Quote Originally Posted by WTF11 View Post
We may have had to shop in the bargain tubs instead of the top end delicatessen in the past, and there's nothing wrong with that, provided you pick and choose carefully. JKA is an example of where we didn't, same for Casilla (couldn't get a game with Barcelona but was still held up as the next big thing just because he was on their books). as both have already cost us big money (and the JKA thing still isn't settled, by a long way) it tells me that there are still way too many flaws in Ortas scouting selection, and either he isn't being overruled by Bielsa or he (Bielsa) is also capable of making a mistake or two (yes, he is!).

I don't "hone in" on any particular area of the park, I look at the characteristics of each player and the position they are expected to take up and comment accordingly. In the case of Gelhardt, he is 18, not 28, and performed well in the Championship as a squad player, admittedly his strike rate needs to improve. Its worth noting, as the international aspect is oft referred to, that despite needing to improve at club level, he has scored in internationals against Brazil (U16), Norway & Belgium, USA, Russia, Denmark and Sweden (all in U17 competitions), and played for England U18 against Australia. (Btw, I think criticising Gelhardt for not having played as "full international" is a low blow, very, he's just 19 ffs!). All the above at youth international levels hints/shows that with the right service, he knows where the net is. (Only a half a dozen or so clubs scored fewer goals that Wigan last season, so perhaps a youngster who knows how to find the net in internationals wasn't best serve at club level). As I said in the last post, if he turns out to be a dud (which I hope he doesn't as with ALL those who come to the club), the we have spent £1m finding out. If any of the players signed from Valencia, Freiburg or Udinese end up that way, we've spent a good deal more.

And where did I say the Championship was better than La Liga? I said that the PL is superior to just about ALL the European divisions and the success of English teams from all parts of the PL table in European competitions would suggest that is the case.

We are not going to agree, so I see little point in continuing this particular "back and forth". You have your opinion, I have mine, you have your reasons, I have mine. We will see whose evaluation is closest to the truth in a relatively short period of time (as long as they all get game time and stay healthy!)
No we wont agree.
Don’t know how you read this "low blow" you mention that I criticised Gelhardt?
I merely pointed out his age and lack of experience obviously due to his age and with no PL experience.
In the past you have flip flopped between moaning about the club buying youth for the future rather than first team ready players… Now it seems a Championship player with a goal ratio of 1 in 20 is a good signing and you still don’t explain why this signing sits much better for you than the experienced international players the club have managed to land.

Funny on his imminent arrival you ridiculed Rodrigo’s stats when he was at Bolton, when he was actually playing premier league not championship and at ratio of 1 in 19 goals in a struggling side and guess what he was only 19 at the time also… flip flop flip flop