[bluepooch]

So its Angel Martinez then

[spireitematt]

Just seen a Youtube of him he looks a very good player.

---

[bluepooch]

Oozes class doesnt he .
I cant believe we've signed him.

[Devongone]

Well he played with Blackpool when they decent. And anybody who couldn't get in Millwall's team has to be worth having.

Does this mean herd's a figment of the imagination, or is he happening too? We don't seem to be spending any of our money, which I don't object to if the players are okay.

[bluepooch]

When you say not spending money Dev do you think these players cost nothing ?
Lets assume we are paying Angel 3k a week over 2 years.thats 150k per year a large chunk of cash out the budget.Add that to what we are paying Ebanks and Novak and it'll be getting up to 4/500k in a year on just the 3 players .Of course I have no idea what we are paying them but these ex championship players wont come cheap.

[Devongone]

I agree Pooch, but the players who left surely freed up pay packets. I didn't hear of any queues to sign either Novak, or Martinez, which wouldn't strengthen their bargaining position in negotiations. And Novak's wage is surely regulated by his Birmingham contract anyway , which he negotiated with a crook, so that might be anything. But the truth is that when a club states it has money to spend, it usually means transfer fees not wages.

I'm all for us getting value for money, either wage or fee-wise. That's why weeks ago I was mentioning Frazer Shaw from non-league football ..... well Orient signed him a couple of weeks ago. I'm not much in favour of Championship players on their way down, but Martinez's profile suggests he needs to re-build his career so I'd take a gamble on him and he's got skill .... but Herd who might manage 20 games at best would've been a gamble too far for me. I'd sooner seek out Orrell Mach2. And use our transfer money in other ways.

To be honest Lee Novak doesn't excite me as a signing. He clearly didn't keep Birmingham awake at nights ..... and I didn't feel he was Huddersfield's shining star. It'd be interesting to hear what they thought of him, because I'm usually wrong in life!

[bluepooch]

In many ways I agree with you, I'd rather invest in potential and reap the rewards down the line than pay over the top for 'proven' players but I hope Dean Saunders is trying to develop a squad not only with a blend of youth and experience but also try and improve the overall quality to a level where squad that can hold its own in the Championship.Paul Cook fell just short of that and if he had stayed he too would have had the luxury of this bigger budget in which to achieve this aim .

[spireitematt]

Big Big question is. Can we keep hold of Morsy and will he sign a new contract?

[Devongone]

I have an awful feeling that even if we keep him now the Christmas shop window will be all too attractive. Of course he is one reason we need to make attractive signings. If the players coming in can clearly play and he keeps enjoying himself AND he retains his popularity it would take a properly good offer to take him away. But eventually he has to think he has a short career and needs to make the best of it. You need your players to be ambitious; the trouble is wanderlust is part of that package.

[spireitematt]

The Blunts think they can get him and Tommy for £500k together.