The 'Aberdeen boy' is a CM, not an AM, DD. I agree about the 'right back, a winger and a striker', but if we could bring in McLean as well, all the better.
While this is true, it is only perceived worth and there are anomalies. Imagine a football match was trench warfare - who would you rather have in the trenches alongside you, an average footballer (barring one superb season) like Bradley Johnson who personifies guts, warrior spirit, motivation and fight, or a pre-madonna who shirks much responsibility, allows his (and therefore others) heads to drop, hides away from the action at every opportunity and just waits until he can slip out and bank his next cheque. The cut of our cloth these days means we need warriors ahead of expensive has-beens / wannabes. Ain't that right, Naismith?
It's all a bit arbitrary and open to everyone's own opinion. I don't think anyone can doubt that we haven't replaced players like Olsson and Brady with similar quality but we don't have the money to do so do we ? I always viewed Maddison as the ageing Hoolahan's eventual successor and so it has turned out thus, I never saw him as a direct "replacement" for anyone who has departed. His tremendous success will mean that we will have to find someone else to "replace" him in the summer probably and that will be a task in itself considering we will have bugger all money to play with.
True, but if DF continues to back his belief of integrating the youth and academy products, we could have the next Madders in situ already? Cantwell / Middleton? (Disclaimer, I don't get to reserve or under 23's games so not sure who plays best where, but my point stands)
That is exactly my point if we raise £15m for 2 left backs it's not unreasonable or reckless to expect to spend maybe a third of that or even a quarter .
Bradders personified a lot of what is missing from the team today - passion, fighting spirit, never say die attitude, guts and determination. He may have lacked skills but boy did he make up for it in other ways - and he could score !!! I know he had his detractors but he was someone who you'd want in your side for the qualitiwes I have mentioned. Nobody would say Nobby Stiles (Google him for all you young uns) was a truly skilful player, nor Billy Bremner or Dave Mackay etc but they wore their heart on their sleeves and had 100% commitment which helped the team rather than making them outstanding individuals.
On what I have seen Cromer, Cantwell would be the next heir apparent so will need to get some game time in before the season is out.
Did I say that? Did I mention Husband? Is Husband now first choice LB? Do any of the players I mentioned play LB? If your argument that to get an adequate replacement for a departing player you have to pay more or the same money, where are we going to be able to find the money to replace Naismith? No - I can't fathom out the argument that the transfer fee paid for a player is the sole factor in his ability and yes - I do believe there are cases where you can sell a player for a large fee and adequately replace him with a cheaper option or a youngster coming through the ranks.
Wrong!! Sunderland matched our bid but needed to pay in smaller, longer timescale instalments so Everton sold him to us. Just proves that you can't judge a players worth to a team on his transfer value. Fortunes have been spent on the likes of Carroll and Benteke - have they been good value to the buying Clubs?
I mentioned Husband Husband started the season as first choice left back with a midfielder adapting as second choice as cover. I just mentioned spending 25 to 33% of the generated revenue from the 2 left back sales on replacement not more than the £15m. If you think we can sell our best players and replace them with free transfers loan signings and academy players then I would suggest the quality of the side will get weaker. I don't know why you can't grasp this?
So there were only 2 mugs in the World that thought Naismith was worth the money us and Sunderland ? That doesn't make it any better IN MY OPINION.
Right, I think this is the position so far in a quiet transfer window: Pritchard gone £12m Huddersfield Wildshut on loan Cardiff Russ Martin on loan Rangers Naismith on loan Hearts Jerome gone £2m Franke loan German side Young lad from Spurs on loan Young lad from an Irish side cost? Yet to come: Maddison, Oliveira, Probably missed others from Youth and U23 sides.
I'm hoping KIO is busy finishing off the MDT for tonight. Annoyingly I have to work tonight so will only get to watch the second half on my break. Anyone know if the game will be available on BBCi player as catch up ?
I have neither the time or the inclination to read through the multitude of posts since this morning, so I'll summarise. As I've seen on here and MFW - SW/DF said it would take SEVERAL transfer windows to complete the transformation, so please DD and FLM in particular; remember that before you next get on your high horses!!!! DD you mentioned having to buy bowling shoes rather than football boots, but my analogy' would be akin to selling an Audi and buying a Skoda, as that's all you can afford. The Skoda could perform as well as the Audi, but without the price tag and running costs!!!! It's becoming obvious that we're setting ourselves up on 'opposite sides of the hill' - the younger ones (FML, DD etc on one side with ocf, 1950, Dave, JM Fan etc) on the other. Both sides putting forward perfectly reasonable points and if the younger ones COULD curb their impatience and realise that we don't have the funds to replace like for like (nor a credit card/Sheikh/Chinese takeaway owner etc), then we'll just HAVE to rely on Academy players making the grade, bargains from Primark, as opposed to quality from John Lewis. One final point - I am able to get to Under 23 games and TC is 'next in line' to JM's crown, whereas Middleton (GM) is more of a young Huckerby, but solidly built and not easily knocked off the ball. PATIENCE!!! <donstinhatemoji>
Beautifully put Alex, I have ruffled enough feathers trying to make my point so I shall just observe now
You can't generalise. The best side Man U produced came mainly from their academy. A lot of the best players at Spurs, Arsenal Southampton etc in the last few years have come through their academy. Huddersfield went up with a number of loan players. Huckerby and Crouch came to us on loan. Against that many academy players don't make the grade and used badly the loan system can be a disaster - Rodent anybody? Many Clubs have tried to buy success and failed. Many have tried and succeeded. Many Clubs have relied on cheapies and loans and have succeeded - others have failed. It is impossible to generalise and I can grasp that. I can also grasp that we have to balance the books and therefore have no alternative but to pursue our current policy and talking about past mistakes is not going to change that. I can also grasp that our current wage structure is not going to tempt any experienced players who have a substantial transfer value.
And there I was thinking that you and Rick were in the trenches with me. Sorry Rick but it is just you and me Pal!!!
