Xavier Simons signs
Interesting comments in his interview, I thought.
Says he'd been in discussions for some time about this possible move which was effectively done by Sunday night and yesterday was just about paperwork and medical - so no need for it not to be announced earlier than 11:20. Clearly the media team keeping us all engaged until the end.
Also he's another box to box midfielder - that must be a type the data says is best. And he's featured 20 times for Hull in the Championship this season, which suggests he's coming here with the promise of starting or it's not progression for him.
I don't envy Mike Dodds the task of moulding all these new players together with the existing squad and working out his best team.
We are going to need another new coach, just to transport two sets of players to every game!
Welcome aboard Xavier.
Comments
Sir Gareth gave a short interview last night where he explained to the Shrewsbury fans why he had only signed one player yesterday.
He was slightly downbeat but said at least the club didn't have the problem of spending a lot of of money and signing loads of players and disrupting the dressing room. He didn't mention any team by name but COME ON.
I bet he’d rather be at our end of the table than where he is at the moment.
I think Ainsworth would rather be in their situation than ours. Far too much pressure from the board to kick on here. He could get relegated at Shrews now and it will be observed as “he gave it a right old go”
I mean, it’s a worry getting them all to gel well, but I think the bit about not signing loads of players and not having money to spend is him trying to spin things and look on the bright side for Shrewsbury than try and throw shade anywhere.
Gareth Ainsworth will use whatever situation he is in to get the most out of the players at his disposal. He is the best I have ever seen at doing it. Only this last weekend his side was a goal down and down to ten men not long after the half hour mark and ended up winning (by all accounts) quite comfortably
He has shown in the short time he has had there that he is more than capable of keeping Shrewsbury up. I think he'll end up doing it relatively comfortably. He and Dobbo are geniuses, that should never be forgotten
I admire your optimism about GA’s ability to keep Shrewsbury up “fairly comfortably”.
Gareth is a top notch motivator. Witness the clever spin on the complications and difficulty of integrating and keeping happy a wealth of new signings!
An old friend (Redoubtable Old Bucks Boy, Ken Allen) attended one of Gareth’s presentations on motivation last year and was incredibly impressed. But, as we and Huddersfield discovered recently, a club like Northampton in 20th place can be very physical and hard to beat. Immediately above Northampton are clubs like Peterborough, Bristol Rovers and Wigan who won’t succumb without a fight.
I really hope Gareth can beat the odds but I fear the journey will be anything but comfortable.