Foreign players

Parky's signings so far have been decent overall but pretty much all British apart from Morais who has played in the UK for his entire career anyway. I would have thought that more than ever, we need to be scouring foreign markets for bargains - although we'd be very lucky to find a deal like Mahrez to Leicester for 400k. Still, there may be talent out there and we may be able to get better VFM. Question is does Parky have the contacts? 
I suspect he has a list of targets and they are all Brits - or have played here for years.

When you're on a shoestring budget you can't go risking it on foreign imports.

Buying British or players with lots of English football experience is the only way to go right now.

Natasha Whittam wrote:When you're on a shoestring budget you can't go risking it on foreign imports.

Buying British or players with lots of English football experience is the only way to go right now.

Trouble is they are a known quantity so no chance of a bargain that would elevate our quality pro rata to our budget whereas there's maybe a chance of a find like Mahrez if we look far enough.
If Parky/the club have the contacts and scouting network, the risk you write about could actually be less.

Good to see that the season ending hasn't diminished your love of footballing cliches though.

wanderlust wrote:
Trouble is they are a known quantity so no chance of a bargain that would elevate our quality pro rata to our budget whereas there's maybe a chance of a find like Mahrez if we look far enough.
If Parky/the club have the contacts and scouting network, the risk you write about could actually be less.

Good to see that the season ending hasn't diminished your love of footballing cliches though.

It's not a cliché, it's a fact.

It's also a fact you talk utter shit.

In one post you say Parky has done well with his British signings, but in this post say there's no chance of a British player at a bargain price.

The bargains are there if you look, you don't need to sign the next Ali Dia from the other side of the world.

As far as I know the rules about signing players apply to all of the league and not just the Premier, so that being the case if we wanted to sign some Johnny foreigner we would be restricted to those from country's who are ranked in the top 65 in the world (or something like that) and who have played in a minimum of 75% of their country's games over the last two years (or again something like that).

I'm not sure those restrictions apply to EU nationals but seeing we won't be in the EU soon, then this 'quick fix solution' is certainly not a long term one.

Add to that the change in culture these foreign players may face - language, diet, homesickness, even style of football played here than abroad, etc, etc, then coming up trumps of unearthing a few diamonds are extremely limited - and a course of action that all the other clubs in the league must have considered by now - and which it seems most if not all have rejected.

I guess Premier clubs have the money to attract the top level foreign players here and take a risk to see if it works out - but clubs like us are at best limited to scouring the EU lower divisions for players and no doubt most other clubs in the EU will be doing exactly the same.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

wanderlust wrote:
Trouble is they are a known quantity so no chance of a bargain that would elevate our quality pro rata to our budget whereas there's maybe a chance of a find like Mahrez if we look far enough.
If Parky/the club have the contacts and scouting network, the risk you write about could actually be less.

Good to see that the season ending hasn't diminished your love of footballing cliches though.

It's not a cliché, it's a fact.

TBH you making a sweeping generalisation that has no bearing on the reality of modern day football is a cliche in itself.
70% of Premiership players are foreign born - the highest proportion in Europe. If we want to build a team that will get us back to the Premiership we would be stupid not to at least consider foreign players. That said, we released 9 foreign players when we got relegated so it's very much a matter of finding the right ones. And if we don't look we sure as hell won't find -- which is the very concern I was raising.

wanderlust wrote:TBH you making a sweeping generalisation

I've based my entire forum career on sweeping generalisations. I'm not going to stop now.

Natasha Whittam wrote:

wanderlust wrote:TBH you making a sweeping generalisation

I've based my entire forum career on sweeping generalisations. I'm not going to stop now.

True.

Looks like the club have answered my question by seeking to appoint 2 new scouts, one with international contacts and one looking at U23's. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I'm just glad Parky recognises the need to broaden the search for players further and you never know - he might even find a bargain or three.

Being back in the Championship makes us a bit more attractive in terms of borrowing fringe players from Premiership clubs. We've done reasonably well here over the years so hopefully we can pick up a few decent young players  (foreign or not) to bolster the squad

rammywhite wrote:Being back in the Championship makes us a bit more attractive in terms of borrowing fringe players from Premiership clubs. We've done reasonably well here over the years so hopefully we can pick up a few decent young players  (foreign or not) to bolster the squad

Whoever we get there will be an element of gambling if Parky is ambitious. As specifically regards Premiership loanees, it depends on who we get as some of them aren't near ready like Miyaichi who seemed overwhelmed when we had him whereas Tammy Abraham scored 23 for Bristol City last season. At 6'4" he'd be perfect for Parky's target man but as Nat points out we'd have no chance for him now, however there may be others.

Why do people always call them johnny foreigner. Why not pierre foreigner or Ahmed foreigner. Makes more sense surely

y2johnny wrote:Why do people always call them johnny foreigner. Why not pierre foreigner or Ahmed foreigner. Makes more sense surely

Johnny-come-lately.

That's not a question by the way.

There's also,Johnny-on-the-spot.

boltonbonce wrote:

y2johnny wrote:Why do people always call them johnny foreigner. Why not pierre foreigner or Ahmed foreigner. Makes more sense surely

Johnny-come-lately.

That's not a question by the way.

There's also,Johnny-on-the-spot.

Not lately no. And yes i do feel rather on the spot now

boltonbonce wrote:What is the meaning of the name Johnny?
The name Johnny is a French baby name. In French the meaning of the name Johnny is: Jehovah has been gracious; has shown favor.

Surely the meaning depends on the context?

If it is preceded by "rubber" for example....

Poor Johnny.

Maybe he should change his name to Dick.

boltonbonce wrote:Poor Johnny.

Maybe he should change his name to Dick.

Dick Foreigner Hmmmm?
Don't tell Nat as you'll only get her started

boltonbonce wrote:Poor Johnny.

Maybe he should change his name to Dick.

Only if his surname is Palmer. Or Burns. Or Cummings. Or Hungwell. Or Head. Or Long. Or Payne. Or Slocombe. Otherwise it would just be crude.

wanderlust wrote: Tammy Abraham scored 23 for Bristol City last season. At 6'4" he'd be perfect for Parky's target man

Have you seen him, he's built like a pipe cleaner. He's no target man.