

 

[Jim Levenstein]

Just out of interest I watched a fascinating interview with Ray Wilkins on Sky yesterday, essentially talking about the prospects of the top teams in the Premiership, did anyone else see it.? He made some telling points about the importance of getting players in early. He said meeting other players pre season was vital. That a team has less chance of becoming a team quickly unless the people gel first. Not every player is lolling about on a beach in Marbella apparently, still what does he know.

As much as I agree with him he's a prize dick so I actually can't listen to anything he says.

 

[Beefy]

Can you just help me understand how come we cant sign anyone when other clubs in our league have signed around 60 players since Mid May?

If you're out in Tescos buying apples and loads of other people are buying oranges then why does that have any impact whatsoever on you? It doesn't.

We have our own transfer targets and conversations are clearly happening with them. Unless anyone has any evidence whatsoever that we were interested in a single player who has ended up elsewhere then if makes no difference at all if other clubs have signed 60 players or 600 players.

It is a buyers market because there are far more footballers available than there are places in squads at Football League clubs.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Just out of interest I watched a fascinating interview with Ray Wilkins on Sky yesterday, essentially talking about the prospects of the top teams in the Premiership, did anyone else see it.? He made some telling points about the importance of getting players in early. He said meeting other players pre season was vital. That a team has less chance of becoming a team quickly unless the people gel first. Not every player is lolling about on a beach in Marbella apparently, still what does he know.

I've certainly seen that argument advanced and it being pointed to as a factor in Chelsea winning the title last season. They signed Fabregras and Costa early (and possibly just as importantly Matic in January) whilst Man U signed Di Maria and Blind late.

Chelsea aren't perhaps the most appropriate comparison, maybe someone like Burton (who of course were also in the play-offs last year) who signed the likes of Mousinho and Cansdell-Sheriff by 1st July and both were regulars in their title winning team, would be a more apt team to look at.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Isn't it that we can't register anyone until 1st July.

We can however sign contracts with them. Contracts that would ensure other clubs can't sign them and contracts that will ensure that they will get a full pre-season under their belt and be at the fitness levels we expect.

I get that some of the players we would like to sign want to hold out and see what better options they have, but if we're looking to build around someone it would be rather useful to have them signed up. The complementary pieces can wait until later when we can try and pick up some bargains.

But the squad hasn't even reported back for pre-season training yet, and won't until I imagine the end of next week at the very earliest. Aside from the obvious benefit of being an early mover, I can't see many upsides of us rushing head first into deals now. Brown's obviously identified specific targets and is actively pursuing them, hence meeting with Wordsworth and Mooney this week. Players too are paid up until the end of June and most (I think) receive contracted loyalty payments if they stay up until this date, so it's in their own best interests to hold off until the first weeks of July if they are to move on.

I completely get the desire to move quickly, but I can't understand some of the kneejerkery. The earliest I'd be panicking would be the eve of our first pre-season game.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Yeah, when we go back to pre-season training is the key date. Does anyone know when that is?

There's knee-jerking every year, but that's not to say that they may have something of a point in amongst all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I'm more concerned than normal because we've lost such an integral player in BBBC. It means we're going to have to adapt the way we play, but the trouble is no-one (including the manager) knows to what. We need to be working on this over pre-season, learning the runs that player makes, how they like to receive the ball, how best to link up with that player. We don't want to be in a situation where our forward (who knows, maybe even forwards) is playing catch-up.

 

[TrevorFitzpatrickHattrick]

I think the key factor behind the kneejerkery (excellent word ESB) is the way that we won promotion and this concept of momentum. People want us to be actively signing and strengthening early on so it feels like we're building on the progress that we've made.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Yeah, when we go back to pre-season training is the key date. Does anyone know when that is?

There's knee-jerking every year, but that's not to say that they may have something of a point in amongst all the wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I'm more concerned than normal because we've lost such an integral player in BBBC. It means we're going to have to adapt the way we play, but the trouble is no-one (including the manager) knows to what. We need to be working on this over pre-season, learning the runs that player makes, how they like to receive the ball, how best to link up with that player. We don't want to be in a situation where our forward (who knows, maybe even forwards) is playing catch-up.

Absolutely, our complete failure to negotiate contract extensions with players like Corr and Timlin before the season ended is a monumental **** up and should be the real point of contention here. Losing key players because you've let their contracts run down and haven't shown the desire to extend them is unforgivable and Brown and whoever's responsible for negotiations (Kavanagh, I presume?) need to be held accountable for that, especially if Timlin now leaves for Millwall. There's absolutely no reason why they couldn't have been concluded before the turn of the year.

I think the key factor behind the kneejerkery (excellent word ESB) is the way that we won promotion and this concept of momentum. People want us to be actively signing and strengthening early on so it feels like we're building on the progress that we've made.

