[SIGNED perm] Ryan Porteous

I think he gets the rest of the season. If he picks up a head of steam, even if no promotion, I think he’ll earn a stay. If we limp along and scrape the playoffs we’ll make a change in the summer with Manga overseeing a full recruitment process.

He definitely isn’t someone who values singing from the same hymn sheet in public but I don’t mind that as I’m not convinced that that is particularly correlated with success.

 

Genuinely wouldn’t surprise me if he walked next week if signings he wants aren’t made.

Saying that signing Porteous is a ‘cosmetic’ change is pretty damning in and of itself.

He clearly wants quality additions and is underwhelmed by us signing squad players who ‘ones for the future’*

I think he wanted players who would be in his 1st team if everyone is fit - really debatable if we huge signed any (I accept Araujo might be the exception here).

*who may not even be in Watford’s future.

 

While I have sympathy with him, he might have to put up with the fact that we're trying to behave like a serious football club for the first time in a while.

Buying dross to plaster over gaps has cost us in previous windows and this new approach should beat chucking everything at what is likely to boil down to a three-match campaign in May.

 

I hope he doesn’t, but he’s made it very public for a long time that he wants a CM, winger and ST. We got the ST, but he’s like a dog with a bone, he’s not going to drop publicly stating he wants a CM and Winger. The ball is in Gino’s court and we as fans all know that. Gino just needs to do what’s required.

 

I think Bilic wanted Championship experienced players, not young players from anywhere but the Championship (even if they are good players).

 

I'm absolutely shocked that we are signing players who the current manager clearly doesn't think are suitable and/or good enough.

That's not like Pozzo and co!

 

I'm sure it will end badly (and fast) but I am very pleased that Slav is sticking to his guns and doing it publicly.

A man who wants to do things his way and properly.

 

I'm seeing Robert Earnshaw's head, Rylan's beard and hair from the Hoobs.

 

In all fairness to them I feel it's been a productive window. I'm sure there's plenty of managers out there that don't get exactly the player they require.
Porteous for WTE is a no brainer.
The hype around the CF from Benfica is only but a good thing. Hopefully he can show us how a proper 9 should play.
Kone and Martins have shown they're more than capable and will get better.
RB was a must and has given his all even though sloppy defending at times.
Wesley Hoedt is the one concern out of the window I just pray he proves me wrong and I'd be happy to eat humble pie on his signing.
Would love a quality LB so the buffoon can fook off early to Udienese but that isn't happening I suppose. Still desperately short in midfield imo especially when they pick up injuries with ease.

 

Thought it was Callum Chambers.

 

Get in there!

The cosmetic change is confirmed!

 

Now confirmed on the official club site!!! Welcome Ryan

 

Yep, 4 1/2 yr deal, undisclosed fee.

 

Gino will blame them but as fans we all know it’s his decision at the end of the day.

 

He knew the score when he joined. What the manager wants is irrelevant. His job as coach is to get the most out of what he's given.

 

I love that we've got a CB when the manager didn't want one.

I sure as hell did. Reason we're in this mess is because of our defence.

Welcome Ryan - please be good.

 

I think we have the fourth best defensive record this season and the tenth best attack.

 

Talking several years here

 

Yeah but last season we had a superior defensive record (3rd worst) than attacking record (joint 2nd worst). Season before we had the best defensive record in Championship history. 19/20 is the exception.

We definitely needed to upgrade our CBs BUT don’t think the lack thereof is why we’re in this mess, as opposed to poor investment across the board.

 

Give Jenny a call. She's on 8675309

 

People on Twotter rating it a 10/10 window already, lol. Seriously.

 

Does make me laugh how these signings are pretty much confirmed all week - and then confirmed when it’s too late for them to play at the weekend. Makes you wonder just how competent we are at pushing deals through.

 

Any chance we got the paperwork done before midday and spent all afternoon making the fancy (terrible) video?

 

The Giaretta effect. I honestly think he’s handling the admin side of things and is just useless at everything.

 

Not Instagram though.

 

Tried 5705. But there's no reply. Gone to Citeh, boy ?

 

Truly the worst signing announcement video I’ve ever seen.

 

A+++ now, AAA if we get Assombalonga and that Haught lad.

 

They're getting worse, especially as we're now copying Burnley.

 

How much are you looking forward to playing with Crapcart? lol

 

Does that not fit in with your plans?