Incredibly baffling comments in the press conference.
Moyes made it appear like there are substantial funds available, just that our top choices want Europe and have rejected us.
Well we've had 2 months to move onto second, third and fourth choices... this is a monumental failure by the club to not bring in anybody on that right hand side.
Then he says he feels like there has been progress this week, then a few minutes later says it doesn't mean we'll actually bring anybody in though.
Madness.
To be honest, Moyes is naturally cautious, but also honest. My interpretation of what was said, is that there has been some progress with Dibling, but we shouldn't be expecting quality players coming in after that. Expect those Brownhill type signings after the main one (not necessarily Brownhill himself).
Just my interpretation.
That press conference should be taken with a massive pinch of salt.
What we know is that Fellaini and many others before him have been signed for big money on transfer deadline day.
If Moyes says there is money, and at the moment a Dibling deal alone takes us to not far off £140mil down and over £150mil with add ons.
Lets say theres £200mil to spend.
We tell:
Southampton £45mil Dibling
Lyon £35mil Fofana
+ we discuss with the agents and come to terms.
+ we do this for e.g 4 wingers + 4 Right backs, + 4 DMs.
The offers just sit there worst case until TDD.
Would Fofana sit on his €30k a week or elect to Join Everton for £75k a week in the knowledge that in 12months time he may be at another club after showcasing his talent?
Would Southampton risk a major injury to Dibling or sell him at a bit less than wanted?
Its a gamble but worst case we should be able to sing big players on TDD.
I think its the players that Moyes wants specifically that we're having this issue with. He spoke about bringing in 'elite players' supposedly said no to signing Fellows and a few others in Jan as he didn't think they were good enough.
The whole list of targets is likely to be a wide range of profile's/abilities, my reading of this is that Moyes is insisting on the more ambitious targets and we're being knocked back. End of the day if we're trying to go up a level this is realistically going to be an issue much more than it has previously.
Agreed. It will be the John McGinns of the world who are highly experienced and who Moyes thinks can get the club 7th or 8th this season.
Then next season he'll expect another huge amount to buy more experienced players.
At this point he'll say "i expect a new 5 year deal as ive got us to 7th/8th 2 years running".
If they let him go he'll have left us with a few diamonds but mostly a squad of ageing players with no resale.
Then people will say "oh they should never have gotten rid of Moyes".
We definitely need some players who can make an impact now, particularly on our right side. Whilst I feel sorry for Moyes to some degree, the transfer committee idea is clearly a bad one, he hasn't helped himself, however, with some of his public comments. His comments today, for example, that we've moved on to players who "can do a job for us" after we've failed to attract our primary targets sends a dreadful message to prospective signings and their agents. The whole thing is a mess and nobody is coming out of it with any distinction, in my opinion.
Would you prefer to spend lets say £80mil on Jarrod Bowen. Knowing he'll probably net 15 goals and a lot of assists.
Or the money on Dibling & Fofana?
Because we need to build an asset base. We literally cant afford to be aiming for the short term, we have enough players not at top 7 quality or ageing.
There has to be an influx of youth that in 2-3 seasons are seen as top players.