A little time and patience

In a roundabout way, we're roughly breaking even on deals so far this summer and have improved the squad already from last year, as well as keep all of our very best players throughout the squad from junior (yes, especially Oxford, for now) to senior pros.

All this business without having to spend anything of note yet, with six long transfer weeks left to conclude further ins and outs. And much of this business before a single pre-season ball had been kicked which is what I really like to see - integrating new arrivals as early as possible, just as we managed in the recent past.

At this stage of the window, I can definitely think of a lot worse business going on by comparison. It's also worth bearing in mind the clear recruiting strategy we have in place these days to supplement what is already a very decent squad with further genuine quality, as well as shoring up the ranks with a few promising 'kids' as back-up to further push everyone on.

It's not a strategy that's haphazard and without any thought to the inefficiencies we currently suffer from ie. trying to solve our long term striker problems and not just relying on the rest of the squad to bail us out. So I think it's fair to say we've already made some really good business in both football and monetary terms so far, even if it doesn't have all the razzamatazz of a couple of big money 'superstar' signings yet.

We absolutely don't need to rush or panic buy, as even a worst case scenario means we have a slightly improved squad from last season with many of the same players who performed so well for us by scoring goals-a-plenty as well as racking up a record Premier League amount of points to go with it.

My one big complaint I would like to level at the Board (mainly David Sullivan) is his openness regarding making a lot of noise that we need "a new £20million star striker". It was totally unnecessary on a few counts:

1. Some clubs have been made aware that we are prepared to spend big and have killed the situation (Lyon owner).

2. It has completely unsettled Diafra Sakho, probably making him feel even less welcome here if we're so vocal about replacement strikers.

3. It has unnecessarily raised our fans' expectations, with many wanting to hold the Board to account should we not get the star striker that costs a vast sum of money.

I don't actually care if they cost £100million or arrive on a free, as long as they are one of the best around at doing what they do up front. That won't stop many from rightly criticising them though for raising the bar when he really didn't need too. That's our Sully for you though; you have to take the rough with the smooth with him at times.




We are currently in a very strong position of negotiation as a football club knowing we have most players tied down to lengthy contracts and at big valuations, should anyone wish to purchase one. And because of this, it means we can continue to carefully pick and choose as and when to buy the next big signing without the unbearable pressure to know we need a position filling ASAP because we haven't any cover whatsoever.

We've also cleared the decks as much as possible with regards to making sure we have as much of the wages budget (FFP) made available should a top-quality striker (or others) become available that fit in with what we want to achieve.

Naturally I don't want nor expect our transfer dealings to stop here and now, I'm just merely pointing out that what we have done so far is prudent, studious business which still has plenty of room for manoeuvre before the window eventually closes at the end of August (after one day in which a lot of final business around the League is often concluded).

And bearing that in mind, I'm completely at ease about our present transfer situation and don't have grave concerns.

Now that could change should we start selling off a few more of our prized assets and not replacing them accordingly, but considering our successful recruiting trends in the summers since relegation I struggle to accept this stance and instead prefer to continue giving the Board the benefit of the doubt in continuing their excellent work to date in this department.

Our squad has been significantly transformed in just five years, I think we owe them a little more patience and understanding. That's not to let them off the hook entirely, as they must continue to strive to capitalise on what is already a strong squad with the finishing touches it truly deserves in the attacking department (and arguably in defence also).

I've backed them personally for the past five summers or so by appreciating what they are trying to do, I hope they can repay my faith once more by delivering yet another first class squad that we can continue to be proud of.

Desperate, we definitely ain't.

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