Carrying on the momentum is exactly what we should be looking to do and is one of the reasons why I don't (or didn't, when we still had Corr) think we need a complete overhaul of the squad after promotion. We don't need new signings to carry momentum, we need continuity and announcing Brown, Corr, Timlin and possibly Bentley signing new deals in separate weeks would've been as big a statement of intent as signing four or five players all at once.

 

[RHB]

Absolutely, our complete failure to negotiate contract extensions with players like Corr and Timlin before the season ended is a monumental **** up and should be the real point of contention here. Losing key players because you've let their contracts run down and haven't shown the desire to extend them is unforgivable and Brown and whoever's responsible for negotiations (Kavanagh, I presume?) need to be held accountable for that, especially if Timlin now leaves for Millwall. There's absolutely no reason why they couldn't have been concluded before the turn of the year.

You and I may think that but it could be that it was always the plan to run down Corr and Timlin's contracts for reasons. as yet, unknown to us. I don't pretend to know what those reasons may be, but it's not impossible.

 

[usa_shrimper]

There's still lots of players out there waiting to sign contracts, sometimes its not just the clubs who are slow to sign players up its the players that are in no hurry to sign. The better (more in demand) players will hold out to see what else is out there and better deals available, Timlin for example would be a player I'm sure many clubs would be interested in yet he hasn't signed for anyone, he's waiting for the best possible deal.

 

[Napster]

You and I may think that but it could be that it was always the plan to run down Corr and Timlin's contracts for reasons. as yet, unknown to us. I don't pretend to know what those reasons may be, but it's not impossible.

With the players and staff not knowing what division we would be in, it makes sense that they wait until they know their negotiating position. Timlin knows this. So does Brown, who has been negotiating all season.

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

BREAKING NEWS - SOUTHEND SIGN JOE KING

Southend United are delighted to announce the signing of Joe King. Joe wasn't a player we particularly wanted to sign, and nor did anyone else, and that's why we were able to bring him in at this stage of the off season. Joe hasn't been on holiday and as he was not going to get any other offers he accepted our first contract offer immediately.

Phil Brown said, "everybody on ShriperZone seemed desperate for me to sign any old player, so I have. He's not going to get anywhere near our side this season, but at least they are happy we appear to be doing something" and continued "we remain in discussions with a number of parties but as these are good players many clubs are also chasing their signatures and therefore the players are doing exactly as we would expect them to, playing a waiting game for the best contract".

Is the above really what some people want?

Haha v good.

"everybody on shrimperzone".

More like the same 5 members posting a slightly different variant on it every day.

 

[RHB]

If you're out in Tescos buying apples and loads of other people are buying oranges then why does that have any impact whatsoever on you? It doesn't.

We have our own transfer targets and conversations are clearly happening with them. Unless anyone has any evidence whatsoever that we were interested in a single player who has ended up elsewhere then if makes no difference at all if other clubs have signed 60 players or 600 players.

It is a buyers market because there are far more footballers available than there are places in squads at Football League clubs.

True Beefy, but a new signing soonish may save us going to Tescos to buy a donkey.

 

[sufcmark]

What if I was in Tesco's and wanted apples but there was no apples left because some else came along earlier and brought the apples I wanted?

Or maybe I wanted strawberries but realised I couldn't afford them so had to settle for apples. Then when I looked I couldn't find any apples because someone else had brought them already.

It was all ok in the end though because I found some old manky fruit in the reduced section and brought that 😉

🍏🍊🍓🍐

 

[amsemp]

BREAKING NEWS - SOUTHEND SIGN JOE KING

Southend United are delighted to announce the signing of Joe King. Joe wasn't a player we particularly wanted to sign, and nor did anyone else, and that's why we were able to bring him in at this stage of the off season. Joe hasn't been on holiday and as he was not going to get any other offers he accepted our first contract offer immediately.

Phil Brown said, "everybody on ShriperZone seemed desperate for me to sign any old player, so I have. He's not going to get anywhere near our side this season, but at least they are happy we appear to be doing something" and continued "we remain in discussions with a number of parties but as these are good players many clubs are also chasing their signatures and therefore the players are doing exactly as we would expect them to, playing a waiting game for the best contract".

Is the above really what some people want?

Heard we're also after Peter File and Ray Pist.

From a 100% in the know source who has absolutely no reason to lie and definitely not from a 15 year old pretending to be a football agent on Twitter.

 

[Norwichshrimper]

Yeah, when we go back to pre-season training is the key date. Does anyone know when that is?

Not yet confirmed. I think they need to get the new kit sorted first. People are deluded if they think the players are going to come back to training if they don't know what kit they're going to be wearing.